Thought Bubbles: Unexpected Blessings

I WAS UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN A FRIEND SENT THIS   




GOD SPEAKS

The woman whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the woman did not hear.

So the woman yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the woman did not listen. The woman looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the woman did not see. And, the woman shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born. But, the woman did not notice. So, the woman cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the woman. But, the woman brushed the butterfly away . and walked on. I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age.. So I would like to add one more: The woman cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement. But, the woman deleted it and continued crying . Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.  Have A Beautiful Day! With God, All Things Are Possible. Mark 10:27

Thought Bubbles: How to Spend Time

God allows us only one 24 hour period to live in at a time. In our minds we may race forward to worry about the future or wander in the past to dwell on what should have been done. But these pursuits are wastes of the 24 hours that we have to live today. To focus on what is here today, in this 24 hour period is what we have learn to do.This is what I am learning out of this depression at this time.

These are Janet’s other sites:

nicktimeflyer.com

cafepress.com/bubbledreams

thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com

Thought Bubbles: Holley's blog

I take inspiration from where ever I can get it. Here is a blog that I read almost every morning: It Is by Holley Gerth

I don't know exactly where you are at this moment.

But I know this...

You are loved.

You are surrounded by grace.

I'm not sure what's ahead of you in the days to come.

But I'm sure of this...

You will not face it alone.

You already have victory in the ways that matter most.

I may not see every detail of your circumstances.

But I see this...

You have a God who watches over you with tender care.

And wherever you are, He is already there.

As you begin your week, my friend, know that you're in my thoughts and prayers!

Who in your life needs to hear this today too?

--Holley

She says things so lovingly and graciously that I am hesitant to write anything afterwards. But  I am reminded that the world does go on around me as I struggle with the battle within. To pull myself up out of the stifling, overbearing river of depression and breathe again the breath of life, that is my goal! How can one do so without the guidance of a God, of friends, of family.

Thought Bubbles: Rejoice Today? you Bet!

Rejoice Today!In this small prayer study that I read I ran into something most inspiring to day. It had to to with several Bible verses. I think that you would like to know about when just faced with the wall of fear, overwhelming depression and chaos:

He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble Psalm 46:1

His is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer Psalm 18:2

a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head Psalm 3:3

fullness of joy Psalm 16:11

faithful in all His words and kind in all His works Psalm 145:13

merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness Psalm 86:15

my light and salvation Psalm 27:1

So when the fear, chaos and blind terror that is depression and anxiety keep the above in mind, sister and brothers! We will win!

Amen!

Thought Bubbles: Character development?

My continued suffering of this disease is developing several character traits that I have shortage of. Namely, I have suffered enough from the inside sources of my pain, I will not accept others trying to judge me, or cause me guilt. After all it is my acceptance of that guilt that makes it legit. And it is that way with the inner pain as well. We are getting there.

Another is, I am in this for the rest of my life. A fight to the end and I will fight. It challenges me. I take that challenge and run with it. 

No one, nothing, except God knows what I have suffered as I lay crying, drove crying, tears streaming down my face. So I have that quite power that gives me strength. 

Now I must learn to defuse from the whole concept of "depression is me". It is just a part of a splendid person that I have become. 

Thought Bubbles: ANTs

What is an ANT? some small creature?Please remember that this creature is far stronger than his size and can carry many times his weight. So can Automatic Negative Thoughts. This concept was discovered by Sally-Anne McCormick out of Australia.
This is a thought process that we have trained our brains into over many years. It starts when the parent is trying to be corrective in the formative years. But over usage and focusing on these thoughts can cause depression and anxiety.

I turned to a devotional prayer book this morning: Prayers for Emotional Wholeness by Stormie Omartian and one of the first prayers I turn to was on page 158. A sentence jumped out at me.

                 You are Lord over my life, and I invite You to be Lord over my thoughts as well.
                 Replace the negative with positive, Christ affirming thoughts.
Every thought. Do it as an exercise. Repeat scripture, replacing a negative thought. Repeat positive affirming thoughts, Christian, or secular. But do it, and after 28 days it becomes a habit. You are more positive and your esteem and mental health come up higher than before.

Thought Bubbles: Stone God?

My degree is in art history. I always thought that the stone images of gods from the stone age all the way to modern times-primitive tribal art- were quaint, but really gave no more thought to them. Maybe a study of the form, or how the artist and the style merged to create that piece of art.

Then, well, this relationship that I am - or God is- developing in me, speaks of intimacy that far outstrips the feelings of a dead piece of stone, wood or plastic, or metal. Of course those "gods" survive in the present in the form of plastics (credit cards), wood (household furnishings), stone,( representing buildings, homes) metal (cars). All things that the true God has made, so why not seek a true relationship with Him?

Any relationship takes so much to develop. Time, patience, feelings, emotions are involved with every relationship. He doesn't expect perfection, that is what He sent Jesus for. We, we get the benefit of that relationship that Jesus has with his Father. To believe in Jesus, God, and the Spirit, well it is like being adopted by the most loving, forgiving family that could ever be. But it is a relationship, you have to be honest, true and caring with God, so that you get the benefit that God wants to give to the relationship.

Much more than a stone sculpture from the past. Much more than the empty pursuit of chasing after material things.

Thought Bubbles: Hugs

Thought Bubbles:  Hugs

In this, what I call a "lock up" there're no hugs.

We can't even reach out and touch a human, with what we know would comfort them.  That most shocked me. That and the scalding pot, looking glass that God dropped me into.

I met a young woman, who like me, grabbed her Bible as she ran from one confused situation to another. if we could all grab that book, and  plop it open and search for the comfort that it brings.  letting the Spirit drift into the soul. And like a sponge searching for living water, soak it up.

Her name was Meghan. I hope I find you friend. The times we shared the verse that we should cast our cares on the Lord for he careth for you. Or the one about eagles wings.

This lock up was a place were people go who are in crisis.  Drug withdrawals,  medicine imbalances.. When you go in you are desperate. Very.  You are stripped of all electronic devices.  Our toys,   But our connections to the outside world as well. Everything that could harm you, yourself, or anyone else. Is taken. When we totally give ourselves to God I think it is like that.

Thought Bubbles

What Makes Me Believe!!!

I get inspired by the way God paints! Yeah! 

Throws the paint down to the earth in the form of flowers, grass,

 The rolling clouds are His fingers as He sculpts His domains.

Shadows play along the leaves and 

weave patterns of delight

to my eyes!

He is truly here with us. 

Silence the soul and open the your

eyes to Him.

art work copyright Janet Matthews and available at

bubbledreams

Thought Bubbles

I am claiming a new step in my healing process. In recent weeks I have had to put myself back on antidepressants. I was off of them for almost two years. Due to another health crisis, allergies, the depression as depression did not emerge, but as anxiety. Yes, different side of the coin, but the same disease. On many occasions I asked all my relatives, friends and church buddies to pray. I know that prayer works, for I have studied it for years. I may not have used it as often as I should have though. Here is one of those emails that my cousin, April, co-ordinator of several Good News clubs in the Jacksonville, FL area wrote me.:

Janet, 

I  have been praying for you and David & did so this morning, and will continue.  Here is a verse that has lifted me out of discouragement and despair: Just keep claiming it and praise the Lord!  God is doing big things in your life and the enemy just hates it!  Speak these Scriptures out loud and sing to the Lord your favorite hymns, it brings the Lords presence in and dispels the darkness.

P.S. 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me;  Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Thy right hand will SAVE ME!!!!  The Lord WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT CONCERNS ME; (my Husband, my job, my allergies, my depression, etc.)... 

Dear Lord, I thank you that you are Janet's keeper, the shade on her right hand...protect her from all evil; He will keep your soul. 

P.S. 121:5 & 7. In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.

PS. 120:1.  Ps. 145:18-20 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  HE WIILL FULFILL THE DESIRE OF THOSE WHO FEAR HIM; HE WILL HEAR THEIR CRY and WILL SAVE THEM.  The Lord keeps all who love Him....

Read Ps. 91:14-16, & Ps. 55:16-19a, put your name in the verse.  I am sorry I am so busy.  I have a very big Children's Ministry Conference Sat., all day.  But I will still be remembering you Dear One, Jesus never fails!!!!  This web site is 

awesome biblicalrestorationministries.org, it has a lot of very powerful, helpful Biblical teaching.

Thought Bubbles: Hands of God

I have been through a very rough 6 weeks.
Immense fear: not knowing what was happening to me. Constant bouts of imbalance, gas, indigestion, irritation, agitation, anxiety, depression.
Hours being cut at work.
Thoughts of leaving a job of 35 years,
Perhaps leaving the state
Ripping my husband out of his job.

But now I came to the Lord. Asked for His gracious Hands to surround me. He did as He does now as I write this.
I sit in an allergy filled room with a mask on the face. I will soon rip up the carpet, and clean up the area.
But not knowing what was selling me down the river, well, it was terrifying.
At the worst, He was there, His hands encasing me.
We are spiritual beings, He is God, THE Spirit. ACCEPT that and become one with HIM & PEACE REIGNS!!!!!

Thought Bubbles: Impossible is not a word..

In opening my email I found this from my chiropractor. I think it was written by a Christian woman by the name of Stephanie West. I found it greatly reassuring in this time of stress. I am waiting to take an allergy test. After the test, well maybe I can get something that would help somewhat. Antihistamines don't really work now, and the allergy shots may not work fast enough. Anyways here is what was written by Steph as she prepares for a walk, run event:

It seems like every time I get in my car and start it, the song playing on the radio is, “That’s What Faith is For” by Kutless. There’s a line in that song that says, “Impossible’s not a word, it’s just a reason for someone not to try.” Well, I figure that this is God’s way of sending me a message since I keep hearing it over and over again. There have been times when I get down on myself and think that it’s “impossible” that I’ll ever find the lean body that’s hiding in the fat that’s stubbornly clinging to my frame. I try to stay positive but sometimes those negative thoughts just work their way in! Then, I started hearing this song all the time, and then this Olympic EMO started to keep me motivated. Now I realize that it will happen one day. God has His own agenda and I just have to learn to be patient. Just like I abolished the phrases “I can’t” and “I’ll try” and replaced them with “I can” and “I will,” I’ve added “impossible” to my taboo vocabulary. I will avoid all negative words and phrases. I will stay focused and positive! I remind myself that as a once self-proclaimed couch potato, I thought it would be “impossible” to ever get motivated to exercise and now I love it.

Then I remembered what I had written to my Pastor not a half hour before:

Dear Pastor,
I have to take an allergy test on Wednesday. It will tell me if I am correct, and what I need to avoid in my life. I know that prayer is working because I feel such peace when i dwell on Jesus. Guess what I dwell on now more than ever? Surrendering to Jesus every single thing, no matter what it is. It is important now not to dwell on any negative thing, any. These negative thoughts are as toxic as the irritants, what ever they maybe.
Janet

Thought Bubbles

In choosing Jesus, one makes the ultimate choice. My boss once said: pay the cost up front for the best, you will get life long service that way. Or words to that effect. Choose the One that loved you so much that He gave His life for you, that way you get life long service on a product(salvation) that doesn't crap out on you. Excuse the term "crap out", but it is the term that fits here the best. He said He would never leave: you always must engage in the relationship to make it work, like any relationship!
Passages from the bible were written by eyewitnesses to the things they were writing about.



thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com

Thought Bubbles: Amy Grant

Amy Grant's song that has phrase: We pore out our miseries: God just hears a melody blasts into my morning.

Tears stream down my face.

He knows. He knows what I am going through and He cares.

One of the effects of being this allergic (allergic based depression)  is incredible emotions .  At least that is my theory.

I am very easy to tears. But He knows. He spurs me to write about it.

If I can but touch the hem of Your robe, Lord, the bare touch will enliven me. I don't know the exact passage.

I ask Him: Is this conversation just a mind game?

I await an answer as the world whirls and the songs twirl on radio waves.

He does hear. He has to: for I can claim the right as His child to stand at His throne because Christ has said I am justified through Him, Christ.



www.thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com  for silhouette art work
www.nicktimeflyer.com    for tea party history for kids

Thought Bubbles:Releasing of Fear

I have been through Fear Hell this week. 

• one doctor thinks the thickening in the left breast is indicative of something serious. But on three past thermograms the breasts are increasingly improving.
• my job is proving that it might not provide the needed funds for the household bills
• this puts the money that I am using to buy supplements back into the household budget.
• I know what is the cause of my depression is, now how to stop it. I do not want to take shots from allergists, for fear of what it might do to me. Look what the antidepressants did.
• the food sensitivities test came back and I am allergic to cow's milk products, goat milk products, egg, both egg white and yolk, cranberry, shellfish, all forms of wheat, sunflower seed, peanuts, rye,sesame seed, and garlic.
• I  still suffer the mold allergy that, even though I have not been tested, know that I have. 

So I am in the " I will not live in fear, dear God" mode. Enough fear, doubt and anxiety. Just enough. Pull back and rest in My arms is what I hear God saying. Rest, things will work out. I have your back He says. I led you through two insurance claims this last year to provide the funds at this time. If I can do that, you know that I can do anything.

And I take His hand and go out on another day, to share His love with others.
This is what I have to think about: I am so involved with what is happening to me that I can not see that there is a world outside of me. I have to see it, to see that others have their problems too. They live inside their heads as well, seeing their world through their problems.


www.thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com  for silhouette art work
www.nicktimeflyer.com    for tea party history for kids

Thought Bubbles: Cloud Kisses

I see Gods hands in the clouds as they form and the wind as it moves the branches of the trees.
As the wind caresses my skin. As the light sparkles in the leaves.
Sometimes the clouds form His hands as He reaches down to caress my face.
 He is everywhere. And as big as He is He loves me. me little me..
Ain't that neat?


www.thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com  for silhouette art work
www.nicktimeflyer.com    for tea party history for kids

Thought Bubbles: God and Prayer

God may not answer prayer for these reasons:

• Your relationship with God has been neglected, you have focused on carnal things, refocus on Him.
• Timing is not right for Him to answer:other plans, other people's minds and thought must be brought into line with His plans.
• He wants develop patience and faith in me. Having me look for his response is one of those ways.
• Also maybe my reasons for what I want are not the correct reasons for wanting that thing.

thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com for silhouette artwork

www.nicktimeflyer.com tea party history for kids!

Thought Bubbles:God does love Me!

I know that I exist for a reason. I am here for something else besides the lingering allergic depressions that affect me. I know this and I strive to surpass these depressions with the knowledge that God does love me. He is leading me through this and I will survive.
The way I find that way to exist is to drink down positive Christian music on Z88.3, read the scriptures morning and night. To know that as I suffer, He is developing me into a sculpted piece of artwork to His glory. And He will finish His project and glorify Himself. You see, He does love me and will see to it that I will see hope when necessary; His light in the darkness when all else fails.

thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com

www.nicktimeflyer.com

jkmatthews100

Thought Bubbles: Your Birth was not a Mistake!

I have just finished reading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. I have read it before but this time it speaks to me so much more. When I wake up depressed-from breathing mold, or a reaction to foods eaten, or to chemicals used the day before, I have to keep in mind what I read on page 22.




                                    YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT
YOUR BIRTH WAS NOT MISTAKE OR MISHAP, AND YOUR LIFE IS NO FLUKE OF NATURE........
YOUR PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE PLANNED YOU,
                              BUT GOD DID.




Yes, God did. He is developing me like an old time photo. Pieces of me making sense, developing, a little at a time. In the "dark room" of life a truly amazing piece of artwork is developin' :me! I am here for Him to develop. All that I ask of Him is to tell me the food, mold, chemical that has cause the current problem, and I will trust Him that It is probable that that is the culprit. 
For years I could not believe that I could be affected by so many things. But  if I leave the substance alone and then retry it later and the same thing happens, well, what am I to think? It does develop trust in God, in one's self and in the science of I have tried this and this is the result. It develops character to endure through the depression, ear popping, loss of balance, weird thoughts, itchy skin and blurry eyes. It shows me that even if I have all of these and more, it could be worse. 

thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com

www.nicktimeflyer.com

jkmatthews100

Thought Bubbles: One Year after

When dealing with the ongoing struggles and uphill battles that life brings us one has to remember that those of us that have gone on before are all ready there with Jesus. The coming month is the anniversary of my niece's death. She suffered depression and we still don't know what she died from, but not from suicide.
That we live now in the present with God, the Great I AM. It is a present designation, here and now. In depression this is what matters. To concentrate on here and now. Not yesterday in the horror of the anxiety and depression attack that happened, or tomorrow in what the weather may bring ( for I suffer many allergies, some weather induced-mold allergies), but the now. It is now that God IS. So take heart, I will fight for the now, for that is all that I have strength for, and all that I was made for.

thesilhouetteshop.yolasite.com

www.nicktimeflyer.com

jkmatthews100