Self Help Archives - Kathy's Hope Blog

Getting Back on Track…

Hey guys… I haven’t forgotten you. Life has been busy and this blog got pushed aside in the shuffle. In the meantime, my husband and I have been “Dropped in the Center…” so to speak as we re-located to a small town in the center of the outback of Australia, Alice Springs. WOW this place is amazing and 1,200 miles from any city. This is a unique and awesome place for me to be inspired and get back on track with the blog. Great things are coming this week… I can’t wait! I am as relentlessly hooked to HOPE as never before and I feel compelled to share from my heart… Keep following…

The Light Shines in the Darkness…

“And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it.. .put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it.” John 1:5 amp

THREE THINGS THE DARKNESS CAN NOT DO TO LIGHT…

by Kathy Green

Yes, light shines in the darkness…

Don’t be alarmed by the darkness all around. Another mass shooting, wars and rumors of more wars, terrorist attacks, human trafficking, the list goes on and on. Just watching the evening news or checking out news online at lunch can be overwhelming. I just went online five minutes ago and saw yet another shooting in Home Depot. Death, destruction, atrocities surround us daily. This planet earth can be a DARK place.

The good news is that as we walk in the LIGHT.. the truth and doing what is honorable and just… we have the promise that the darkness will not overpower us. I want to share with you today, three things that darkness cannot do to light.

1) The darkness can not overcome or absorb the light. Light always pushes back the darkness. The darker the darkness, the greater the light shines. The darkness will never blend or mesh with the light. As you walk in the light… the truth of God’s word, you will stand out and make a difference in this dark world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)

2) The darkness cannot perceive or comprehend the light. Hey, don’t be surprised when you seem to be walking to a different beat in life. As you begin to hold on to hope… walking out a life of FAITH and trust in God’s word, you will be misunderstood. You will not always be with the majority rules, or get the “politically correct” check of approval. Years ago I learned an invaluable lesson that changed my life. I used to be a person who constantly weighed in on what people were thinking about me. Basically, people’s opinions ruled my life. I filtered everything I said and did through what people may think or say. Needless to say… I didn’t even know who I was! At a time of crisis in my life, I turned to God and began to read the Bible. Over and over the verses kept jumping off the page at me… “Don’t hide your light under a barrel…. the light of a city set on a hill can not be hidden…” The moment came one day, when I finally let go. The realization of the power of walking in the light, overcame all desires for gaining the approval of man. I felt like I was able to be the real ME for the first time in my life. To be what I was created to be… an instrument of light… bringing light in a dark world.

3) The darkness can not put the light out. It doesn’t matter how dark, how bleak, how horrendous the darkness, but it can not put out even the smallest of lights. I remember, as a child, visiting Carlsbad Caverns. Once we were deep into the caverns, the tour guide turned out all the lights. The darkness was like nothing I had experienced before… cold, terrifying and so uncomfortable. We stood in that darkness for a tormenting few seconds, when the guide struck one match. That one match seemed to light up that entire cavern. I was dumbfounded in amazement… The impact of the light of that one match stuck with me through the years. Your light can make a difference in this dark world. Darkness will never be able to put the light out. Like the little children’s chorus says… “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…” Can you make a difference and let your light shine today?

Finding Joy in the Midst of Trials…

Choose Joy…

^“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV

For years I skipped over these verses in the Bible. I just could not imagine being joyful about all kinds of challenges and trouble. How contradictory it seems to be joyful when trouble comes. Undoubtedly trouble will come to us all. When adversity raises its’ ugly head, our first reaction is to pull back… withdraw and question, “Why me?” “What have I done to deserve this?” There is actually a way that we can profit and come out on top in the midst of all kinds of trials.

Command With Authority Joy…

These verses in James gain meaning when we study the original text. This phrase, “Count it all joy,” in the original Greek can be translated, “Command with authority joy.” In other words, when trials come, when unexpectedly things take a turn for the negative, it is the right time to TAKE JOY. By an act of your will you can release joy. The way that you do this is by choosing to praise God… To trust Him even when you don’t understand, “Why?” When we do this, we can actually profit and reap positive benefits from the trial.

Years ago, I trained myself to do something that has now become a lifelong habit. Whenever I would accidentally drop something, or have a minor mishap, I immediately began to praise God out loud. I am not praising God for the mishap, or accident, but I am simply praising Him in the midst of the situation. It is amazing what kind of stares you get when this happens in public. It is so much a part of me now, that this response comes out without even thinking. Recently, I pulled up to a drive-up window at a local bank. Just as I went to reach for the stack of papers and checks to deposit, my day planner flipped over onto the floor. The papers went flying in total disarray. I went into automatic praise mode. I raised my hands and began to praise God out loud for several seconds. When I looked up the teller was speechless, and not sure what to do. I went on with my transaction and left her wondering.

We do not have control over every circumstance and situation. If we did, we certainly would not elect trouble. However, when trouble comes, we can make a choice to PRAISE. The actual command to do so is found in the Word of God.

Rejoice in the Time of Trouble

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS again I will say rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NKJV

You cannot control all the circumstances in your life, but you can choose your response to those circumstances.

“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.” Charles R. Swindoll

You can choose to respond to trouble by meditating on the problem, speaking negative words, releasing anger and resentment, and giving in to depression and every oppressive spirit. On the other hand, you can choose to give thanks to God and praise Him, even while you are facing perhaps the greatest challenge of your faith. Some people say, “Life isn’t fair.” I say that adversity hits some harder than others. On the other hand, every one of us has the opportunity to come out victorious as we act on God’s Word. “God shows no partiality.” (Acts 10:34)

There is a big difference between thanking God FOR the circumstances, and thanking God IN the circumstances. We should not thank God for something the devil has brought against us. The enemy’s job description is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). It would be absurd for us to thank God for destructive works that the enemy (the devil) has brought to steal, kill and destroy in our lives. We can, however, rise up at a time which seems out of season…with the waves of adversity raging all around us, and give thanks to God for who He is, and what He has done in our lives. It is the will of God for us to give thanks in every situation.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE TODAY…

You can Worry, or Worship…

You can go into self-pity and Pout…

or Shout praise to God.

You can Turn In and withdraw,

or Reach Out to touch others.

You can choose Bitterness and offense,

or Gratitude and forgiveness.

Although you have had no control over many of the circumstances life has brought your way, you can take charge and determine your destiny by making the right choice. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV As you choose to rejoice in the midst of your situation today, a strength to overcome is being produced. You can actually profit from the trial as you increase in endurance and spiritual strength to STAND and come out on top in future challenges. As difficult as it is to the FLESH… Choose joy today and profit from the trials you are facing.

Power to Overcome FEAR…

by Kathy Green

^{“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4 NASB}

Today I want to hit the topic of OVERCOMING an archenemy, FEAR. Fear is paralyzing. Fear is one of the biggest road blocks and hindrances to fulfilling your destiny. Today, people don’t often admit to being “AFRAID.” There are more popular, politically correct words like, “STRESSED, UNDER PRESSURE, TENSE, WORRIED, CONCERNED, OVERWHELMED…” It is all basic generic FEAR.

FEAR, simply put is, “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.” Most fears that we battle in life are regarding things that are not a REALITY… BUT IN OUR MINDS A POSSIBILITY. Fear or anxiety involves an uneasy dread of the future… what may happen, what may not happen, what someone might do, what someone might not do… When you think about it, the “possibilities” are innumerable. You could walk out on the street and get hit by a car today. You could just go to the grocery store, use the self- checkout touch screen and contact the deadly Ebola virus. The plane you are taking on your business trip this week could go down over the Atlantic. Although it may be impossible to calculate the exact statistics… I am pretty confident that at least 90% of things people fear never happen.

When we say things like, “It’s been a really stressful day.” Taking a closer look, we find that the “STRESS” involves an uncomfortable pressure or FEAR of what could happen if certain things don’t come together. It is estimated that today 18% of adults in the U.S. are suffering some kind of an “Anxiety (fear) Disorder.” At the same time, drug companies are raking in billions as an estimated 13% of the population may be taking anti-depressants used to treat anxiety and depression.

We have all experienced those annoying symptoms of fear… heart racing, breaking out in a cold sweat, difficulty sleeping, headaches, trouble focusing, short temper, butterflies in your stomach. This response in your physical body was put there as a protective mechanism to kick into FIGHT or FLIGHT mode. The problem is when there no real life- threatening situation… these mechanisms become self destructive. Anxiety highers your heart rate, highers your blood pressure, highers your blood sugar, and gives an increased possibility of developing blood clots, among other things.

Here are 6 principles for Overcoming FEAR…

1) You must aggressively resist the temptation to FEAR. Fear is a choice… You can refuse to give in to fear. Fear is a spiritual force. It is tangible, and it’s foreboding presence will try to overtake you. That is when it is time to fight! Resist fear and choose instead to believe for a good outcome. Choose to trust God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” (II Tim. 1:7 NKJ). The way to keep your mind thinking clearly, even in the midst of impending trouble is to RESIST FEAR… push it away just like resisting an invisible assailant. If fear comes against you 50 times in a day… you need to resist and refuse to go with it 50 times a day.

2) Guard what you HEAR… Guard who you hang out with. FEAR is a negative form of FAITH. Faith is a confident expectation that things will turn out OK; FEAR would tell you “No Way… disaster is coming.” The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). FEAR also comes from what you HEAR. If you are going to have victory over fear, you have to guard what you are listening to. You cannot spend hours of your day watching news reports on terrorist attacks, death and destruction and have victory over fear. You also can not hang out with negative people who always look at the down side of life. Surround yourself with positive, faith-filled people. Focus on positive things happening in the world and God’s promises on purpose.

3) Take control over your thoughts.
Thoughts are powerful. Thoughts are like seeds that are producing a harvest in your life. If you allow your mind to be a canvas for the enemy to paint pictures of catastrophe, fear gains power. You can control what you think. You can choose to change the channel of your thoughts just like clicking the TV remote. We are in a battle, but we win if we “Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 NKJ) What you think effects your perception, your faith, and your destiny.

4) Tackle FEAR HEAD ON.
If you will have victory over fear, you can’t beat around the bush. You have to stare right into the gruesome face of FEAR, and refuse the temptation to go that direction. On more than once occasion, I have had opportunities to give in to fear at night, as I have heard strange noises in another room. Each time, I made the decision to hit FEAR head on. I have gone directly into the ominous room, flipped on all the lights, and gotten to the root of the mysterious noise without loosing any sleep. That is how you are going to have to deal with fear. It is amazing how FEAR will flee, when you do what fear is telling you ” DON”T DO THAT!” Fear is an imaginary voice of deception. Hit fear head on and prove that faith wins over fear every time.

5) Get a Hold Of God’s Word… Meditate on God’s Promises. There is nothing that will drive FEAR out and bring an expectation of good like the word of God, The Bible. Some people would say the Bible is an archaic, irrelevant historical book. I can tell you that nothing has transformed my life and given me power to overcome in life like the word of God. Take a few of God’s promises in His word…especially the New Testament. Write them down and think about them every day. Think about them before you go to bed at night, when you have your cup of coffee in the morning. Everyone and his uncle loves Psalm 23. The Psalmists says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of death I WILL FEAR NO EVIL” You may feel some effects of that dark place and circumstances, but you can choose not to FEAR as you stand on His promises.

6) Be led by PEACE not FEAR.
Have you ever made a decision when you were under the gun of pressure and anxiety? I guarantee it was not a good decision. Find peace… find a place of peace and let the peace of God lead you. Fear would cause you to compromise all of your good judgement. There is a peace that comes even in times of storm. You will have to quiet your mind and emotions in order to draw off the PEACE that passes all understanding. The PEACE of God will generate wise direction and good decisions. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 NKJ