SelahV Today by hariette petersen

When People Disappoint You

life can be aggravating.

But if we dwell on that disappointment, the aggravation can turn to bitterness or anger.  If we're not careful, soon we'll find ourselves battling more than disappointment from others.  We battle our own spirit.  The Spirit of God who lives within us is not happy and cannot commune with a spirit of ire and anger. It's no wonder a grumpy Christian becomes useless. What once was fruitful, withers.

"for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:20

When we cram anger into our hearts, the righteousness of God fails to surface.  No matter how hard we try, our flesh cannot breed a generous, loving, righteous attitude. Our mind has to be refreshed.  Our anger must be dealt with.  Then and only then can we produce outwardly what lives within our souls.  selahVtoday

My Common Matters Column: I'm Not Complaining, but...

Things have been a bit wearing these days.  I had a bout with the flu, acute bronchitis (though I found nothing "cute" about it), and am going through a battery of tests to determine the reason for my muscle weakness.  Thus, I've missed a couple of weeks of writing for Common Matters.  And I suppose, that's a "common matter" for folks like me. I told my husband I feel like a woose.  So many people in far worse shape than I are plugging along and managing quite well in the midst of their obstacles and challenges.  Then there is me.

Ever had an EMG?  I hadn't.  It's a test where they stick a bunch of patches on your legs and feet (and then on the arms and hands) and power up a machine that shocks you silly.  And as if that isn't enough to drive you batty, the neurologist comes in and sticks needles in your legs and feet and makes you flex your muscles till you feel those needles and it makes enough noise on their machine to give him some information about the nerves that makes you feel like you've lost all nerves and courage.  I had the test on the legs yesterday and will have the test on my hands and arms today.  I dreaded every second of the one yesterday and had a bunch of folks praying I'd make it through without crying foul and well, just plain crying.  God answers the craziest prayers of His people.

Here I was feeling all kinds of wimpy and God gave the go-ahead for me to feel His strength and peace amid the punctures and pain.  The technician was funny and kept me laughing as hubby held my hand.  The neurologist was equally funny and talked about sports and other mundane matters to try and keep my mind off the torture techniques they were administering to get the information needed to help me deal with my health issues.  I kept thinking that what I was going through was nothing in comparison to what the Lord went through to save my sinful soul.  Why in the world would He do that?  I wondered.  Such love, don't you think?

After the test, I felt a few aftershocks to the tenderized nerves.  And long about suppertime, it felt like I was having a toothache in my ankles.  I took more Ibuprophen and icing my ankle worked magic and I made it through most of the night.  Today I decided I better do my best to fulfill my obligation to Venius and get this article out before the doctor and technician started poking my arms and hands and wrists.  I can't even imagine what the after-effects will be.  Don't think I'll feel much like typing, tweeting and face-booking.  I may not even feel like chopping veggies or peeling apples.  We'll see.  Pain affects everyone differently.

I read where many people would "never ever again" have the tests I'm having.  I read that before I had my first test and I mean to tell you, it had me questioning whether or not to go through with the procedure.  In the end, I prayed about it and by sheer coincidence (if you don't believe in God's providence), I turned on my computer in the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't sleep and a crafty blogger I follow had sent her latest post to my email box.  Her latest blogpost was not about remaking old chairs into benches or how to make tables out of wooden pallets.  It was a lovely photo of some trees laced with snow.  And on the photo was a verse from Isaiah 41:10.  "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you."

So, just so you know, I'm not complaining.  I'm sharing all the wimpy weakness of this human woose.  And I am so grateful God uses a person I've never met (one who normally writes about Do-It-Yourself projects), to post a photo with a promise from Him that spoke directly to me about my fears and anxiety.  Maybe that verse will help you, too.  God's pretty faithful in helping folks who trust Him-- and even some who don't.  So, now...off to the neurologist for another morning of marvelous mayhem.  ~~Copied from Common Matters

Feeling Overwhelmed?

When we face multiple difficulties and situations that are far beyond our control, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed.  Most of the time I'm able to take one thing at a time, one situation, one obstacle.  Today is not one of those times.

Physical pain affects the ability to cope and reason as we normally would. 

That's me.  Between all the diagnosed pain and the undiagnosed pain, I'm feeling a lot like I imagine an oil-soaked seagull might feel after an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Weighted.  Very weighted.

I know that "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and shall mount up on wings as eagles."  I know this.  I've experienced the Lord's strengthening on many occasions when I've waited patiently on Him to act. 

Today I seem to lack the energy to even wait.  You'd think a person would need no energy to wait...to simply wait.  But there is this inner anxiety that eats away the peace within a person's spirit who, not only faces problems, but also sees the tsunami wave of other problems on the horizon of life. 

It's in these moments we must "call upon the Lord" and let him "show us great and mighty things which we know not."  For He promises to be with us.  He beckons for us to come to Him and let Him carry the burden of our souls.  I have no other choice.  I'm simply too exhausted to try to do anything myself.  My mind is spent.  My ingenuity, creativity and intellect elude me. Circumstances are overwhelming today.

Pray for me.  I need to wait.  But I need to wait in peace and calm.  Breathing deeply and moving slowly... that's life today with selahV

 

 

 

Can You Be Destroyed By Things You Love?

When I first heard the clip from the lastest Hunger Games movie where Plutarch says to Alma Coin, "It's the things we love most that destroy us...," I thought, how lame... we love our husbands, wives, grandkids... God... and they destroy us???

According to the character, Plutarch Heavensbee, yes, they can.  I am not sure what Plutarch was eluding to with Alma.  The clip was short.  However, as I rethought that scene in the trailer, it hit me...it didn't matter. 

The love of "things" can destroy us.  We can be so consumed by things-- gaining them, holding onto them, protecting them, hoarding them, keeping them all to ourselves-- that yeah, we can be destroyed by our obsession. 

However... obsession is not love.

Obsession is selfish and love is not.  Obsession is self-centered and love is selfless, generous and thoughtful.  Obsession is envious and rude and manipulative, love is not jealous, it's courteous, and considerate.  Obsession is impatient, demanding and love is patient and yielding.  Obsession hoards and becomes stagnant; love multiplies and flows freely.  Obsession smothers; love releases itself to love even more. Love frees the soul, the mind, the heart.  Love brings peace because love is forgiving. Love is the motivating factor for why God sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16, NKJV 

What could be better than having God abide in us? Eternally?

I'm praying that the new year will find me loving a lot this year.  And I pray that things do not consume my thoughts and energy in such a way that I forget what is most important in life.  To love and love abundantly.