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I decided to ask the Lord to change me more into His likeness after a conversation with a friend recently. I don’t remember what we were talking about exactly, but I do remember the topic of our need to become more like Christ.

I inserted that prayer into my journal the next morning (because I did not want to forget it) and sincerely asked God to work on me more.

And then I had this conversation with myself later on in the day:

“What did I do? Did I just ask God for more situations that will sharpen me and mold me into His likeness? What was I thinking? I’m still exhausted from the last season of sharpening I walked through.”

But then I was gently reminded by the Lord of an experience I had years back.

This experience was a time of praying healing for a stranger in the hospital when my husband and I lived overseas. My faith in believing that God responds to our prayers for healing was being challenged and this specific hospital visit was in response to a leading of the Holy Spirit.

While my husband and a couple of local sisters and I prayed for this young woman with a blood disorder, in my mind I saw for a split second a bright vision of Jesus standing next to this bed ridden woman. However, He was standing in the same place I should have been standing in.

God was revealing to me something amazing.

Whenever we walk in obedience to whatever the Lord is asking us, we are literally allowing Him to minister to others through us.

I saw it that day in the hospital. When I had my eyes closed, I saw Jesus standing beside the hospital bed healing this individual. Our coming together in faith allowed Him to minister and heal this young lady.

That visual that He gave me still holds strong in my heart. I try to keep it at the forefront of my mind when serving others, when showing love to strangers and when responding to stressful situations and people.

I am not perfect. I still forget the instrument I could be for the Lord at times and sometimes I forget who I truly am in Him, but in asking the Lord to change me more into His likeness I am hoping to act in ways and treat others as He would.

This experience He reminded me of softened my heart to be willing to continue to be molded and shaped in His likeness, despite the pain and struggle that sometimes comes along with change.

However, we do not need to go through hard experiences alone to become more like Christ. We can make an effort to become like Him through studying Him more in the Word and seeking to know Him deeper in relationship. And the more we allow ourselves to fall in love with Him, the more we are willing to be made more like Him.

Becoming more like Jesus is also recognizing those moments where He kept Himself open to walk out what the Father had for him to do.

Jesus, God incarnate, came to demonstrate for us a life that we are supposed to be living. He not only brought salvation to us through His death and resurrection, but He also became life’s manual for each of us.

Can you imagine God hearing a weary soul on earth asking for instructions with how to live this life, and then deciding that He would just come to earth and literally show us Himself?

That’s what He did. He came, He lived, He died, He resurrected and it wasn’t for us to only observe a sinless man, fully man and fully God, walking the earth. His life here on earth was also meant for us to learn from.

He demonstrated for us how to live for Him when He was here. He became our manual that we should not take for granted. We should study His life and His nature and character. We should aim to be more like Him, and then others will experience the mystery of Him ministering to them through us.

We are looking at mental health versus spiritual health in this video!

I had to create this video in response to the multiple questions I receive about whether or not you can be close to the Lord and still struggle with your mental health. There is nothing wrong in asking this question at all and I am delighted to touch on this with my own experience.

I have struggled with my mental health off and on for years now, and yet my relationship with God is very active and strong.

Our mental health can be separate from our spiritual health, but they do impact one another for sure. The different complex reasons any individual can struggle with their mental health explains how just walking away from God is not THE only reason anyone struggles (or even a reason at all).

My hope is that this video will shed light on the false assumption of those struggling with mental health as being distant from God. That is not always the case. Enjoy and be blessed friends!

Mind reading, the “why I feel everyone hates me…” mind trap. Assuming other people’s motives, intentions and thoughts via mind reading can be an unhealthy habit to have.

Mind reading is one of the cognitive distortions because it is a toxic way of thinking that only worsens depression and anxiety.

In this video, I will share not only how mind reading can become an unhealthy habit and toxic for us, but how it damages relationships or potential relationships.

Where does mind reading come from with us and how to stop mind reading will also be discussed. Enjoy another video on an unhealthy pattern of thinking and how to correct it! And be blessed friends!

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

This article will begin with a dream I received from the Lord a few weeks back.

It started off with an interaction with two of my sisters while we were seated at this large and rectangular dining table. In the dream, one of my sisters was upset about something and I was giving her advice on how to not lose her cool while we were at this table.

There was a good reason that I told her this.  And somehow, as dreams often work, I knew instinctively why this was.

The large table that we were seated at was on display in front of an audience that we could not see, a spiritual audience. And I knew that the rectangular table represented our lives. Sitting at this table was the result of a choice to follow Christ.

And I also knew in my spirit that we were being watched, and what was being sought after was how we demonstrated our love for one another. And that was all. Nothing else was looked at so carefully as was our love and how we treated each other.

Suddenly, the scene changed up a bit.

And it was no longer my sisters and I at this table, but the disciples who had first chosen Christ, aka the apostles. I watched them from an angle where they could not see me, but I was in the same room.

Two of the apostles were in an argument as they walked up to the same rectangular table we had just been sitting at. And one of them spoke similar words to the quarreling apostles as my own. He emphasized the need to love one another and told them as well that they, too, were on display before the heavenlies. And again in my spirit I knew what was being observed, how they loved and interacted with one another.

The conversation of these two apostles was not so important, but their hearts and motives, along with ours, were laid bare before the Lord, His host and a great cloud of witnesses.

I woke up and ran this dream through my mind again and again. I felt conviction, understanding, and excitement all at one time. And remembered the words of our Lord Jesus on His extraordinary message and emphasis to love one another.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”

Hebrews 12:1

 

 

Is the sky really falling or have we negatively thought ourselves into believing a reality that is not real! This type of thinking, thinking the worst will happen in any given scenario, is what is called CATASTROPHIZING and it is a cognitive distortion, or unhealthy pattern of thinking, that we must learn to overcome.

In this video, we will be looking at why we think the worst will happen, what fearing the worst does to us and why we end up falling into this bad pattern of thinking anyways.

I will be sharing more videos like this that focus on other unhealthy patterns of thinking (cognitive distortions), and will also share how to change your negative thinking that will lead you to be more healthy mentally and emotionally.

In this episode on my mental health journey as a Christian, I am sharing with you more of my own story including how I still struggled with issues despite feeling more whole and living in a safer environment.

I have also taken time to encourage anyone else that is unsettled in their heart with reaching out for their own help with mental health struggles (as well as, a few helpful points as you begin to reach out).

The heart of this vlog is to communicate loudly that there is no shame in seeking help with any mental illness. And especially for believers in Christ, seeking help is a brave decision and reveals a humility that speaks volumes to the Lord and others.

I woke on a Saturday morning to a day planned for rest. I had been ill for two weeks and was beginning to feel better, but not fully myself.

I was growing tired from being sick, honestly. And from the moment I woke up to the time I laid my head back down for another night of sleep, I felt like crying. Yet, I had no idea why. Surely being sick was not the reason behind my wanting to relieve myself of held back tears.

This has definitely happened to me before countless times, and each time I have struggled with what was wrong. This particular time, with my eyes closed to fall asleep, I began to ask myself what it was that I needed rather than what was wrong with me.

Redirecting my question just slightly brought me greater clarity for what was truly bothering me. And I had an answer, several answers in fact.

As I worked through each troubling issue that my heart was holding onto, I slowly felt a nice peace rest on me.

I came to the realization that I had been so consistent with not listening to my mind and body, that I was a master at ignoring my own real needs. And parts of me were literally crying for those needs to be met, thus why at times I would feel the urge to cry without unknown cause.

The more healing that I am receiving from trauma I have experienced, the more I am learning how to steer my attention inward and listen to my soul. It has been through doing this listening activity that my sought after healing has come. Now I am developing a new and healthy habit of learning to be aware of that inner voice more and more.

Now some will read this and think that it is not the right Christian thing to do to get our needs met. They will have a handful of verses to show that we should be selfless, ready to sacrifice our own needs for the sake of others, and deny ourselves consistently.

And I hold onto those verses as well. However, there comes a point when we have pushed down our own personal needs so much that we begin to lose ourselves and lose touch with our own heart and soul. I feel strongly that choosing to meet the needs of others before our own needs should come at the instruction and leading of the Lord. He will enable us to do so and give us His grace as well. Because, yes, there are many times where we are asked and will be asked to be obedient in putting another before ourself.

The balance is learning that we still need to care for ourselves so that we do not come into harm from neglecting what we need.

It is a hard line to walk when there are seasons that we must give ourselves more than normal. Thankfully, God does sustain us in those challenging times.

And then there are seasons where the Lord pulls us to Himself for rest and restoration. And in the in-between times we need to learn the balance of serving others and also caring for ourselves.

As I am learning how to sit still and listen to what my heart and soul are telling me, and I respond with how I will meet each need, my heart is filled with joy. And room to hear the Lord more often and more clearly is made.

God wants our needs to be met. He loves us so much. His heart is for our hearts to be set on Him. He does not demand of us so much that our health is impacted negatively. He is watching with a caring eye.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

If you cannot see the heart of the Lord in this passage of Scripture for you to find rest in Him and to understand that He does not demand as much as we sometimes pressure ourselves into believing He does, then reread it again with an open heart to hear Him speak to you.

And if you are unable to know what needs you might have that you are neglecting, ask the Lord to help you know what those are and make a plan to care for yourself better. When we are filled with Him and are healthy mind, body and soul, then we have so much more to offer not only Him, but others in our lives as well.

Have you asked yourself similar questions to these: “Why we burnout? “What are the burnout symptoms?” “What causes us to burnout?” “Why do I keep burning out?” “How does burnout impact us?” “Why do we experience burnout?”

Then this video will be a helpful tool for you!

Having taken a personal break myself from creating content and social media, I have learned the hard way how to prevent myself from burning out again. And, yes, I have experienced major burnout before in my past and it was a terrifying thing.

In order to protect myself from reaching that intense level of burnout again, I have had to understand why I pushed my brain to burnout in the first place. This video will take a deep dive into reasons why we can end up burning out and offer some helps for preventive measures as well.

I felt an unsettling in my soul towards the end of August. And I felt a longing to pull back and rest and to allow my mind time to restore and heal from so much that has taken place in my personal life.

When Josh and I left Southeast Asia our lives continued at a pace that did not provide me the time to process much of what happened while abroad. And my brain has decided that the holding off of that time to heal has been enough.

Coincidentally (or not), my sessions with my EMDR therapist have turned to our time in Southeast Asia this month. And, although I am grateful to finally face those experiences, I am also aware that those memories, still fresh in my mind, will and have taken a great deal of energy from me to process and heal.

The Lord has shown me some very real promises that He wants to do in my life, yet, my healing from serving the Lord abroad in different parts of Asia need to be taken care of. My choice to courageously face these real traumatic experiences have truly only come from Him. In short, this healing journey, with its ups and downs, has entered into a new territory.

Taking a step back from my work with my online ministry this past month has provided me what I have needed during this time. And it has helped me to realign my own priorities right now as I continue to move forward and continue to heal. Below is my journal entry this morning I wanted to share with you all. If you feel the Lord draw you unto Himself, it is wise to listen and respond. In doing so you will find a gift of deep rest for your soul, your mind and heart.

“I feel the Lord restoring me. He has indeed led me beside quiet waters and has stilled my soul. Rest has been a gift He has given me in this month of September, real and full rest that I have desperately needed.

I feel my Lord Jesus so close to me. His peace and love and joy is contagious! I am so very very thankful for what He has blessed me with this month. It has changed a perspective for me. A deep yearning in me to live out of His rest and peace has grown.

No more being driven with busyness and a need for distractions from my own pain, but rather being drawn to His side and walking in His leading and peace.”

In this fourteenth vlog on my mental health journey as a Christian, I am sharing how the Lord freed me to walk in a spiritual gifting He had placed in me.

I struggled immensely being gifted with a gift that was not widely accepted or taught in the church and sending organization I was a part of.

One of the reasons I battled with depression was not putting myself in the right environment to be my “true” self, the person God made me to be.

May this short testimony encourage many to live with more freedom to walk out fully what God has placed inside of them.