Thoughts Run Amuck

When things go amuck, they are wildly out of control. This past week, my thoughts ran amuck and I didn’t know how to stop them.

A week ago, our sweet English Springer, Zoe, had abdominal surgery to remove a mass. Unfortunately, the mass was very closely connected with the stomach and pancreas and there was no way they could get it out. We were given a dismal diagnosis for our 5 year old pup. Our hearts are broken.

So, what do I do with those thoughts about the future? When will she die? How will she die? Will she be alone or will we be there? Will she suffer? How long will we have her? As the days passed, I finally recognized my thought life and how fear had settled in.

God somehow reminded me of the word SAVOR. He wants me to savor the moments I have with Zoe. Could I relish with pleasure these moments when I can pet her and love on her? Could I remember that each day is a gift and I’m not even guaranteed tomorrow myself? Could I look at her with joy for her being alive today, not dread what’s to come?

God also reminded me to be GRATEFUL. Zoe arrived on the day the Spurs won the 2014 championship. It was a grand day in every way! We have so many great memories and packed so much life and service into these last 5 years. Zoe, as a therapy dog, has been able to minister to so many and share beautiful unconditional love. My husband and I have so much to be grateful for!

Finally, God drew me back to thinking on WHAT IS TRUE. Philippians 4: 8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”  God captured my thought life this week to remind me of a better way. "Nothing is more daily, critical and transforming than our thought lives." (Scotty Smith) This hit me! I CAN walk through this difficult season, feeling pain and yet at the same time, thinking on what is true.

As I walk into this new normal, I do so remembering that God’s ways are always best and He can always be trusted. I prayed for a different outcome, but God is not answering my prayer the way I wanted. That doesn't mean He isn't still good. God is always good! I just needed God's word to shape my thinking when my thinking had run amuck with fear and dread. 

How have your thoughts run amuck? How has fear taken over your thinking? In what way are you frightened about the future? Will you invite God into your thought life and ask Him for help?

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio

Costumes We Keep

So, this is the week of crazy costumes! Whether driving down the freeway, getting a Starbucks or showing up at a Halloween party, it’s the week of the costume!

Costume parties are so much fun! Everyone is in character and doing things they might not normally do. There’s a feeling attached with wearing a costume that feels delightfully free! We can hide behind the mask and be someone we’re not…for a while.

But sometimes, we hide behind our own personal costumes that we erect. We don’t even know what we don’t know about ourselves. Others may see it; but we miss it. We may not even know that we’re hiding anything!

Pete Scazzero, in the book ‘The Emotionally Healthy Leader’ writes “One of the great truths of life is this: You cannot change what you are unaware of." The process of becoming aware of your true self requires both courage and hard work. Scazerro also writes “Using brain imaging, researchers have documented how our brains are rewired when we learn to name our feelings.

Do you name your feelings or hide them? Just consider some of the questions below as you spend time with God. How might God help you consider and respond to these questions: (The Emotionally Healthy Leader, pp. 71)

• What am I feeling? And what am I feeling about that feeling?
• What am I sad about? Glad about? Angry about? Anxious about?
• Where in my body am I feeling tension or stress (e.g., shoulders, neck, stomach)? What might this be telling me about what is going on inside of me?

There was a period in my own life where I set aside feelings to simply exist. I don’t think I even knew that I was doing this! As I’ve taken more time over the years to become healthy in my spirit, mind and body, I’ve seen the value of my “feeling” muscles. There’s more peace and greater freedom as I no longer suppress them.

What are the costumes you keep? I find such comfort in knowing that nothing is hidden from my God. So, why hide? God loves to come along side us and build into us a new place of maturity in our brokenness. He is all about freedom!

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Hold On To Your Faith

Sometimes, I admit, it’s hard to trust God. I can pray and pray about something and yet struggle to believe God will answer my prayer. I keep praying, but deep down, I can doubt God at times.

This last week, we found out that our precious dog Zoe has a mass on her liver. She’s only 5 years old and we’re a bit shocked at the test results. We’re praying like crazy that God would heal through surgical means. But will He?

I need to remind myself of a proven fact today. Luke 1:37 says “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Beth Moore writes “He delights in defying the odds stacked against us. If we’re growing out of our belief that He can do the impossible, we’re not growing. We’re shrinking. Hold onto your faith.”

How often have you mentally checked in your head these words, “This is impossible” regarding your current situation? Where do you need God to do something BIG in your work, relationships, future, finances, etc? Where do you need to hold on to your faith and NOT LET GO?

For me personally, I need to start this week knowing that God is and can be trusted, no matter what the outcome. Turning to Scriptures helps me. Check out these Scriptures and make them your prayer today.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

"In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.” Psalm 86:7

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8

May God bless you and help you run to Him with every challenge in your life, big or small! He is faithful and trustworthy..... always. Hold on to your faith! 

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Love Your Neighbor

I saw this cool graphic that I thought was pertinent for each one of us. It said:

Love your neighbor- Who doesn’t look like you, think like you, love like you, speak like you, pray like you, vote like you. Love your neighbor. No exceptions.

How do we love our neighbor with no exceptions? Let me be honest. It’s hard for me to love EVERYONE all the time. I fall short consistently in the loving department. How about you? How about your friend that betrayed you? Your ex that makes everything extra hard? Your family member who hasn’t spoken to you? Think for a moment about those in your life hard to love. Not easy, right?

There’s a familiar story in the Bible that can help us learn how to love our neighbor. The Good Samaritan story takes place in Luke 10:25-37. Picture yourself sitting in on this conversation with Jesus and the unloving religious person, aka, the lawyer.

The lawyer was trying to test Jesus. The lawyer was a so-called “expert” in the law of God, so he asked Jesus what He should do to inherit eternal life, knowing full well the answer! Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time and on to the man’s schemes, answered the questions with a question. He asked him what was written in the law and the lawyer said with his head held high and all the piousness he could muster: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27)

Jesus affirmed that he was correct. But the lawyer wanted to justify himself knowing full well he couldn’t keep these commands. So, he tried to limit the law’s demands to justify himself. “Who is my neighbor?” Kind of like saying: “Hey, Jesus, where do I draw the line on this loving stuff? Certainly not everyone?”

So Jesus told a parable to correct the lawyer’s wrong viewpoint of who his neighbor was. He told about a traveler on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, who fell among robbers. He was stripped of his clothes, beaten and left half dead. A priest came by, saw the man and continued on. A Levite came by and saw the man and kept going. Finally, a Samaritan came upon the man, and when he saw him, took pity on him and bandaged up his wounds. He put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. He then gave the innkeeper two silver coins asking him to look after him and take care of any extra expenses that he might have. (BTW, did you know that Samaritans and the Jews pretty much hated each other and the Samaritan probably took care of a Jew?)

Jesus and the unloving religious person wrap up the visit with Jesus asking “Which of the three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell upon robbers? The unloving religious person said “The man who showed compassion.”  Jesus responded by saying “Go and do likewise.”

What if we saw ALL people through the lens of God’s love, not our prejudices and biases? What if we asked God where we’ve been a hypocrite, like the lawyer? Do you suppose He might tell us? What if we started caring for the castaways, throwaways and giveaways in our midst? And finally, what if we asked God for opportunities to BE a Good Samaritan this week? Do you suppose He may give us those opportunities?

I’ve come to believe in my own life that it’s hard to love my neighbor without loving God. God is love and as I ask Him, He delights in helping me love like He loves. I believe He can help us all love our neighbor in ways we never dreamed possible!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.