Healing Through Difficult Times with a Thankful Heart

Posted on by yolandaberry
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Thanksgiving is a beautiful time for family gatherings and spending time with loved ones. It can also be a difficult time for those who’ve lost loved ones and memories are the only thing you have to hold onto. Whether you’re celebrating or grieving during this holiday season, there are things in life that you can appreciate and give thanks for no matter how difficult or challenging this season will be.

Take time to rest.

Nothing is more healing than resting when you’re weary and tired. Emotions can drain your spirit and energy, so you need time to rest. Exhaustion depletes your capacity to think clearly and shifts your mood. Don’t allow negative emotions to overpower your thoughts.

Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corth 10:5

Be honest with your feelings

You do not have to hide how you’re feeling. It’s perfectly fine to feel down or unmotivated. It’s just not healthy to stay there. I’ve noticed listening to music, dabbling in a hobby like painting, drawing or writing is so helpful in boosting your energy level and shifting your mood. You may enjoy singing or playing the guitar or piano, but whatever that “ish” is be sure to focus on these activities during challenging times.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Heb 13:15

Surround yourself with supportive people

If you have the opportunity to connect with close friends during the holidays, this can help ease the sense of grief for a moment. Open yourself up to fresh conversations and discussions, laughter and play. Go to a movie or local event that will fill you with fresh enthusiasm. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The simplest things in life can bring the ultimate joy and pleasure.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3

Don’t rehearse the past

Many times, we can replay certain situations or circumstances in our head which only leads to defeating thoughts. Whether regret or discouragement, those emotions can resurface when you choose not to let it go. You have to get to a point in life where you accept the past and move on. We can only change our current situation and prepare for the future the best way we know how.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:5-6

Get back up again

The most promising example to hold onto is Jesus who overcame the grave by the power of the resurrection. The same power lies within you. Despite trials and tribulation, opposition, discouragement and defeat, loss and grief, we have the power of the Blood of Jesus to overcome any emotions, problems, circumstances, conditions, or health issues. Rest in Jesus who is able to sustain, protect, provide and heal your wounds. Mediate on His word and build your relationship with Him. He will carry the burdens of this life. It was never meant for us to carry the burdens ourselves. Trust that He will mend the broken pieces of your life and reshape them into a masterpiece.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

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Silencing the Noise to Hear the Voice of God

Posted on by yolandaberry
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We’re living in a world where everything is starting to sound the same. Our attention spans are growing shorter and shorter. It’s getting harder to distinguish what’s real from what’s not. With the rapid developments of artificial intelligence, we’re being consumed with mixed ideologies, misinformation and fake news. We must develop the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way submit to Him, and He will direct your path. Prov 3:5-6

Unfortunately, the direction that the world is going is exactly what’s prophesized in 2 Tim 3:2 which states, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the form of godliness, but denying the power. And from such people turn away!”

The world will become louder and will try to fill us with temptations and distractions. We should be sensitive to what we consume on a daily basis as well as taking time to pause to be in the silence so we can find clarity and peace.

We’re living in a wayward world where good is becoming evil and evil is becoming good. Bible prophecy is unfolding right before our eyes.

It clearly states in 1 Corth 5:9-11, “Not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet, I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now, I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral or covetous, or an idolater, or reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.”

The recent news headlines regarding Cornell University students sexually assaulting a young woman on campus is a clear example of the loss of morale in this country. Also, the ramifications of placing someone in a compromising situation which leaves the person in a vulnerable state is also a problem.

Your moral compass is your navigation system. As the world becomes colder and bitter, you will be set apart from chaos and destruction under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Just like in the days of Noah, the world will not comprehend or acknowledge the destruction ahead. Those who are sensitive to the voice of God will prepare like Noah building the ark.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. John 10:4-5

There are many loud voices all over the internet. Everyone is speaking a prophetic word. It’s currently trending, however are they really hearing the voice of the Lord or actually just building a platform? It will take discernment and a relationship with the Lord to know his voice. People are mixing Bible scriptures with Budda, Tarot cards, horoscopes and all kinds of false doctrines. You must test the spirits.

Often, the Word of God will provide confirmations and alignment with His word and His people. It will not cause panic, fear or confusion. His voice is a soft whisper, that’s why you must remain in a place of stillness to hear His voice clearly.

May you rest in His presence in the coming days to listen for direction and guidance. May you be filled with his wisdom and may you be strengthened in your faith.

Peace be still,

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Nothing New Under the Sun

Posted on by yolandaberry
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14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Eccl 1:14 (NIV)

A Journey Through Ecclesiastes

Throughout our life, we chase after fame, money, and fortune. We acquire degrees, houses and cars, the perfect relationship, build a family and strive for our dreams. We check off our to-do list and create vision boards to attain future goals. We seek validation from people who don’t even know or understand us and try to impress others over our accolades. We network within inner circles to prove our status. We get plastic surgery to try to hold onto our youth. We pick ourselves apart because we don’t feel like we measure up to others’ opinions of ourselves.

All of it is chasing after the wind. It’s all vanity. It’s not that we shouldn’t have ambition or desire to acquire some of these things, but we shouldn’t let it control our lives, dictate our decisions or shift our values. We’re only here on this earth for a glimpse of time. The moment our heart aches for more or we lose quality sleep for acquiring the ultimate life we desire, we lose our peace and we lose our focus.

When our priorities start to shift to compete with the world, the Lord is no longer at the center of our thoughts. As much as we run after the things in this world, we should make a conscious effort to run after God, the Holy One of Israel. ”But whosoever drinketh the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 (NKJV)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 (NKJV)

Don’t allow your strife to manipulate or distort your focus. Keep your eyes on the one who cares for you. Get rid of your competitive spirit or deep wrenching desire of comparison. It only lands in the courtroom of bitterness, jealousy and envy which rots the bones and ages you before your time. Release the burden of weight. Lay down on your pillow at night in sweet and pleasant peace. You was never meant to carry the load that leads to exhaustion, depression and anxiety. For what is it worth? For what is the cost? It’s all vanity. It’s all chasing after the wind.

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

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Bible Verses of Reflection

Eccl 1:17

17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Eccl 2:4-11

4 I made my work great, I built houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5 I made gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I acquired male and female servants and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

9 So I became great and [d]excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also. my wisdom remained with me.

10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my [e]reward from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done. And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed, all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Eccl 2:11

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Eccl 9:1-5

For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. 2 All things come alike to all:

One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;
To the good, the clean, and the unclean;
To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.
As is the good, so is the sinner;
He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.

Eccl 9:6-8

Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

Eccl 9:9

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

Eccl 9:10

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going

Eccl 9:11

11 I returned and saw under the sun that…

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all

Mark 8:36-37

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

“Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matt 11:28-30

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”