Month: August 2017

Posted on

Keep it Up! Reap the Harvest!

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

“I give up! I can’t do this!”

As a teacher, I often hear these words. Introduce anything new to a class and the meltdowns begin. I don’t care what age group you teach, no one likes to struggle with something new. I shake my head and try to explain (once again) everything is always hard at first. That is why I am teaching you how to do it. If you just stick with it, before long you will able to teach someone else.

I wonder how many times God is shaking his head and saying the same thing to me?

How many things have I given up on just when I was about to have a breakthrough?

How many harvests have I missed out on?

Struggling always come with some pain. No one likes to struggle. Sometimes even everyday things that you know how to do can become so mundane you feel like you are burnt out and can’t do them anymore. You are ready to give up!

That is the exact time you need to press harder. When you find there is something you can’t do or can’t do anymore, look at what you can do. Concentrate on that part of the problem. What can I accomplish right now?

Right now in my life, I am working on my doctorate degree. I am preparing to take my exit exam. It consists of two papers. When I read the first scenario I wanted to run! My brain was so overwhelmed with what in the heck they were asking I wanted to give up. I heard a small whisper in my spirit telling me to take a deep breath and do what I do best. Write!

I grabbed my notebook (paper not electronic) and a pen. I read through the scenario again and wrote down ANYTHING that popped into my head. Before I knew it, I had a plan of attack.

By not giving up and concentrating on what I could do, I had a harvest!

 

Image result for never give up never surrender
Galaxy Quest 1999

 

I know there are days and tasks to come that are going to rock my world. I also know that some of them I am going to probably just melt down and quit. However, I hope and pray that I will at least try to remember to keep on going and not give up on all of them. I want to continue to do good and reap a harvest!

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Love Doesn’t Mean Agree

Galatians 5:14-15For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

I have lived through several Presidents. Each one has had his good points and bad points. Each one has had his supporters and his non-supporters. Unfortunately, over the years access to information and the ability to express one’s opinions on said information has sky rocketed. The last President and current President have had it the worst. FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter and any other number of social outlets have turned human beings into mortal enemies.

I am not going to get political here I promise. I don’t care who you voted for. I don’t care about your beliefs. What I do care about is your reactions to fellow human beings.

I am over joyed at the many pictures that are coming out right now of people helping people in Texas. No one is stopping to ask who you voted for? What is your sexual orientation? What are your religious beliefs? What color are you? Do you hate cops? Are you a thug? No, people are just reaching out a hand.

Loving your neighbor does not mean agreeing with him or her. Loving your neighbor does not mean liking who they are or what they do. Loving your neighbor means being willing to take the time to listen. Agree to disagree. Defending without offending. Yes, that last one is possible.

I am going to add one more I don’t care to this blog. I Don’t Care What Your Religious Beliefs Are! The above saying came out of the Bible, but you can find the concept in many other religions. For those nonreligious people, you can also say it is just plain old good common sense.

Loving one another makes peace. Hate does nothing but destroys us!

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

H.U.G.S

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

That is me…S-I-M-P-L-E…simple!

I like the straightforward, easy, uncomplicated, uninvolved, effortless, painless, undemanding, elementary, candid, frank, honest, sincere, plain, absolute, unqualified, bald, stark, unadorned, unvarnished, unembellished, unpretentious, unsophisticated, ordinary, unaffected, unassuming, natural, honest-to-goodness, and some might even say country-fried.

So why is it life never seems to be any of those?

I think one reason is we tend to try so hard to make it simple, but we just end up complicating everything. For instance, have you ever thought of just relaxing? Sounds simple enough right? BUT….

Where am I going to relax? Stay at home? Which room? Living room? Couch or chair?

What am I going to do to relax? Read a book? What book? Where are my glasses? Maybe I will watch TV? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon? Vudu? Maybe I should rent a movie? What movie? Do I go to Redbox? Video Store? Back to Amazon?

What should I wear to relax? Am I in a PJ’s mood? Sweats? Jeans? Is it hot or cold? Do I need a blanket? Which blanket?

What should I drink? Do I need a drink? Coffee? Tea? Hot? Cold? Soda? Water? Which glass?

Do I turn my phone off or ignore it? What if it is an emergency and someone needs me? Maybe I should just silence it.

Seriously, I think it might be easier to order a cup of coffee at Starbucks! One venti, double shot, extra cinnamon dolce latte with almond milk, hot, please!

Believe it or not, according to various internet sources it is estimated that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. How can anything ever be simple if we average that many decisions just to make it through one day?

Well, I might not be able to help you make everything simple, but I can help you find your answers. It is as simple as turning to God and His word.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130 NIV).

God has said we can come to him with every decision. Yes, you read that right EVERY decision. He is there and wants to help us with all of life, not just the big “Christiany” things.

So instead of K.I.S.S – Keep It Simple Stupid, let’s shoot for H.U.G.S – Help Us, God, to Simplify!

img_0012-2

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Frazzled

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

A dear lady named Hazel Straub from Crown of Glory International Ministries recently wrote this,

“Today is a new day. God calls for us to release old mindsets of fear, doubt, and unbelief. Stop complaining, instead of reigning. Release the trauma, drama and hurts of the past. This will make room for the good things, God wants to give you today.”

It seemed to fit my life on Sunday so well!

I serve as a greeter upstairs in our elementary school area at church. It is my job to check kids in and make sure child and parent have matching tags. Then at the end of service, I make sure anyone coming through the doors has a tag. Yep! I am a church bouncer! Ha-Ha-Ha! No, really it is a wonderful system that keeps all of our kiddos safe. Well, it is a wonderful system when the “system” is working.

My partner and I quickly ascertained that the computers were not going to cooperate. So we had to go old school and dig out the bracelets. We also improvised some name tags so small group leaders would know which kid was which.

Now, I have to tell you something. I am a little OCD. OK, OK, I am a LOT OCD! When things don’t go as planned I tend to get a little frazzled.

frazzled

My partner stepped up and looked at me with a grin and said, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” I started giggling and was able to pull an Elsa and Let it Go! Let it Go!

You know too often we let little stuff just pile up and get the best of us. It festers kind of like the popcorn hull I had stuck in my gum this morning. Ouch! How can something that small cause so much pain?!?!?!?

I know it is easy to get wrapped up in the past or even caught up in the moment. But really what good does it do us? Is my worrying going to make the situation go away or even get better? Nope!

So from now on, I am going to be the blessed flexible and not get all bent out of shape!

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Greater Good, Hypocrite, or Sinner

I Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

I am once again drawn to Dr. Strange today. In the very beginning, we see the “bad guys” coming to steal forbidden ancient magic.  When the Ancient One attempts to stop them they call her a hypocrite. ***SPOILER ALERT**** We find out later the Ancient One has been alive for a VERY long time because of using forbidden ancient magic.

It is the beginning of a new school year and we have passed a new school rule.  No Cellphones in Class!  If you are seen with a cell phone you are sent to your dean where they will confiscate the phone until a parent comes to get it.  On the first day when this was announced you would have thought we were taking their lives away from them.

I look around the many classrooms and students, for the most part, are complying. We have the occasional text peaker.  When they are caught most teachers give them the warning and it is put away.  However, we have a few who are pressing every limit they can and get sent to the dean.

I had to laugh a little when I heard the teachers getting so angry over the students who try to peak or even all out start texting in class.  I set in meetings all of the time and look around and see lots of peakers and all out texter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest checkers.  The same complainers!

Now, before you think I am going all “I am so Holy” and pointing fingers please know I am typing this when I should be in a meeting.  So, no judgment from me!

We all tend to use “yeah but” excuses when we try to push the limits.  Many times we start out just rubbing up against temptations.  Then we stick that toe out.  Before you know it we have jumped the line and are full out sinning.

Like the Ancient One, we may say, yeah but we did it for the greater good or didn’t think it would hurt anything.  Only later we find out it not only hurt us but others as well.  For the Ancient One, it hurt lots of people and even lost a faithful follower and friend to the dark side.

I am going to try harder to remember there are always eyes watching and small things quickly snowball into big things.

I can guarantee if you give Satan an inch, he will take a mile!  So let’s stop before the millimeter instead!
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

But I Don’t Wanna!

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

But I don’t wanna do that!

IMG_0005

How many times have you heard someone say something similar? If you have kids, I can guarantee you have heard it at least ten times today. As a teacher, I can tell you I can multiply that number by thirty and some days even more.

How many times have you caught yourself saying or thinking I don’t want to do that? Hmmm…yeah for me probably ten times a day again might just be accurate.

I really hate it when I get stuck in one of those moods where I start thinking negatively about everything. I mean I get pretty darn close to a full on temper tantrum. Reality check, some days it isn’t close. Some days I go straight to the temper tantrum.

Recently I was having one of those days when I stumbled upon Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Talk about OUCH!

Once the burn started to subside, I realized there were lots of things in life I didn’t necessarily want to do. There are times when doing said things are very inconvenient. Sorry, I will never enjoy doing laundry, dishes or cleaning a bathroom. Some days I really want to stay in my pj’s and not go to work. Somedays I just don’t want to adult anymore!

It is in those times, I have to remember it isn’t all about me. Someone has to get these things done. I really enjoy pleasing the Lord. So, when I get my focus off of me and onto him, it does make the task doable.

I won’t lie. They still are not things that make me happy. However, I can concentrate on trying to make God smile.

Besides, I am definitely happy when they are done!

IMG_0006
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Blinded by the Key Hole

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

I love the movie, Dr. Strange! Every time I watch it I find more and more little words of wisdom. One of my favorite quotes comes when the Ancient One is trying to explain to Dr. Strange there is a bigger picture going on and he is stuck on the little things. She tells him, “You’re a man looking through a key hole trying to widen the key hole.”

Like Dr. Strange, I have a tendency to get stuck on the here and now. I am so consumed by my day-to-day challenges, I forget there is a bigger plan at work.

The Israelites needed to be reminded also. Moses was not allowed to cross over to the promised land, but he gave them a pep talk before turning them over to Joshua. He told them all to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”(Deuteronomy 31:6).

They had been through a lot. They had been brought out of Egypt, chased down by armies. They had fought in several battles. They had traveled many miles for many years. Oh, yeah, did I mention that some people had seen this land and came back and said it was inhabited by giants? Great! Came all this way and now there are GIANTS! What else could go wrong?

You see while they were looking through the key hole, God was trying to show them the entire picture. He wanted them to remember He had been with them every step of the way and He was going to continue being with them. That was all they needed to see.

When I am looking through the key hole of my life I am concentrating on the here and now. I get wrapped up in my life and can get consumed by my difficulties. I need to step back and realize there is an entire world on the other side of that door and I will not be able to see it by trying to widen the key hole. Instead, I need to be courageous and go through. God has always been with me and he always will.
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Light My Way

Psalms 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

“Father God,

I thank you for the light of Your Word. Let Your Word be what I run to and cling to when I find myself lost, drifting, and compromising with the ideas of the world. Help me to remain on the lighted path that You have laid out before me. Allow me to be a light to others who need you as well.”

These are the words I read today during my devotion time. They hit me very hard. This past summer I had been praying so hard for God to intervene so I would not have to return to my teaching position. I wanted so badly to stay at home and write for a living and finish my dissertation. My answer was no.

God has a path for me to travel. He lit that path very brightly and it took me right back to my job for now.

So, I turned to my bible again and prayer and looked for everything I could find about calming the child or calming the storm. I found so many verses about God having plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and continuing to ​perfect and complete the good work he has started in us (Philippians 1:6). I even found a new favorite about trusting the Lord and leaning not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

I prayed for the Lord to help me continue down his path. I promised to follow his light. You know what? God intervened! No, ​I did not get to quit my job, but I found myself not minding. As a matter of fact, the first few days were very enjoyable. There was a new spring in my step.

I am not naive. I know there will be days to come that I will still struggle. However, I know on whom I can depend to get me through. I know if I just keep looking toward the light and picking up my lamp I will find the right path.

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Go With The Flow

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Did you ever notice just how busy we really are all the time?

Let’s be real here.  We are all extremely busy people. I am not sure we even know how to slow down.  Even our vacations seem to get packed with must see’s or must do’s let alone everything it takes to get ready for a vacation. Oh, and don’t forget all the stuff waiting for us when we get back.

Recently, my husband and I went up to Wisconsin for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.  It was a weekend getaway.  Easy right?  One would think so.  Just grab a few things and get out of the house.  However, when I got home from work Friday night I still needed to pack and my work schedule that day seemed overwhelming.  So, I felt frantic.

When I walked in the door I was met with a frantic husband.  He had been home that day making sure the house was cleaned up and animals all taken care of for our house sitter.  Only thing was life had gotten in the way of all of his plans as well.  So, meet Mr. & Mrs. Frantic.

I should mention right now that we decided to take our not quite two-year-old granddaughter with us.  This was her first five-hour road trip. No one was quite sure what to expect.  I certainly didn’t expect to learn a very valuable lesson from her.

God tells us clearly to guard our hearts because everything flows from it.  Getting tired and overwhelmed is not good for our flow. When we don’t learn to recharge our bodies and our minds that nice quiet flow can turn into raging rapids.

You could say my husband and I were trapped in one of those raging rapids by the time we hit the road. Then, I saw my granddaughter.

During our trip, she laughed, pointed out the cows, the windmills and waved hi at everyone who passed. She played with her toes and sang her ABC’s. Then every once in a while she would yell Mawmaw! Mawmaw! To jibber jabber about something that caught her attention.  She was taking the time to enjoy the ride.

Five hours later, we pulled into our hotel. My husband and I were exhausted but she continued to smile.  We got to our hallway and ran into cousins she had never even met and she began sharing her cookies and laughing with them all.  After a long ride, she played hostess and made sure everyone got some love.

We walked into the room and she ran to one of the beds laying claim by putting baby and blanket promptly on top. I got her and I ready for bed and she climbed in, turned around, and flopped in the middle of all the pillows. She pulled the fluffy comforter up to her chin. She snuggled deep down and let out a great big mmmmmmmm!

My little baby bop didn’t let life dampen her adventure. She didn’t let five hours trapped in a car seat get her upset.  She didn’t hesitate to share love and joy with everyone around her. And at the end of the day, she sank in and let herself get swallowed up in the comfort of a great big fluffy bed. Without realizing it she was guarding her heart and love was flowing out.

For the rest of the trip, my husband and I took the time to just go with the flow. It is amazing the new tricks a not quite two-year-old can teach these two old dogs!

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Posted on

Let There Be Light…the End

Psalms 97:11
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

So I began this journey talking about PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I then moved on to my seizures and two wonderful pups that were placed in my life. How do I connect all of this together? That is easy, God!

Only one of my seizure ever came back as epileptic. For many years, I was told my seizure activity was made up. The official term was pseudo-seizures. I had several doctors who truly made me feel like I was making it all up for attention. It wasn’t really their fault. Little was known about seizures at the time.

A few years ago, some new studies came out that linked pseudo-seizures with stress levels much in the same way they link migraines. As a matter of fact, I also suffer from migraines and my doctor said very often instead of coming out as a headache, sometimes my migraines were coming out as seizures.

These stressors can come in many different packages. I have environmental ones like certain foods I am allergic to as well as seasonal allergies. My body getting run down because of being sick or lack of sleep can become a trigger. Then there is the biggest one of all, life!

Annie was very good at noticing when I was getting stressed. She would often walk up to me and get me to pet her to take my mind off things. It was very calming and I can’t tell you how many seizures she helped me avoid by just calming me down. However, when those really difficult moments came and my PTSD kicked in I would get lost in the darkness. Even Annie struggled with how to bring me back.

I don’t know if it was because of the life he endured or if God just decided to equip him with a little extra light, but Meshach knows exactly what to do. Meshach runs to my side when he feels those anxieties creeping up inside me. When I am so frightened, reliving each and every moment of torment, he doesn’t let me walk alone. He cuddles me. He licks me. He simply stays right by my side and never takes his eyes off me. Just like when we first met.

God sends him to light the path for me. He is there to let me know I am not alone and we will get through this together. In the military, it is often referred to as “he’s got my six.” The really cool thing is I have his too. There are times when he leans into me when we are in a big crowd. I reach down, place my hand on his head and he looks up at me with those big brown eyes and I remind him, we are in this together. He lets out a slow breath, stands a little taller and we go on.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future. Right now God has chosen to show me his love and light through four big paws and a very wet nose.

IMG_0059
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.