A Fresh Look At...
Personal Affirmations
The words you speak become the house you live in…
~ Persian Proverb
For all too many years I was skeptical of the practice of repeating personal statements to myself about myself. It felt disingenuous, fake and forced. It reminded me too much of the name it and claim it religious folk I grew up around in the 1980’s. Too much!
But I have begun to shift my thinking on this. There is more to it. I have come to believe that these personal declarations can wield significant influence by shaping our subconscious beliefs and slowly but surely guide us to a more positive and productive end.
Regularly reviewing and affirming positive personal statements can rewire thought patterns, replacing negative self-talk with a more empowering (Spirit-directed) inner dialogue. I have begun to experience the benefits personally. Engaging in this practice has boasted my self-confidence, clarified my intentions, and strengthened my resolve to be and do what matters most to me. I have learned that by directing my mental focus, daily declarations act as a tool for personal transformation. So much so that I would even suggest you consider doing something similar yourself – if you aren’t already doing so.
For more information see HERE.
Here is the list I have been using of late:
MY PERSONAL DECLARATIONS
- I KNOW that God loves me and is always for me – even when life doesn’t make sense
- I WILL do whatever God asks of me – even it is uncomfortable
- I WILL NOT shirk my responsibility in doing my part to be faithful to the calling God has placed on my life
- I BELIEVE the right people and resources will come along at the time when I need them to be there for me.
- My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore merits my PROACTIVE care and concern.
- I WILL be patient and trust God for whatever he chooses to do regarding my level of impact. More/bigger is not always better.
- I WILL NOT allow the opinions of others to diminish my belief in myself and my capacity to do what I have been called to do.
- I WILL guard my heart, because it is the wellspring of life.
- I WILL not give up just because it gets hard.
- I WILL give God the glory for any/all good that I am able to do.
Now get started on yours…
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
Psalm 61:2-4: “From the end of the earth I cry to you, I cry out to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower to protect me from the enemy. I will live in your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”
In the past, every time I’ve read this verse, I’ve considered it through the lens of the difficulties and trials of life. I’ve thought about all the times I was desperate for God to intervene and rescue me and those moments when I cried out to him to be my shelter. And He was. Because trials can be overwhelming.
In the same way, good things can sometimes overwhelm us too. And our frail human brains often find it confusing. Have you ever been the recipient of good news that you had hoped and prayed on for months or even years only to find yourself completely overwhelmed with emotions that you can barely articulate never mind process well?
I had a moment like that last summer. Our family finally got news we had been waiting on for 8 long years. My immediate response was to burst into hysterical tears coupled with laughter almost immediately followed by fear of how this news was going to change all our lives. It was so much. I still don’t really know what to call all the things I felt that day. But I can for sure say they were overwhelming. And, in case you need to know like I did, that’s normal. Overwhelm happens when we feel too much of anything – joy or sorrow.
The good news is, in either case, this verse applies.
We can cry out to God when our heart is overwhelmed, whatever the reason, and He is ready and willing to be our strong tower…our refuge. It’s such good news and maybe a departure from a world that would tell us to feel differently or get some perspective or just buck up.
God created feelings, but He also came to earth and experienced every single one of them. He is well acquainted with our human condition. He desires to be our safe place, our shelter, no matter the reason. My prayer for you this week is in those moments of overwhelm, you sense God’s invitation to cry out to him and let him be what you need.
Caregivers Corner with
Lori Smith
To Support (noun): to provide assistance that enables one to function or act.
Waiting to see how the story unfolds, and how it ultimately ends, really is one of the hardest parts of the cancer journey. The not knowing, the endless wondering. Everyone deals with waiting differently. Some people are more anxious than others. Some people keep busy to distract themselves, and some ruminate. Some cry and show all their emotions, and others are stoic and level-headed.
My husband and I were complete opposites in the waiting. I cried, I got angry, I ruminated, I was moody, I had panic attacks, and I would have done many things differently while we waited to see how things unfolded. He was quiet, steady, only occasionally emotional, and seemed to have endless patience in the waiting. That was hard for me as the caregiver, but I had to yield to the fact that he was the sick one. He was the one who ultimately had to decide how he wanted his journey to go. I was the support. He had to choose; I had to follow.
I quickly realized that I had only one place to turn to — the Lord and His Word.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. (Psalm 130:5-6)
In biblical times, watchmen had to be on alert all through the night for any surprise attacks on the city. They had to stand guard, hoping that this wouldn’t be the night they needed to sound the alarm. Imagine their relief when the morning came and all was still quiet.
I had to take all my emotions, all my fears, all my anxiety, and thoughts to Him during our journey. I was like a night watchman, hoping for the relief the dawn would bring. I didn’t want to heap all of that on my husband who was already processing the sickness in his own way. God also provided an amazing therapist for me who guided me through my anxiety along the way too.
Waiting is hard.
Yielding to the desires of your person is hard, especially if you want them to choose differently. God is gracious enough to meet each of His children exactly where they need Him in life’s seasons of hard waiting. When we wait for Him like the Psalmist, and put our hope in His Word, we can rest assured that morning will come, and we will still be safe in His loving hands.
Worship Moment with
Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: Fear Is Not My Future (Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music)
Band: Todd Galberth, Tasha Cobbs Leonard
From: Encounter (2022)
This song always encourages me because to me it’s such a BOLD declaration and stance! It addresses the things trying to keep us down DIRECTLY only to let them know IT WON’T WORK! The boldness reminds me that I have power in my words and I should choose to say it LOUD and LOUDER than the thing trying to keep me down!
Let Him turn it in your favor
Watch Him work it for your good
He’s not done with what He’s started
He’s not done until it’s good
Hello, peace
hello, joy
Hello, love
Hello, strength
hello, hope, It’s a new horizon
If you’re ready for a breakthrough, yeah
Just open up and just receive, yeah
‘Cause what He’s pouring out is nothing
You’ve ever seen
You’ve ever seen, yeah
Hello, peace
hello, joy
Hello, love
Hello, strength
hello, hope, It’s a new horizon
Fear is not my future
You are (You are)
Sickness is not my story
You are (You are), You are (You are)
Heartbreak’s not my home
You are (You are), You are (You are)
Death is not the end
You are, You are (oh)
Poetic Encouragement with
Julie Clarke
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
In Spain, In Pain…Catalonian Rain
Sometimes life brings injury
And doesn’t show much sympathy
For how this makes me feel
They pretend it’s really not that real
They carry on with their harried pace
And spin their wheels to win the race
And forget to stop and breathe
To feel their lungs ho and heave
To absorb the picture perfect view
And listen as the bees buzz through
And land upon my knee
Such a wondrous flight to see
The dogs that bark don’t speak in Spanish
And the birds that dance soar in and vanish
Beyond the terraced green horizon home
Where my soul longs to travel and to roam
But this pain I feel keeps my feet grounded
While in your beauty I’m surrounded
Here, far away from everything I know
Far away from all I have to show
So I Am blessed by injury
To slow it down and pause and see
Your beauty as it moves on around me
The glimmer of the dew upon the tree
There’s windows through these wild flowers
And fruit from trees that seldom tower
Surrounded by the most majestic mounts
A silent whisper every time I count
There’s Gradient grays and a softened haze
Beneath the warming sunlit rays
On a bolder bench that stands the test of time
A little spot that I secretly call mine
The haze burns off to a vivid show
Of the valley vines hidden below
With a stop to see the pomegranates grow
Oh how I’ve stopped so I could truly know
I’ve noticed the timid lady bugs
And butterflies with neon hugs
And heard the Sunday bells that call the children home
You’ve shown me where I needed most to go
Here in this ancient Catalonian home
And sent me where I needed most to roam
While your whisper deeply called
…this hurt heart home!
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
REMEMBER THIS: “Nature doesn’t make bad fats, factories do.”
There is so much misinformation out there about fat. I know we have visited this topic a few times, but it’s an important one! As a healing food, fat is a fascinating nutrient! Consider this: The brain is made of 60% fat. It’s actually the fattiest part of your body. In addition to its role in building the brain, fat is used for your cell membrane integrity and cell permeability. That’s just a fancier technical way of saying that fat has a key role in your abilities to absorb and utilize the good foods you eat — right down to the cellular level — where those nutrients are most needed.
In general…
– Fats store and carry nutrients around the body.
– They provide physical insulation for our body’s organs.
– Fats help maintain body temperatures
– and they play myriad roles in metabolism.
Healthy sources include:
- Olive oil
- Avocados
- Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts)
- Seeds (pumpkin, sesame)
Piet's Ponderings
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion
ATTENTION: Your value is not based on your output…
The simple phrase, “I am more than what I produce” is one of those great refrigerator sayings. Sounds good and it’s a great reminder. But it also carries a not-so-insignificant challenge. While I understand the statement conceptually, it is a battle to internalize personally.
Our culture consistently celebrates productivity and excellence, AND that message echoes in my soul as well. I want to make a meaningful contribution and make a difference for good and God. But I regularly conflate my value with my daily accomplishments. A ‘to do’ list with too few check marks at the end of the day, feels like a personal failure.
I really do yearn for the peace that comes with being able to rest in life’s unpredictable moments – unplanned conversations, unexpected delays, or simply the need for a midday nap.
I understand all this intellectually but still working to make it a reality.
Anyone else relate?
A Healing Prayer
Isaiah 41:10
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer ad petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God )Philippians 4:6)
“Loving Father, I thank you for your constant presence, especially during times of illness. I ask for your strength to sustain me, your comfort to soothe me, and your wisdom to guide my decisions. As Isaiah 41:10 says, ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ I trust in your unwavering love and care. In Jesus name. Amen”
This Week’s Praise Report
Pocket Prayer Proliferation
I was surprised this week by two texts about my daily Pocket Prayers, It’s become such a routine, I often forget how God might be using it beyond my immediate recipients.
The first text was from a youth volunteer who was sharing them with young people from his church who were on a mission trip over Spring Break. The second came from a friend who shared about them at her “Coffee with Jesus” women’s study. A few of these ladies are now wanting in themselves.
These unexpected encouragements reminded me that small acts of obedience lead to big blessings. This ‘project’ started as a simple response to a friend looking for a little inspiration for their newly discovered faith journey. They are now sent to over 200 people every morning – with many passing them along to others I don’t know and will probably never meet.
It’s just so cool to see how God works!
Support the work!
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects related to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.
https://www.patreon.com/c/pietvanwaarde
