Tag: stress

turn Him loose

Karla Lees

Turn me loose,
turn me loose,
I gotta do it my way
or no way at all…
-Loverboy, 80s & 90s rock band

When the road gets tough, our reactions reveal what is under the surface within us.

There are three ways we respond when the storms are swirling and the waters rising…

1. We let them swallow us, and drown us in our wallowing.

2. We freak out, stress out and run around like Chicken Little screaming the sky is falling.

The first two because we can’t take our eyes of our circumstance or situation. We forget how much bigger God is than our current battle, and we don’t walk in the confidence of Heaven. We turn ourselves loose from the possibilities God has waiting for us.

The last one is what our Abba hopes we will do.

3. Drop to our knees, open wide our arms, and pour out our praise as we seek our Deliverer.

Reaction 1 occurs when we hide away from community, and continually focus on the negative.

Reaction 2 happens when we can’t sit still from the weight of what we were never meant to carry on our own.

But reaction 3?

Falling to our knees in worship is the supernatural opposite of our natural tendencies.

And what God not only longs for us to do, He modelled for us in Jesus.

Jesus as a young teen felt drawn to His Father’s house, to sit at the feet of the rabbis and soak in the Word.

Jesus fell to His knees in prayer before He began His ministry, feeding on the Word instead of food while in the desert place.

Jesus went off to solitary places throughout His ministry to connect with His Father, sometimes with others, as He sought direction.

Jesus prayed so intently as He made His intention known to be willing all the way to the cross, His sweat dripped off Him like blood drops.

Why do we think we don’t need to follow His ways when things get rough?

Part of it I think is our North American & European culture geared for comfort and pleasure.

We have lost the daily stressors which other countries still walk with. Hunger and thirst for physical food. Desiring a roof over their head. Clothes and shoes.

God Himself is our shelter.
Our provider. The very Word we are to feast upon.

We have access to the Kingdom of Heaven as His chosen family members, Beloved.

Don’t allow your temporary circumstances cause you to forget where and to Whom you really belong.

Let’s stop belly gazing and wallowing when times get tough.

Let’s halt our panicked screaming to the world while in the trenches.

Let’s retrain our natural tendencies for those of His Kingdom:

Press in for all our Father has for us.

Invite Jesus to reign over all of your life.

Begin to ask Holy Spirit to reveal what He needs you to know in the here and now.

Rest in His promises.

Praise who He is.

Trust His heart is for you and it will all work itself out for His glory, and your good.

Keep repeating these acts of faith every day, through all things.

Turn God loose over the situations, and watch how He shows Himself strong on your behalf!!
image

when it’s time to rest

Karla Lees

I have decided not to write today.

I am still trying to process a whole boatload of changes headed my way, and I am literally all thumbs this morning.

I am taking some time to rest, recharge and reboot despite this being my busiest work day of the week.

Because the time spent with Him & caring for myself are to be my priorities when the stress levels rise.

If you, like me, are feeling like you have entered the high speed Lane, take the path unexpected, and head for the pastures of His presence.

Today I proclaim a day of rest over my spirit.

May you too sink deep into the comfort of His embrace.

image

under pressure

Karla Lees

In Me you can have peace. In the world you have pressure, but be daring! I have conquered the world – John 16:33 ERV

“Under Pressure” by Queen is one of the most popular songs of past 35 years, not just because it is catchy, but all of us can relate…

We all feel like a pressure cooker ready to blow off steam.

Jesus gets it. I am sure He felt the pressure the world tries to put on us to behave just so, look this way, live up to others’ expectations.

That is why this verse is so stunning in both its simplicity and depth.

We can have peace, because the Prince of Peace conquered the world.

Not just as God, but also as a flesh and blood man.

We serve a daring God, who doesn’t take the easy way or short cut to getting the job done right.

Our prayer life is to be no different.

Ask Him to be daring, and give you the peace He offers in the middle of the pressure cooking around you.

He can, and He will.

His peace releases our spirit from the pressure exerted onto it by outside forces.

And in Him, we have access to that peace at any time.

The dare is ours: to confidently approach our Prince of Peace, and believe He will give us the peace we seek.

May we come running to You when the pressure begins to build, and rest in Your embrace, Prince of Peace!

image

when no is the final answer

Karla Lees

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37 NIV

When the phone rings, the letter or the email arrives, a person inquires and a request is involved, God gives us two options of response.

Notice pray about it isn’t one of them in the verse above.  In the context of the paragraph this verse comes from in Matthew 5, oaths are being discussed.

We are not to make oaths or swear on the life of a family member.  We are to let our yes’ be yes, and no’s be no.  We are to keep the words that come out of our mouth as  promises.

Other than making a few key ones into covenants, God deals with us in promises.

He will be with us.
He is with us.
He loves us.
He is for us.
We are His.

These are just a tip of the promises God reveals His character and heart through to us.

God’s Yes and No are set once they are spoken. He doesn’t say what He doesn’t mean.

Our responses are to be the same.

Over the past few weeks, I covered a few extra shifts at one job, and gave 2 months notice to my other one of my shift changes (I set my own hours at this one) as a result.  Once I committed to working those set shifts, my promise was given.

Unless there is a medical or major emergency beyond my control, I try to keep my yesses.

I also have been learning that if I have to ask God about it, it is likely a no. 

If I don’t know whether it fits with my gifts, talents, time or family life- its a no. 

If it is a major request such as sponsoring, if the budget can’t stretch, its a no. 

If it isn’t something I am passionate about, or directly helping someone in need, its a no. 
If its a one off, then I will know immediately if it sits right with me, especially if its relationship building. If not, you guessed it- no.

If it is going to become all about me if I step into it, its a no.

I am not called to be anyone else but me.

Just because someone thinks it might be something I should do, doesn’t mean it is.

By now, I have a pretty good grasp of who I am, flaws & all, and saying no has been an issue in the past when I was more insecure.

I realize now that stepping out when I wasn’t to be was a huge contributing factor for insecurity sneaking its way in.

Stepping out where we are meant to trod, we know the yes that lead us there was meant to be.

There are many things we are all capable of doing.

Then there are the gifts that inspire the happy place within to burst forth and passionately spread as we use it, let it grow and deepen.

There will always be requests to answer.

Yes or No.

Maybe, let me think about it, and I will get back to you are not part of Matthew 5:37.

Simple, yet complex at the same time if you don’t know yourself very well.

If the asker won’t like you for saying no, that is their problem.

God blesses us when we walk where He is guiding us. Don’t add undue stress by veering off the path trying to impress, or by mollycoddling someone’s feelings.

Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

The enemy already has enough options to try and attack us on.  Don’t give up any unnecessary ground because you are more concerned about another’s feelings than God’s plan for you.

And my last comment?
Don’t apologize, simply say no.

You don’t need to explain.
They shouldn’t push you for one.

Your boundaries should be in place to have the confidence enough to answer yes or no, and end of discussion.

Do you ever have a problem saying no?  Can you relate?

There is a freedom found in saying yes to the best and no to the rest.

image

As you press close to His Presence, may God help you know who you are, and how He is calling you to fulfill your purpose. 

caught in the headlights

Karla Lees

The other day, someone was speaking highly about a skill I have while I was in the room, and I felt uncomfortable.

I felt awkwardly caught in the headlights!

The issue wasn’t that I had overheard, because the person knew I was there.

The real issue?

I am not used to praise and compliments, especially in public.

I had a normal upbringing, but as I entertained myself pretty well (as readers and kids on bikes tend to do) I didn’t tend to be on my parents’ radar much unless i did something wrong.  Which, like any normal kid does, I did.

Both my parents were raised with the same style of parenting. Other than I love you’s, there wasn’t much verbal encouragement unless it was related to grades, again very normal for that generation, and NOT a negative reflection on my parents. Just an observation.

The result in my mind?  When I did get called on my behaviour, it felt like being in the principal’s office waiting for the chastisement to begin. Which is now sort of funny, because as a singer and musician, I am used to being seen…. but I am not a head right for the spotlight kinda gal

As a result, I have had a hard time with criticism, as I didn’t often get its counterpart of encouragement. If you offer it publicly, I used to be even worse accepting it. Occasionally even full blown panic attacks. If it was written down, not so bad, as I could digest it in private.

I did have a few teachers who tried to build me up, but to a kid who doesn’t get a lot of attention unless its negative (again, my perception) I didn’t really know what to do with it.

Into the locker of my brain it went.

As a young adult, I grew a hard skin to compensate, until I ran head first right into His embrace.

God’s words bypassed my hardened shell and shot into my heart, so I was able to receive the words of love and hope He had for me, and could accept the promise of restoration.

Fast forward to my marriage.
To a man who got no attention unless it was negative.

See the pattern here?

I got some counseling & mentoring over the years, but nothing seemed to come close to this issue.

Three years ago, I started working for my first really encouraging boss. On a regular basis, this person tries to speak encouragement to keep using your gifts, his appreciation for the hard work we do, and general blessing. A year later, I began working for another boss, who has a similar thankful & encouraging style.
More encouragement started being spoken to me on a regular basis, but usually on a small scale.
Last year, I added a few more freelance bosses as i began to run my own small business, and each of them has also been a blessing, and express gratitude.

I am very grateful to God for the blessing it is to have such great people to work for and with. It has taken almost 3 years for me to accept verbal kind words my direction.

Then the worst thing (in my imagination) happened to me just over a month ago.

I was sitting in a prophetic service (which I am fine with, btw!) where the pastor began publicly sharing the words He was sharing through him.

All of a sudden my heart started racing, and I clearly heard “He is going to speak to you next.”

I am so thankful God gave me the heads up, because if He hadn’t I would have missed what was said in my shock at being singled out.
Coz the word was so encouraging.

And God knew I needed to hear it out loud, in front of witnesses.

Because not only did it answer a question I had, but it released something in the heavenlies.
I don’t need to be afraid any longer of every word I am about to hear being a negative one.

God has been using others and His word to remind me I do have good characteristics & skills, which has helped me become more balanced in my own thinking about myself.

I still need correction, as we all do. Now, I can take it as a part of the picture, instead of perceiving every thing to be a mountain out of a molehill. And I am getting used to it coming out in ways I cannot always expect.

I have learned I don’t want to limit how God wants to encourage or bless me, and as I trust Him more, He reassures my heart as to who i am to Him.

And the fear begins to ebb, and I can take in what He wants me to hear and learn.

So no more awkward deer or moose caught in the headlights for me, at least after the initial few seconds any ways!
image

I am in this

Karla Lees

This morning, I woke up to a situation I didn’t expect.
And quite honestly, was quite upset with.
No one likes not being listened to, and sometimes pain is speaking so loudly it drowns out the voice of love.

As I was in my initial shock, I heard God whisper,
“Rest in Me. I am in this.”

A few minutes later, once I finishes what I had to do, I hears Him whisper again,
“Rest in Me. I’ve got this.”

Then the radio started playing
this chorus, by one of my fave worship leaders, right where my soul was at:
Lord I need You,
oh I need You.
Every hour, I need You.
My one defense,
my righteousness,
Oh God, how I need You.

How can I not rest in Him being in full control when He keeps gently reminding me to do so?

Like you, I struggle with letting go of situations outside of my control.

Because holding onto to them does nothing apart from winding me up too tightly.

Causing me to miss what it is God wants to show me in the midst of whatever is going on.

And I am tired of missing out on seeing more God in my days.

I live with myself 24/7, and I am quite honestly sick of the same old, same old going on within me.

Its time to welcome more rest, and less stress. Leaning into His arms, giving over my burdens,and finding the rest I know I desperately need for my soul.

When God tells you He is in this, taking our hands off allows Him to shine more brightly without us being in the way.

More of You, God.
Less of me.

image

scarred

Karla Lees

You made everything all right when it clearly isn’t. #TheMercifulScar

I just finished reading the book, The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James & Nancy Rue. (I will be quoting from each chapter for the next three weeks as inspiration for my blog posts for the rest of April)

It stirred up memories within me in would have rather stayed hidden.

God had a different plan.

When I was a teen, I dabbled in self injury as a way of coping with my inner stresses. I used sewing needles to poke myself to let the turmoil below the skin out.  Not often, but often enough. I also scratched & irritated my already hormonal skin.

When Christ found me, He showed me a different way:

Come to me,  all you who are weary and heavy laden, and you will find rest.”

I saw clearly that this habit was not one I was to practice any longer. And that all it did was scar me in the long run.

I turned to overeating when I failed to uproot the weed of self hatred & anger that is at the bottom of self injury.

I got a mini trio of tattoos to alleviate a crisis point when I hit 40.

It could have come back full force without God’s intervention.

God in His mercy set me free from this bondage a few weeks ago.

I am still trying to find my way to a new normal where I speak up for myself, choose healthy self care, and soak regularly in God’s love for me.

You see, God gets me.

He understands the impact of a scar.

I am no longer hiding my hurts away from God in a desperate attempt to control my own pain.

I turn my hurt, pain and angst over to  God, asking for His clarity, comfort and close guidance now.

I know full well the lies we can believe when we try to be god in our own lives and try to control everything.

There is a sweet release for me with words on paper, words out loud and music again.

I may have scars, but I now wear them with grace.