womenNtune

     I went through depression 12+ years ago.  I was in my 20s.  I had just became a follower of Christ.  Not many months after that some dark times followed.  Life seemed well on the outside.  But for some reason on the inside there was a deep gloom and darkness.  It was like living in a dark tunnel with a glimpse of light.  I knew that light was Jesus.  It was only a glimpse of it though.  I didn't understand why I felt the way that I felt.  Something was wrong but I didn't know what.  I felt trapped and unable to get of of the dark gloom that had surrounded me.  Why couldn't I feel happiness and joy anymore??  I didn't understand.  I would suffer from horrific stomach cramps.  My stomach would get in knots.  I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think they would understand.  Hell, I didn't even understand.  I knew they would look at me and say "What reason do you have to be depr...

 One of the most important parts of the morning is my coffee mug.   As I rise early and it's still dark,   I creep downstairs and I know I don't need any other light except the blue light on my Keurig .   I quietly fumble around in my cabinets for a coffee mug.   Then a get my creamer out of the fridge.   As a look at my Keurig, I see the water level is low, but it looks like there just might be enough water for one cup.   I take a chance, risking the disappointment of those flashing words on the screen "needs more water".   But my risk pays off and it turns out I have just enough to meet my need at that moment.   What I blessing it is!!   With pure delight, I run upstairs to my room, quietly as not to wake anyone.   My alone time with God is so important. Still without any lights on, I open one of my blinds.   So I can bring in the daylight thinking about God.   I know that in the morning if I get up and seek Him. ...

The reward of "no reaction".  Many times in life, when things get rough, or we get uncomfortable, or we have a bad day, we go into "fight or flight" mode.  This can be dangerous when there is no real threat.  "Having a rough day" does not mean you are in danger.  Being uncomfortable with the current season of your life does not mean you are in danger.  I say this because I believe we are so conditioned to react.  We are a culture that wants to medicate everything.  We don't just medicate with medicine, but we medicate with "alchohol", we medicate with "shopping", we medicate with "eating", we medicate with "television", we medicate with "drug abuse".  There are so many things that we medicate ourselves with.  I don't "blame" anyone for that, I'm just saying that it's a toxic cycle.  The fight or flight mechanism in all of us, is there to respond to an immediate threat to us or some...