Rejuvenation

"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens."      Ephesians 6:12                 

_______________________________________________

As some of you know, many years ago, I fell into major depression. It was a deep, dark, and lonely time that required a brief hospitalization, My doctors and family wondered if I would ever find my way back from the depths of torment to a like of normalcy.There were 2 reasons for it:

1) I did not think I could live one more day in poor health, unable to walk, speak swallow or breathe easily. My vision was blurred, with double vision at times, and I could not imagine how I could press on
2) Though I did not understand it at the time, I was flooded with nightmares and corroborative flashbacks from untreated childhood trauma. I didn't even have a language for what was transpiring emotionally, and just getting through each day was a big deal for me.

 It took about 12 medication combination changes to help me pull out of it. Together, these factors in my life presented the perfect storm. Eventually, my medical team found the right combination of medications to get me back on track, and for that I am truly grateful. But there is more to the story...

During this harrowing life experience, I learned a lot about myself and life, especially about my faith, from a wonderful Psychiatrist at the hospital. Keep in mind that when someone is in deep depression, they are often unable to pray it through themselves. It took time, and the prayers of others were vitally important as they prayed fervently on my behalf, for which I am eternally grateful.

My Middle Eastern doctor, Dr Hanita Sawhney, was likely one of the people God sent to help lift me out of the depression. Recognizing that I am a religious person, she encouraged me along by talking with me about my feelings, God, Jesus, and my faith beliefs, something often omitted from psychotherapy. She challenged me to let go of some things I held onto with clenched fists to allow me to reach for my faith with both hands. She challenged me in every way to reach for God's waiting hand. And helped me reestablish my connection with God as part of my treatment. This was so life-giving. Before I knew it, my faith was restored and I was able to pray simple prayers again, such as "Heaven help me!" and regained the desire to live. In that way, she was a blessed life saver!

Though Psychiatry generally keeps faith separate when treating mental illness, reaffirming one's faith can be important to help people renew their belief in God during such harrowing times. When all seems lost, God will get you through your greatest challenges and obstacles in the most glorious ways if you or your loved ones simply call upon Him in your times of need. For even and especially when all seems lost, Jesus will step in as only He can and save you, removing you from harm's way. His unconditional love and mercy endures forever!

If I could tell someone who is struggling one thing, I would remind them, "If God is for us, who can be against?" For there is no principality in all the earth that is greater than He who is inside you. There is no problem too big to solve with Jesus at your side. The Lord is kind and merciful, just waiting for you to let Him into every circumstance!

Adele M. Gill  |  2015 Copyright   |  www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

The Inspiration Cafe Blog has moved! New address: www.TheInspirationCafeBlog.net

Embracing the Christmas Spirit

I am always impressed by the kindness and good energy people share during the Christmas season. People just seem to naturally go out of their way to go the extra mile to make everything just so for the Holidays. They donate more freely to the poor and those among us in need, and remember the sick. They send cards to share the warmth of the season, and place beautiful bows on gifts they give to others.

On Christmas day, they go out of their way to make sure that everything is really nice as they elicit memories from holidays gone by from years past. The good linen comes out, and, for some, the exquisite china. People go to great lengths to make sure that everyone has their favorite holiday cup of cheer: That is, mulled cider, special wine, mixed drinks or Shirley Temple’s for children and non-drinkers.

We light candles and extend extraordinary hospitality, some even try to embrace good will, opting for forgiveness in the name of Christmas.

In fact, the hospitality seems endless as we go from place to place sharing and experiencing the Christmas Spirit.

Is it possible that in the midst of all the holiday trappings, we find the true meaning of Christmas takes us right back to what Jesus told us in the Gospel right from the start:

Love God with all your heart above all others, and love one another.

In a way, this season serves as a reminder that behind all the gifts and excitement, behind all of the hustle and bustle, we are all in need of God’s love and love from one another. In my mind, there is no greater medicine than kindness, compassion, empathy, and encouragement.

Is it possible that annually, through the ‘Christmas Spirit’ indeed, that we discover, yet again, that we are loved & lovable and therefore naturally more loving?

Now imagine this for a moment. Imagine what this world would be like if we extended such love to one another all year through? What if we regularly tried to make amends with those we don’t love as we should, and spent our days looking for opportunities to lighten the load of others?

What if we took the opportunity to pray regularly for those in most need of God’s mercy and care? Perhaps it would be a big step towards having the ‘Christmas Spirit’ extend throughout the year.

Today, I stand before you, and pose a challenge that I also intend to try to live out. Let’s all try a little harder to forgive others this year. Perhaps if we strive to become encouragers of others, we may even succeed at it! Let’s try to avoid unkind gossip and try to build each other up. Let’s try to complain less and become better listeners for each other.

You see, through the eyes of faith, the Christmas Spirit is actually the Holy Spirit of Jesus, meant to be embraced and extended to others year round. As followers of Jesus, it is how we were meant to be. We were not put here to gossip, complain, envy or loathe each other. We are here to love each other and be supportive of others, rather than always being on the receiving end. The mystery here is that through the power of the Holy Spirit, everyday can be filled to some degree with the ‘Christmas Spirit’ of Jesus love for us.

May Our Dear Lord bless you and your family profoundly this Christmas season, and may He bless you with the Christmas Spirit throughout the New Year.

Adele M. Gill Copyright 2014

REJOICE!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

According to M. Scott Peck in his book, The Road Less Traveled, ‘life is difficult.’

Clearly, this is truth, as sometimes things happen in life that may be out of our control. And sometimes things are challenging even when we are seemingly in control. Yes, life is difficult at times, but the saving grace is that as Christians, we can and do have the power to choose to place our trust in Jesus to help us. And He does!

Almighty Healer, Protector, Comforter, Savior, and Lord, Jesus is with us paving the way through our day in silent and unpredictable ways, providing abundantly for all who seek him in earnest. It is, indeed, a wonderful thing to place oneself in the Lord’s care! Worthy of our trust, Jesus is ever-present like no one else in this life could ever be for us.

The focus of all our gratitude and praise, He goes before us, behind us, and walks side by side with us through this life as we place our trust in Him. Steeped in unconditional love, pulling ever closer to us in our times of great need, He wraps His loving arms around us offering us practical support, shelter, protection, encouragement, salvation from life’s cares and salvation for all of eternity.

Yes, Jesus, also known as Emmanuel--God is with us-- gives us great reason to rejoice in Him as we strive to make Him The Center and focus of our lives. For beyond the deafening sounds of a hectic and chaotic life, Jesus stands in wait for us to step aside from mayhem and share our heartfelt pleas, our asking for His help, in any and every circumstance.

This close relationship with Jesus is the reason for Christian rejoicing. With awe-inspiring peace and joy in Him, we have ample blessings to share with others. Because of this close relationship with Jesus, even, and especially in times of great turmoil, we can more easily see the good in others, even the undeserving. We can handle difficult situations, feel His love, and reach out to encourage others to seek Him with confidence as we proclaim:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice!” 

Copyright 2014 Adele M. Gill

www.theinspiraationcafeblog.blogspot.com

Rejuvenation

"They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,

 they will soar on eagles’ wings..." Isaiah 40:31

_________________________________

In my life, when I have found myself facing really tough life challenges, I used to hope and pray that the Lord would help me 'get through it' and keep me hopeful; able to move forward from the grasp of disappointment, frustration, pain and infirmity. However, that has changed exponentially as my belief in the saving power of Jesus has evolved. As time changes all things, so it goes with my prayer focus.

Hope is always a good thing to pray for, but now I set my sights a bit higher, while praying for stronger faith, contentment, peace and joy in every circumstance. I find myself growing in acceptance of 'what is' --even if just for today. I have learned to reconcile with life on its terms, with the divine confidence that God is in control of my life since I placed it all squarely in His loving, healing hands.

For, to take on today and the 'what ifs' of the tomorrow would be far too intimidating and overwhelming. Simply put, mankind was designed by God to handle just one day at a time. That's it!

Even, and especially, in the face of tragedy, this much is true: The Lord can best use us to build His Kingdom when we are simply living out each day, depending on Him at every turn to the best of our ability. 

The world will tell you you are in control of your own destiny, but I suggest that is far overstated. Actually, as human beings, we are in control of our free will alone. We decide what we choose to think about, what we do, where we go. And we decide to stand down and give up, or step up in prayerful confidence and seek God's help during devastating times. Hard as it may be to believe, we have the power to elicit Jesus' holy intervention at any time for ourselves and others.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is closest to the blessed sick, the poor, the broken-hearted, and the grieving, those in most need. Rest assured, when you need Jesus the most, He is there with you and for you. Through the power of the Holy Spirit He is working out all things for good, [Romans 8:28] despite how things may appear to you at any given time.

So go on...Take a deep breath and rest assured that you are never alone in your times of great need. Omnipotent Almighty, the Lord is lifting you up on eagles' wings and strengthening you for whatever is ahead. Pray for whatever you need, and trust Him... He has the master plan and holds you in the palm of His righteous hand.

Adele M. Gill   |   Copyright 2014

3 Easy Steps to Stronger Faith

"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that 

God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..."  Romans 10:9

 www.theinspirationcafeblog.blogspot.com

 Perhaps I have, in the past, been easily distracted from prayer, but in recent years, I have learned a whole new way to pray and deal with the stresses of daily life. I have learned that there are 3 simple things that I can do, that can make any circumstance more manageable, while strengthening my faith. In fact, through reading and studying the Bible, I have discovered an easy way of dealing prayerfully and effectively with the ups and downs of daily life.

Simply stated, I call it: Pray  /  Read   /  Believe & Trust

I don't know about you, but at times in my own life, when things go awry, I forget to pray first before doing anything else. When negative, difficult or challenging things start to happen in my life, I may pace, begin to worry, knit, sew, call a friend, or run an errand ~ anything to distract myself, rather than sit quietly and prayerfully ask for God's help in the name of Jesus Christ.

However, I have discovered 3 easy steps that calm me down quickly and make any situation a faith learning experience. Perhaps you may find them helpful, too:

1)  Pray, Pray, Pray

In I Thessalonians 5:17, the Holy Bible tells us to, 'Pray without ceasing' for whatever you need. In that way, we are able to stay closely connected to God in every circumstance. Some people pray in the morning and the evening, some throughout the day. Yet others solely pray in times of desperation or only when in Church. This Scriptural prescription from Thessalonians suggests we need to make God an ever present part of our day, rather than an afterthought. When we pray, we are focused squarely on the Lord rather than ourselves or our circumstances. Truly, there is unlimited power in prayer as it has the capacity to change all things for the better.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20, 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.' This Bible promise actually lets us know that uniting in prayer with others is truly powerful. Whether in person, or even via the phone, it is possible to pray together with others, with the understanding that Jesus is truly present in your time of need. I like to join with others in prayer as often as possible to get the full benefit of God’s intervention in my life and that of others.

     2) Read the Bible Daily

When you read the Bible daily, you soon find that what was written some 2000 years ago is truly relevant and important in daily life today. I like to pray to God through Jesus Christ, then read my Bible, and the answers to my prayers often seem to leap off the page. Many report that reading the Bible makes them feel like God is talking directly to them... And He is, as Scripture is alive today and has the potential to be life-changing!

     3) Believe & Trust That God Will Act on Your Behalf

When you pray through Jesus Christ, you begin to grow in a life-changing, personal relationship with Him. You come to the realization that you are never alone, despite how you may feel, and that He is there for you to help you at every turn, simply for the asking. You are able to grow in contentment in your daily life, with the quiet knowing that Jesus Christ is at the helm, regardless of circumstance, as you place your life squarely in His Almighty, loving hands.

According to Nehemiah 8:10: "The Joy of the Lord IS your Strength!" Praying and believing that the joy of the Lord is your strength is a great lesson in humility. Even and especially in times of weakness, this truth stands. Alone, we can do nothing. We are nothing. We have nothing. The Lord is everything. Friend, Omnipotent Almighty, The Great Healer, Provider, Comforter, Protector, Savior and Lord. With Him at our side, we are able to pray with great confidence, and as Scripture tells us we can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed… 

The Inspiration Cafe Blog  | Adele M. Gill  |  Copyright 2014

Prayer Is Life-Changing

Pray without ceasing

I don't know about you, but at times in my own life, I forget to pray first before doing anything else, when things go awry. When negative, difficult or challenging things start to happen in my life, I may pace, begin to worry, knit, sew, call a friend, or run an errand, anything to distract myself rather than sit quietly and prayerfully ask for God's help in the name of Jesus Christ.

There is unlimited power in prayer. Prayer has the capacity to change all things for the better.

 Highlights

By Chaplain Adele M. Gill, RN, BSN, CC

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

LOS ANGELES, CA - Perhaps I have in the past been easily distracted from prayer, but in recent years, I have learned a new perspective and way to deal with the rigors of daily life. I have learned that there are some simple things that I can do, that can make any circumstance more manageable, through prayer. In fact, through reading and studying the Bible, I have discovered a Systematic Scriptural Approach to dealing prayerfully with the ups and downs of daily life. This 7 point system has changed my life in all the best ways, and I am confident it could do the same for you!

1)  Pray Without Ceasing
The Holy Bible tells us to, 'Pray without ceasing' for whatever you need. [I Thessalonians 5:17] In that way, we are able to stay closely connected to God in every circumstance. Some people are so busy, they must relegate prayer to the morning or the evening. Others pray when outside in the beauty of nature, yet others solely pray in times of desperation or when in Church. This Scriptural prescription suggests we need to make God an ever present part of our day, rather than an afterthought. When we pray and get into His Word unceasingly, we are focused on the Lord throughout the day, and it is helpful in growing in gratitude to God for our abundant blessings.
'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' I Thessalonians 5:16-1

2) Read the Bible Daily

When you read the Bible daily, you soon find that what was written some 2000 years ago is truly relevant and important today in daily life. One of the mysteries of the Bible is the understanding that it is a tremendous vehicle to hear the Word of God in the here and now. In actuality, I often experience God speaking to me in a sort of dialogue through Scripture. I like to pray to God through Jesus Christ, then read my Bible and the answers to my prayers often leap off the page. Many report that reading the Bible makes them feel like God is talking directly to them... And He is, as Scripture has the potential to be life-changing... 

3)  Where Two or More are Gathered

In the Bible in the New Testament, Jesus tells us, 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.' [Matthew 18:20] This Bible promise actually lets us know that uniting in prayer with others is a powerful way to approach prayer. Whether in person, or even via the phone, it is possible to pray together with others fervently, with the understanding that Jesus is with you, He is truly present in your time of need.

4)  In The Name of Jesus

Though prayer need not be comprised of eloquent speech, I have found that praying to God, in the name of Jesus, is vitally essential. For the Bible tells us in Colossians 3:17, 'Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.' That is, we are to pray fervently to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, with petitions, praise and thanksgiving

5)  Believe: I can do all this through 'Jesus' who gives me strength.

When you pray through Jesus Christ, you begin to grow in a life-changing, personal relationship with Him. You come to the realization that you are never alone, despite how you may feel, and that He is there for you to help you at every turn simply for the asking. You are able to grow in contentment in your daily life, and with the quiet knowing that Jesus Christ is at the helm, in control of your life, as you place it squarely in His loving hands.

'For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.                                                       I can do all this through [Jesus] who gives me strength.'                                                                        Philippians 4:11-13

6)  Time to Celebrate: The Joy of the Lord IS my Strength!

This Scripture is tantamount to Nehemiah 8:10: "The Joy of the Lord IS my Strength!" It is pure joy knowing that your strength is from the Lord. Even and especially in times of weakness, this truth stands. Alone, we can do nothing. We are nothing. We have nothing. The Lord is everything to me. Omnipotent Friend, Almighty, Healer, Provider, Comforter, Protector, Savior and Lord. With Him at our side, we are able to pray with great confidence, as Scripture tells us we can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed!

'Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'  [Matthew 17:20]

7) Pray the Rosary

 

As Christian Catholics, we have a treasure trove of time tested prayers to choose from at our disposal. Specifically, praying the holy Rosary is a deeply powerful way to pray to God through Jesus, and ask for Mary's intercession. This form of prayer may be done alone or with others, and has been credited with many miracles.

Yes, there is unlimited power in prayer as it has the capacity to change things for the better. Whether you are a new pray-er or a lifelong prayer, following these 7 easy steps will bring you closer to The Lord, and prepare you to serve Him as a fervent prayer warrior, an evangelist, if you will, as it enhances your faith life and promotes a strong and lasting personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

© 2014 - Distributed by THE NEWS CONSORTIUM / Catholic Online