T.B.Y.S

Our voices can be a good part of our communication or it can be a negative part of our communication skills.  Lately I have noticed how many are lacking in the area of T.B.Y.S - Think Before You Speak...That really says it all.  As a parent, brother or sister, friend or even Foe, what we say will have a lasting affect on that relationship. 

We have all heard the saying "Sticks and Stones may heart MY Bones BUT Words Will Never Hurt ME!!! That saying is so untrue.  What we say to one another can hurt us and have a lasting impact on our lives.  Believe me part of my recovery is just that in itself. The words that were negatively spoken to me for years has taken a lot of time and patience to let Go and be free of.  I think it needs to be more like "Sticks and Stones May Break MY Bones But Words May Hurt Me Forever. 

I love Proverbs 16:24 that states "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.  (ESV)  Or by using encouraging words as 1Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing

Working as a cashier at Wal-Mart you do tend to see others in the best and worst behavior I must say. I have heard parents often say to their children "Get out of my face! I don't want to see you right now!" or, another one I hear often is a child wanting his/her parents attention and they are so busy on their cell phones the child is ignored for the most part until the parent notices them and will fly off the handle and yell at them because they are wanting his/her parents attention often due to the fact that they need to use the restroom, or someone needs them such as myself the cashier, or even cause they forgot something in the cart but we are so busy in our own world we lash out and not realize how our words are not being used in a positive way.

 I am not perfect by a long shot, but I am slowly learning how what we say and do can impact someone's life for eternity.  As many say we are often the only thing others will see.  And will it be for the good and that Jesus will shine thru you or will it be for the negative and leave people wondering where you stand spiritually. 

Lets do more T.B.Y.S and impact lives for the better.

Until next time. 

Addictions

WE have all heard it at one time or another heard someone say “ I’m addicted to…” Or “I’m not really addicted to this” Yet, do addictions really exist?  Are they wrong?  What does it actually mean to be addicted to something?  What does God say about Addictions?

Dictionary.com defines Addictions as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”

The bible also encourages you to stay away from Evil Matthew 6:13 says “And lead us not into temptation, BUT deliver us from Evil” or Titus 2:12 says “Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.  Lastly Leviticus 19:4 says “Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God” 

So can much of our daily habits become addictions such as: Food, Television, Gambling, Computers, Facebook, Smoking, Drugs, Drinking, Chocolate, Sex, Twitter, Video Games, or even Texting, become our Addictions or Idols? There are so many more addictions that we could add to this list and I am sure you can name 5 more on the top of your head.  But when is a good thing too much?  What is a healthy balance?  How can we make sure that our actions don’t become an addiction?

1.    Prayer – Pray without Ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17

2.    If something Is taking over your life and you find that you are thinking about it and doing it more than normal you likely are addicted

3.    Get Help- Find help with finding a safe place to heal. Check out either a Celebrate Recovery Ministry that is often found in various churches and if that is not possible, look for some type of recovery support groups in your area. If you find that is not enough and you are still struggling then please seek professional help.

4.    Admit your Addiction – Confide in a friend, minister, teacher, accountability partner that you are struggling with your addiction and ask for support.  Everybody needs a little help to get their lives together and your no exception.

5.    Be Patient – it is easier to become addicted to something then to break the habit.  Be prepared to with draw from it gradually.  It will take some time but Change is possible.

6.    Believe, Pray and Wait - Your journey will take you to places you would not have expected. Healing from an addiction can be life changing. So be prepared to be wowed!!! 

Several years ago, when I realized that I suffered from Addictions I was so pleased to know that I was not alone. I am on the road to recovery from Food-Addiction, Co-Dependency, and Verbal and Emotional Abuse.  As God says in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things thru Christ who gives me the strength” God is there to reach out to you to take you by hand and show you the way.  Are you willing to surrender? He is waiting for you… 

Until Next Time…

Cathie