The Images in Your Mind.

Lately there is a lot of popularity about our brains and certain ‘brain tests’ and the need for all of us to exercise and train our brains in order to help us fight dementia. While watching one of the programs where the audience was asked to watch a scene and then take a memory test I had a thought. Why does our brain see images that are depressing, seductive and seem so very real but they are just that, images and have never materialized into reality? Do you ever wonder that?

I am a Christian, well… doesn’t being a Christian make me exempt from these images and thoughts? The answer is ‘no’ it doesn’t.

To try to make sense of my own situation I began to search the Bible for scriptures pertaining to thoughts and images and how to defeat those uninvited distractions. In my mind is where the battle is. I know it is a struggle for a lot of people and yes even Christians to not have negative thoughts or see negative images. As I get older it seems to be more common that the enemy (Satan) of my Christian way of life is bombarding me with these images or thoughts.

Now each of us battle different images I know. Where my images might be to make me fearful of aging and being alone, yours might be of sickness or even death. It might be that you see images in an entirely different arena. You may fight pornography or sexual images that you know are wrong and could be destroying you or your relationships.

What do you do??? Have you like me prayed and cried to God your Heavenly Father to help you and those images still don’t go away, they keep resurfacing?

Read on to what I believe the Holy Spirit has told me through the Word of God, the Bible that will defeat those thoughts and images. In Proverbs 23:7 it says, ‘As a man thinks in his heart, so is he’. Now that is powerful.

 

This verse literally means that we control what we think about! We have power and authority over what we do with those thoughts and images that come into our minds!! Are you grasping that? Also in Ephesians the scripture says, ‘casting down imaginations and bringing into authority every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God’. God’s Word is telling us that if we trust him and use his Word against these images we can conquer them and they have to cease.

Yes it will be a battle but a battle that can be won step by step by quoting the Word of God. ‘Casting down imaginations and every high thing’….that’s the Word of God and are you ready to quote it? Are you ready to get victory over these images that are haunting you? Are you ready to cast these thoughts and images down? They truly are tormenting to the mind and the good news is that these torments will stop IF you fight them by quoting and believing the Word of God.

 I once heard a minister give this little illustration; you can’t stop a bird from flying over your head but you can stop it from building a nest. This is how you must compare the images that come into your mind. Those images or thoughts are going to come but when they do you quote the powerful and alive Word of God, words in your Bible and they have to leave they cannot set up residency in your mind.

Today I pray with you and for you that the Word of God will be alive in you. I pray that you will not allow images or thoughts which are destructive to become real in your mind. I pray that when these thoughts come you immediately say, “No, I do not receive these thoughts and images, I bring them under subjection and cast down the imagination of them”. Repeat the scripture in Proverbs, “As a man think in his heart so is he”.  With these scriptures and you saying them OUTLOUD, you can get victory and you will find that eventually they will become less and less often until they go away. Victory is for you, believe it and I know you will finally have peace. The images that used to haunt me have so subsided that they rarely come around! I am thankful to my God, through the power of his son Jesus that I have victory and I am free from the torment of wrong images and thoughts in my mind.

 

Encouragement when dealing with dementia.

Sometimes the sweetness of God's power can be overlooked because we don't know or realize that aspect of him. Always remember that God is love, he sometimes doesn't move in our timing, but he moves regardless. Allow this story to encourage you especially if you have a parent or loved one suffering from dementia or an illness that has affected their mind.

 

There was an elderly grandfather who had dementia and was in the last stages of that illness. The grandfather lived with his son's family. One of his grandchildren was a girl of about 10 years old who loved her grandfather very much and couldn't understand why he said things that didn't make sense. She didn't understand why he would yell out words in the middle of the night and wake everyone up. She didn't understand why he didn't know who she was. She didn't understand why he changed and didn't laugh and joke with her like he used to.

 

One day the granddaughter was exploring her grandfather's possessions that were all stored in the attic of their home. She opened one of the trunks that she thought appeared to be a 'pirate's' chest. To her surprise among other things it contained a violin case which she immediately opened. No her young eyes weren't trained or she would have been able to recognize the caliber of this prized musical instrument.

 

From that time and for many days she would sneak up to the attic, take the pristine violin out of it's case and hold it. One time she actually took the bow and ran it across the strings which produced a squeaky sound. From that time on she kept practicing on the violin. Oh yes, she was cautious to play softly so that no one would hear the 'out-of-tune' sounds she made and take it away from her.

The grandfather's health was deteriorating rapidly and this was hard for the little girl who deeply loved her grandfather or "Papaw" as she called him. The girl's name was Sierra. Sierra had been told that her grandfather was very sick and that she wasn't to go to his room unless her mom or dad was with her. One day she decided to break those rules. Sierra decided to go into the grandfather's room with her newly found violin and play him a song, howbeit she knew no cords but she could make noise.

When Sierra stood by his bed and begin to move the bow across the strings, her grandfather's eyes opened slowly. Eyes that were dim and stayed mostly shut opened and revealed faded blue eyes that somehow became brighter when he saw the worn instrument. He looked at his granddaughter, smiled and barely could speak these words..."Play on my child..you are doing a fine job". Sierra was so surprised with his response that she grinned back and said, "Grandpa..you like my music"? The very weak man whispered the words of confirmation, but what happened next was almost a miracle. He asked Sierra to allow him to hold the violin and he actually lifted himself up off his pillow. The weak and very sick man had regained strength almost supernaturally.

Now by this time the son was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. What he saw next was almost a miracle. His father with weak hands and a very feeble back, set up on that make shift hospital bed with a strength that hadn't been there for years. Unbeknownst to his granddaughter but known to his son was the fact that her grandfather had been a highly proclaimed concert violinist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for many years before he became ill.

The unimaginable was happening as the old man took the violin and the bow and began to play it. What amazing cords he struck, what amazing posture and poise his tired and sick body began to exemplify. The son couldn't hold back the tears, the tears of joy and peace. Most of his life he heard his father play that very same violin, but this time was different...he knew in his heart it was the last time he would ever hear his father play the instrument.

Sierra was in awe...she was mesmerized by the beautiful tones coming from the violin. Her grandfather appeared to somewhat glow in Sierra's eyes anyway. The sound of the violin echoed throughout that home and for a few minutes it was like angels joined the orchestra, surely it wasn't just one violin how could one violin make such a harmonizing sound?

Those moments were just that...moments and then they had to come to an end. The grandfather looked at his son and smiled, he looked at his granddaughter and spoke softly to her; "My child...carry on with loving this instrument, play it for me even though I won't be around to hear you. Play it with everything that is in you my child...do it for me". With those words and very weak and shaking hands the grandfather gave the violin to Sierra. He laid back on his bed, closed his eyes to never open them again.

Sierra went on to become a concert violin player just as her grandfather requested. I wrote this story to bring out a point that I want you to know. It took just a touch of a master's hand to bring an instrument's sound to a level of a symphony orchestra's caliber.

Think about God, he can supernaturally touch you and make your life valuable. He can bring a life to order and remove the chaos. He is the master and you can know him today. He is only a prayer away. What do you need him to do? Do you need to know that someone cares? Do you need encouragement? I want to give you that today.

God's Word says that he inscribed your name on the palm of his hand, he loves you. You are HIS creation and his Word also says in Jeremiah 29:11, 'I know the thoughts I have toward you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'. Trust him today...he is just a prayer away. 

The mender of broken dreams.

Most of us remember the rhyme from our childhood, 'Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, humpty dumpty had a great fall...all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put humpty dumpty together again'. Do you remember reciting that? Yeah, me too.

Dreams that fall apart unfortunately are something so many of us experience. All the kings men couldn't put humpty dumpty back together. I know it's a fairy tale rhyme but it sort of goes with this writing.

What happens when your dream just one day disappears from our life. What do you do? Can anything become of a broken dream?

Let me tell you a story. There was a young man named Jeremy who had a dream to own a motorcycle shop when he was old enough and had enough money. He (to use the term) lived, ate and dreamed about motorcycles. He started out when he was about six years old with a small mini-bike that he thought would rival Evil Kineval's motorcycle. (For those who don't know who Evil Kineval was might be a time to Google after reading the article.) He graduated to a dirt rider 100cc's of power that would climb those Ohio hills like nobody's business. At 16 he decided to take his bike to distant places to ride with the wind and go to where 'no man has taken a motorcycle before'.

He had many adventures and spent many hours of pure enjoyment on a motorcycle. He graduated high school and went off to college to learn all he could about business and finance. Now don't worry, he kept up with motorcycles to the extent that he free lanced writing articles for a popular motorcycle magazine. His love for motorcycles grew and grew almost at the same pace as his love for his new 'girl' Suzanne.

Suzanne was pretty, smart and she loved to ride with Jeremy on his motorcycle. It didn't matter if she got caught out in the rain or splashed with mud...'all the better' she would tell Jeremy when he apologized for the inclement weather.

Jeremy and Suzanne graduated college and got married. Suzanne wanted kids and felt that Jeremy should find a real job and 'down the road' they would pull their finances together to open that motorcycle shop. Well as marriages go and finances to raise a family seem to take most of income..that business never happened. One thing led to another, Suzanne had an affair and Jeremy and Suzanne got a divorce.

Crushed and devastated, Jeremy (who never wanted the divorce and truly loved Suzanne) almost suffered a nervous breakdown. He was at his lowest point even considered ending his life because he seriously didn't think he could handle life without Suzanne.

One of Jeremy's good friends was troubled for him and started to pray for him. God impressed upon James to talk to Jeremy and try to convince him to start again. James went to Jeremy and talked with him about what he felt and his concern. James assured Jeremy that when God instills a dream or vision he doesn't take it away.

At first Jeremy didn't have the energy or the desire to think about it. He couldn't force himself to have a dream or revive his old dream, he was tormented with failure. But...one day he felt the need and he prayed out to God. He prayed to a God that he knew but his relationship was cold. Jason was raised in church and he was full of faith until he married Suzanne. He allowed his relationship with God to be 'on the back burner' and not as important as it used to be.

But God is all merciful and full of grace. All it takes is one prayer, one prayer of repentance and God is there. He reminds you that he loves you, he lets you sense peace and joy. Jeremy prayed and asked God to restore his dream...he asked God to 'bind up his broken heart' to mend all the pieces that were crushed and you know what?? God did.

Today Jeremy has his motorcycle shop. Today he is prosperous. Today he is living as a Christian and involved in his church. Today is the dream of yesterday.  Do you have a broken dream? Do you need God to heal your heart and restore your dream? He will, just as he healed Jeremy he will do the same for you. Just ask!!! Ask him now. He is only a prayer away and I know he will hear you.

God has a customized plan for you!

In the Bible the story of Gideon is one of great inspiration and encouragement. Gideon was a man that honored and reverenced God and who's heart was right with God. God knew his potential and God had a big plan for his life and sent an angel to him.

Don't you realize that God has a plan for your life? Don't you realize that you need to fight a fight in your mind and trust God when you feel insignificant or not capable of doing what God knows you can do?

The angel arrived and when Gideon was in his sight he saluted him and say, "Greeting oh great and mighty man of valour"...Gideon was chosen to lead one of the greatest battles that the Israelites would ever encounter.

When the angel told him the plan, I wonder if Gideon thought to himself, "hey, he's got the wrong guy, here I am scrambling to find some food to eat and he's calling me a great man"?

Sometimes we don't see our potential as God does. He knows what we are capable of and sometimes it just takes someone to encourage us. I am encouraging you today, all of you. Ask God what he wants you to do, in fact everyday we need to ask him to 'order our steps'...and he will.

What is in your heart? What is hidden deep down inside? Don't think that God only calls us to 'big' things. Everyone isn't called to be a 'Billy Graham or a Mother Theresa'...no some of us are called to be mom's and dad's that pray and fast for our children. Some of us are called to be a prayer person for our brothers and sisters or aunts and uncles.

The pressure that we feel as Christians to constantly perform our Christian duties can sometimes be self emposed. Let your heart lead you in the direction that is suited for you. Just be faithful to that leading and God will be pleased. Don't 'beat yourself up' with condemnation, God knows how he wants to use you.

Be encourgaged that all your efforts to live right and do right will not go unnoticied by the one to whom it matters the most, Jesus!

That is my prayer and thought for today.
Sheila

Protecting 'me' from evil in this world

In Esphesians 5:14-16, Paul was teaching us that we are to walk in the light (listening and knowing what God is saying) and to walk carefully, not as fools but as wise and most importantly he said, 'redemning the time because the days are evil'.

The media connection in the day and age is amazing. With the technology of the internet it makes it possible for us to know news almost the minute it happens. Good or bad? I think in some ways it helps us to redemn the time as we are told by Paul and it helps us to realize that the days certainly are evil and evil as never before. But today's technology also brings so many tempations.

What do we do? Do we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it is 1950 when things were 'old fashioned' as compared to today? No, we can't do that but we can protect our minds and emotions from getting caught up in the things of the world. We are in the world but as the gospel recording group Petra used to sing, 'we are NOT of this world'.

We are truly just passing through, our lives are but a vapor. What will you do with today or tomorrow? Will you realize that the god of this world (satan) is the great deceiver? Will you realize that evil is more rampant than it ever was before? Do you wonder why?

Let me give you something to think about. Could it be that more and more people even Christians are opening the door to the things of the world that we aren't supposed to view or let in? Do you realize when you open the door to look at a lustful situation or listen to a lustful conversation that the door (even though it is a little crack) is now open and it is going to be very difficult to ever close that door again? The Bible says that in every temptation there is made a way of escape, but...it is up to us whether we listen to our conscience or our spirit and escape before we give in. We have our own free will, God promises the way of escape, we determine whether we take it or not.

Can you revert? Yes, but it is going to take a lot of prayer, fasting and determination to seal that crack or opening. Are you willing? God is faithful and he is all about grace and mercy but consider the law of sowing and reaping. What we sow to the flesh we reap to the flesh and pay back to that reaping of the flesh can be Hell and torment.

I pray today for you, I pray strength and determination. If you slipped, pull yourself back up and ask God for help and I promise you he will give it to you. Just as he warned you before the temptation, he in his mercy will let you know what to do to get victory over the temptation.

Strength to you today and wisdom to know God's direction.
This is my prayer and thought for today.

Through all my burdens, God was there.

Life will sometimes change overnight and we are forced to face something that we never expected would ever, ever affect us. What do you do? As Christians we have the comfort in knowing that as a child of God, there is absolutely 'no weapon formed against us that will prosper'. Yes the weapon is there, yes it is sent to destroy, but when it is the darkest you must trust the Word of God that says, 'he will never leave you or forsake you' and the weapon might explode but the force of the explosion will not bring destruction or do what the enemy sent it to do.

Burdens get heavy, they are so heavy at times that we wonder, 'can I make it, can my situation change and will this extreme pain and hurt ever leave me'? I don't have the answer for how long you will fight this battle, how hard will the battle get, I can only promise you that your God said that he would not put more on you than you can bear.

Think of Jesus when he was lead by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, this temptation was not one that he had faced before, this temptation was not one where he could call his family or friends for prayer and support...this temptation he had to face alone. Do you feel all alone in this battle, in this trial that you are facing? Well, you aren't alone! The victory that Jesus won that day against Satan was won by the anointed, Holy Word of God. Jesus quoted the 91st Psalms to Satan, he reminded him over and over of the absolute promises in that Word, he corrected Satan because Satan misquoted the Word in an attempt to mislead Jesus. Now you and I have that anointed Word to use against the forces of Hell that seek to kill, steal and destroy us and everything important to us.

Don't lose hope, don't be weary...you Heavenly Father sent his only Son that you can have life and life more abundantly. Call on him and he will answer and show you mighty things as he said in Jeremiah.

People Satan is real, there are forces of evil bent on our destruction and our family's destruction. I must remind you that if you and I don't keep our garments white, if we don't have a prayer life, if we don't read and quote the Word of God, then when the enemy makes his attack we won't be ready.

Consume the Word of God, spend time with God in prayer, mediate on God's Word and when the attack comes, when the flood gates holding back the enemy's waters seem like they are going to break from the force, you must know that the Word of God says that 'the water will not overtake you'. You WILL make it through this, as the song says, "through it all, through it all, I learned to trust in Jesus, I learned to trust in God..."

Fight the battle knowing that 'All things work together for the good of them who love the Lord and are called according to HIS purpose'.

This is my prayer and thought for today.
Sheila

Defying the odds and winning the battle.

Living in Southwest Florida means that between the months of June to November there will be afternoon thunderstorms and sometimes those storms will produce 3 or 4 inches of heavy rain in just a few hours. When I lived there and during one of those days the skies opened up and the rain poured out.

Where I lived backed up to a golf course with lots of trees and many of those trees were large oak trees. I had two big picture windows that gave me a view that was quite awesome and picturesque. While watching the downpour on that afternoon my eyes were drawn to a most unusual sight. High up on one of the green, lush limbs of an oak tree I saw a large bird. Surprised that it wasn't under one of the branches but perched right out in the open and ....out in the rain. I continued to watch and moved closer to the window for a better view.

From my viewpoint I couldn't tell if it was a hawk or an eagle but judging from the size of its wings, it was more than likely one of those species. You are probably thinking the same thing that I was when I saw it, why is it out in the rain? I continued to watch and what I saw so puzzled me. The bird would extend its wings and move them back and forth as if he was going to fly away, but he didn't. Over and over I watched him open his wings several times and then pull them back to his body. This went on for about an hour. Whether the actions of the bird was normal I can't say but he appeared to just defy the elements and let the rain and wind create a challenge for him.While I watched in wonder the Holy Spirit gave me these thoughts:

Most of the time when we as Christians are in the midst of a storm whether it is storms of emotions, finances or some other trouble, we tend to be like most birds in that they hide in the inner branches of a tree; we hide in ourselves. We hide our hurts, our deepest feelings and think that is the way to handle them. most of us don't even ask our best friend to pray for us, let alone ask God to help us. When the enemy attacks us, we don't take our God given right to shake him off, stand and declare that we are the victor, no instead we seek the inner branches of our own self to hide until the storm passes over.

Today, if you are going through a storm, think of the unusual acts of the bird that I witnessed. Today be determined that no matter what it looks like, you have the right to stand up and declare that there is 'no weapon formed against you that shall prosper' and 'any enemy that comes against you one way has to flee from you seven ways' these are scriptures in God's Holy Word that you are entitled to stand upon. Just as that bird defied the heavy falling rain and opened it's wings many times to shake off the wet rain, I want you to defy Satan and his attack on you.

When the rain slowed down to a drizzle, the mighty bird expanded it's large wings and left the tree branch. I know that I witnessed it's actions only for the purpose of getting this message. I pray for you today, I pray that you will find a strength you didn't even know you had. The strength will come from God your heavenly father, he knows what you are facing and His Word says that 'he will put no more on you than he knows you can bear'.

Be encouraged.
This is my prayer and thought for today.
Sheila