Philippians 4:19

 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

1 Peter 5:7

 

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

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

Do this when you need help

 

Do you ever think something is too trivial to take to the Lord in prayer? Or, do you think something is so huge that God must have allowed it, therefore won't help you through? Do you feel like God must hate you or is punishing you?

     Whatever your thoughts are along those lines, put them aside. Hear me when I say: God wants you to take everything to Him in prayer.

     When you need help, hope, strength, love, pray about it. When you've lost your keys, pray about it. When you are living with chronic pain, pray about it. 

     Our Father loves us. We are His children. Ask Him for help. He may send another of His children to lift you up. He may even remind you where you left your keys. He may strengthen you to see you through another day.

 

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV 

You may also like:

- "A life of prayer"

- "In Jesus' name"

- "Say it loud"

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

Help from your church family

 

I know this doesn't always work, but it's a place to start if you require assistance. Your local church family may or may not have all of the resources to meet your needs, but maybe they can direct you to someone or somewhere that can help.
     We're blessed to have a loving, caring church family. We're also blessed to have several services set up specifically to minister to our church body or even to the surrounding communities. However, some of these ideas could be instigated in smaller churches as well:
- Meal Train: people volunteer to deliver a meal to people recovering from surgery or going through debilitating medical treatment. See mealtrain.com
- Counseling: a service normally provided by the pastor can be expanded by training other church members with tools to help them counsel those in need.
- Discipleship Groups: when a new believer comes to faith, it's important that they be discipled right away so that their new-found faith is made stronger with knowledge of what God's word says, what the church believes, etc. It's also important because we want new believers to become part of the church, serving, encouraging others, sharing their testimony. Today's converts could be tomorrow's church leaders.
- Physical Needs: money could be budgeted to help people who have trouble paying a bill or handling an emergency.
- Cards of Encouragement: our church has a list of people who would benefit from receiving a card once in a while. Maybe they're sick or grieving or lost their job, whatever the situation, it's a wonderful way to minister to those in need.
- Food Pantry: some churches partner together to stock a food pantry within the community.
- Transportation: members could volunteer to take people to doctor's appointments and/or run errands.

     The opportunities to serve are endless. If you have an idea for a way to meet a need, talk to your church leaders. If you have a need, talk to your church leaders. Either situation is a way to connect with your church family.
     If you are able, find a way to serve within your church. Everyone has the ability to do something, whether it's sending an encouraging text or card to someone who's going through a rough time, or making coffee on Sunday morning, or mowing the lawn, or being on the prayer chain. Of course, some tasks are harder than others. Some take more of a time commitment but find something you can do and be a part of the solution.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:13-18 NKJV

You may also like:
-"Isolation"
-"Pray for the health of The Church"
-"Peter is the rock"

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #churchfamily #serve #prayer #services #churchelders #assisance #church #servantsheart #hope #counseling

Peace of God

 

Every so often I like to ask, "what's your go-to Bible verse or passage in times of dispair?" One of mine is Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV):

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.

     This life is trying. Accepting Christ as our Savior doesn't mean that we'll have an easy time of it, but it does mean that we'll carry with us the peace of the Holy Spirit and the hope of eternal life with our Father. He created us for the express purpose of bringing glory to Himself and to share His love with one another during our time on Earth. We're here to love and serve one another and to build relationships. He doesn't want us to walk this journey alone.

     Reach out to others. Be there for each other. Love one another, as Christ loves us.

You may also like:

- "Compassion and Grief" about when my dad passed away. I was able to rejoice in knowing that I'll see him again in Heaven.

- "Walk the Walk" 

- "Don't be anxious about anything" has an image with the Philippians 4:6 verse that you can share with someone who needs to see it today.

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety #isolated #lonely #peace #hope #salvation

When you ask but do not receive

I was reminded yesterday by a friend that not everyone is willing to help others. She wrote:

 In the past, I was always made to feel guilty asking for help. I go to the Lord with EVERYTHING but with people? Anytime I tried, I was made to feel bad. So...kept it at the throne.

- Elizabeth B.

It honestly didn't occur to me until after I posted that not everyone wants to help others. Elizabeth's post confirmed it. 

- Unfortunately, those people are perfectly fine with living out their lives, wrapped up in just themselves. Of course, the day will come when they'll need help and at that point may find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

- Still, others are too busy to help (I shamefully find myself in that category a little too often).

- There are people who believe that we should each be self-sufficient and therefore won't help anyone out of principle, so to speak. 

- There are those who expect something in return.

     Yeah, the more I think about it, I can understand why some people don't ask for help. So, I guess we should pray for the unhelpful people, too. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds; that He gives them servants' hearts and show them that that's how He wants us to interact with each other, as loving, caring brothers and sisters.

     I didn't use to have a servant's heart until a true servant of Christ set me straight. I'm so thankful to her. She changed how I thought about serving and it's made a huge impact on my walk with Christ. I hope you can take a couple of minutes to read that post: "Acquiring a servant's heart" where I talk about the experience.

     Like Elizabeth wrote, she keeps "it at the throne." At least there, we can always find help and strength.

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:2 ESV

     Please do ask for help when you need it. Ask God to send you fellow Christians who will lift you up in your needs. Ask Him to help you through the valleys.

You may also like:

- "Help others help themselves" about supporting small businesses

- "Will you be my neighbor?" a lesson from Fred Rogers that everyone is our neighbor

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety #isolated #lonely

 

Ask for help

 

Do you know someone who never asks for help? And maybe that someone raised you to never ask for help, either? They taught you to be "independant," "strong." I want to assure you (and by you, I mean the person who doesn't ask for help), it is NOT a sign of weakness to ask for help. In fact, the people around you would probably appreciate knowing what you need, when you need it, instead of trying to guess.

     Yesterday was Father's Day, and my nephews spent the day with their dad putting together an above-ground pool. My brother said it was the best father's day he could remember. Having his sons there, working together on a project that was important to him, ran a lot deeper than his need for help installing the pool. He also had a need to spend time with them.

     Sometimes I feel drawn to reach out to someone, but beyond that prompting by the Holy Spirit, I'm often in the dark as to what the people around me need.

     Of course, there are people who just flat out refuse help, and I have to honor those requests, but in their desire to not appear needy, they're inadvertently adding stress to my life because there's nothing I can do about any of it.

Since I was raised to be "independent," it's hard for me to ask for help as well. As a manager, I can delegate responsibility to different people, but I feel awkward about even asking in my day-to-day life. 

The same is true in my spiritual life. Until a few years ago, I felt funny asking the Lord for things for me. I didn't consider asking for guidance, answers, encouragement. God wants us to come to Him with our needs and even our wants. We pray for others, but we're also constantly building a relationship with Him by being in conversation (which includes listening to Him). So the topic of ourselves is going to come up.

I just see so much stress, anxiety, and loneliness in the world. How awesome would it be to just be able to share what's going on with each of us to deal with each other honestly; that would get rid of the need to wonder or worry. We wouldn't have to feel guilty for not doing something we didn't even know that we should be doing. (I know that sentence will make sense to a few of you).

This may just be a crazy ramble, but I'll try to break it down throughout the week. I guess it's my plea to those in my life who don't ask for help when they need it.

The Bible speaks about asking for God's help instead of each other, but I believe the Bible verses can be applied to both scenarios.

You desire and do not have, so you murder.* You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4:2 ESV

*Remember "murder" is also defined as "anger" (see Matthew 5:21-22)

You may also like:

- "I’ve had a bad day" from January 7, 2013

- "If you need Someone to lean on" from July 27, 2014

- "Disappointment" from June 18, 2015

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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

How can I help?

During this time, many people and businesses need help. Depending on a person's situation or level of pride, they may not ask for help, though. So, I was wondering how do I find those who are suffering in silence? Then, I remembered, "Oh yeah, pray about it." I can't believe that isn't my first response to everything I do, think, wonder about, dwell on, ... I'm working on it; I want to take everything to the Lord. We don't have to go through anything alone. We can take everything to Him in prayer.

     Last week I wrote about some of the sad and scary aspects of what's going on in our country, so this week, I want to talk about the good. So many people are reaching out to help others. The mask-making is an incredible example of people seeing a need and taking it upon themselves to fulfill that need.

     Another selfless act that seemed to spread was all of the people who gave away their stimulus money to those who were in need or had a greater need. 

Facebook groups formed just to share information about navigating unemployment, or receiving stimulus money, or finding a job. Other groups formed to offer emotional support for similar situations like being quarantined alone. Even though everything we've been going through is completely new to all of us, we have pulled together, identified problems, and come up with solutions. We're working together while separated. We're loving and sharing and reaching out using whatever tools we have, and if we don't have the right tools, then we repurpose the old ones or invent brand new ones. We could have let this destroy us, but we didn't. We're survivors!

     It warms my heart to see so many do so much for others. I'm so inspired by my mom. She doesn't consider herself someone who is vulnerable. She seems to think that one's mental age takes precedence over one's physical age, therefore she is not "old" and she's only a "senior" when discounts are concerned. When the stay-at-home order first went into effect she was thinking of every possible scenario and how she could help others. 

     I'm praying for people and their specific needs and for people I don't know in more of a generic prayer, like, those who have been unemployed and haven't received unemployment yet; those who were self-employed and have had no income this whole time, etc. This is something we can all be doing and I'm sure all of you are. Some needs that I'm aware of:

- donations to food pantries/banks

- most charities have seen a drop in donations, so if you're able to give monetarily, consider that

- support local small businesses, restaurants, etc. You can buy gift certificates from most of them, especially if they aren't open to the public yet or are only open with limited services

- Target Dayton needs volunteers to deliver meals

- Handivan (Brookville, Ohio) needs volunteers to drive people to doctor's appointments

- contact neighbors, church family, etc. to see if they need anything, or just call to say 'hi', especially those who live alone.

- make cards for nursing home residents

- pray for God to guide you to someone who needs help, or who needs companionship, and/or someone with who you can share the gospel

‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, 

and falls into poverty among you, 

then you shall help him, like a stranger or a Sojourner, 

that he may live with you.

Leviticus 25:35 ESV 

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance as to what we can do, either individually, or collectively, to help those who are less fortunate than we are. Let's pray for God to show us someone in need who we can help.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

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

Encouragement for the terminally ill

There are times during the process of an illness that the patient will experience "acceptance". During that time they may want to speak frankly about death and about the afterlife. Please listen to them, and discuss whatever is on their mind. If you don't know the answers, ask if you can bring someone who can to speak to them. It is not appropriate to dismiss the person's feelings by saying, "don't talk like that." It's been my experience that people know when the time is near, sometimes down to the day and even if they don't know it doesn't matter because it's what they're experiencing and feeling and want to talk about. Ask them if they want you to read scripture aloud. There are several really encouraging passages for this stage of life.

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving 

for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, 

but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-19 NIV

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not fear or be in dread of them, 

for it is the LORD your God 

who goes with you. 

He will not leave you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

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Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a potentially terminal illness. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

How to comfort the terminally ill

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our affliction, 

so that we may be able to comfort those 

who are in any affliction, 

with the comfort with which we 

ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

I think the hardest thing for people who know someone who is terminally ill is to know what to say or do. In order to avoid saying or doing the wrong thing, they/we sometimes avoid the person, which is wrong of course and so unnecessary. It's really very simple...just be there for the person.
     - After first hearing the news, just let them know that you're praying for them. Even if the person isn't religious, it is so helpful to know that others care enough to pray.
My late husband was so moved to learn that so many people were praying for him. People in other states, whole churches and prayer chains sent him cards letting him know that he was being prayed for and that they cared about him.
     - There were days when he was home alone and it lifted his spirits to have people visit; even just to have someone drop in and watch television with him.
     - It's okay and often preferred to talk about normal things and act like everything is fine. The person is reminded of the illness enough as it is without making it the topic of every conversation.
     - Don't buy the person "things" that are meant to help him/her cope, like "how to" manuals, healing stones, or the latest "as seen on Dr. Oz" remedy. Cards and prayers are the best gifts of all. 

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Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a potentially terminal illness. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

For the terminally ill

This week we'll be praying for the terminally ill. I hesitate to use the word "terminal" because miracles happen every day. I can speak from experience to a degree because I lost my first husband to colon cancer and then I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Although my cancer was treated aggressively and I was told it was curable, I still went through the stages that one does when facing the possibility of the end of life. I'll share some of those personal experiences, but I also want to point you toward some wonderful sources for your questions that can explain things a lot better than I can.

The first question, I believe, is "why me?" Unfortunately, I can't answer that; only God can. He may reveal it to you, but He may not.
My husband told his doctor, "I don't want to die."
His doctor said, "Of course. Nobody wants to die, but we're all going to. Only God knows when."
God is sovereign. He will get you through this.

I think it helps to understand the stages of grief that we all go through, the patient and his/her loved ones. Once we find out that we're ill, we start grieving and morning the potential future loss of the person. We may go through all of these stages, or only a few. We may not go through them in order and we may revisit some stages multiple times and stay in different ones for different lengths of time.

The question, "Why does God allow sickness?" is one that is often asked by non-believers, but even Christians when personally faced with an illness ask this also. I found a great article about it:

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-sickness.html

Please share it with someone who's seeking answers.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, 

praise his holy name. 

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 

who redeems your life from the pit and 

crowns you with love and compassion.”

Psalm 103:1-4

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Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a potentially terminal illness. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Where's your treasure?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust destroys and 

where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19–21

I read a self-published book once where the whole premise was based on "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It was written as if the author believed that you'll find treasure in the (earthly) things you love, whatever that meant for each person. In reality, it's meant to remind us that whatever we love most is where our true heart is. So, a person who loves money can't also love the Lord. We shouldn't concern ourselves with earthly treasures but spend our time here laying up treasures in Heaven. I always regret the fact that I didn't try to reach out to her and explain the verse.

As a side note to this week's prayers...I had our taxes done Thursday evening and for the first time, we owed money instead of getting a refund. I was livid. I got so emotionally wrapped up in having to pay even more taxes, and now I'm going to have to take money out of savings, and now I'm going to have to wait longer to get a new car, and now, and now, and now...finally, I calmed down and actually had to laugh at how upset I had gotten. It's amazing how tied up in knots we can get over money. Even though I don't consider myself to be someone who loves money, I still get way too upset when I'm forced to give it up. The treasures in Heaven are the only treasures that matter.

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Let's pray for someone we know who is having financial problems. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Rich rule over the poor

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Proverbs 22:7

I hope to write more on this tomorrow.