Give thanks for freedom

There has been a lot of talking and shouting about freedom lately, especially as it relates to the mandates and restrictions imposed by our government over the past 5 months. A lot of people are very angry that they're being told what to do. A lot of people are very thankful for the restrictions that help protect them and their loved ones. No matter which group you fall into, I'd like to paraphrase what my Pastor said about it. He said that the Bible is clear that we're to do what our government asks us to do, as long as it isn't asking us to sin. I'm not going to look up the text, because that's a whole different study from where I'm going with this.
     Because there's been so much talk about freedom, I decided to search "what does freedom mean in the bible?" And that's what I would like for us to pray on this week. I found this great piece from Billy Graham who explained it really well:

"The core message of the Christian faith—the Gospel—is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond." ...
"The Good News—the best news ever—is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done.
While Christ followers still battle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it. Through the power of Christ, His people can be set free from the bondage of greed, vanity, pride, pornography, addiction, abusive behavior, gluttony, selfishness—and any other sin under the sun."

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

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Please join me this week in praising our Father in Heaven for this freedom He has given us in Christ Jesus so that we are no longer slaves to our sin. Pray that He gives us the opportunity and encouragement (and words) to share this great news with everyone we meet. Let's also pray that those who do not have this freedom come to know Christ and that those who do profess to know Christ not abuse this freedom as a means to sin. Finally, let's pray that we focus on all of the worldly freedoms we have that others all over the globe can't even imagine. 

   We should give thanks daily for being born in this time and this place where we can worship and praise our Father without fear of persecution. The restrictions we do face because of the pandemic are no different than the restrictions that people all over the world have dealt with or are dealing with, and these inconveniences are temporary. If the worst thing in our lives right now is having to concede to a few mandates, then we should consider ourselves extremely blessed. Praise the Lord for the countless blessings He bestows on us every single day.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #freedom #liberty

Proclaim the Gospel

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Mark 16:15 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #missionary #GreatCommission #laborers #faith

Imitate their faith

 

This verse made me think of missionaries. They go to great lengths to spread the word of God, giving testimony as to how He has worked in their lives. They have a profound faith in His sovereignty. 

     Having met several missionaries, I just feel like they are a chosen people, distinct in some ways from the rest of us because of their focus and devotion to give of themselves unconditionally, go wherever God sends them, and trust in Him completely.

     I'm not saying that the rest of us aren't chosen, because we all are. I just mean that it takes a special person to uproot themselves and sometimes their children, leave family, friends, job, material possessions behind and trust fully that what they're doing and where they're going is a response to God's will, and that He will take care of them and all of their needs.

     I pray that all of us be open and receptive to what God is calling us to do.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #missionary #GreatCommission #laborers #faith

Support your local missionary

 

One of the prayers from the IMB.org prayer app had this request:

"Please pray for missionaries as they seek to be wise and organized in how they use their time on stateside. Ask God to provide them times of refreshing and time to invest well in churches."

Notice "...invest well in churches." While missionaries are stateside, they're still working. They visit churches and talk about the work they're doing in the field, how many are saved, hardships, and praises. They do this to raise awareness, and, in raising awareness, they're helping to raise money for IMB. It costs a lot to support a missionary. According to Missionary Portal's website:

"...it takes $59,500 a year to support a missionary,..."

"...if every evangelical gave an extra $6.63 for every $10,000 we earn, that would cover all missionary financial costs."

     IMB missionaries are so blessed to be fully funded by IMB directly. Most missionaries don't have this blessing. They spend their time stateside in order to raise money to support themselves for when they return to the field. It's a definite testament to living by faith and trusting fully in the sovereignty of God. It's a practice that goes back to the first missionaries, the disciples.

     Paul praised the Phillippians for supporting him. Apparently, there was a gap in their assistance, but they gave when they had "opportunity."

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. (Phillippians 4:10 ESV)

     He assured them that he wasn't in need, although it was clear that he did without:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (Phillippians 4:11-12 ESV)

     His faith, God got him through the hard times:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phillippians 4:13 ESV)

     I love how thankful he is. I so wish I could turn the difficult times around like Paul does and see the good in everything. He not only thanks them, but lets them know that God the Father will reward them for their unselfish acts of giving. They're building up treasure in heaven by bearing the "fruit that increases [their] credit."

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Phillippians 4:14-20 ESV)

     If you are called upon to help sponsor a missionary or an organization that supports missionaries, rest assured you are an integral part of the Great Commission. 

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #give #missionary #GreatCommission #laborers #finance

Help wanted

 

From IMB's website, there are 11,727 people groups (approx. 7.8 billion people).

Of those, 7,067 are "unreached" people groups (approx. 4.6 billion people) and 3,018 are "unengaged" people groups (approx. 274 million people).

Their definition of "unreached" is when less than 2% of the population of the people group are evangelical Christians.

Their definition of "unengaged" is when there are no church planting efforts among that people group.

According to Missionary Portal's website:

"It’s estimated one missionary is needed for every 50,000 unreached person. As a result, we need 66,547 more missionaries to serve these people."

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Luke 10:2 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #salvation #missionary #GreatCommission #laborers

Power

 

I feel like I need to explain because I don't think I've missed one day in over two years, although technically, I didn't miss today because it's still today, just 14+ hours later than usual ... I woke up at 5:30 this morning to the sound of silence. It's amazing how quiet everything is when the electricity goes out. That sudden shut-down of constant noise is jarring to me, especially when I'm sleeping because it's noise that helps me sleep. I have a sound machine that plays ocean sounds all night, plus two fans during the summer. And, for the first hour, while I'm falling asleep, I have an app on my phone that plays 1.5 Hz binaural beats for sleep.  Maybe it's to cover up the tinnitus that drives me crazy at times, or maybe it's a psychological attempt to drown out the world. Whatever the reason, when it's gone, I feel strange. And none of that has anything to do with anything. Except that, it's how my day started and it completely messed up my morning routine and to-do list. Plus, there was no coffee.

     Can you imagine waking up someplace where there wasn't any electricity ever? No coffee? No routine? It takes a very special person to give up everything they've known their entire life and move to another country, learn a new language, a new culture, build relationships and trust in order to take the Gospel to people who have never even heard of Jesus. But, when God calls His children to go "to the end of the earth", He gives them the power and trust and encouragement to do so. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #salvation #power #missionary #GreatCommission

Commissioned by God

 

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #salvation #intercession #petition #prayer #missionary #GreatCommission

Pray for missionaries

 

I have a heart for missionaries. They make sacrifices in order to spread the Gospel to unreached people. They leave behind friends and family sometimes traveling to places where they don't speak the language, where they don't have the comforts of home. Some live in danger because they're sharing the Good News in places where it's forbidden. Some have been jailed in inhumane living conditions and others have been killed for sharing their faith. Yet they go willingly, joyfully, knowing that this is what God has called them to do. I am in awe of them.

     The organization that our church helps to support is IMB (International Missions Board). I'm proud to be their "Prayer Champion" to our local church. What that means is I encourage others in the church to pray for our missionaries and the unreached and unengaged people groups. We have among us some prayer warriors who pray daily for the needs of those in the field.

     If you have an interest in praying for the needs of these missionaries, you can go to imb.org/pray. There you'll see 175 Days of Prayer celebrating IMB's 175 years of ministry. This is a special daily prayer request. At the top of the page, you'll see where you can download the prayer app.  You'll also see "Monthly Prayer" which is a flyer about a select people group that has a daily prayer request also. (If you go to my church, you can pick up the monthly flyer at the Welcome Center desk).

     You can pray for these people as it fits into your schedule and know that you're doing God's will and actively participating in the Great Commission.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and for their ministry needs. Pray also for the people they are ministering to and those who are still unreached and unengaged.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #salvation #intercession #petition #prayer #missionary #GreatCommission

It's your choice

 

If you don't know Jesus, as in profess your faith in Him, accept Him as your Savior, repent of your sins, then He will not profess to His Father that He knows you.

And then I will declare to them, 

‘I never knew you; 

depart from Me ...’

Matthew 7:23 NKJV

Do you exist? Are you real? After you're gone, how will future generations know that you existed? What verifiable evidence will you leave behind? There will at the very least be documentation, right? 

After Jesus' death and resurrection, there were eye-witness accounts. There is archeological evidence. If you're a "prove it" type of person, read Lee Strobel's "A Case for Christ" or at least watch the movie. He was a devout atheist whose wife became a Christain. In order to prove her faith was a lie, he did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that not only did Jesus exist, but that He was (& is) the Son of God.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #salvation #intercession #petition #unsaved #prayer

Name above every name

 

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #Christ #salvation #prayer

No atheists in hell

 

John Blanchard wrote in his book, "Whatever Happened to Hell?" that ... "there will be no atheists in hell..." This is one of those truths that is, on one hand, so obvious, but on the other, so full of irony that I had to dwell on it for quite some time. Those who end up in hell are there because they chose not to believe in God; they chose not to accept Jesus as their Savior. Once there, they'll be in His presence, forever, enduring His wrath. (Revelation 14:10) They will never again be able to deny His existence.

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked* from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 

Matthew 13:49-50 NKJV

*The wicked are not necessarily "bad people" as you and I would define "bad". The wicked are those who have rejected Christ. We're all sinners. The only difference between the "just" and the "wicked" is our proclamation of our faith. The just have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and have repented.

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 

Revelation 14:11 NKJV

'Their worm* does not die

And the fire is not quenched.' 

Mark 9:48 NKJV

* In other words, their conscience does not die. It's their conscience that torments them day and night for all eternity.

John Blanchard explains it really well. He wrote, "Every single word thought and deed; all the pride, envy, jealousy, hatred, selfishness, dishonesty and purity, every neglected opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel, every failure to help those in need, all these will be endlessly replayed, endlessly remembered, and be the cause of endless remorse. Not least, they will be forced to admit that although God had given them life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25) they had squandered His generosity by living for themselves." ("Whatever Happened to Hell?")

Pray fervently for the lost so that they might be saved from an eternal life of torment.

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #hell #atheists #prayer

He loves you

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:16-18 ESV

This song just lifts me up. What a blessing to be loved so much by our Creator.

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #salvation #love #unsaved #prayer 

Which road are you on?

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:46 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #salvation #intercession #petition #unsaved #prayer #hell

A life of torment

 

One of the best illustrations of hell (IMO) is the story of 'The Rich Man and Lazarus'. We can surmise from this that hell is indeed a place of unbearable heat and flames. The residents live in constant torment and anguish for all eternity, and once there, they cannot do or say anything that will allow them to cross the "great chasm."

     I'm focusing on hell this week (or at least for a few days) because I think we tend to only talk about Heaven; it's as if the negative consequence doesn't exist. Maybe the unsaved don't have a good handle on what it means to spend eternity in hell. They only have this time here on earth to make the choice where they want to reside forever. And, we're not promised tomorrow, so it's really important that we make haste and say or do whatever's necessary to get people to understand that by not believing in Christ, by not repenting, they are actually making their decision about the afterlife.

     We don't "push" our beliefs on family members because they've maybe gotten angry with us in the past, or even threatened not to see us anymore, but we have got to find a way, to the best of our ability, to convey how important and how urgent this is. Start by praying like there's no tomorrow.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Luke 16:19-31 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #salvation #intercession #petition #unsaved #prayer #hell

Where will you spend eternity?

 

I know it's only been 4 or 5 weeks since we prayed for the salvation of our loved ones, but this past weekend, several things seemed to point to the need for us to do this again:
- My husband and I were talking about a book he read and that I started reading entitled, "Whatever Happened to Hell?" by John Blanchard. (It's a really great, informative book that I recommend to everyone. It will certainly motivate you to share the gospel, and to pray unceasingly for your loved ones).
- We watched a movie this weekend on PureFlix called "The Encounter." Really, really good stuff in there. I could nit-pic the acting and continuity-type of mistakes, but the content is what matters, and it was very good.
- At the end of the sermon yesterday, the Pastor flat out said, "Pray for those in your life who do not yet know Christ...No one is beyond the grasp of God...Petition for their salvation."

To put the idea of eternity into perspective, take a look at this video:

We can't intercede enough for the unsaved. They need our prayers. The idea of anyone spending eternity in hell just tears me up inside.

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Please join me this week in praying for our loved ones who are not yet saved. It's not God's wish that any perish, but we need to petition Him for the unbelievers in our life by praying fervently and unceasingly for their salvation. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #Jesus #salvation #intercession #petition #unsaved #prayer

Ask and it will be given

 

I wrote a month ago about how my husband's death got me to go to counseling. You can read it here, if you want. After that counselor, I was convinced of the benefits of seeing someone instead of just taking medication. We all need someone whom we can tell everything to and who won't then judge our friends and family based on things we say.
     Since the first therapist was specifically a grief counselor, I couldn't keep seeing her to deal with my PTSD, so I found someone through my insurance company's website. I didn't know what questions to ask or what qualities to look for, so I chose a person who had a great smile.
     Her methodology was 'talk therapy' in that I talked and she listened. (Really, talk therapy is psychotherapy which you can look up if you're interested). This didn't really work for me, but I didn't know any better and assumed this was just how it was done. After a couple of months, she quit, so I started asking people about their counselors and eventually met my current therapist. She uses multiple methods but what has been a miracle for me has been EMDR which is a means by which you use both halves of your brain to process something.
     Anyway, even with all of the craziness of 2019, I felt "cured". I was finally able to handle stuff. I got away from taking sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medicine. My relationship with God was deeper than it had ever been. Everything was good!
     Then, March 2020 hit and rattled me so intensely that all of the progress of the previous three years was totally undone. I don't even know why. Yes, the pandemic, lockdown, unemployment, isolation, etc...but why couldn't I handle it? Maybe I needed to be in the Bible even more, or in prayer even more. It seemed like those two things should've "fixed" everything. I felt like I shouldn't need to go back to my therapist because I was cured and my faith should get me through this hiccup in the road.
     I meditated on verses such as:

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 ESV

I put off calling her for 5 months. Then, it occurred to me, why is this any different than any other illness? Does God tell us to not seek help when we're sick? If I had a toothache, would I feel like my faith alone should be the cure? God uses people, and earthly methods to help His children. In reality, I wasn't calling her because of my pride. It didn't make sense to me why I was feeling the way I did and I was trying to deal with it and fix it myself. I was using my faith as an excuse to shield my pride. Calling her was like admitting defeat.
     God revealed all of that to me just now. I didn't see it. All I knew was the lie I was telling myself all those months: I should be able to handle anything. Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." He doesn't say how it will be given or by whom. So, please don't think that seeking a therapist is a sign of weakness; don't let it wound your pride or ego. Understand that therapists help us heal. They are a God-send to help us deal with this chaotic, sinful world. Pray for guidance to find the therapist who's right for you.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from any sort of mental condition, please reach out to someone. I encourage you to seek counseling; it has made a world of difference to me. Go to 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ to search for a therapist in your area. You can then filter the results to show only Christian counselors, then by issues, gender, therapy methods (including EMDR), etc. if you want. Pray for the strength and courage to take this vital step to recovery.

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Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid.  

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help #MentalBreakdown #therapist #pandemic #InThisTogether

Fear not

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 

for I am your God; I will strengthen you, 

I will help you, 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid.  

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #fear #testimony #Jesus #hope 

Power to seek help

The last three years of my first marriage were the hardest, but they were also the best. It took a while to get to the good part though.
     When he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, we were told his odds were about 50-50. The surgeon gave him even worse odds, so we ignored him.
     At first, everything was horrible. The whole process of getting started with treatment is very debilitating in that there are so many unknowns, and we spent so much time looking stuff up online and reading books because the time between diagnosis and actually starting treatment was about two months. That can seem like an eternity. We felt an urgency to start treatment, or at the very least meet with our oncologist and get answers, but nothing about the entire journey happened quickly.
     Because of this added stress, I began feeling like I was going to die. All the camomile tea in the world couldn't calm my heart or mind. I was praying diligently by that point, and it was in answer to those prayers that God got me to finally see a doctor.
     Our insurance was no longer accepted by my family doctor (I had been going there since I was a child; it was hard to move away from him), so I had to find a new doc. In the waiting room, I filled out all of these forms. I was getting anxious and stressed out. Then I got to the form where I had to mark the symptoms and illnesses experienced. With each checkmark, it began to sink in how sick I really was...all of the chest/breathing questions, check, all of the head questions, check, all of the digestive questions, check, all of the mental questions, check, check, and check. I started crying. When did I get so messed up?!
     By the time we got the exam room and the doctor came in, I was balling. My husband had to translate what I was trying to say and filled in about his diagnosis. The doctor said part of it was a type of pre-grieving, which made sense. My husband and I were one, as in Genesis. We went everywhere together, even worked together; we were inseparable. My thoughts were never of what it would be like without the verbal abuse. It was always more like, what will happen when half of me is stripped away?
     The doctor also said I was suffering from anxiety and depression so he prescribed some medicine for those. Those pills changed my life. For the first time in 27 years, I was able to cope with difficult situations. The medicine didn't get rid of all of my physical symptoms that resulted from anxiety, but it diminished the severity of them. I was taking a lot less over-the-counter medication.
     I also went through some testing to make sure none of my physical issues were because of physical disease. They weren't. Everything checked out. With all of this taken care of, and my increased prayer life, and getting back into the word, I was able to focus better on taking care of my husband through this horrible disease, and juggling work, family, finances, and all of the other parts of my life.

I just want to encourage anyone who's reading this who needs help with a mental condition to seek help. Just go to your family doctor and begin a conversation with what you're struggling with. Pray to our Father for guidance and courage to ask for help.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid.  

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help #MentalBreakdown #therapist

God's plan

 

For a long time, I felt "broken." I had completely lost my sense of self, and my life just wasn't my own. Then my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, and I really lost it. Fortunately, God had brought me back to Him right before this. I wouldn't have survived this time otherwise, but I'll talk about that tomorrow.
     Here's the video I mentioned yesterday. I'm really embarrassed to share it because I'm not proud of the decisions I made back then (and also because I didn't know I moved my mouth so weird when I talk). Still, most of you have seen it already anyway and this week is about putting myself out there in the hopes of encouraging others who struggle with different mental issues to seek help. It's not a weakness. A big part of depression is physical and has to do with the synapsis in our brains (or something like that).
     When this pandemic hit, it felt like all of the work I had done to heal was immediately undone and left me feeling broken once again. A dear friend sent me this, and it really helped, so I'd like to share it with anyone out there who needs to know this message:
Me: Hey God.
God: Hello.....
Me: I'm falling apart. Can you put me back together?
God: I would rather not.
Me: Why?
God: Because you aren't a puzzle.
Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?
God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back.
Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking down!
God: No - you don't understand. You are breaking through. What you are feeling are just growing pains. You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You aren't falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don't need anymore to fall off of you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.
Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?
God: Only the very best pieces of you.
Me: I'm scared of changing.
God: I keep telling you - YOU AREN'T CHANGING!! YOU ARE BECOMING!
Me: Becoming who?
God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided to adorn yourself with that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off of you. I love you! Don't change! ... Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this until you remember it.
Me: There goes another piece.
God: Yep. Let it be.
Me: So ... I'm not broken?
God: Of course Not! - but you are breaking like the dawn. It's a new day. Become!!!
~Author John Roedel

being confident of this very thing, 

that He who has begun a good work in you 

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

If you or anyone you know is suffering from any sort of mental condition, please reach out to someone. I encourage you to seek counseling; it has made a world of difference to me. Go to  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ to search for a therapist in your area. You can then filter the results to show only Christian counselors, then by issues, gender, therapy methods, etc. if you want. Pray for the strength and courage to take this vital step to recovery.

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Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid.  

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help #MentalBreakdown #therapist

Freeze

After moving back home (a second time), I got a job as a receptionist. While working there, I met my future husband. The following 22 years were "difficult." There were a lot of good things, and some wonderful experiences and blessings but the big takeaway were the effects of that time on my emotional and mental health.
     My husband was emotionally and verbally abusive. It's difficult to explain what it was like, and why I put up with it. Why didn't I leave? I've struggled with that question for the past several years on my road to recovery. The only answers I could come up with are that I felt like he needed me, and like I was handling it. I felt like my reason for living was to, in fact, take care of him. But, the way I handled it was to "freeze." Most have heard of the "fight or flight" response but not a lot has been said about "freezing". I was numb. I spent so many years walking on eggshells, trying to avoid setting him off, but it was just an impossible task. Without realizing it, I just basically shut down. It also didn't help that we were poor and in debt up to our eyebrows.
     My job was another contributing factor to my mental distress. It was like a continuation of college in the sense that it was an overwhelming workload, impossible deadlines, long hours, and some clients who were just downright cruel. Through all of this, I tried dealing with the anxiety and resulting depression on my own. That's how I handled everything. I was raised to be "strong" and not ask for help.
     The mental and emotional issues (even if I did "freeze") still managed to manifest themselves in physical ways that I couldn't ignore. My solution was to treat the physical symptoms because I didn't really see any possible way to treat the underlying causes. Plus, I didn't always see the connection between the two.
     My heart would race and my chest felt heavy. My solution was to drink camomile tea. I had the full array of "digestive disorders" so I always kept with me, everywhere I went, Ultra-Strength Gas-X, Beano, Tums, and Imodium AD. Again, I thought I was successfully dealing with everything.
     Other than that, there were headaches, and I always seemed to be sick with one thing or another, mostly colds, flu, bronchitis, strep throat, ear infections, and sinus infections. Oh, and I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and drank on the weekends which didn't help my physical health.
     The panic attacks sent me to urgent care a couple of times because I wasn't sure what was happening. Around the 21st year of my marriage, though, I honestly thought I was having a heart attack. I began praying to God, unceasing, begging Him for forgiveness, for healing. I swore to Him that I would never leave Him again if only He would save me. That whole experience is it's own testimony which I'll try to share a link to tomorrow. (Again, reminding family not to share any of this with Mom, please. Yes, I'm serious!) So, while God was back in my life, I still didn't know how to give my anxiety to Him or even how to really ask for help. I prayed for other people, and I thanked Him for all of the blessings He did bestow on me and felt a degree of peace in doing that.
     Like I said, those were "difficult" years. The next 3 years would be the hardest, though.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:6-8 ESV

Recommended Resources:

Books: 

Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder

by Paul T. T. Mason MS and Randi Kreger 

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

- Both books also have workbooks available.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from any sort of mental condition, please reach out to someone. I encourage you to seek counseling; it has made a world of difference to me. Go to  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ to search for a therapist in your area. You can then filter the results to show only Christian counselors, then by issues, gender, therapy methods, etc. if you want. Pray for the strength and courage to take this vital step to recovery.

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help #MentalBreakdown #therapist

My abyss

The super-condensed version of my fall into the Abyss of Mental Illness began with college. It should be noted that for whatever reason when I left for school, I left my church-life and bibles at home. I even quit praying. 

     College was absolutely horrible, and abandoning my faith just made it worse, but I didn't realize that at the time. There were project deadlines and all-nighters; my professors were so negative and just downright mean. I was overwhelmed, which led to anxiety and then depression. During my second year, I started having these meltdowns. My main studio professor said it was her job to weed out the weak, and that she did. I ended up dropping out during year 3 of a 5-year program. All of my dreams for my life were shattered and I didn't have a plan B, so, I had to move back in with my parents. I went to church, but my heart and soul just weren't feeling it. 

     I got a job in Cincinnati, but it didn't pay enough for me to get an apartment so I had to commute from Dayton every day. There was a sleazy salesman at that company who I was warned to 'not get caught alone with,' which freaked me out. He touched me on the shoulder one day and I hyperventilated. Shortly after that, I was fired (it was the 80s). 

     So, I moved to Michigan to live with my boyfriend, his mom, his brother, and his brother's fiance. My boyfriend and I broke up, so I moved back in with my parents, only, while I was living in Michigan, my grandmother moved into my parents' house and they gave her my room since it was assumed that I was going to marry this guy. I lived in their rec room. 

     I pretty much felt as if I had hit rock bottom. If only I hadn't turned my back on God, or if I had only asked Him for help during any of this, life might have been more bearable. As it was, I had nothing to cling to. 

When the righteous cry for help, 

the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 

but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 

Psalm 34:17-19 ESV

If you or anyone you know is suffering from any sort of mental condition, please reach out to someone. I encourage you to seek counseling; it has made a world of difference to me. Go to 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ to search for a therapist in your area. You can then filter the results to show only Christian counselors, then by issues, gender, therapy methods, etc. if you want. Pray for the strength and courage to take this vital step to recovery.

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help #MentalBreakdown #therapist

Mental disorders

 

This week I would like for us to pray for those who are struggling mentally and emotionally. I'll share my own struggles in these areas both past and present and I just ask that my family members don't share any of it with my mom.
     My entire adult life (from age 18 to this very moment and, most likely, far into the future) has been a constant struggle with depression and anxiety. My dad had both and my mom has both but she denies it vehemently. I was diagnosed with PTSD but consider myself "cured" from that. I've had debilitating panic attacks.
     According to WHO, approximately 450 million people suffer from some sort of mental disorder. Sometimes it's good to reaffirm that we aren't alone in our sufferings.
     Why am I sharing this? Because it's what God wants me to do. The subject has been weighing on me for several weeks but I kept using the excuse that there wasn't enough time to prepare. God found some extra time for me this weekend, so no more excuses.
     When I was looking for related bible verses, 2 Corinthians 12:9 really spoke to me. I admittedly have a hard time just outright sharing the gospel, but find it easy (or rather, easier) to testify to how Jesus works in my life. If I can bring Him glory by sharing my weaknesses and struggles, then I feel blessed to do it! He is my rock and my hope through everything.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 

for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

More tomorrow.

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Please join me this week in praying for those who suffer from any type of mental illness. Pray that they will find strength and hope and comfort in the Lord. Let's also pray that they seek earthly counsel and aid. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #depression #anxiety #testimony #Jesus #hope #help

Assurance of faith

 

This isn't one of the "5 Assurances" but I think it's important anyway. I think it speaks of baptism, washing our bodies and our hearts clean from sin, allowing us to "draw near" to Christ.

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, 

having our hearts sprinkled from an 

evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:22

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Please join me this week in praying for the unsaved that they may come to know the hope and assurance of a loving and merciful Father, of Christ Jesus who bore our sins on the cross that we may have eternal life. Pray for those who are fearful and anxious, that they may find peace and joy in Jesus. Pray for the lost that the Good Shepherd will call them to Him. And finally, pray for the opportunity, and then the words and encouragement to share our testimonies, our assurances as followers of Christ Jesus.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #5assurances #purity #God #Jesus #salvation #sin

Assurance of Guidance

 

This is another one of my favorite assurances (they're all great)! I trust in it almost daily. The days I don't utilize this gift from God are definitely more troublesome than the days I do.

The best verse to give us this assurance (IMO) is my life verse:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21 NKJV

A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye.

Psalm 32:8 NKJV

I don't remember if I read it somewhere or if it was part of a sermon, but the point was to make a practice of asking each morning for the Lord to guide your steps, actions, words; to ask that He use us to accomplish His will each day. If you think of it and/or feel up to the challenge, let's start our day off, right now with this prayer and see what happens.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:5-6 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for the unsaved that they may come to know the hope and assurance of a loving and merciful Father, of Christ Jesus who bore our sins on the cross that we may have eternal life. Pray for those who are fearful and anxious, that they may find peace and joy in Jesus. Pray for the lost that the Good Shepherd will call them to Him. And finally, pray for the opportunity, and then the words and encouragement to share our testimonies, our assurances as followers of Christ Jesus.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #5assurances #guidance #God #Jesus #direction

Assurance of Forgiveness

This is the greatest gift of all. The only reason we have this assurance is that Jesus died for our sins. He bore the wrath of God for each one of us, pouring out His blood, and paid the price as the most perfect sacrificial Lamb. All He asks in return from us is: 

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV

Jesus laid down His life for us; an act of love like no other.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

John 15:13 NKJV

Why would anyone refuse a gift such as this? It's a gift that comes with a promise of eternal life in Heaven. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness” 

I John 1:9 

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37 NIV

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5 NIV

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Please join me this week in praying for the unsaved that they may come to know the hope and assurance of a loving and merciful Father, of Christ Jesus who bore our sins on the cross that we may have eternal life. Pray for those who are fearful and anxious, that they may find peace and joy in Jesus. Pray for the lost that the Good Shepherd will call them to Him. And finally, pray for the opportunity, and then the words and encouragement to share our testimonies, our assurances as followers of Christ Jesus.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible  #5assurances #forgiveness #cross #Jesus  #gospel #heaven #sacrifice #sin