Use Your Wings!

Days are busy and summer is NOT a break!

I've fooled myself for many years thinking that summer was a break from the stress and schedule of the school year. But I've come to realize that we just fill the time slots with many other activities. Swimming lessons, music lessons, camps, practices etc.

I'm just as busy now as I was a few months ago. I must say that I prefer this kind of being on the move. I am enjoying every minute of it!

Having three kids means I'm usually dropping off, picking up or trying to coordinate with my husband in making sure we end the day with all three. Seriously!

As I hurried to pick up a kid from another activity, I noticed a bird trying to walk across a busy street. Cars were moving quickly and it stood waiting for the right moment.

Huh?

I thought to myself "Why is the bird walking across the street?"

I shook my head and thought "You can fly! What are you doing?"

I just assumed that it was trying to get to food in the middle of the road. That had to be it. Why would a bird, with the capability of flying over the madness, choose to walk through it?

Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper "Exactly.Why are you trying to maneuver through situations that you were created to fly over?"

Goodness Gracious!

This one hit me! HARD!

Some struggles are not for me. There are some situations, people, or feelings I should not attempt to engage or entwine.

Am I the only one?

How many of us are hiking through the terrain of unproductive situations, relationships, feelings, debates, and conflict that we are meant to circumnavigate?

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:57

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If  God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37


Why are we developing strategies to march when we have been given wings to soar?


Blessings!



copyright 2015. www.shundriariddick.com All Rights Reserved

Re-Define!

Where do your beliefs come from?

The importance of our childhood is often overlooked.  The saturation of pop psychology in our society has made us incurious and negligent regarding the events or situations that assembled who we are and what we believe. Nonetheless, our childhood is what gave us our infrastructure in which we shaped our lives.

The presence of both parents or the absence of one consigned to us our philosophy of love and marriage. Their attendance, or lack thereof, and quality of participation dictated our theory regarding faith, self,  relationships, commitment, responsibility, and work to only select a few.

Our home environment, family relationships, culture, traditions, entertainment and more during our formative years have remarkably influenced how we live our lives as adults. These experiences guide us in making from the least and trivial to the most significant decisions in our lives.

For example, if we experienced the divorce of parents at the age of 9, we form ideas regarding men, women, commitment and marriage.  As adults, even though we have greater aptitude and competence, we typically do not change these ideas. Instead of challenging these conclusions, we continue to make adult decisions in these areas with a 9 year old's understanding and feelings.

Many of us are continuing to live our days through our limited views as children.

Wait...

I'm not saying that every aspect of our childhood has to be viewed differently. Many of us had great experiences in our homes and with our families. The commitment and love of my family have shaped the structure of my home today. However, I'm emphasizing that some of our most difficult issues currently are a result of earlier mishandled experiences and decisions.

But God!

Re-Defining these experiences through God's Word is essential in healing and living out an abundant life in Jesus Christ!

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14 

Whatever situation or circumstance we were born in, left in, or given, we are purposed in being here.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them". Ephesians 2:10

And BLESS the Lord for this!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank God that our value is not evidenced in how we were treated. Nor is it placed in our circumstances or descriptions given by others.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 

At some point we need to challenge our beliefs about faith, love, life, relationships, marriage, self-worth, success, etc. We need to question those ideas that were formed on the frailty of human behavior and the restricted comprehension of a child. Unfortunately, some of our current arduous situations are dictated by these ill formed axioms.

We need to abandon any theory or definition that is not from God and embrace our identity and purpose in Him!

What do you believe?


Blessings!


copyright 2015 www.shundriariddick.com  All Rights Reserved

Fact, Fiction, and Feelings!

We have something to talk about.

I mean we are in desperate need to get something straight!

Being a counselor, I have the privilege of serving people.  I am humbled by this opportunity to walk with others during difficult seasons and am in awe of God's grace and love for us. I mention that because I have been serving in this capacity for 13 years and have served many people from many walks of life. I've heard many things and have seen many faces.

I have one question. 

What is going on?

We've been hoodwinked!  Bamboozled! Lied to! Deceived!

How?  Our Feelings or Emotions!

I wonder what you are feeling right now. At this moment. What are they saying to you?

Me?

I'm feeling bored, therefore, I'm hungry. Seriously.  I love food and I love to eat.  Sorry Oprah and Dr. Phil! I am an emotional eater. Food makes me happy.  Because of this, I get up at 4:30 in the morning to exercise. (There's always a price isn't it?!)

I'm asking about your feelings because we are being led by them. We are making life decisions on them. We are raising our kids with them. We are choosing our mates with them. We are choosing our wardrobes with them! YIKES!

And because of this we are CONFUSED! Why? Because feelings change.

Wait. Clarity: Emotions are not wrong. They are important, created by God, and should be used wisely. However, they have no intellect. All they do is react. They will react to a lie like they react to the truth. They react to things that are not real in the same manner as though it is reality. They are the response not the thought!  They must always be second. Not first!

Proverbs 28:26  "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." 

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?"

When we react in emotions, we often end up saying or doing things in error and then we regret. Our feelings get stirred up and drown out God's voice and His insight.  As a result, we make commitments we shouldn't make. We quit things in which God wants us to remain involved. We are confused about our destiny and purpose. We say things that damage people and relationships.  We have emotional experiences, make decisions, and live with the life long consequences. Daily. (Can I get a witness?!)

So what now? What do we do? How do we filter our emotions?

Our feelings are based on our beliefs. What do you believe? What is your source of truth. It CANNOT be you! It must be the Word of God!

What does God's word say about it? Yes I will always go back to Him and His word. That's all I have! I can't give you my thoughts. I have issues too! I laugh, cry, want to be alone, and with everybody in 30 minute increments 1 or 2 weeks of every month!  (Forties!)

Psalm 119: 105 "You word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

I want to encourage you (and me) to stop submitting to your emotions. Stop depending and placing more value on how you feel rather than the Word of God. Make His word priority over your feelings. Believe what the Bible says! It is real. It is truth. It is relevant.


Blessings!




copyright 2014 www.shundriariddick.com All rights reserved.