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My Story - My Life

This is a place for me to share my story.
Open.   Honest.    Not politically correct.
I am a Christian.   I will talk about God.

A Spirit of Complacency

4/27/2015

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So yesterday I decided to reread a book that has always been a favorite of mine - "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti.    

Now the shear fact that I even began to read this book is nothing short of a miracle because I do not always allow myself time to just "rest".        My Type A personality insists that I always be busy and always be working to achieve "something".     I suppose some of that stems from my childhood and my insane need to please my father in order to obtain his love but I digress. 

The book "This Present Darkness" was first published in 1986 and is a fictional story of a very real spiritual warfare.      The author perfectly describes our weaknesses through demon's that each have a hold on particular characters in the book.   

For instance, one woman who is trying to seduce the pastor is being controlled by the demon called Lust.       Another character who is a "fortune teller" is being controlled by the demon called Divination.  A third character who is always causing trouble is being controlled by the demon called Strife.

But the one character who intrigued me the most  - and the one who I feel was the most dangerous - was the one being controlled by the demon called Complacency.        Now when considering the multitude of demons and the trouble they may cause, this little guy Complacency seemed quite harmless.    He certainly was not as big as the other demons; certainly not threatening by appearance.     But in the scheme of life, Complacency could do the biggest damage.

Webster's Dictionary describes complacency as  " a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc".      

Do you understand now why complacency can be so dangerous?    Complacency can be the enemy's best weapon against us as he "shields our eyes" from the true pain and horror surrounding us.    It is a spirit of complacency that has come against our country today.     It is the reason why normal, intelligent American citizens can sit idly by and do nothing as countless men, women and children are slaughtered simply for their religious beliefs.

Complacency tells us that everything is okay - someone else will take care of it.     Complacency whispers in our ear that we do not need to get involved - why "shake up" the perfect little life we have created?   Complacency creates "busy" work for us (uh oh) so we are too involved in petty things to realize the big important things that truly need our attention.

I am no stranger to this spirit called Complacency.     He has made himself quite comfortable in my life on numerous occasions.      Complacency usually shows himself in my life through that "busy" work.   How many times have I turned a blind eye to someone in need because I was too busy to make that effort?    Oh, not because I didn't care but because I was so caught up in that feeling of "security" that I just knew someone else would help.   

My friends, our eyes are being covered right now by this spirit of Complacency and it is time to wake up and open our eyes.       Stop being comfortable in your life and begin to get uncomfortable again!    Do you not understand that the enemy only attacks when he feels threatened by you so if the enemy hasn't attacked you lately -  what are you doing?

And for those who are being attacked - rejoice!!     That's right!   I said rejoice because that means you have the enemy scared so you must be doing something right!

Do not allow the spirit of Complacency to become a permanent member of your life.    Step outside your comfort zone.    Take chances.    Guess what?   If you fail - at least you tried!    Now, try again!   One day, it will work!

When I look back on my life, I am not saddened by the chances I took that did not succeed.    At least I learned something and moved on to something that worked.    No, I am most saddened by the chances I didn't take for fear of failure.

Now a spirit of Fear......that is one for another Blog Post.



 


 
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Be A Woman of Character

4/19/2015

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Lately I have been noticing a trend of grown women tearing each other down.     Ladies, we have enough trouble to deal with in this crazy world, why would we not choose to support each other?

I get it.    I really do.    I spent many years caught up in my own depression and insecurity and the only way to make myself feel better was to tear someone else down.       And so that is what I did.     I hurt a lot of people and ruined a lot of friendships because of my arrogance and insecurity.   

I gossiped.    I "embellished" the truth (okay, I lied).     I did whatever it took to make myself look good and feel superior - the entire time hoping somehow I would start to feel better.

The biggest problem with my plan?   It never made me feel better!      In fact, it only made me feel worse.    I cluttered my life with drama and strife while the whole time praying that God would take these problems away from me.

God wants us to be happy.    He wants us to enjoy a fruitful and productive life.    But we cannot do that if we continuously tear each other down.

Worrying about what someone else is doing in their life is not going to make your life any better.   I just heard a new country song on the radio (my son loves country music) and the chorus says "mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy".        I love that!     

We have got to start living our own lives and stop tearing each other down.     Let me let you in on a little secret - you will never be able to advance in your own life until you start building people up instead of tearing them down.

If someone in your life is successful, don't gossip about how they got there - be happy for them.    If someone you know has fallen, don't kick them harder or gloat - pick them up. 

It is time to become women of character - women who choose to take the high road - women who choose to raise each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Life is hard, my beautiful friends, so stop making it even harder.   

You are unique.   You are beautiful.    You are loved.

Now pass it on.
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Welcome to my new website!

4/8/2015

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If you are reading this blog entry, it means my attempt to FINALLY update my website has succeeded and you now know more about me than you probably ever cared to know!

I am excited for the opportunity that God has presented me to share my story of recovery and continue my speaking tour advocating for mental health awareness.

A few things to note about my blog entries going forward:    they will be completely honest;  they will most likely NOT be politically correct;   and they will probably talk A LOT about my faith.

But the great part about this being MY website is that it is exactly that - mine.    I am free to share my opinion and observations about life and how I achieved victory over this illness they call depression.    You may not agree with some of the things that I say and that is perfectly okay.     God gave us free will and our founding fathers gave us free speech so I will take that as my cue to write away!

I created this website to serve as a "safe haven" for individuals living with a mental illness but it was also created to bring much needed awareness to the FACTS about mental health.    The stigma surrounding mental health has created a prison for those suffering with the illness - too afraid to seek help for fear of the repercussions.

I am here to tell you that recovery is real and it can be yours.   I will not promise that recovery will come quick.     It may require a little trial and error between you and your doctor as you find the right medication that works.         Recovery for me is an every day process.   I have learned my "triggers" and I have learned what works - and what doesn't work.

You will fall down as you try to overcome.    Falling down does not matter.    Getting up again is what is important.

I look forward to hearing from you and giving me your feedback on the website!

God Bless!!


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    I hope you enjoy my ramblings about life.  I promise to always be honest.    No pride here.

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