Punch Back with Prayer

Bully:  a blustering, browbeating person; one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable.

I recently sat next to about 300 children at a convention.  We danced, sang, played countless games, laughed and learned about our God.  The room was loud, chaotic, full of energy and fun.  The room provided safety, love and peace amongst loud.  Led by the exhausted older generation, these children appeared to enjoy every minute of the day (minus a few arguments and parent-sickness here and there). 

One afternoon session centered around bully solutions.  The video described a few scenarios pertaining to bully behavior, then a solution.  Punch back with PRAYER.  Pray for your enemies.  Ask God to bless them and show them the light of Jesus. 

I encountered lots of moments in life where my flaws were used to create a joke for all to laugh.  Here and there little remarks built a definition in my mind of what I ought NOT to be.  These jokes revealed the changes that must take place to survive this world.  I never received a blow to the face, tormenting that I see now amongst children or 24/7 berating over social media.  Kids nowadays cannot leave the bully at school anymore.  The physical and emotional abuse taking place every day breaks my heart. 

The physical presents in outward injury.  The emotional presents in inward torment and pain.  I experienced the latter.  Years passed, the comments lessened as I hid from socializing and people moved on with life.  I, on the other hand, built a mighty shell around my heart filled with lies.  The lies formed beliefs.  The beliefs solidified.

There you have it, a thick protection around a heart consumed with worldly view, opinions, insults and torment.  Years, I worked diligently to ignore the painful words that my heart continually messaged to my thoughts.  Years, I hid behind a hard layer of fake happiness.  Years, I ran from the bullies in this world; yet, constantly faced the same one every moment of every day!

The bully I faced could not be defeated.  The bully held too much power, too many deceiving words and too many years of evidence to back up the lies.  The bully stared me right in the face and explained my lack of value in this world. 

The bully was/is me!  Blustering – speaking lies including lack of skill, assurance of failure, unworthy presence in the world.  Browbeating – constant negative words flooding my thoughts, shouting lines heard growing up.  Habitual cruelty – every time I walk into a room, my bully ranks my worth compared to others present; my bully takes disappointment from loved ones and uses that against me.  Insulting – yes, daily.  A threat – yes, stealing the joy meant for that moment!

Overtime, the lies have diminished, the battle lessened and joy filters into the day.  Overtime, I found Someone amongst the thicket of life Whose words sounded sweeter than any ever heard.  He extended a hand, broke the thick shell and began reconstruction of a shredded heart.  He spoke Truth explaining the skills instilled in the womb, assurance of peace among the failures and the beauty in worth consuming His Child.  He constantly spoke positive, encouraging words for every situation.  He explained ranking does not exist amongst His Children – He loves them all the same and finds beauty in all creation, ranking it VERY GOOD!  He provides only joy, peace, love and comfort along the treacherous path of life. 

He defeats my bully every day (more than once a day)!  He was/is/and is to come!  He is our Savior.  He looked at me before deciding to send me here and said, “That one:  she’s perfect for the job.”  He saved me (physically, emotionally and spiritually) for some reason.  As I dwell on the why. . .He keeps working it all out! 

The same is for you my dear friend.  Squash the bullies in life with Truth.  Overflow your thoughts with His Word so nothing heard this side of Heaven can override.  Punch your bully back with PRAYER!  It is in prayer, you will find God waits to speak over the lies, heal the injuries and walk alongside protecting you. 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

Paved Protected Path Planned Just for You

I was running with my son and husband along the cross-country course at school.  The course not clearly cut shorter than the rest of the field, we simply ran the path as remembered from last year.  Along the run, some portions revealed white line painted into the grass.  My son said (numerous times), “White lines mom!”  He indicated that I veered over the lines and into my own little path while running. 

Problem #1 – the lines fainted with rain and mowing of the field; therefore, seeing the lines required precise vision and focus on location of feet always. 

Problem #2 – blurred lines cannot contain an out of control runner or someone looking way ahead of the current location along the path.

Problem #3 – leading requires knowledge of exact direction to avoid crashing, missed turns or failure to complete the whole course. 

Each problem real.  Each problem I own.  Each problem resulting in frustration of others around me.

The race ran in practice, training or just for physical wellness resembles that of the race ran every single day in life.  Runners must prepare with proper shoes, clothing and hydration needs.  Runners must be ready for whatever terrain the course presents.  Runners must endure conditions of any kind, whether heated environment, storms or chilled temperature.  Runners must finish the race to receive victory, the prize.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

Each day, the sun rises to provide new opportunities in life.  Each day is paved, protected and planned.  God set out before you wakened and painted the lines for your path to follow this very day.  God asks that you keep focus on Him throughout this very day.  God commands that He leads you on this very day. 

The lines may blur from time to time along the path, leading to uncertainty of where to take the next step.  It is in such times, we must rely solely on faith and look to the One leading us in the race.  Worry about one step at a time; for, if we worry or work to manipulate the path ahead, we lose sight of God’s planned and paved path protected by His Hands.  Keep eyes on the Leader, the Perfect Father.  He knows the complete course and the way to the finish line. 

Prepare daily for the race which God planned.  Put on the proper equipment.  Carry the Living Water, His Word, to sustain life.  Stand firm in faith, enduring whatever terrain or environment occurs.  God will lead through the worst of times into the best of times.  Whatever you do, don’t give up.  Today is your day to live as God desired for you.  Today is your race; run it with joy in knowing the prize waits at the finish line.    

   

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:13-17

¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:13-14

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

The New Awaits. . .Take That First Step

Taking a box full of 1000+ pieces created to fit together perfectly to form a beautiful scene – Overwhelming

Standing at the start line of a long run with many miles lying ahead – Defeating

Approaching a fork in the road in a career decision feeling pulled in both directions – Disturbing

Waking up to another day of choices which shape the little people in the home – Daunting

Living up to the title of husband/wife/spouse remaining strong in the difficult times – Exhausting

Life presents negative emotions weaving into each moment.  The glass sits in front of our eyes; we hold the power to choose, half empty or half full?  Outlook determines Outcome. 

Beginning to place one piece at a time together, focusing on the simplicity of the task at hand – Encouraging

Taking the first step and continuing forward, enjoying the scenery along the path – Accomplishing

Seeking sound advice, weighing out all the options and placing the decision at the cross – Calming

Waking up to another day full of blessing to hear the simple laughter of a child – Rewarding

Living up to God’s standards of spousal responsibilities, loving as God loves – Fulfilling

I am not sure about you, but I like the latter of the lists.  These emotions overpower negativity when determination rises inside.  Finding the motivation to remain positive presents with difficulty. 

It resembles training for a marathon. . .step by step, day by day, you train your mind to think positively.  Lots of training plans exist.  Each begin slowly and build the body up to prepare for the race.  Going from couch to start line requires motivation, dedication, consistency and time.  Training our eyes to focus on positive each day must begin slowly and build on a solid foundation to then withstand the race of life.

Motivation occurs at the fork in the road with one path leading to the same old results performing the same old actions each day. . .the other path leading to a new, vibrant life full of joy and peace.  Refusing to live the old and beginning to take on the new increases motivation.  Take that first step my dear friend.

Dedication takes motivation to another level.  With each step, we must choose positive outlook to receive joyful outcomes.  We must believe our God is consistent.  We must stand firm on faith that God will take the broken in the world and maintain the fullness of our glass.  He does not leave us empty. 

Consistency keeps dedication intense and alive.  Day in and day out, remain on the path of new life.  Even when it would be easy to complain, throw a pity party, give up and be negative. . .REFUSE to quit.  Stick to His plan.  God is our trainer and He holds the mighty plan to live life to the full!

Time will reveal a stronger, sturdier foundation on which to stand.  Faith overtakes every situation.  Hope arises in every outcome.  Take that first step my dear friend.

The choice is ours.  The fork in the road is here.  Will you train for the race of life?  Will you join me on the path full of encouraging moments leading to countless accomplishments presenting a calming, rewarding and fulfilling life?  God will take such faith and move mountains.  Take that first step my dear friend.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig