Allergic to Change? You have Two Choice.

I am not allergic to beaches!

Do you have allergies? Maybe to certain foods, products, or pets...what about allergies to change? Anyone else struggle with seasons of change? Whether the change was a good one or bad, initiated or forced upon us, we will each experience a type of reaction to the seasonal changes. 

I hadn't really thought about it until I was sharing words of encouragement to a friend of mine and we got to talking about this topic of changes and circumstances we struggle with. It's more than simply praying about the change. And no, just because you don't like change, doesn't mean you are less of a Christian. Let's go ahead and say that truth! Read Ecclesiastes 3...there's a season for everything, for everyone. None of us are exempt.

While we cannot prevent the seasons of change in our lives, the days when things don't go our way, however, we do have control over our response to them. We have 2 choices: Attitude or Adjustment. Yes, you can get angry, pout, fear and shout oooooorrrrrr you can make the necessary adjustments and adapt to move along. 

Does either response change the circumstance? No. 

Does it make you any less frustrated or hurt? No. But we have to choose how to move forward in the reality of the season of change because the change is here and now we must respond.

When it comes to managing our allergies to change, it's important to find what calms the allergen otherwise we stay itching. I am not a health guru, so we will discuss how to soothe our soul reaction. Our souls flourish in the light of hope, peace, love. 

A calm soul calms the whole body, mind and spirit. It affects our energy and this energy will impact the environment, hopefully with the goal of making it better, not worse. There are a bazillion blogs, videos and books about managing stress in life. I highly recommend learning some basics to address the healing. I do pray this blog is a resource of encouragement to you. I will share a few of my basics helps in a minute.

What about when we can't "Keep Calm!? What about when it lays us our flat and we feel like we were run over and we find ourselves angry, overwhelmed, consumed, drowning? Has anyone ever felt that way?

When we give way to our flesh and respond negatively in anger and fear, we exasperate our whole being and shift the energy in our environment. It's a humbling thought to think the very thing we are upset about, we contributed to in our response to change. Our hearts deplete, our minds circle, our bodies explode then drain. However, when we allow our souls to be filled by positive and hopeful anticipation, we respond with a surrendered will, eager heart and mind set on faith. 

We have the ability to change our world with the very change that has happened inner deepest place. We have been changed by grace, taken from ashes to life, from lost to saved and blind, to seeing. When we realize His Way is not our way, we receive the change with anticipation and grace. Yes, we need to be healthy in our body too, because an unhealthy body will not allow the rest of our body to level up. In the season of change, we also must accept the truth it's not always about us. Acceptance helps us submit to the fact it is bigger than us! In possibility and faith, we will powerfully and prayerfully respond in trust to what we believe in our core is true about our belief system. 

Do we believe God has our best interest at heart? 

Do we believe He is for us? 

Do we believe He will never forsake us? 

Do we believe we are sealed and never to be snatched away by the enemy?

We have to get passed the mindset that things are happening TO us and believe things are happening FOR us and THROUGH us. It may be about you and your "health," but at the same time, it may be that you are simply an instrument of grace for someone else.

It is in times of trials our souls face the testing of our belief. In an odd way, we should be thankful for the careful and gentle guiding through trials, the testing of our faith. The Scriptures are full of such instructions. And yet the enemy whispers, "You must not be worthy of...You must not have enough faith...You don't pray good enough...You must not be good enough...You don't deserve that...Can you believe this is happening to you...You should fight back...You mine as well give up...You're not important...No one cares about your...You're in the way and easily replaced..."

In a world of chaos, skepticism, evil, negativity, pride and selfishness, the only way to stay in the spirit of hope is to stand firm in our faith on the Cornerstone of Christ Jesus. How do we remain firm standing up against the allergens attacking our faith? Trust, Pray, Ask, Seek, Knock, Repent, Surrender, Hope, Believe, Trust and Obey, Worship, Love, Serve.

• Trust He is a Keeper of Promises and is the Same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
• Pray and know He is near, hearing every word, seeing every tear.
• Ask for His help to believe and follow.
• Seek His will, way and strength to endure.
• Knock on The Door that leads you on the Way that leads to Peace.
• Repent from the old ways and turn to the path that leads your heart and soul to peace and joy.
• Surrender to the One who knows all, sees all, made all.
• Accept the change as necessary and for divine purpose.
• Obey the calling divinely purposed for such a time as this.
• Worship the One True God Who knitted you in your Mother's womb and has poured His Greatest Love over you.
• Count your blessings and seek first His Kingdom daily.
• Do not forsake fellowship with your local church for refreshment and accountability. Plus, there is great blessing to serve others. #itsnotalwaysaboutyou
• Keep a healthy attention in body-mind-soul...good nutrition, healthy living, exercise, watch your thoughts, meditate on what is worthy of praise, serve and love others.

If you find yourself dealing with the allergies of change, remember you are not alone in the change of season, you also have two response choices...attitude or adjustment. I pray the next time the seasons change and you begin to feel that itch, your mind responds in acceptance and adjustment. If you have an attitude, may it only be one of gratitude. As we walk season to season on this Earth, may our hearts be found in adjustments of grace.

Philippians 4:

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

Physical for Spiritual, Spiritual for Physical

It has happened to me and I have seen it time after time with friends. God uses our physical to get our attention. While this is not an absolute truth I am going to debate out, by way of testimony and encouragement, I am willing to heed the wisdom in Proverbs: " A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:122
So many times I find myself dealing with physical ailments that get me down physically, emotionally and spiritually: headaches, fatigue, weariness, pains, illnesses, etc. There are plenty of books written out there that emotional stresses can make us physically stick and I do know that when our hearts hurt, everything else hurts. Our adrenal glands and hormones get all out of wack, we are less guarded about good nutrition and health and we fall weaker by the day until we find ourselves laid out! We are forced into a time out.
For those of us who are full in our days and don't feel like we have time to stop and rest in light of all that needs to be done, we will push through to the point of breaking to keep going. Do we think we are stronger than God? Even after His fruitful work, He took time to rest. And yet, we fool ourselves that we can do it all and be super humans, accomplishing more in one morning than many do all day! We go, go, all week in our schedules and in our minds that by the end of the week, our minds are spinning, sloshing really and we cannot process a normal  thought to save our life. It's time for a rest!!! 
It's not even all the to-do's of the week, as if we are over-committed while that may be the case for some, but there are just seasons in our life where one area of our life demands more attention for a season and yet we continue on as if we can still manage everything and get through it. But we don't. Something gives. Often, it's something within us. We miss a detail, an opportunity, a help, our health gets weary and our strength to keep pushing, depletes. We not only let someone else down, we let ourself down and guilt amplifies exhaustion. We are a dizzy mess! And you know what else, often when we are "down" we need other people's help...not something easy to accept when you're a Can-Do-It-All girl. Pride check, yep, ouch.
I wonder what God feels when He brings something into our life that needs our greater attention and we simply fit it right into the to-do list that we already have, rather than changing our priorities to align with His? Or if we do have everything in their appropriate priority and yet we don't take time to rest and be still after our days of work. Are we greater than He?
I could certainly keep myself busy between all the kid's volunteering opportunities at their schools, volunteering for all the great ministries at church, keeping my house spotless which would involve full days everyday to keep it clean and laundered and stocked with all it needs to run, lunching with visitors to our class and lunching with each friend, date night with my man each week and prayer, oh I could stay there hours upon every day, writing out encouragement cards for the many in my life who are struggling in some way, oh and keeping myself physically fit and groomed spending hours each day at the gym and salon...and then reading my Bible and getting into good study time....I have spent full weekends gifted from my husband doing just that!! He knows what I love to do in my "free time!" Give me my Bible, Music, Coffee and Quiet and I will be one happy girl!!! I just can't do that every day. One weekend a year is my gift and I love it!! There is just not enough hours in a day to do all these good things we want and wish could be ours!!
But, God has already ordered our days and there is an order we must be obedient to follow. There is a balance and what each of our days look like will be different. Careful not to judge for what God has called another to, it may not be your call and therefore you cannot possibly understand how and where that fits into their life. We assume "those people" do it all. We don't know what they may have had to sacrifice for a time to accomplish what God has called them to for that season. 
Same for us, we must change as the seasons change (Ecclesiastes 3) otherwise we will find ourselves unfit for the change of weather. To every season is a different activity and a different clothing. You may love to snowboard but when summer comes, try as you might, you will exhaust yourself trying to make it down those dry runs! Our bible study class read through Genesis chapter on the Tower of Babel and God scattered their language and their actual selves when they were walking in disobedience. There is wisdom for us there.
One thing we know for sure...we must take time to rest as we work! God worked and rested. Jesus slept. Jesus took time to get alone. He prayed, He healed, He taught, He shared, He was involved in the lives of others and yet He was not consumed by any one thing other than He had His Father's priorities, doing just as His Father asked and did, working and resting.

If today you find yourself a dizzy mess or plain ol' exhausted, check what season God has called for you to be in, getting done what's appropriate and necessary; and if you are prepared for your season, make sure you are finding the balance and priority of God's, taking time to be still, breathing in those deep breaths God has counted out for you. By faith, hope and love, enjoy your season's work and rest!

"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 30:41

"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:9-13

In The Moment, It's Hard...Come On Chocolate!

I find myself saying, "If I just didn't have to do this," "This is hard," "This is too much," "I feel so alone," "If I can just get it right and be done with it."
So, we look for ways to do "it" better, faster and easier. It doesn't matter what it is. If it's not Chocolate or Vacation (woohoo!!!), we want to know how to get past the moment of dread. And it can be anything from doing the dishes, facing the never-ending laundry, disciplining the sassy-mouthed child, picking up the 15th dirty sock today, struggling in prayer and finding words to say to that hurting friend, figure out what's for dinner every night for 365 days a year...every year!!! How do I get through this trial. How did I get here and how do I get out. Why do I have to deal with this...again!
I have journals of notes that represent all the sermons, marriage and parenting conferences I have attended over the years, filled with all the "how tos." My bookcases are filled with books for couples, parenting, organizing the home, dealing with conflict, being assertive, overcoming addictions...on and on.
BUT....the more I study in it, I am finding all I really need is My Bible. I find myself wanting only to have my husband or children, lost friends, saved friends, read it alone. There in it holds our hope for the future and our joy for the moment. It tells me "how to" do this thing called Life!

A few minutes ago I received a devotional in my Inbox that spoke to this same subject. Getting past the rules and how-tos and move to the Source, not the fixes. So true! Because we are more of an informational based society than relational, we just want answers to "get through." What about in the moment? Is it possible to enjoy the difficult or mundane or exhausting moment? I say YES!!! It's a matter of the HEART:)
Just this week my Mentor called me out my "grumblings." What if I asked God to turn my grumblings into thanksgiving. Was I doing "that" for myself, in my own strength, because I "had" to or was I taking care of God's stuff, meeting a need with a servant's heart? Dishes, laundry, conflicts, trials, traffic, even anxieties or attacks can be overcome with joy. These things must be done, (anything we know we need to do but don't want to...cuz I know some of you actually like doing some of those things!), can't avoid them, but I do not need to have a grumbling attitude about them?! If I am asked to do something I can respond with a huff and a grumble or I can with joy,

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Colossians 3:23).

I get to choose my attitude. I personally do not like dusting, laundry, mopping, changing linens, picking up after other people's messes, but I know that God has called me to this season of Mothering, Being a Wife and Friend and Church Member, with certain trials and temptations in my life. Therefore, I must know there is a reason. Being rooted in the Word of God, it shapes my "how-tos." It shapes and molds my heart and mind. I may not always see the "why" but I will know "how."

"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Mark 7:21-23

There is a place for instruction outside of God's Word. I think what we are missing is where we should start...


Step 1 "How To" Know God Intimately: His Love and GIft of Salvation.

Step 2 Understand His Great Love for you and in that, "How To" be the You He created you to be.

Step 3 Walk in and Learn About His Amazing Grace

Step 4 Live in community, not forsaking fellowship with other Believers, receiving help with wisdom and encouragement and accountability

Step 5 Walk Through Each Moment in Grace, choosing a heart of Love

Step 6 Seek out the applications of Hearts of Grace through resources given


Being in The Word, we find help...


John 14:26-27 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Titus 2: 3-8 "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled,pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us."

I Thessalonians 5: 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

I Thessalonians 5: 14-18 "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted,help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

THANK GOD we have help!!! Every moment has a reason, if it is simply doing what needs to be done. Rather than grumbling on the inside, won't we choose joy to serve the Lord instead. I will be the first to admit it's hard, but if I look forward to the ultimate goal, I will find that joy in purpose as I work for the Lord! I must choose it for myself. It's not a discipline I will learn, but a heart change that changes my mind, and thus changes my attitude and actions.


Laundry- never-ending and exhausting...but leads to clean clothes, praise God for clean clothes to place on my family.

Dishes- smelly and sticky but when they are clean, I can serve fresh food and serve my family, reminding me of my Daily Bread's provision.

Picking up other's stuff- learning the act of servanthood when not deserved or appreciated, showing me how Christ walked on this earth, humbled and with purpose

Cleaning bathrooms- keeps my family healthy and fresh, reminds me of how God washes me white as snow, cleansing me from my sins...every week after week.

Listening to the whiners- I get to show patience and practice self-control, giving gentle correction and turn their grumbling hearts to what God has purposed for them

My end goal is not "task accomplished" (although my husband might disagree-lol!). My end goal is to reflect the sacrifice and servanthood of Christ, serving with blessings and not bitterness.

Whatever I face, even amongst tears, I can work through it with joy. I'm never alone. I have my Helper and other tangible helpers to keep me focused on Christ, knowing in the end, my goal is to honor God. To love Him back. For my heart to be shaped into His even if it hurts for there is joy in the moment knowing I am protected and purposed for. There are no wastes in His economy.


God is my ultimate sweet-joy!! He makes me smile, fills me, satisfies my cravings and I so look forward to my times meeting with Him. He is the chocolate drizzle over all my life!!! I'm not different than my kids desiring a reward for the toil. I am learning which reward I am wanting...it's more of Him! "Better is one day in Your house than thousands elsewhere!!" I will spend my whole day with Him, making it a great day!!


For me, everything is sweeter and made better with Chocolate! Keeping my eyes on the outpouring of sweet joy for every moment!!!! 

Precious are You Lord, the Joy of my Salvation!!!! My Saving Grace in the toil of Life!!!!!
I Love You Jesus!