Things To Be Miserable About

 The List

A friend gave me a book called “11,002 Things to Be Miserable About”.  It consists of page after page of things that are humorous and not so humorous such as: 

Segregation

Rotten bananas

Bats that get stuck in your hair

Burnt toast

Running out of oxygen at the top of Mt Everest

Some of the things listed are laugh out loud topics and some things give me pause, but it’s the things not mentioned that truly make me feel miserable.  

Things like:

The lost perishing without making Jesus the Lord of their lives,

The gospel being against to law in certain countries,

Prayer being banned in public schools,

Not being allowed to display a nativity scene in a public place.

To someone else, is my list as trivial as the one that lists “split ends”, “bridezillas”, and “road rage”?

We all have our own personal lists of upsetting things. The crucial question is, what to do about it? Maybe I can’t do much about my own list but one thing I can do is put it to prayer because if there IS something I can and should do, God will reveal it.  Then the next question is- will I obey?

SHAME

I recently came across this article about shame which is something that 95% of my clients deal with at some point in our counseling sessions: 

"Dr Brene Brown explains that feelings of shame can quietly marinate over a lifetime. 'Here's the bottom line with shame,' she says. 'The less you talk about it, the more you got it. Shame needs three things to grow exponentially in out lives: secrecy, silence, and judgement.'

By keeping quiet, Brown says your shame will grow. 'It will creep into every corner and crevice of your life', she says.

The antidote, Brown says, is empathy. She explains that by talking about your shame with a friend who expresses empathy, the painful feeling cannot survive. 'Shame depends on me buying into the belief that I am alone', she says.

Here's the bottom line: 'Shame cannot survive being spoken', Brown says. 'It cannot survive empathy.'

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/brene-brown-shame_n_3807115

Thoughts?

What To Do While You Wait

I have given out this homework assignment to several of my clients as they wait out this virus and the quarantining mandate. Take a look at the video and let me know if you use it and what happens!

https://www.facebook.com/youareamightywarrior/videos/255363595490558/?notif_id=1586294575133705&notif_t=page_post_reaction

BREATHE!

In my counseling practice I often teach my clients who have anxiety issues these two simple breathing exercises. Focusing on the breath helps the emotions to calm down. Once this becomes a habit, deep breathing can take a client from despair and fear to a place of rest and centeredness. 

Breathing Techniques

Simple Abdominal Breathing Exercise for Relaxation

1. With right hand on chest and left hand on abdomen, inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand, and your chest should rise very little.
2. Exhale slowly through your mouth. As you blow air out, purse your lips slightly, but keep your jaw relaxed. You may hear a soft “whooshing” sound as you exhale.
3. Repeat this breathing exercise for several minutes.

You can perform this exercise as often as needed. It can be done standing up, sitting down, or lying down.

https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115

Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique

1. Place your thumb gently onto your right nostril. Place your ring and little fingers gently onto your left nostril.

2. Close your eyes and begin by softly closing your right nostril (using your right thumb) and inhale slowly, deeply, smoothly, gently and without strain through your left nostril.

3. Close your left nostril (using your ring and little fingers) and release closure of your right. Exhale through your right nostril. Inhale through your right nostril.

4. Close your right nostril and release closure of your left. Exhale through your left nostril.

This completes one round. Continue the pattern from steps 4-7 for as long as you wish. When you’re finished: relax both arms, sit and breathe naturally for a few moments before opening your eyes.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12936/3-reasons-everyone-should-try-alternate-nostril-breathing.html

Next Bible Study Series!

I will be starting a new women's Bible Study series this fall at Real Life Church, Sacramento. 

Tuesdays 9:30-11:30

Starting this fall

Child care is available!

Topic:  "One Word That Can Change Your Life- SOZO"

See you there?

Developing A Covenant of Intimacy with God

Ready to start the new year with some group sessions?  I will be forming an intensive Bible study and counseling session composed of six (max) women in each group starting in January of 2018. It will run for six weeks with weekly meetings in my office. Cost is $20.00/two hour session. Sign up now and let's get started!! 

TIMELESS WORDS

As we launch the beginning of You Are A Mighty Warrior Counseling Services, (https://www.youareamightywarrior.com) I would like to quote something from the workbook, "Thin Within- Rebuilding God's Temple"- page B-5:

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."- Jer. 29:12-14a

"Consider the number of times the word 'will' is used in this brief passage. Look at the things that God desires us to do as well as the things He says He will do. It is God who is at work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Phil 2:13)....No one seeks after God at all according to Romans 3:11. Not even one. We must be 'dragged' by the Father in order even to begin to be willing to do our part. Because He initiates, He puts it in our heart to do His good pleasure. We love because He first loved us. Our seeking comes in response to a God who pursues."

What is your response to this? What do you think this means? How is He pursuing you today?