Anxiety: A Part Of Life

Last week I was told that anxiety was a way of life whether I realized it or not.  I was also told that since I’m young I probably haven’t experienced it yet…but just wait it will come.

Once I heard this I knew it wasn’t the truth, that we can live in as sons and daughters of God. But I also recognized that anxiety has touched my life and so many others. So what’s the deal? I decided to look up what “anxiety” really means:

[ang-zahy-i-tee]
noun, plural anxieties.
1.       distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.
2.      Psychiatry. a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.

Synonyms
3.      1. fear, foreboding; worry, disquiet.

British Dictionary definitions for anxiety
1. a state of uneasiness or tension caused by apprehension of possible future misfortune, danger, etc; worry
2. (psychol) a state of intense apprehension or worry often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shaking, intense feelings in the gut, etc, common in mental illness or after a very distressing experience.

So what I am seeing here is that anxiety is fear based and it can become so bad that it is a disorder!

This is not the life we were meant to live. Yet anxiety is a large part of people’s lives. I looked up some facts and I can’t believe what I found: 

•   Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population).

 Wow! That's crazy! So next I looked to see what the Bible says about anxiety I love what the Bible says about it!

^“ Don’t be anxious about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:6-9

The Bible also says: 

“No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love.” -1 John 4:18

The Bible  is clear, we don’t have to live in fear because we have a perfect love that gets rid of fear in our lives! Anxiety as no hold on a person who lives in love. 

And what about mental illness? There is power in the name of Jesus. There isn’t a mental illness out there that cannot be healed. Jesus died once and for all, for every sickness. 

So know that I know all of this, I am going to have to change the way I think. If I start to feel anxious than I know I’m not living in love. I’ve moved out from under that love. It’s easy to step back into. But a lot of times I think we like living with problems. …Weird stuff!  You don’t have to live with anxiety, you can live in the opposite which is:

 certainty, serenity, tranquility.
 

You can live anxiety free! It doesn’t have to be a way of life. It’s not a grown up problem that you just have to deal with. It’s a lie from the devil. You don’t have to spend countless dollars or pop a pill to be free. All you have to do is live in the Love of God. Get into His presence, learn to rely on Him for everything. I still have times where I don’t do it right. But this week I was reminded that I don’t have to live this way and neither do you.

Whatsoever Think…

Below is a song I did for anxiety and any other darkness:

https://soundcloud.com/janellschiele/darkness-is-bound

Facts from: Dictionary.com , ADAA.org  and Biblegateway.com

Times Change: Be On Your Guard

“If you were to move to another country you wouldn’t be able to meet your future husband.”

 This morning I was getting ready and I had this thought. At first I was like oh my goodness…what if? Not even a minute passed and I realized this was not a thought from my Abba Father. No this was the voice of a major looser…and I almost fell for it.

In this season of my life it is all about change. This year alone I have been to Australia, Mexico, Belize and in a few months I will be going to England. I am being stretched and taking a step into the unseen, a place where true faith is required. And the loser doesn’t want us stepping out because of what we are capable of.

That looser knows how to push our buttons, hitting us in our weak spots. But when you spend time with the Father God you can learn the difference from the Fathers voice and the voice of the ultimate loser. I know that one day I will get married! God has the right man for me, I have no doubts. As a single girl though, this topic is close to my heart.

So I turn to what the bible says in John 10:3-5:

"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

As sheep we learn our shepherd voice and when a stranger’s voice comes we can run from it! We can stand firm.

So as the times change I have to make sure that I am staying close to my father so I know his voice.

The devil cannot tell the truth. So when he tells you something you can just throw it in the trash and laugh in his face.

Times are changing; we have destinies that God wrote from the beginning. Inside each of us is the ability to change the world. Inside of us is a part of God that the world has yet to see.

Be on your guard! Judge your thoughts; make sure you are believing in the right voice.

Talk to you later I’m going to go laugh at the loser now! Haha!

A Response: Why People Don't Sing In Church Anymore

We all have passion and one of mine is worship. Bring up worship and we could talk for hours. Bring an instrument and you will make this girl happy! We will worship for hours. I love being able to worship the creator of the universe. It makes my heart so full!

Recently I saw a blog about why people don’t sing in church anymore. I found the title interesting so I clicked on it. After reading it I was so upset and baffled that I went to my room and worshiped God and prayed “God where are your worshipers?”.

Worship is not a song. Countless blogs say why people don’t sing in church. In my option if our focus is to just get people to sing, making worship just a bunch of songs to be sung, then we are worse than I thought. When worship becomes just another song it’s likely you’re lacking relationship with the one that your called to worship.

Worship is and has always been a lifestyle. Singing songs to God is just one avenue. You can worship him with your life, money, relationships…well everything! Worship looks like a lot of different things. The woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and then wiped them with her hair was a act of worship. She did it because she was so in love with him. Some might think it’s over the top. But Jesus loved it.

I have traveled around the world and been in countless worship serves. I don’t speak all the different languages but that doesn’t stop me from giving my god adoration. People say songs now days are hard to sing, cheesy, aren’t the “original” songs and unbiblical. So they don’t “sing”. Haha have you gone through a hymnal lately (I love hymns don’t get the wrong idea)? Just saying… There shouldn't be any excuses.

I have been around lots of people like this: “Oh I wish they would play that one song, then I’ll sing". So here is my question: Is your worship to God dependent on what song is being played?

I’m ready for a generation to rise up and truly worship God selflessly. No matter the song or circumstance, that they consider it all joy to exalt him. I’m ready to see worship like it was in the tabernacle of David. There were people worshiping all the time with excellence and with a heart toward God (proof that excellence in worship is ok).

My heart burns for God. I long to worship Him not only on Sunday mornings but every day! We should worship because of who God is, plain and simple. He alone is worthy of all our praise. He the reason we even have songs.

I will be His worshiper and I will be a voice to this generation. It is time for the true worshipers arise. I see a people who will hold nothing back because they are so in love with Jesus.

Whatsoever Think

Get Better Results In Your Health And Spirit

Have you ever been to the gym and you see  people who are getting fit and loosing weight? Then those you can't tell at all that they have been working out? Well I thought about this today as I people watched at the gym today. I saw one man who I had seen before and noticed that after all I time I had seen him at the gym he looked the same. Then I thought about myself. I was the same way when I first joined. But then I changed the way I ate and eliminated gluten I lost almost 15lbs just by changing my eating habits. 

Then Holy Spirit started talking. As a human race we want easy and fast. So when we want to loose weight we will get a membership go to the gym (maybe) get our sweat on then go home and eat the same way we have always eaten (cake, candy, chips and large portions) But in order to see a real change and to truly get healthy we have to make sure we not only exercise but also change our eating habits. 

It's the same way in our relationship with God. We say we want to live for God, so we do the expected thing...get a "membership" at church. But then when we go home we don't change our "eating habits". We continue to do the same things that we did before we decided to live for God. Going to church will not change us for the long run. We have to change our everyday lives. Imagine your weight loss plan is to go to the gym once a week and that's it. Your eating stays the same, but you at least your going to the gym right? Um no that is crazy! You will never see results! Same with our relationship with God. We can't expect to go to church once a week then then feel good about our selves because its the "right thing" to do. 

Only when we make the decision to follow God and make good choices everyday will we see our relationship grow and strengthen.

I have lived this way both in the physical and spiritual. And let me tell you it sucks! It's frustrating, and then you want to give up and eat a big bowl of ice cream.  

Do you want to see awesome results in your health and spirit? Then change how you live everyday. Yeah it hard to kill the flesh. But once the results start to show you'll know it was worth it. 

Change the way you think and live your life to the fullest. It will save your life in both arenas. 

Whatsoever Think...

5 Ways To Rise Above Negative Thoughts

Lets be honest for a minute. We have all felt unimportant, insignificant and just all around different. In my case these false feelings and thoughts seem to come at the most inconvenient and random times! 

Picture this, you're standing on the beach enjoying the view. The sun is shining,  birds flying over head, children are laughing …Then the whole scene changes. Massive waves crash down on you out of no where. And if you don't know how to escape then you will get caught in yet a another set of waves.

This is how I think these feelings come some times. I know you can feel like your are on top of the world then BAM! The kicker here for me is that I know when I feel this way it's a lie. But that’s the thing with lies…they a lot of times "seem" to hold truth.  How do we get past these feelings and thoughts? How can we rise to the top victorious? Here are 5 ways to rise above negative thoughts:

1. Acknowledge that what you are thinking and feeling  is indeed a lie. Here is the deal, you are so important, very significant and well you are different and that's OK. Realize that the enemy is up to no good and fight back! You don't have to take it.

2. Talk with someone you trust. We can't walk this life alone and we need people in our lives that build us up and encourage us in who we really are. This may be your parents, your best friend or pastor. Whoever it may be tell them what your feeling. They will jump into action to help you smash the lies.

3. Speak the truth over yourself. One you have identified that what you are feeling is a lie speak the opposite to yourself. Look in the mirror and shower yourself with words of encouragement. No really! Stand there and watch as your face stars to change. Good words bring life!

4. Spend time with God. Although people are good and all God is the best one to go to when this stuff happens. God will never run out of good things to say about you. The bible says that his thoughts for us out number the grains of sand. Wow! Mind blowing right? God loves you and because of that there is no way that you are unimportant, insignificant or that you don't fit in. The one who knows the stars by name just so happens to love you more than you can think or imagine.

5. Enjoy life.  When you know that you are so loved by God you can't help but enjoy life! When those false feelings and thoughts try to come you can laugh in their faces. What's really fun is that when those attacks come that means something good is about to happen. The enemy wants to get us off our game. Don't give in to their bag of tricks.

So what are you waiting for? Are you believing lies about yourself or others? Don't live in that mess because "Ain't nobody got time for that!"!

Whatsoever Think...

Do you need prayer for anything? Please comment below and I will pray with you! 

 Photo: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/a1/9e/e6a19e25c7dc1f80ca7435f70fb8af2e.jpg

You Have Won Me

I just got back from a three week mission trip in Australia. Some would say that it was a once in a lifetime trip...Although I refuse to live and think that small. The whole trip, from start to finish, was a testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of my God!

So if you tried to convince me that God isn't real, you would definitely have your work cut out for you. I have seen too much. You can try... but I can guarantee that it won't work. 

Because over the past three weeks in Australia, my heart was stolen by God every time another person was healed or glory dust and angels appeared or when He would do something so sweet for me. *sigh* Ha-Ha!  The Father God loves to show off for His kids 'cause He can....and I love it! Day after day I fell more in love with my Creator. It's such a wonderful feeling knowing that the One who created the universe wants to use me to heal, prophesy and sing over people for Him. What a honor and a privilege! It just makes me giggy thinking about it. God wants to work through me, even when I'm not "feeling" it  or when I'm intimidated! He doesn’t care, He just longs for a heart that will say "yes" and then put the "yes" into action.  What is on the other side of your hearts "yes"?

My life has changed again, like I said I have seen too much of the goodness of God to stay the same. I saw a woman who hadn't had clear vision for her  whole life (75 years) totally healed. I felt one mans patella (knee cap) move and shift  underneath my hand, years of pain gone! I've seen a gay gentlemen give his heart to Jesus (because he felt true love) in a mall.  One woman's leg grew out to match the other! A man who hadn't been able to smell for 50 years was restored! A young teen gave his heart to Jesus after he had been totally healed from asthma! A young girl ran up to the stage with her crutches, she was made whole in her legs. A man with 40 years of back pain healed! Then God shows up in a living room and causes  my friends and I encounter Him in a whole new way just because He can. Oh He is so wonderful and good! He has truly won me.

I have so many stories of what God has done and one day I might get to tell them all. But I just wanted to tell you just a bit, and to thank you for praying for me and giving toward this life changing trip. And for you to know that whatever you are walking through it's not too big for my God. Even the smallest thing matters to Him. Daddy God is so personal and He cares about your heart.

Do you need healing in your body? Do you need someone to agree with you in prayer? Please comment below and I will pray with you! Whether be a headache or cancer nothing it "too small" or "too big".  May my God bless you! 

Whatsoever Think...

A big shout out to all the "Heaps Gorgeous" people of Australia! Love you and can’t wait to come back!  

Australian Travels

Hello from Australia!

It is so beautiful where we are staying. Within walking distance from a beautiful beach. The first day was mostly getting settled and trying to sleep. That night we went and ministered at a youth and young adults meeting.

They started off with a game and it was a form of karaoke, but you were the only one who could hear the music. I was picked to sing and have everyone eles guess what song I was hearing. I tried to tell them that I only listen to worship music...but they insisted I would know them. Um yeah...Janae and Justin I failed you! Haha Elizabeth thought it was cute. Haha

Then there was worship. I went to the back of the room to dance because I felt God on it. So I'm dancing and I see a teen girl standing by herself with her hands on her neck. I thought she had neck pain. And well the devil owes me big time on hurt necks.

I walk over and come to find out she was dealing with fear and anxiety because of all the people. Well the devil owes me for fear too. I prayed that the peace of God would be manafest in her life. Then I asked her to dance with me and she said yes! We danced a whole song. At one point I just stopped and watched her...freedom was hers! By the end of the song her countenance was totally changed. I then spoke to her about to strategies to beet the devil like take a knee.

Then Elizabeth and gave words of knowledge. I felt bad pain at the base of my skull. I called it out and there was a girl who had the same pain. We prayed over her and then Elizabeth had me sing over the girl. The song was from daddy God and how beautiful He thought she was. She was totally healed! Woot!

We did more of that then Elizabeth taught a great word on puriy and then had a alter call and 11 kids where saved! So awesome!

The rest of the night was one on one ministry that was fun. We saw so many healings.

It was late when we got home and we were tried but to happy. I was stretched and it was a little uncomfortable but I welcome it. Elizabeth really encouraged me.

I slept great and woke up to the sound of weeks animals! How cool right? Animals wake up at 6 am....I went back to sleep! Haha for breakfast I had some fresh juice and awesome different oat meal. Then we (Elizabeth and the pastors) went to Caves Beach! I'm not really a beach person but this place was beautiful! I took a ton of pictures and yes Mom I wore sunscreen! I applied it a few times and got a small tan...it doesn't look like it because I'm so white but I'm tan...er. Haha then we tested a little then went fuo a run. Hopefully I'll be able to run the whole time by the time I leave!

Later tonight (Sat 8th) we are having a bbq! Can't wait to tell you about it!

Talk to you soon!

Whatsoever Think...