Thanks for Suffering?

Recent attendance of continuing education offering by Dr. Nick Hall brought to light some interesting food for thought. The lecture focused on mental health and brain function. The part that really got my attention was how the brain is built to positively manage trauma, stress and suffering if one chooses to employ the following disciplines.
1. Maintain a sense that I have some control of the situation troubling me.
2. Have the ability to predict the outcome of the current stress.
3. Develop a realistic optimism that the current trauma will be an eventual benefit.
As a Christ follower, I have learned the hard way that I really have no control over any situation, but He has all the control and power to work all things for my good when I ask and wait on His resolution. His control is enough for me.
Believing the promises in His Word when I am stressed out due to negative circumstances, have given me a rock of predictability for positive outcomes. I may not know what it will look like but I do know He has my back.
Realistic optimism has taught me that even though I don't win every round, over the long haul I am growing in my failures and learning not to take every wounding personal.
"There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for Him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting." Philippians 1:29 As I reflect on all I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day, I am adding suffering and trauma to the list. As well as the fact that He is in control, His promises are true and He is at work in me to bring a free and abundant life.

What if??

Thank you Mountain Press, for the front page photo of Dema the tiger and Nia the baby orangutan. In the photo, they are almost nose-to-nose with peaceful intent, peering into one another’s eyes. The caption notes that they are inseparable playmates and this behavior would not happen in the wild.
The tiger would be a predator of the orangutan and the orangutan would be fearful of the tiger. However, they both suffered abandonment and in their emotional need are finding comfort and joy in a new paradigm.
Do you suppose there is a deeper message here for humans? What human being has not suffered abandonment or rejection directly from someone or from past generations in the course of living? The human response is to put up walls, collect old baggage and develop prejudices against others. Withdrawal, anger, self-pity, self-hatred and other negative emotions might be collected into our luggage of life.
Perhaps a better way is demonstrated by these two beautiful creatures. Maybe willingness to accept differences and work together with respect for one another is helpful to move past the negative. These two animals appear to have moved on.
The picture and story seem to indicate that they have found joy in living despite the past hardships they have experienced and their differences. Dema and Nia have become peaceful companions despite what instinct would tell them, to fear and destroy.
The community of Roseto, Pennsylvania, demonstrated the health giving effects of close relationships up until the 1970’s. It is true that the members of this community shared cultural similarities but the uniqueness and education of each individual was valued and even celebrated.
If you lived in Roseto during this time, you would often share a household of 3 generations, you knew your neighbors and shared with them, and differences were acknowledged, addressed and solved. You would have difficulty finding stories about prolonged inter-personal conflict.
Faith, fun, fellowship and food were an essential part of each day. People were nourished by other people and social networking was an important part of each person’s free time. Most tables were typically graced with foods containing refined carbohydrates and high cholesterol fats. Astonishingly, these people enjoyed greater cardiac health than any other community in the area.
Cardiac mortality for men between the ages of 55 and 64 was near zero and for men over 65 the cardiac death rate was half the national average. These people became the object of a national study because their mortality rates were higher than the national average despite unhealthy diets.
The study found that the practice of respect, honor and fellowship with one another brought greater health and more satisfaction of life. The practice of families eating together, neighbors visiting together, and community participation in worship as well as events brought corporate peace as well as personal peace.
What if as an individual, I work on building and deepening personal relationships? What if I take seriously the admonition that our spiritual enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy life but that God wants us to have abundant life despite difficulties? What if I really start to believe that relationships with people who love God and one another are life giving?

These choices could bring greater life in my home, family and community. Church denominations might join together. Competitive businesses might look for ways to help one another. Democrats and Republicans might agree. Communities might experience a great healing and refreshing. Children and grandparents might be better cared for, family feuds might end and divorce rates might fall. Creativity in all areas probably would flourish as individuals no longer focus on hurts and pain but have renewed energy to be imaginative and inventive.
How many of us have prayed, “Thy will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.” Could this story of Dema and Nia be a little hint from Father in heaven?

Broken Body, Broken Heart? Dig Deeper

Nancy could no longer ignore the pounding headaches and wooden like feeling in her feet when she got out of bed in the morning. "What's up with this body malfunction?" she wondered with growing concern. Anyone who really knew Nancy would tell you she ate healthy, exercised, and worked hard to keep her life balanced and free of stress.
Searching out her symptoms on the Web narrowed down her suspicions that something was awry in her nervous system. Reviewing the health histories of her grandparents turned up 3 of them who had Alzheimer's, a disease of the nervous system. And then there was that research article that highlighted not enough B complex vitamins can cause too much homo cysteine in the brain leading to Alzheimer's.
A consultation with her physician confirmed some absorption problems in her digestive system as well as vitamin B deficiencies. By admitting she had a problem, praying for guidance, seeking help and digging deeper; Nancy got her diagnosis and solution to bring her physical body back into order.
Through other broken body and broken heart experiences, Nancy had learned to dig deep to learn God's Wisdom for healing answers. She had learned the prescription that had yet to fail her in Proverbs 3:5-8. "Trust God from the bottom of your heart;don't try to figure everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in every thing you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!"

Love and Boundaries

Marsha agonized over her daughter Julie's victimization as a child. Julie's father had abused her verbally all of her growing up years causing her unresolved physical and emotional pain. When they would talk, Julie made sarcastic comments to her mother concerning Marsha's poor relational choices. Marsha had apologized to Julie for her poor choices and the harm done to her daughter and was ready to move on to a more hopeful future for both of them.
Marsha asked herself, "Is Julie's inability to move on a good reason for me to forfeit my personal peace and well being by allowing these comments to continue?" Marsha knew that if she truly cared about herself in a healthy way, it was time to set a healthy boundary between the two of them. In the next conversation they had Marsha said to Julie, "I love you Julie and I don't think it would be best for me to hang out with you for right now. This won't be forever."
In setting this boundary, Marsha feared permanent rejection from Julie but also had the greater hope that God would teach both to look at Him and through Him find true peace, unity and healing.
During her prayer time, Marsha was directed to Psalm 45 and was excited to find verses 10-15. From the Message Bible she prayed for the both of them, "Now listen, daughter, don't miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you. Be here -the King is wild for you. Since He's Lord, adore Him. Wedding gifts pour in; rich guests shower you with presents." Her wedding dress is dazzling, lined with gold by the weavers; All her dresses and robes are woven with gold. She is led to the King, followed by her virgin companions. A procession of joy and laughter!
Marsha's great hope was that King Jesus would bring them both to this place of joy and laughter, in His time and in His way. She could courageously rest in this loving boundary with Julie and prayerfully trust God's love and faithfulness to both of them.

The Intimate Penny

Andy stepped out the door into the first light of the rain sodden day to take his morning jog. The I-Phone earplugs were pumping powerful strains of music scores into his ears like "Transformers", "Gladiators", and "Pirates of the Caribbean". Most days these tunes energized him as he ran and reminded him of the loving and powerful presence he hoped that day from His loving Father God.
Today he was especially burdened by thoughts such as, "Will I succeed at work today?", "Will my brother overcome the cancer?", "Will those party animals in the apartment beside me ever stop?" His mood and hope matched the weather. Suddenly, he was thinking about the penny game he played.
When Andy would find a penny on the ground, he would read the words, "In God We Trust", etched on the penny. He had grown to believe these findings were personal reminders to him that Father God was providing for him and protecting him and his concerns.
Andy longed for "man to man" talks that he was not able to have with his busy earthly father. Today especially, he was needing to know if his concerns and burdens were being heard and acted on. "Wonder if I will find a penny today?" Andy thought.
As he stepped into the elevator to take him back to his 4th floor apartment,a broad grin brightened his face as his eyes fell on the penny that was lying on the elevator floor. Father God did hear and He was working on Andy's stuff! His loving Father knew his most intimate thoughts and concerns. Andy was filled with fresh hope for the day and reassurance that God's promises can be trusted.
"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Psalm 34:17-18 The Message Bible

"Boundaries"

Ladies,
Check out this upcoming 12 week study.

"Boundaries- When to Say Yes and When to Say No"
Materials written by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Answers questions like - Can I set limits and still be a loving person?
How do I answer someone who wants my time,love,
or energy?
Why do I feel guilty when I consider setting boundaries?
Enjoy the instructional DVD followed by small group sharing.

Offered on Thursday nights starting July 7th in Tavernier, Florida.
For more information e-mail Bonnie Young at bonnie@younginhim.com

Is Your DreamTired, Worn Out or Energized and Alive?

Were you brought up to receive love through accomplishments or were you loved even when you failed? Are you afraid to live out your dreams because you might fail and receive criticism or do you move forward with courage doing the things you feel led to do without thought of criticism or failure?
Let's look at Jesus. He knew His Father in heaven loved Him and He knew the dream He was living out was to die for our mess, our guilt so we could be energized and alive to live out our dreams for Him. Even His best friends thought He was a failure and deserted Him after He died. But they didn't realize the end of the story until later. His mighty, loving Father brought Him back alive and the dream became reality.
Our suffering and obedience are to be expected as we pursue our dreams. So get up from your tired, worn out place and look to the Father who loves you unconditionaly. Thank Him for the struggles, for Jesus faithfulness of pursuing His dreams and walking in victory for you and me. Thank Him for His energy, His life and His endurance placed in you. Thank Him for the realization of your dream that is coming through Him!