Review of the book Anxious For Nothing by Max Lucado

I really enjoyed this book. I suffer from anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, agoraphobia and so much more and this book really inspired me.

On page 5 he wrote " Anxiety takes our breath, for sure. If only that were all it took. It also takes our sleep. Our energy, Our well-being...Harm to our necks, jaws, backs, and bowels. Anxiety can make our eyes twitch, blood pressure rise, heads ache and armpits sweat. Chances are that you or someone you know seriously struggles with anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are reaching epidemic proportions. In a given year, nearly 50 million Americans will feel the effects of a panic attack, phobias, or other anxiety disorders. Our chests will tighten. We'll feel dizzy and light-headed. We'll fear crowds and avoid people. Anxiety disorders in the United States are the number one mental health problem among...women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men.  The United States is now the most anxious nation in the world. The land of the Stars and Stripes has become the country of stress and strife. This is a costly achievement. Stress related ailments cost the nation $300 billion every year in medical bills and lost productivity, while our usage of sedative drugs keep skyrocketing, just between 1997 and 2004. Americans doubled their spending on anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax and Valium, from $900 million to $2.1 billion...."

Another quote on page 46 which says " The is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror.Your future matters more than your past. In the great trapeze act of salvation, God is the catcher, and we are the flyers. We trust. Period. We rely solely upon God's ability to catch us. As we do, a wonderful thing happens: we fly. Your Father has never dropped anyone. He will not drop you. His grip is sturdy and his hands are open. As the apostle proclaimed," And I know the Lord will continue to rescue me from every trip, trap and snare, and pitfall of evil and carry me safely to his heavenly kingdom. May he be glorified throughout eternity. Amen(2nd Peter 4:18)"

Another quote on page 127 which reads " I watched the interactions with a silent sense of awe. It is easy to praise God during seasons of wellness. But it was during my greatest distress when I felt the Lord's presence poured upon me. And it was in those heartbreaking moments I learned to trust this God who provided unimaginable strength during unimaginable pain. He will help you as well, my friend. Guard your thoughts and trust your Father."

Great Article I Found On Facebook

I am quoting the article right now which says "It boggles our minds that a right-wing terrorist can send 12 bombs to Trump's perceived political enemies and now some progressives are saying, "Let's just be nicer to them. Let's be more civil now. That's what Jesus would do."

No, that isn't what Jesus would do. Jesus never, ever gave in to the money changers in the temple. He never gave in to the Pharisees and Sadducees. He never gave in to the Sanhedrin, which was the oppressive Jewish government at the time. He never gave in to the Romans. He never gave in to the crowds who chanted for him to be killed.

Instead he stood firm. Instead he spoke the truth to them no matter what they said and did. He did not cave. He did not run away. That's why in the end they whipped him, and beat him, and laughed at him, and spat at him. That's why they killed him."

You can read the whole article : here

Source: Facebook.com/ChristiansTiredOfBeingMisrepresented

Some thoughts I found inspiring today!

Even though I don't consider myself a Jehovah's witness anymore I still like to keep up with them in the news and read articles about them as well.

Today a person I follow on Facebook called James Hacche and he said this and I agree with it:
According to the Watchtower every one who is not at Jehovah's witness at the time of Armageddon will be killed by God. This is a false teaching and goes against what Jehovah is a God of love. He isn't going to kill anyone at Armageddon. Rather he is going to teach those who do not believe or know God and do not obey the good news of Jesus Christ a valuable lesson. How can you learn from your mistakes if Jehovah kills you and you are dead.

What will happen to the wicked? Isaiah 11:4 says, but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

The above statement shows Armageddon will be a war of words against the wicked.

A few quotes about God

This person I follow on Facebook named Ken Reetz posted this and said I could share:

"Have you ever experienced the silence of God?

Your prayers are tired and weak from repetition, and your hope fades because surely God sees all your faults and weaknesses and has counted you as unworthy to receive anything of Him – not even to listen.

One word: Who did our Lord die for? Only those who are worthy? Who could possibly be worthy? Romans 5:8 – “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God is never silent, but he is patient. He knows what is best for us, and that may be quite different from our ideas. His quietness gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and demonstrate trust – and perhaps another opportunity to reflect on what our real needs are.

We need a humble and contrite heart that is totally given to our Lord most of all; His silence may be the only way to slow us down so we realize that. I know from personal experience how true that is. It may be your truth today.

God wants us to be blessed and happy and there is nothing better than knowing Christ and trusting in Him with complete confidence. He has proven His love and now is the time to prove that we trust Him – regardless of circumstances.

In fact, the darker things are the brighter faith and trust shine. What a perfect time to honor our Lord! Anyone can sing praises when life is perfect and cheery, it takes a strong connection to God to sing those same praises when life is a mess.

Many times God is silent so we can concentrate on the connection more than the rewards it offers. Or maybe He is just asking us to be patient.

Either way, Matthew 7: 9-11 says it best:
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Be patient fellow sinner:
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”"

A post with quotes about Mental illness

I found this great person on Facebook who herself and I both suffer from mental illness and wanted to share her thoughts with my readers.

Diana says " I don't judge a person's mind as inferior based on illness or dysfunction. I have my own cognitive issues to deal with and I can understand how someone can be intelligent and challenged at the same time. I only judge the validity of the claims. I don't think of schizophrenia so much as a mental illness. I think it's more a nervous system disorder related to stress. I think we fail people when we divide mind from body. It's been said that schizophrenia is also related to a high degree of intelligence. So some of what appears to be paranoia could just be a recognition of how unstable the world is. And some what appears to be a delusion could actually be a lack of it in an otherwise deluded world."

Review of the book LIve Fearless by Sadie Robertson

I really enjoyed this book. She is so down to earth and honest about her life and herself and her relationship with Jesus and God.

On page 26 she says " God does not produce feelings of fear or anxiety. In fact, its the opposite. God's word tells us over and over again not to worry or fear and is very clear that God doesn't give you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power. If you're anxious or fearful about this, that is not from Him. Forty million people in the US ages 18 and older, suffer from anxiety disorders. On page 52 she says " Many of us are acting like following God means we live a life of misery and saying no to all the fun things in life. Perhaps we haven't yet realized that following Christ is the way to an abundant life-its the way to true joy and a great adventure...If we go to the world as the salt and light as Jesus calls us to, with celebration of what He has done on our lives, others will want to be a part of it too."

On page 53 she says " We have to get to God often and feed ourselves on His word and His presence. We're not going to provide energy for ourselves, much less others, by just going to the top one time and then spending the rest of the time swimming around in darkness. It means going back to the top-back to a very personal place with God-every single day. I don't want to give the impression that a vibrant life with God means nothing will go wrong or that every day will be a party. That's just not true. Life does have its challenges, and disappointments. Sometimes it gets, really, really hard or sad. The pressures we face are not intended to hurt us or discourage us. They are designed to bring out us of the light that is in us because of our love for God and our relationship with Him. When the light comes out of us, it changes the world. Lord Jesus, I am in awe of You and wonder of who You are. I want to know more about You. I want to see more sides of You. Enlighten my mind to see a new side of Your holiness today. As I seek your face, fuel my heart with passion and give me the strength to bypass my enemies to fulfill the purpose You have given me. Thank You, God, for bringing meaning to my life."

Isaiah 43:2-4 says " When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior...You are precious and honored in my sight." Sadie says " God, help me to take captive every thought in my mind that is not of You and silence the whispers of the enemy in my ears. I choose to fill my mind with thoughts that are pleasing to You."

Sadie says " We so often think we're right is that we can only see what we can see about our lives. We don't know what is coming around the next bend. God, however, sees the end from the beginning and in His love. He guides us toward the end that He knows will be best for us, not the destination we think is right for us. God can also see the big picture of our lives, while we are usually focused on smaller snapshots. The pastor also noted that God often speaks to us with warnings. This could be an uneasy feeling on the inside, a thought that makes us change direction, or a person who says to us, get yourself off the crazy train. The important point to remember when find yourself on the crazy train is that you don't see the whole picture of your life at any particular time. Sometimes people who love you and care about you can see it more clearly than you do because they're not caught up in your swirling emotions. They're more objective. If they are urging you to get off the crazy train-or if what your thinking about the direction in which you're headed does not align with God's word-seriously consider heeding those warnings."

Sadie says on page 90 " God, I want the big picture that You have in Your mind for my life to become a reality. Help me connect the dots and go through each one with the confidence that You are helping me, walking with me, fighting for me, healing me, and making me strong and free every step of the way." On page 158 she says " People are fickle. only one person who has ever lived who does not change. Ever. I can't say it any better than this: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. If you want someone in your life you  can always depend on, He's the one."