A Reflection Series for Mental Health Awareness Month
The Weight of The Overwhelm
Excerpt from Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa
Jill, the main character, is having an internal dialogue with herself about her husband, Derek…
“With the teacher conference conversation still fresh in my mind, I felt at a crossroads. I saw a pattern. Derek did not. My good kids were morphing into out-of-control kids. As a mother, I had to fix this problem….So, I decided to call Amelia and finally take her up on her offer for a visit.” – Jill Mandela
Faith Reflection
Have you ever felt like you were at the end of your rope and had to do something fast?
When we get overwhelmed, it feels like the walls are closing in. And there is nowhere to escape. In other words, it is that crushing point when everything feels urgent.
The people we love hurt. Responsibilities pile up. And there is pressure to “fix it.”
But sometimes, feeling overwhelmed can be a signal. It tells us that something needs to change.
Jill realizes she needs distance.
Not to escape – but to find clarity.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” -Luke 5:16
In this passage, we read that Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray. He needed space to breathe. A place to pause and regroup. Clarity doesn’t always come through effort. Sometimes, it arrives in stillness and prayer.
In several key moments in the book, Jill reads scripture and then seems to receive a divine message. All leading her to greater insights and a softer heart.
Haiku
In the tangled noise Clarity waits, whispering— Step back, take a pause
Reflective Questions
When life feels too full, where do you go for clarity?
What’s one area in your life where stepping back could help you see more clearly?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please comment and “like” this post if you feel led to do so.
Lydia’s home was more than just a gathering place. It was a sanctuary. A refuge. A space where believers could grow in faith and find strength in community.
Her hospitality went far beyond the typical bed and breakfast. She created an environment where faith could flourish.
Lydia’s story inspires us to share our faith. We need to share it in the best way we know how. Whether it is through selling purple cloth or opening our homes for fellowship, let us share the good news with those near and far.
Image Source: Generated with ChatGPT
A Legacy of Leadership
A good leader is hard to find. They seem to hide in the strangest places. Yet, we do know that God blesses each of us with certain skills and abilities. The hard part is trying to figure out what they are.
Lydia knew what her skills were and how to use them. She had a knack for welcoming people and making them feel comfortable. She also provided words of wisdom to grow the faith community. Lydia had good business sense. There is no doubt about it.
Like all great leaders, Lydia didn’t lead from a distance. She was deeply involved in her community.
She listened. She acted. She believed. She led.
And she spread the gospel. Near and far.
While history may not always highlight them, women like Lydia played a critical role in shaping Christianity.
Lydia’s story serves as a reminder that faith is more than a journey. It is a long-lasting legacy.
How are we using our influence? Our resources? Our gifts?
Lydia’s story reminds us to say yes.
Yes, to baptism. Yes, to hospitality. Yes, to fellowship. Yes, to share your faith.
Why?
Because faith is more than a journey. It is a legacy. A lasting one.
Next time, we will look at Shiphrah and find out how this obscure woman in The Bible saved an entire nation.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Take a break.Step away and find a quiet place.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Sit for a while. Ask for God’s presence.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Be still. Close your eyes. Breathe. Relax.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? In the depths of your soul, reach as far down as you can.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Sit for a while. Be open to God’s presence.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Ask God to sit next to you and join you in your thoughts.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? Shh. Quiet. Hear God speak.
God says, Hello, precious child. “I knit you together in your mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:9) I am so happy to see you. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me to sit with you. Go ahead and tell me what is on your mind.
It’s okay. Speak your mind. Stay awhile in this sacred place.
Comfort and joy, Where can I find this comfort and joy? In this sacred space, may you find comfort and joy.
Whatever your religious beliefs are or are not, may this season of holidays, encourage you and bring you tidings of comfort and joy.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
*****
Inspired by the Christmas Song, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen… “Fear not,” then said the Angel, “let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour, Of pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him, From Satan’s power and might.” O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
Throughout this chapter of Isaiah, we have read about God’s returning the Israelites to Jerusalem. We have seen the power of God’s creation and how we are like grasshoppers.
Although we become disgruntled and weary, God’s energy and power are limitless.
In this passage, the central theme is hope and redemption. We have a choice. We can get crushed like a serpent or we can soar like an eagle.
What do you choose?
Let’s read this passage in Isaiah. Shall we?
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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Isaiah 40:28-31 CJB
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard that the everlasting God, Adonai, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. 29 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.
Image Source: Created with AI using Soar Like an Eagle with the scripture above
Once we can wrap our heads around the fact that we can’t begin to fathom the greatness of God, we must rely on our faith.
If we believe that God is everywhere, the imagery of looking up in the sky reminds us of the vastness and limitlessness of our Divine Creator. Don’t you think?
Then, why do we often feel abandoned or overlooked by God?
Could it be in that very same vastness of the universe? We ask ourselves how God can possibly know our hearts when we seem so small in comparison. We feel lost. Lost in the vastness.
In this passage, the Creator of the heavens invites us to lift our eyes to heaven. Why? To show us how Each star in the universe is named, pointing to the fact that God knows every minute detail of ALL his creation, including us.
Let’s read this passage in Isaiah. Shall we?
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
25 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
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Isaiah 40:25-27 CJB
25 “With whom, then, will you compare me? With whom am I equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Turn your eyes to the heavens! See who created these? He brings out the army of them in sequence, summoning each by name. Through his great might and his massive strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov; why do you say, Isra’el, “My way is hidden from Adonai, my rights are ignored by my God”?
Image Created by AI using scripture reference and key words
Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?
Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.
In the previous post, we explored how Christmas found its place on December 25 and how it was rooted in the ancient festival of Saturnalia.
The next three blog posts will focus on the significance of the wise men’s gifts to Baby Jesus. Today, we start with what Matthew had to say.
Ever wonder where the Magi brought their gifts?
The Three Magi Magi Mags royalty-free vector graphic by pixabay dot com
Let’s see what the Bible has to say in Matthew 2.
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:9-12
Does it Really Matter?
So, we understand the story. King Herod sent the wise men to find the Baby. But the text doesn’t reveal how the wise men came to possess the gifts.
Did King Herod give them to the wise men?
Or did the wise men buy them along the way?
Or, perhaps they had these gifts along, waiting for the right time to give them away.
No, it doesn’t matter at all. The Wise Men presented Jesus’ holiness and signified that Jesus came to Earth to save our souls. And that is what matters most.
Divine Mystery
There is no doubt these gifts had divine mystery. There were profoundly more than mere symbols of wealth. These gifts speak to Jesus’ life and the hope He offers. Their meaning unlocks the keys to everlasting life.
In the next post, we’ll unwrap these treasures and uncover their significance. We will start with gold – A gift fit for a King!
Penny is hardly described as a political person, which is ironic since she holds a master’s degree in public administration. She took several government courses and found them interesting at the time. But that is another story.
Today, Penny wants to write about how she is dealing with the polarization of political views where she lives. It could be scary to some.
An Alien in a Foreign Land
Yet, for Penny…She is not of this world. She is an alien in a foreign land. At least, that is how she has felt since the day she was born.
Penny’s hope is in her faith. Her faith drives her to calmness. To hopefulness. To gratitude.
How Awesome is the Universe?
She can’t imagine how any human can question how the universe was formed. It didn’t just happen. Did it?
Penny spent many waking hours wondering how the universe was formed. How the stars got to be in the sky, and why the sun doesn’t fall out of the sky.
For Penny, the universe is how it is. It is awesome, as is nature itself.
Penny had a few experiences that made her think twice about coincidences. Like when she was in a car accident, and the car flipped over three times. She and her two friends walked away with minor scrapes and bruises.
Or when she had $3 and change and didn’t know how she would buy groceries. She had to decide: “Do I pay my bills or eat?” Then, a $200 check arrived in the mail, which was the exact amount to cover the difference between her inflows and outflows. For two years! The check came each month, and she could buy fresh food for dinner for her and her youngest child. Her older child chose to live with his father and not speak to her for over a decade.
So, you may ask, how could Penny have faith when her kid didn’t talk to her?
Or that her marriage failed her after repeatedly praying that it wouldn’t?
Good questions!
Life is Funny
Life is funny that way.
It doesn’t always go the way you expected. And there lies the rub.
Penny believes we must place our whole selves into the hands of our Creator and follow the inner voice in our hearts. It’s pretty simple. Although it took her a long time to figure it out.
Penny’s prayer went like this in 2015: “Almighty God, I have tried to find a job to no avail. I fully surrender to your will. I will expand my job search to a national level and go where you lead.”
A few months later, she was on her way to a foreign land. (the midwest)
Now, let’s get back to the day at hand. The day after the Election of 2024.
Just like any other day. A day where Penny will put her trust in the Almighty God and go where she is led.
Today, her prayer is: “Almighty Creator of the Universe, You define the trajectory of the world. I fully surrender to your will. I will go where you lead. I trust you will give me the strength and energy for what lies ahead.”
In Part 1, we discovered that Halloween is a fun, family activity full of delight and sweets. Today, we will continue our post with the transitions from the innocence of youth to the darkness of teenagers and beyond.
The Transition from Innocence into the Dark Abyss
Teenagers are another breed. They dress in dark, scary costumes and carry pillowcases clustered in bunches as they “trick-or-treat.” Sometimes downright frightful.
The once light-hearted fun transitions to a darker tone of fear. As often depicted in horror movies, haunted houses, and scary costumes.
This shift causes us to pause and ask:
What is Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It marked a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was thin. Like a veil.
This festival involved lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off roaming spirits. Hence, it evolved into the more commercialized secular day we call Halloween. Its supernatural roots still linger with a sense of dark, demonic elements.
Darkness Can’t Exist without Light
Halloween can veer into the demonic easily. Yet, it also allows us to reflect on the light. For darkness cannot exist without light. It can be a time to reflect on deeper spiritual truths and the enduring light of faith. For those who feel uneasy about Halloween, you are not alone. Faith and spirituality offer a power counterbalance.
Agree?
The Light & Love of God
When we emphasize the light and love of God, our positive values can be transformative. We can love our community and be the hands and feet of Jesus by shining God’s light on others. Churches and faith-based organizations can host “Harvest Festivals” or “Trunk-or-Treat” events. We can offer safe and wholesome alternatives if we want to change the world. With a bit of motivation and planning, it can be done!
We have a choice.
We can gravitate toward the negative. Or we can gravitate toward the positive.
Our children need to be aware of the dark side of Halloween. They need to be cautious about climbing too far into it. As we try to instill good values in our children, we need to be able to distinguish good from evil. Highlighting goodness over evil is a great place to start.
God’s love and light are for all who seek faith.
Our trust in God overcomes darkness and death.
Thus, Halloween can serve as a metaphorical reminder of this eternal truth.
Cobwebs, witches, pumpkins, and tombstones seem to pop up everywhere in October.
Do you see them?
From storefronts and public squares to front lawns all across the country. There is no doubt that Halloween generates considerable sales for retailers.
Children can hardly wait to pick out their costumes as summer fades and fall approaches. It’s become a rite of passage, starting with the Halloween Parade that begins in pre-school. Which, of course, continues in grammar school. And typically ends in middle school.
Pretty as a Pirate
For parents of pre-schoolers, it is a joyous time. Families choose together what their little ones will be for Halloween. More often than not, these young children choose happy and pretty types of costumes.
Would you agree?
Young children pick superheroes, cute animals, or princesses. Which adds a flair of innocence to the holiday.
Then come the parties.
School parties, town parties, and neighbor parties. All preceding the ‘trick-or-treat’ tradition. Where children go from door to door ringing doorbells in the neighborhood. Having fun as they fill their bags with sweets. Children clad in costumes. Parents prompt and prod along the way. They roam the streets with their pumpkin-shaped baskets as parents linger behind.
In Part 2 we will explore the origins of Halloween and the transition from innocent into the dark abyss.
I and Thou Reflections 