The Wisdom of Health: by Laurie Jackson
“Yes, this is the wisdom of health, enjoy the process. We were created to be healthy so when we go that direction we are actually living out what is most true about ourselves.” :)
I posted this on a thread the other day. It just sorta came out from my heart. I was so excited for my friend Jennifer’s’ success in her own health journey. She posted her before and after picture and I couldn’t help but celebrate this new place she has come to.
I guess the question and the real point of this blog is this: Is my friend Jennifer coming to a “New” place or returning to who she was created to be in the first place? When we “follow our heart” we will end up in a true representation of our intended creation. (That last sentence could be in a rap song) That’s why I’m keep’n it in! ☺ Being true to your self and loving yourself is ultimate wisdom. I read this truth in a bible verse after it had been something I had already experienced personally. Proverbs 19:8 “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.” My take on this is that when you Love yourself “before” you’ve made positive and wise changes then and only then will you actually be able to find and receive wisdom. I think it’s interesting that I knew this truth before I read “about” it. I just happened to recognize it in words at that time in my life. I believe truth lives in us and when it gets to a place of growth that roots deep enough for it to pop up from the soil of life then this is when we start to “recognize” what or who truth is.
So many of us have warped ideas of health, wisdom and even Love. I think as I’ve relaxed into a place of really trusting my gut feelings or as I like to say, trusting my heart, I’ve been able to come to more peace about who I am. I like myself better. I seem to be getting more transparent people surrounding me. My life seems more authentic.
I used to struggle so intensely with my weight. Not many people knew because I “looked” great! Oh yes I did! I was never FAT… and fat is supposedly ugly. Well, I felt ugly! My thoughts were ugly and food controlled almost every piece of me! I was not free! I over exercised and under-ate. It wasn’t about “looking” good as much as it was about me feeling a sense of “control” in my life. I never did get into the Bulimic stuff. I was probably borderline anorexic. I say borderline because my body didn’t actually get to a point of rejecting food altogether but I could go days without eating. I used to ride my bike to work and back approximately 24 miles. I would only allow myself to eat maybe a salad and one cup of coffee a day. I was in so much bondage! BUT… people would say, “you look great” and “how do you stay so calm?” When you don’t eat enough I think your emotions shut down or vice versa.
I’m pretty sure that was just what I was doing… shutting down psychologically and trying to “control” pain in my life. Something deep inside me, the truth about who I was, kept calling me out of this craziness. I was always too afraid to let go of my façade of control. I didn’t realize at that time it was a façade. As I got older, the façade started to give way. I became pregnant. Now Love was involved! Maybe the Love for my daughter caused me to Love myself as a mother. This little baby inside of me needs to be healthy and have a healthy and wise mommy. This is when I began to “change.” It pretty much backs up the proverb, doesn’t it?
I’m not going to tell you I’m a super woman and never count my calories. I will tell you without flinching one bit, I’M FREE in this place!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsWgG5v7A3A
Not perfect, but my thoughts are on so many other things. Working out is now just part of my week. Eating well and often is almost like taking a shower. I enjoy food for what it is. My first pregnancy has been more then 17 years. This freedom I truly walk in has come from a place of Truth and love in my soul. We all have it. Let it grow and water it by following your heart. Truth and Love are written on our hearts. What keeps us from finding this treasure is fakeness. Fake plants don’t grow. We are real people alive and breathing. We need light, living water and a safe environment to rest and grow in. We need to trust our hearts. Don’t just look at what people say about you. Everyone “thought” I was fine. I was the only one that really knew how miserable I was. Trust the Love and truth that live inside of you. Love and Truth just want to grow and reveal the magnificent person you were created to be.
We were created to be healthy so when we go that direction we are actually living out what is most true about ourselves.” :)
I am so grateful that our Journey’s have intersected. Please leave a comment by clicking “Green” ~ ☺ Love 2 u, Laurie
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Moving On..... By Laurie Jackson 6/15/2010
I just looked at how many blogs I've written these past few months and I imagine out of all nine, for the most part my perceptions of my own thoughts have “Moved On.” Today I was sitting in the car with my fourteen-year-old daughter as we waited for my son's Tae- Kwon-do class to end. She said something I thought was very profound. She said, "Sometimes it's not quitting, it's just moving on." I don't know what we were talking about that made her say this but I knew what she meant straight away.
I have a friend who promotes that; a persons life should be lived organically and able to grow naturally from the heart as an individual, opposed to the pressure of comparing or striving to be what another person or a system of belief would try to convince them to think. A blog I wrote called “Heavy thought trips” is probably one of those blogs I would still agree with completely. I talk about an idea of just simply thinking things through for yourself and coming to your own conclusions about life as you search for answers and just live and learn through your own experiences instead of mimicking and thinking the way others do.
So this blog is just another place I’m moving on or into. The old is passing away and I’m naturally growing into someone that thinks differently then I have in the recent past. I don’t look so different, although I’m trying REALLY hard by dying my hair, working out etc. ☺ But of course I’m talking about an inside type of change.
This past year I have been willing and almost forced to re-evaluate my beliefs about what I feel are the most important aspects in my life; which is relationships. I’ve moved on from some relationships and changed my responses to many. The reason I believe this happened is because I chose to follow my heart more instead of what “looks” like the right or wrong thing to do. I don’t want to live any other way hence the title: Moving On.
I think this must be how it feels for a person coming out of a controlling family life or even maybe say an occult. I have never felt so free to be me. I trust my heart for many reasons that I won’t even blog about at this point. It feels so right but at first I doubted almost every step, except something deeper inside kept me “moving on” in this direction. I’m so glad I did!
Living organically means that you will grow in your natural state. You may even look wild to those who are cultivated by the factory farmers. You may even seem like you have too many bugs on you because you weren’t sprayed with tons of pesticides. I’m no longer making all my decisions based on what everyone else does or expects. What freedom to get out from under such oppression? ☺ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsWgG5v7A3A
I just know I’m Moving on and following my heart which is God given. Let me clarify that I don’t mean I follow every whim and emotion because I would weigh over 300 lbs if I did. I’m not talking about the external, but being truly connected to what I really want and desire from my gut. Scientists have found that there is a chemical reaction that takes place from your gut when a persons instincts kick in. It’s a healthy chemical for your body and isn’t toxic for you. It was created so you would run for dear life! ☺ Do ya get it? If you’ve cut yourself off from your heart it may take awhile to find this natural, organic real you. Hang in there because you were created to be you!
Organically grown is always the healthier choice to make. It seems to be more “spendy” though. Hmmmm?
Until my heart leads me back to blog again I do thank you for sharing in my Journey. And a special thanks to those of you who always seem to find the Best in my heart, you know who you are. ☺
I have a friend who promotes that; a persons life should be lived organically and able to grow naturally from the heart as an individual, opposed to the pressure of comparing or striving to be what another person or a system of belief would try to convince them to think. A blog I wrote called “Heavy thought trips” is probably one of those blogs I would still agree with completely. I talk about an idea of just simply thinking things through for yourself and coming to your own conclusions about life as you search for answers and just live and learn through your own experiences instead of mimicking and thinking the way others do.
So this blog is just another place I’m moving on or into. The old is passing away and I’m naturally growing into someone that thinks differently then I have in the recent past. I don’t look so different, although I’m trying REALLY hard by dying my hair, working out etc. ☺ But of course I’m talking about an inside type of change.
This past year I have been willing and almost forced to re-evaluate my beliefs about what I feel are the most important aspects in my life; which is relationships. I’ve moved on from some relationships and changed my responses to many. The reason I believe this happened is because I chose to follow my heart more instead of what “looks” like the right or wrong thing to do. I don’t want to live any other way hence the title: Moving On.
I think this must be how it feels for a person coming out of a controlling family life or even maybe say an occult. I have never felt so free to be me. I trust my heart for many reasons that I won’t even blog about at this point. It feels so right but at first I doubted almost every step, except something deeper inside kept me “moving on” in this direction. I’m so glad I did!
Living organically means that you will grow in your natural state. You may even look wild to those who are cultivated by the factory farmers. You may even seem like you have too many bugs on you because you weren’t sprayed with tons of pesticides. I’m no longer making all my decisions based on what everyone else does or expects. What freedom to get out from under such oppression? ☺ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsWgG5v7A3A
I just know I’m Moving on and following my heart which is God given. Let me clarify that I don’t mean I follow every whim and emotion because I would weigh over 300 lbs if I did. I’m not talking about the external, but being truly connected to what I really want and desire from my gut. Scientists have found that there is a chemical reaction that takes place from your gut when a persons instincts kick in. It’s a healthy chemical for your body and isn’t toxic for you. It was created so you would run for dear life! ☺ Do ya get it? If you’ve cut yourself off from your heart it may take awhile to find this natural, organic real you. Hang in there because you were created to be you!
Organically grown is always the healthier choice to make. It seems to be more “spendy” though. Hmmmm?
Until my heart leads me back to blog again I do thank you for sharing in my Journey. And a special thanks to those of you who always seem to find the Best in my heart, you know who you are. ☺
Sunday, May 23, 2010
DAMNED IF YA DO, DAMNED IF YA DON'T..
Damned if ya do, damned if ya don’t… by Laurie Jackson 5/23/2010
Okay, so I got to thinking about how “shame” is so attached to my heart and now that I can see it in one area of my life it is like I see that most of my actions and motives are based on shame! I can see clearly that most everything in my life is tainted in some way, by shame. Do I have to do this or do I get to do this?
Let me explain the title. Damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t. Have you ever struggled with your weight or any other thing you feel guilty or obligated about? I should workout, I should call that person, and I should do this or that. It Reminds me of the infamous saying: “Don’t should on yourself.” Then there are days when I wake up and I am so excited about what I GET to do that day. I love these days!
I’m looking inside my heart today and asking myself what is the difference in this shame based attitude, from the I “get to” attitude?
I believe, for me anyway, it comes down to one, or rather two questions. “Do I feel manipulated and controlled about doing something or do I personally and genuinely have a desire to do a thing?”
There are people who are truly satisfied to have a relationship based on manipulation, control and trying to put shame on you. They are satisfied “pretending” that you are glad to talk to them and visit with them. Personally, I would not want someone to feel this way about me. If I look deep in my heart I may “want” to call a person, but if they project this needy attitude full of victimization that gives way to manipulating and trying to control me to be there friend then I end up wanting to run and hide from these kind of relationships. But then this causes the person to manipulate the relationship even more and causes me to want to gasp for air and get away from the relationship as quick as possible.
I think so many marriages and many relationships are caught up in this sort of thing. So “damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t”… you feel trapped! I think the only remedy is to have a type of separation from the toxic relationship and then when everyone is “okay” and detoxed from this unhealthy need of you, and then maybe, just maybe, you can have some type of healthy relationship.
My husband and I actually went through this many years ago. We did not quite separate but I did separate emotionally from him and I learned to get my emotional needs met from developing a deeper and more dependent relationship with God and even ended up connecting better to myself. This actually made my husband and my relationship much healthier. ☺ Go figure.
The same goes for our relationship with food and exercise or anything else we “should” do. We obviously were made to eat and move our bodies as well as many other things in life. We were created to enjoy our food and even enjoy healthy living. This area has also been so warped with shame and obligation. I can’t quite explain how or when I feel free from this but it has something to do with being okay with myself no matter what I’m eating or if I worked out that day. It seems when I completely dispose of any perfectionist, unrealistic and or even “non-conformist” type of attitudes. When I allow myself to be a flexible human -being. I supposed being “okay” with what I may need to feel on any given day. Not relying on shame or guilt to be my motivator but rather motivated by truth and love for each moment. If I eat too much or exercise too little just telling myself, “you are on a journey and your value does not rely on what you look like or even feel like.”
Shame is all over the place. We live in such a performance based society full of competition and images that promise happiness. Images of what happiness looks like i.e.: family, friendship, work/careers or our body image. We have all heard happiness does not come from outer circumstances or appearances. Seriously, in some ways this is true but in some ways it’s a really stupid cliché’. Imagine having everyone you loved taken away from you. Or imagine if you had a serious health condition that caused you to swell up and loose any or all-outer beauty and or all your vitality. Would any of us really be happy? I wouldn’t even have the audacity to say that I would or could feel happy.
Job, from the big, bad, bible story did, or did he? Was Job truly happy while going through it, was he? It says that God restored double for his trouble but I could never understand that if Job really loved his kids and wife, how could God just replace them with “other” people. This was obviously over a lot of time… Months, years and more like decades. “Time” to heal and grow seems to be an important factor in all this.
So, I think I’m giving up on all this stuff I do in pretense, obligation and completely shame based. Of course tomorrow I will do stuff that I don’t “feel” like doing but, I’m asking God to continue to show me how to live loved, live in His truth, and not live out of any shame and truly experience more freedom.
I have tried to make this happen for myself, but time and time again I find that my efforts are a dead end road. When I wait on God to transform me into a free, loving person I end up waking up and noticing that some of my shame based attitudes are gone. How does He do it? I don’t know exactly, but I think it has something to do with taking shame out of my thinking and affirming His love for me personally and causing me to actually experience His perfect Love in my daily life. This is vague and it even seems like some sort of rhetoric that I’ve heard before. So far, it’s the only way that seems to bring fruit on my tree. When I just stand there and receive all of Gods provision, nutrients, light and living water, the tree just grows a “little” each day. When I look back a year ago, it seems more visible, but even then, I try not to look back too often. This seems to hinder me more then help.
However, whenever and whatever means God chooses. God is NOT shame. God is Love. It is His kindness and mercy that leads us to a transformed life of really knowing His love for us so we can honestly extend that love to others. Not shame, obligation and performance based living.
This is where I seem to be these days on this life journey. Let me know more about your journey. I love hearing what God is doing in all of you too. ☺
Okay, so I got to thinking about how “shame” is so attached to my heart and now that I can see it in one area of my life it is like I see that most of my actions and motives are based on shame! I can see clearly that most everything in my life is tainted in some way, by shame. Do I have to do this or do I get to do this?
Let me explain the title. Damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t. Have you ever struggled with your weight or any other thing you feel guilty or obligated about? I should workout, I should call that person, and I should do this or that. It Reminds me of the infamous saying: “Don’t should on yourself.” Then there are days when I wake up and I am so excited about what I GET to do that day. I love these days!
I’m looking inside my heart today and asking myself what is the difference in this shame based attitude, from the I “get to” attitude?
I believe, for me anyway, it comes down to one, or rather two questions. “Do I feel manipulated and controlled about doing something or do I personally and genuinely have a desire to do a thing?”
There are people who are truly satisfied to have a relationship based on manipulation, control and trying to put shame on you. They are satisfied “pretending” that you are glad to talk to them and visit with them. Personally, I would not want someone to feel this way about me. If I look deep in my heart I may “want” to call a person, but if they project this needy attitude full of victimization that gives way to manipulating and trying to control me to be there friend then I end up wanting to run and hide from these kind of relationships. But then this causes the person to manipulate the relationship even more and causes me to want to gasp for air and get away from the relationship as quick as possible.
I think so many marriages and many relationships are caught up in this sort of thing. So “damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t”… you feel trapped! I think the only remedy is to have a type of separation from the toxic relationship and then when everyone is “okay” and detoxed from this unhealthy need of you, and then maybe, just maybe, you can have some type of healthy relationship.
My husband and I actually went through this many years ago. We did not quite separate but I did separate emotionally from him and I learned to get my emotional needs met from developing a deeper and more dependent relationship with God and even ended up connecting better to myself. This actually made my husband and my relationship much healthier. ☺ Go figure.
The same goes for our relationship with food and exercise or anything else we “should” do. We obviously were made to eat and move our bodies as well as many other things in life. We were created to enjoy our food and even enjoy healthy living. This area has also been so warped with shame and obligation. I can’t quite explain how or when I feel free from this but it has something to do with being okay with myself no matter what I’m eating or if I worked out that day. It seems when I completely dispose of any perfectionist, unrealistic and or even “non-conformist” type of attitudes. When I allow myself to be a flexible human -being. I supposed being “okay” with what I may need to feel on any given day. Not relying on shame or guilt to be my motivator but rather motivated by truth and love for each moment. If I eat too much or exercise too little just telling myself, “you are on a journey and your value does not rely on what you look like or even feel like.”
Shame is all over the place. We live in such a performance based society full of competition and images that promise happiness. Images of what happiness looks like i.e.: family, friendship, work/careers or our body image. We have all heard happiness does not come from outer circumstances or appearances. Seriously, in some ways this is true but in some ways it’s a really stupid cliché’. Imagine having everyone you loved taken away from you. Or imagine if you had a serious health condition that caused you to swell up and loose any or all-outer beauty and or all your vitality. Would any of us really be happy? I wouldn’t even have the audacity to say that I would or could feel happy.
Job, from the big, bad, bible story did, or did he? Was Job truly happy while going through it, was he? It says that God restored double for his trouble but I could never understand that if Job really loved his kids and wife, how could God just replace them with “other” people. This was obviously over a lot of time… Months, years and more like decades. “Time” to heal and grow seems to be an important factor in all this.
So, I think I’m giving up on all this stuff I do in pretense, obligation and completely shame based. Of course tomorrow I will do stuff that I don’t “feel” like doing but, I’m asking God to continue to show me how to live loved, live in His truth, and not live out of any shame and truly experience more freedom.
I have tried to make this happen for myself, but time and time again I find that my efforts are a dead end road. When I wait on God to transform me into a free, loving person I end up waking up and noticing that some of my shame based attitudes are gone. How does He do it? I don’t know exactly, but I think it has something to do with taking shame out of my thinking and affirming His love for me personally and causing me to actually experience His perfect Love in my daily life. This is vague and it even seems like some sort of rhetoric that I’ve heard before. So far, it’s the only way that seems to bring fruit on my tree. When I just stand there and receive all of Gods provision, nutrients, light and living water, the tree just grows a “little” each day. When I look back a year ago, it seems more visible, but even then, I try not to look back too often. This seems to hinder me more then help.
However, whenever and whatever means God chooses. God is NOT shame. God is Love. It is His kindness and mercy that leads us to a transformed life of really knowing His love for us so we can honestly extend that love to others. Not shame, obligation and performance based living.
This is where I seem to be these days on this life journey. Let me know more about your journey. I love hearing what God is doing in all of you too. ☺
Thursday, May 6, 2010
WOULD GOD REALLY...? By Laurie Jackson 5/6/2010
WOULD GOD REALLY…? by Laurie Jackson 5/6/2010
Would God really, and on purpose, lead someone down a road to sabotage his or her life? I don’t believe this for a minute but after last year, I’m convinced that God would lead you down a road that could cost all your comfort, familiarity, and reputation and even seem to take away your closest friendships. Would God actually lead us to a place of desolation or a wilderness? For His higher purposes of Love, I believe that He would and He led me there.
Last year around March my life went haywire because I heard God speak very clearly to me. You may say, God does not give fear and His yoke is easy and light. I completely agree, but has God ever told you to “do it afraid?” Or has He ever told you to do something that wasn’t easy? The fruit of His spirit is easy and light and the fruit of Love does cast out fear. Fruit is a process of growth it’s not instant. Because I listened to the Holy Sprits leading, and He knew I would, my life lost all it’s familiar comforts and grooves I had established. Before I tell you more, let me interject a short story about our daughter having seizures a few years back.
God asked me if I could trust His love for me, when our daughter was having seizures a few years ago. I basically said "Hell No!” seriously. I said, "What kind of God are you that you would take our child?" Anyway, because God is so good and He knew the depths of my heart even more then I knew myself; I totally ended up trusting Him there. Not immediately, but He led me and comforted me through the process. I was never the same after the process of experiencing His comfort during the few years our daughter was having seizures. My level of trust in Him and my understanding of His ways grew up a few notches. She ended up getting sick and hospitalized a year after all the seizures for a different ailment and then, it was “Light and easy” I actually felt guilty for not worrying so much and asked God if I was disconnected from my emotions and maybe I didn’t love my daughter. His answer surprised me. He said this is a peace that surpasses your own understanding. When you really walk this journey out with Him the scriptures start making way more sense. I have not had that kind of peace since then or before then. I can get a little glimpse of how the characters in the bible had the power of His grace to get through some of the most horrific experiences though.
In John 6:28 the disciples asked Jesus what the “work” of God is. Jesus responded and said, “The work of God is to believe in me.” It takes a lot of work to believe God at times. The fruit of believing God is Love, Power and a sound mind… oh and then you tell everyone that Gods ways are easy and light after you’ve grown a few inches. Gods’ ways are easy and light. It’s our way that is hard to give up.
Love always protects. How can this be, if Gods people are dieing left and right? I’m starting to grasp, just a little of Gods wisdom. Gods’ love doesn’t protect what we deem as valuable but what He knows is of value. Our faith is more valuable to Him and Love is the greatest concern to Him. It seems like the only time Faith and Love get developed and actually grow, is in the trials and tribulations of life. How easy is it to Love someone who is always nice to you. How easy would it be to Love a person who hurt your child or molested your child? How easy is it to have faith and trust God when things are smooth and peachy? I’ve prayed prayers to God like this: “God do whatever you need to do to keep me close to you.” It’s no wonder that He asked me to do a very hard thing last year. I completely followed Him out of all my comfort zones. I’m only beginning to see how important it was that I trusted Him and followed his lead. His Love always protects. If He doesn’t protect the way you think He should then just hang tight. He’ll give you His Love chat. Love also bears all things and endures all things… Love will not fail!
To follow Jesus, when it seems like you are causing others pain by doing it, is very confusing. God’s love is so much deeper then some of our little Love concepts. There is always sacrifice involved in Loving. He always has the best interests for all His people. Everyone is of equal concern in Gods family. He went to the cross and asked God to forgive the Pharisees because they didn’t realize what they were doing. The sacrifice is the hardest for those who are called to the cross on behalf of others.
I learned so much about Gods ways this year. I wouldn’t go back and change anything. I wonder how some of those bible characters felt when God seemed to lead them and guide them in a direction that felt “extremely” uncomfortable. I won’t give any details of my trial. I will tell you that there was not anyplace or any person I could turn to for quite some time. The only comfort I had was God. Like I said, it’s worth following Him. His ways are just not like we plan. But His ways lead to Love, Peace, Joy and so much more. The prize is that you get to know the God of creation better. He led me to some amazing people that I would have never met had I stayed in the nest. To think that we can know Him so personally is crazy and amazing at the same time. The fact that we are in His image is mind-boggling. Wow!
If you are in a trial just look this guy named, Nick Vujicic up on you-tube. He is a man with no arms and legs. He has such a gift of encouragement just for you! ☺
Thanks for sharing this sometimes scary, fun, exciting, hard, seemingly crazy and forever rewarding journey with me.
Would God really, and on purpose, lead someone down a road to sabotage his or her life? I don’t believe this for a minute but after last year, I’m convinced that God would lead you down a road that could cost all your comfort, familiarity, and reputation and even seem to take away your closest friendships. Would God actually lead us to a place of desolation or a wilderness? For His higher purposes of Love, I believe that He would and He led me there.
Last year around March my life went haywire because I heard God speak very clearly to me. You may say, God does not give fear and His yoke is easy and light. I completely agree, but has God ever told you to “do it afraid?” Or has He ever told you to do something that wasn’t easy? The fruit of His spirit is easy and light and the fruit of Love does cast out fear. Fruit is a process of growth it’s not instant. Because I listened to the Holy Sprits leading, and He knew I would, my life lost all it’s familiar comforts and grooves I had established. Before I tell you more, let me interject a short story about our daughter having seizures a few years back.
God asked me if I could trust His love for me, when our daughter was having seizures a few years ago. I basically said "Hell No!” seriously. I said, "What kind of God are you that you would take our child?" Anyway, because God is so good and He knew the depths of my heart even more then I knew myself; I totally ended up trusting Him there. Not immediately, but He led me and comforted me through the process. I was never the same after the process of experiencing His comfort during the few years our daughter was having seizures. My level of trust in Him and my understanding of His ways grew up a few notches. She ended up getting sick and hospitalized a year after all the seizures for a different ailment and then, it was “Light and easy” I actually felt guilty for not worrying so much and asked God if I was disconnected from my emotions and maybe I didn’t love my daughter. His answer surprised me. He said this is a peace that surpasses your own understanding. When you really walk this journey out with Him the scriptures start making way more sense. I have not had that kind of peace since then or before then. I can get a little glimpse of how the characters in the bible had the power of His grace to get through some of the most horrific experiences though.
In John 6:28 the disciples asked Jesus what the “work” of God is. Jesus responded and said, “The work of God is to believe in me.” It takes a lot of work to believe God at times. The fruit of believing God is Love, Power and a sound mind… oh and then you tell everyone that Gods ways are easy and light after you’ve grown a few inches. Gods’ ways are easy and light. It’s our way that is hard to give up.
Love always protects. How can this be, if Gods people are dieing left and right? I’m starting to grasp, just a little of Gods wisdom. Gods’ love doesn’t protect what we deem as valuable but what He knows is of value. Our faith is more valuable to Him and Love is the greatest concern to Him. It seems like the only time Faith and Love get developed and actually grow, is in the trials and tribulations of life. How easy is it to Love someone who is always nice to you. How easy would it be to Love a person who hurt your child or molested your child? How easy is it to have faith and trust God when things are smooth and peachy? I’ve prayed prayers to God like this: “God do whatever you need to do to keep me close to you.” It’s no wonder that He asked me to do a very hard thing last year. I completely followed Him out of all my comfort zones. I’m only beginning to see how important it was that I trusted Him and followed his lead. His Love always protects. If He doesn’t protect the way you think He should then just hang tight. He’ll give you His Love chat. Love also bears all things and endures all things… Love will not fail!
To follow Jesus, when it seems like you are causing others pain by doing it, is very confusing. God’s love is so much deeper then some of our little Love concepts. There is always sacrifice involved in Loving. He always has the best interests for all His people. Everyone is of equal concern in Gods family. He went to the cross and asked God to forgive the Pharisees because they didn’t realize what they were doing. The sacrifice is the hardest for those who are called to the cross on behalf of others.
I learned so much about Gods ways this year. I wouldn’t go back and change anything. I wonder how some of those bible characters felt when God seemed to lead them and guide them in a direction that felt “extremely” uncomfortable. I won’t give any details of my trial. I will tell you that there was not anyplace or any person I could turn to for quite some time. The only comfort I had was God. Like I said, it’s worth following Him. His ways are just not like we plan. But His ways lead to Love, Peace, Joy and so much more. The prize is that you get to know the God of creation better. He led me to some amazing people that I would have never met had I stayed in the nest. To think that we can know Him so personally is crazy and amazing at the same time. The fact that we are in His image is mind-boggling. Wow!
If you are in a trial just look this guy named, Nick Vujicic up on you-tube. He is a man with no arms and legs. He has such a gift of encouragement just for you! ☺
Thanks for sharing this sometimes scary, fun, exciting, hard, seemingly crazy and forever rewarding journey with me.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
BRAIN REACTIONS: By Laurie Jackson 5/4/2010
BRAIN REACTIONS…. By Laurie Jackson 5/2/2010
There is so much they have found about the brain these days. I read a book entitled “Who Switched Off My Brain” by Dr. Caroline Leaf a couple of years ago. It was an amazing book and I highly recommend it. I ended up getting some videos at the library on the brain and got really into how the whole brain functions. It was fascinating, to me anyway. ☺
On my treadmill today I started thinking about the show “The Biggest Loser” and how hard they try and make positive changes. I think to myself, I’m glad I only need to lose 5 pounds here and there. That show motivates me to continue to workout and eat right. I would never want to have to lose that much weight.
But on the other hand, I’ve been making some very difficult changes about how I process my thoughts. Challenging myself to think more rational and truthful thoughts. Like our physical body, we can literally change and transform our brain. I used to think I had little control over my thoughts. I suppose, to some, that would be as irrational as hearing an obese person say to a thin person that they have no control over what they eat. What is hard for one person may be easy to another and vice versa. Of course there are so many reasons for this, I’m not even going to try to write about just what I personally know. Everyone reading this knows a little about why this would be so. “Only God can help us now” Can be a moment of truth for so many of us at certain times in our lives. His grace is sufficient and I do believe there are times when He understands that we don’t even know how to help ourselves and this is when He waves His power over our situation. Like any father, He also wants us learn to use wisely the brainpower He has given us.
I’ve also been watching the show “Ruby” on the style channel. Tonight there is a two-hour special, in case you are reading this and want to tune in. Apparently I have some readers “incognito.” ☺ Ruby is a show about a woman who used to weigh over 700 lbs and is now down to 300 something. Her story is a testimony of hope and the reality of changed thinking patterns.
So let me get back to the title of this blog. We can choose to make a positive thought choices and it will literally create certain chemical reactions and build positive neuro pathways in our brains, hence the title, “Brain Reactions.” Our thought choices make Physical reactions in our brain. A diet for our mind is just as, or more important as the diet we choose for our bodies. Of course we can’t separate these two. ☺ I think we would have to be beheaded or something. ☺ The same is true when we choose destructive thoughts. We all know what is positive and negative. I used to hate when someone told me to think positive. It’s like telling an obese person to just workout and eat right. Honestly, when your mind has been lazy, or on a wrong pattern for years, it looks like those people on the “Biggest Loser” show. It’s not easy, and you need to learn how to think positive and know basic problem solving skills and expose where you may be thinking destructively. We may even need a coach like Julian, God forbid. I’m just joking, Julian really helps so many people. I believe her mother is a psychologist. Julian seems to use some psycho - therapy when she is coaching.
Some of us were taught how to deal with problems in a destructive way opposed to a positive way. I researched this sight called “Uncommon Knowledge” it is an excellent resource to communicate basic problem solving skills, etc. They are actually teaching their program in many elementary schools all around the world. It seems so basic, how to eat right, how to think right. Yet we can get so off into la la land and we don’t even realize how destructive our thoughts are. We all have the propensity to think crazy at times.
I’ve mentioned two shows, let me mention a third and give away the fact that maybe I watch a lot of T.V. “The Super Nanny.” I watch this show sometimes and can barely believe the parents, let alone the demonic kids! But when you are taught how to think wrong you can easily be taught right. The super nanny does this in a few days. There is so much work involved at first. Like a rocket getting off the ground, it takes so much fuel to retrain your thinking but soon your up and away while using a lot less fuel.
Working out for me is so easy compared to some. Not because I’m better, but because I’ve done the mind work in that area for years. My friend is taking a calculus class. At this moment it would not be rational for me to take a calculus class. I would need so much prep work. So a good point to make here is that we should expect “work” when we begin to get serious about changing stuff in our lives. That is why people who go on any quick fix, wacky, wild diet plan or any kind of plan to change their life, end up not having lasting life change. The truth is that real change takes time and a lot of effort on our part.
I heard a counselor tell someone that they needed to learn to counsel him or herself. This is what it comes down to. We must use our own will to make our own changes in life. The other option is be lazy and never change. Even the good changes we’ve already made require continued maintenance. I am not over weight, but I most certainly could be if I chose to discontinue healthy habits. I’m often tempted to not do my workout and or eat like I did when I was 15 years old. ☺
To be lazy, in any area of your life is not fun. If we are honest, we love to work and be challenged. We were created to live and move and be stretched as human beings. We were created to work “it” out. So if you’re like me, you want changes in your life with little to no effort. This is the point of my blog. To encourage myself my readers and the readers that are “incognito” to be realistic about the “work” part. Remember one good decision leads to a “brain reaction” and then this usually leads to a positive domino effect. Good choices typically help us make more good choices etc. ☺
Keep on keep’n on. BTW when we smile and or laugh this creates motivating chemical “Brain reactions.” Take charge of your own thoughts and let your brain work for you and not against you. I’m thinking this is what God meant when He said He wants us to renew our minds.
He wants the best for his kids and I don’t think He is willing to wave His magic wand and watch our brains atrophy and wither away into nothingness. He wants us to find our brainpower and use it to choose life. His hope when He created our “Brain reactions” was so that they would work for us, not against us.
Let’s partner with our magnificently created brain and our amazing creator of it and choose life giving “brain reactions.”
Thanks for reading. When I started this blog I seriously had no idea that it would begin some amazing conversations with so many incredible people.
Thank you all for this, Laurie
There is so much they have found about the brain these days. I read a book entitled “Who Switched Off My Brain” by Dr. Caroline Leaf a couple of years ago. It was an amazing book and I highly recommend it. I ended up getting some videos at the library on the brain and got really into how the whole brain functions. It was fascinating, to me anyway. ☺
On my treadmill today I started thinking about the show “The Biggest Loser” and how hard they try and make positive changes. I think to myself, I’m glad I only need to lose 5 pounds here and there. That show motivates me to continue to workout and eat right. I would never want to have to lose that much weight.
But on the other hand, I’ve been making some very difficult changes about how I process my thoughts. Challenging myself to think more rational and truthful thoughts. Like our physical body, we can literally change and transform our brain. I used to think I had little control over my thoughts. I suppose, to some, that would be as irrational as hearing an obese person say to a thin person that they have no control over what they eat. What is hard for one person may be easy to another and vice versa. Of course there are so many reasons for this, I’m not even going to try to write about just what I personally know. Everyone reading this knows a little about why this would be so. “Only God can help us now” Can be a moment of truth for so many of us at certain times in our lives. His grace is sufficient and I do believe there are times when He understands that we don’t even know how to help ourselves and this is when He waves His power over our situation. Like any father, He also wants us learn to use wisely the brainpower He has given us.
I’ve also been watching the show “Ruby” on the style channel. Tonight there is a two-hour special, in case you are reading this and want to tune in. Apparently I have some readers “incognito.” ☺ Ruby is a show about a woman who used to weigh over 700 lbs and is now down to 300 something. Her story is a testimony of hope and the reality of changed thinking patterns.
So let me get back to the title of this blog. We can choose to make a positive thought choices and it will literally create certain chemical reactions and build positive neuro pathways in our brains, hence the title, “Brain Reactions.” Our thought choices make Physical reactions in our brain. A diet for our mind is just as, or more important as the diet we choose for our bodies. Of course we can’t separate these two. ☺ I think we would have to be beheaded or something. ☺ The same is true when we choose destructive thoughts. We all know what is positive and negative. I used to hate when someone told me to think positive. It’s like telling an obese person to just workout and eat right. Honestly, when your mind has been lazy, or on a wrong pattern for years, it looks like those people on the “Biggest Loser” show. It’s not easy, and you need to learn how to think positive and know basic problem solving skills and expose where you may be thinking destructively. We may even need a coach like Julian, God forbid. I’m just joking, Julian really helps so many people. I believe her mother is a psychologist. Julian seems to use some psycho - therapy when she is coaching.
Some of us were taught how to deal with problems in a destructive way opposed to a positive way. I researched this sight called “Uncommon Knowledge” it is an excellent resource to communicate basic problem solving skills, etc. They are actually teaching their program in many elementary schools all around the world. It seems so basic, how to eat right, how to think right. Yet we can get so off into la la land and we don’t even realize how destructive our thoughts are. We all have the propensity to think crazy at times.
I’ve mentioned two shows, let me mention a third and give away the fact that maybe I watch a lot of T.V. “The Super Nanny.” I watch this show sometimes and can barely believe the parents, let alone the demonic kids! But when you are taught how to think wrong you can easily be taught right. The super nanny does this in a few days. There is so much work involved at first. Like a rocket getting off the ground, it takes so much fuel to retrain your thinking but soon your up and away while using a lot less fuel.
Working out for me is so easy compared to some. Not because I’m better, but because I’ve done the mind work in that area for years. My friend is taking a calculus class. At this moment it would not be rational for me to take a calculus class. I would need so much prep work. So a good point to make here is that we should expect “work” when we begin to get serious about changing stuff in our lives. That is why people who go on any quick fix, wacky, wild diet plan or any kind of plan to change their life, end up not having lasting life change. The truth is that real change takes time and a lot of effort on our part.
I heard a counselor tell someone that they needed to learn to counsel him or herself. This is what it comes down to. We must use our own will to make our own changes in life. The other option is be lazy and never change. Even the good changes we’ve already made require continued maintenance. I am not over weight, but I most certainly could be if I chose to discontinue healthy habits. I’m often tempted to not do my workout and or eat like I did when I was 15 years old. ☺
To be lazy, in any area of your life is not fun. If we are honest, we love to work and be challenged. We were created to live and move and be stretched as human beings. We were created to work “it” out. So if you’re like me, you want changes in your life with little to no effort. This is the point of my blog. To encourage myself my readers and the readers that are “incognito” to be realistic about the “work” part. Remember one good decision leads to a “brain reaction” and then this usually leads to a positive domino effect. Good choices typically help us make more good choices etc. ☺
Keep on keep’n on. BTW when we smile and or laugh this creates motivating chemical “Brain reactions.” Take charge of your own thoughts and let your brain work for you and not against you. I’m thinking this is what God meant when He said He wants us to renew our minds.
He wants the best for his kids and I don’t think He is willing to wave His magic wand and watch our brains atrophy and wither away into nothingness. He wants us to find our brainpower and use it to choose life. His hope when He created our “Brain reactions” was so that they would work for us, not against us.
Let’s partner with our magnificently created brain and our amazing creator of it and choose life giving “brain reactions.”
Thanks for reading. When I started this blog I seriously had no idea that it would begin some amazing conversations with so many incredible people.
Thank you all for this, Laurie
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Heavy thought trips: by Laurie Jackson
Heavy thought trips: by Laurie Jackson
In my OWN definition I believe occult type thinking or brainwashing is when a person believes or thinks something based on another person’s conclusions and not based on his or her own personal conclusions. Kind of like, “think for yourself”. I’m not saying not to get information elsewhere or even just decide in yourself to have faith in something. I’m proposing that we need to come to our own personal conclusions about things from our own experiences. Even my faith in God has come from many experiences and not just a one size fits all faith but based on my OWN personal journey.
To me, being of “sound mind” is when my thoughts and opinions are based on my own conclusions that my personal journey in life has brought me to.
I just looked up the word occult and the word brainwashing. Very thought provoking. ☺
I love the science channel. I learn so much from these scientists. I appreciate people who search out and discover things. Some of the scientists “seem” to still be caught up in the rhetoric they have heard and are not thinking for themselves. You can tell the shows that have the scientists that are open minded and not trying to prove anything to you but just show you what they have found or discovered for themselves. These types of cable shows fascinate me and I’ve sat and watched them for hours at a time. ☺ Well, maybe I was bored.
The book of proverbs in the King James Bible says… It is an honor for a King to search out a matter. What does this mean? My OWN interpretation is that the writer is saying…. A highly respected individual is honored to have to work out their own solutions for their own life or, (kingdom). Another proverb popped out (not literally. I was not taking any drugs at the time)… at me a few years ago that said: “He who gets wisdom loves His own soul”. In my OWN opinion of this proverb it meant that when you truly love yourself way down deep you will aspire and desire to improve your self and seek out a sounder mind because you care about you. This is my OWN opinion. So instead of trying to get smart so you can Love yourself you get smarted BECAUSE you value and love yourself.
I love writing down my thoughts because it seems to help me process what I’m learning. This way I don’t need to philosophies with people who really don’t have that bent. ☺ My husband really appreciates this. I have a few people that just LOVE to chat about everything under the sun. This is actually enjoyable for some of us. When I find these people we have some of the most amazing conversations.
I’ve always loved to ask questions. When I get fearful of any given situation my questioning seems to turn into anxious rumination. So this can be the down side to it. There is a good diet for your mind and a bad one, just like our bodies we need balance. There is always a balance to the things you enjoy doing and as I age, I’m finding that my interests in life are expanding and expounding.
I believe I have a creator that made me to think, reason, create and ponder this life He created for Himself and us. I believe the creator, I call Father, loves to have conversations with us. ☺
Thanks for joining me in this life journey…
In my OWN definition I believe occult type thinking or brainwashing is when a person believes or thinks something based on another person’s conclusions and not based on his or her own personal conclusions. Kind of like, “think for yourself”. I’m not saying not to get information elsewhere or even just decide in yourself to have faith in something. I’m proposing that we need to come to our own personal conclusions about things from our own experiences. Even my faith in God has come from many experiences and not just a one size fits all faith but based on my OWN personal journey.
To me, being of “sound mind” is when my thoughts and opinions are based on my own conclusions that my personal journey in life has brought me to.
I just looked up the word occult and the word brainwashing. Very thought provoking. ☺
I love the science channel. I learn so much from these scientists. I appreciate people who search out and discover things. Some of the scientists “seem” to still be caught up in the rhetoric they have heard and are not thinking for themselves. You can tell the shows that have the scientists that are open minded and not trying to prove anything to you but just show you what they have found or discovered for themselves. These types of cable shows fascinate me and I’ve sat and watched them for hours at a time. ☺ Well, maybe I was bored.
The book of proverbs in the King James Bible says… It is an honor for a King to search out a matter. What does this mean? My OWN interpretation is that the writer is saying…. A highly respected individual is honored to have to work out their own solutions for their own life or, (kingdom). Another proverb popped out (not literally. I was not taking any drugs at the time)… at me a few years ago that said: “He who gets wisdom loves His own soul”. In my OWN opinion of this proverb it meant that when you truly love yourself way down deep you will aspire and desire to improve your self and seek out a sounder mind because you care about you. This is my OWN opinion. So instead of trying to get smart so you can Love yourself you get smarted BECAUSE you value and love yourself.
I love writing down my thoughts because it seems to help me process what I’m learning. This way I don’t need to philosophies with people who really don’t have that bent. ☺ My husband really appreciates this. I have a few people that just LOVE to chat about everything under the sun. This is actually enjoyable for some of us. When I find these people we have some of the most amazing conversations.
I’ve always loved to ask questions. When I get fearful of any given situation my questioning seems to turn into anxious rumination. So this can be the down side to it. There is a good diet for your mind and a bad one, just like our bodies we need balance. There is always a balance to the things you enjoy doing and as I age, I’m finding that my interests in life are expanding and expounding.
I believe I have a creator that made me to think, reason, create and ponder this life He created for Himself and us. I believe the creator, I call Father, loves to have conversations with us. ☺
Thanks for joining me in this life journey…
Friday, April 23, 2010
INSTANT ITIMACY. By Laurie Jackosn 4/23/10
INSTANT ITIMACEY: By Laurie Jackson 4/23/2010
Instant intimacy in any relationship is not real or authentic intimacy. It is a fake and somewhat like, prostitution of the soul. When a person tells all about themselves the first time they meet you, be cautious because this person will have issues with setting healthy relationship boundaries and a person who can not set healthy boundaries for themselves will not be able to extend healthy boundaries for others. This is very important in regard to possessing healthy and satisfying relationships.
Yes God knows us perfectly. But we don’t know “Him” perfectly and in any other mere human relationship it would be irrational to presume instant intimacy.
The idea of “Instant Intimacy” and not possessing healthy boundaries is very much promoted when people put a demand on themselves or even others to Trust God immediately about something. To trust anyone is a process. God does not “demand” that we trust Him. He asks us to trust Him and He will invest in the relationship as much or as little as we choose. This idea that we MUST trust God is submerged with the “Instant Intimacy” issue.
We also can’t demand Love. Loving someone comes from relationship. I can love someone that I don’t know based on my own understanding and “experience” in relational Loving. Yet, I cannot demand them to love me and nor would I ever want to. Would you? Having healthy relationships requires at least one person to have realistic boundaries. Typically this issue attracts others that struggle in this same area. Children that are raised in abusive homes generally don’t know how to set healthy boundaries
I’m blogging about this because it is a huge problem and is being promoted in many aspects but the one that seems inappropriate is in your typical church atmosphere. To just tell someone to trust God or even to trust instantly in him/her is based on an unrealistic expectation. This seems to be more prevalent in the Pentecostal arena, that we are to INSTANTLY TRUST GOD. I'm learning about good boundaries right now and these thoughts came to mind.
“Instant intimacy” is not real... its irrational thinking... it is based on fakeness.... Like prostitution is a fantasy. We see this so much in sermons... and the little conversations in bible studies and in the halls of the churches...Just Trust God!!!.... To really trust a person is not instant. It’s based on a real relationship... of course when you get to know God for "reals". You more then likely will trust Him as you progress on the journey. He tends to prove Himself trustworthy. :) ... But there is so much missed if we embrace this “instant intimacy” theology. Real, authentic and healthy relationships take time and a great marriage takes a lifetime ☺
If we don't know how to have healthy boundaries for ourselves we cannot extend healthy boundaries into our relationships. People who don't know they are allowed to have boundaries, or if they feel guilty, fearful and insecure about even suggesting a person has over stepped their boundaries, are most always from the abuse cycle... this is all interrelated... only knowing victimization and not having any other skills will set you up for a lot of relationally challenged living.
Worship sessions in church sometimes can be so intimate and I'm just not sure if NOW is the time to Worship with this kind of intimacy with each other.... We are not that close normally... so why do we get together; spill our guts... and as a worship leader myself... I think about how I was up on the platform being so intimate with God in front of so many people. It seems like I allowed everyone to just watch me get undressed... It is so gross to me now...
If I am stirring you up, more then likely you have these same issues. It is extremely challenging to come to the realization that so much of how you’ve lived has been completely dysfunctional and just wrong. This instant intimacy way unfortunately continues and promotes the dysfunctional, abusive and unhealthy families in our world today.
Thankfully, God can reveal His truth with grace, mercy and strength to re-think our ways and give us courage to change.
Please do comment. It may lead to a great discussion. ☺
Instant intimacy in any relationship is not real or authentic intimacy. It is a fake and somewhat like, prostitution of the soul. When a person tells all about themselves the first time they meet you, be cautious because this person will have issues with setting healthy relationship boundaries and a person who can not set healthy boundaries for themselves will not be able to extend healthy boundaries for others. This is very important in regard to possessing healthy and satisfying relationships.
Yes God knows us perfectly. But we don’t know “Him” perfectly and in any other mere human relationship it would be irrational to presume instant intimacy.
The idea of “Instant Intimacy” and not possessing healthy boundaries is very much promoted when people put a demand on themselves or even others to Trust God immediately about something. To trust anyone is a process. God does not “demand” that we trust Him. He asks us to trust Him and He will invest in the relationship as much or as little as we choose. This idea that we MUST trust God is submerged with the “Instant Intimacy” issue.
We also can’t demand Love. Loving someone comes from relationship. I can love someone that I don’t know based on my own understanding and “experience” in relational Loving. Yet, I cannot demand them to love me and nor would I ever want to. Would you? Having healthy relationships requires at least one person to have realistic boundaries. Typically this issue attracts others that struggle in this same area. Children that are raised in abusive homes generally don’t know how to set healthy boundaries
I’m blogging about this because it is a huge problem and is being promoted in many aspects but the one that seems inappropriate is in your typical church atmosphere. To just tell someone to trust God or even to trust instantly in him/her is based on an unrealistic expectation. This seems to be more prevalent in the Pentecostal arena, that we are to INSTANTLY TRUST GOD. I'm learning about good boundaries right now and these thoughts came to mind.
“Instant intimacy” is not real... its irrational thinking... it is based on fakeness.... Like prostitution is a fantasy. We see this so much in sermons... and the little conversations in bible studies and in the halls of the churches...Just Trust God!!!.... To really trust a person is not instant. It’s based on a real relationship... of course when you get to know God for "reals". You more then likely will trust Him as you progress on the journey. He tends to prove Himself trustworthy. :) ... But there is so much missed if we embrace this “instant intimacy” theology. Real, authentic and healthy relationships take time and a great marriage takes a lifetime ☺
If we don't know how to have healthy boundaries for ourselves we cannot extend healthy boundaries into our relationships. People who don't know they are allowed to have boundaries, or if they feel guilty, fearful and insecure about even suggesting a person has over stepped their boundaries, are most always from the abuse cycle... this is all interrelated... only knowing victimization and not having any other skills will set you up for a lot of relationally challenged living.
Worship sessions in church sometimes can be so intimate and I'm just not sure if NOW is the time to Worship with this kind of intimacy with each other.... We are not that close normally... so why do we get together; spill our guts... and as a worship leader myself... I think about how I was up on the platform being so intimate with God in front of so many people. It seems like I allowed everyone to just watch me get undressed... It is so gross to me now...
If I am stirring you up, more then likely you have these same issues. It is extremely challenging to come to the realization that so much of how you’ve lived has been completely dysfunctional and just wrong. This instant intimacy way unfortunately continues and promotes the dysfunctional, abusive and unhealthy families in our world today.
Thankfully, God can reveal His truth with grace, mercy and strength to re-think our ways and give us courage to change.
Please do comment. It may lead to a great discussion. ☺
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