Saying Goodbye

I'm not sure how many of you are still getting updates on this blog, but I wanted to let you know that I'm closing it down. I've reduced the number of posts and am leaving up the ones that I think will be most helpful for those who surf the Internet looking for help for panic and anxiety. 

After 14 years of blogging on Redeemed and Summoned by Name, this a hard post to write. Thank you all for taking the time to read my posts on this blog for all these years. I feel blessed to have shared some of my life journey with you. May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and give you peace. 

 Oh! I forgot to add something I haven't mentioned on this blog before which I believe is very helpful because it's helped me through the last few years. Dr. Tim Clinton says that meditating on verses that speak of God's love for just twelve minutes a day reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and improves memory. Best of all, it reduces the firing of the brain's fear center. Verses like: Ps. 94:18-17, Ps. 36:7, Ps. 143:8, Ps. 86:12-13, Ps. 40:11, 1 John 3:1, Ps. 103:11-14, Jer. 31:3, and Lam. 3:32.

Good Information on Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

The Mayo Clinic on Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Click here.

Read the Bible to Your Anxiety

Dr. John Piper takes on anxiety in this three-part video series. Click here.

Love this excerpt:

"Jesus assumes that truth — reasons, arguments, facts — affects or influences the emotions. Anxiety is an emotion. It is not a decision. We don’t decide to get anxious. It happens to us. Jesus attacks anxiety in Matthew 6 with truth, facts, promises, and reasons."

Store Up God's Word

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Ps. 119:11, ESV

Merriam Webster definition for stored: lay away; accumulate; to stack against a future time, to place or leave in a location for preservation or later use…a source from which things may be drawn as needed; a reserve fund; an abundance.

Stick some of that definition in the verse above and it might look like this: I have stocked up, accumulated, reserved an abundance of your word in my heart in order that I may draw from it as needed so that I won’t sin against you.

I’m thinking God wants His Word to be the spiritual weapon I use to nail my sinful nature to the cross.

Praise God, Exalt the Name of Jesus

No matter what is going on in your mind, heart, or life right now, praise God. Sing His praises and remember you belong to Christ. Keep Jesus exalted in your mind over every thing because no thing is greater than your Savior.  He chose you, called you, redeemed you, justified you. He will enable you to stand, and stand you will. God is faithful, no matter how it feels or looks right now. God is watching over you. Praising Him will strengthen you and encourage you, and help you get rid of "stinkin thinkin".

You are loved and precious to God. You can have fellowship with Jesus. Keep your eyes on the goal--complete union with Christ, following His example and His leading.  Remember what the Lord told Peter--"You follow me".  Let everyone else and everything else go, entrust them to God, and you follow Christ. He is your refuge and your strength. He is your life!

God Knows

Never believe the lie that God doesn't know what's going on in your life. He knows. He not only knows what's happening, He knows your every thought. (Ps. 139) The Lord proved to me this evening that He knows even things that we ponder out of curiosity. He is the ever-present Lord! Lean closer in to Him. Quiet yourself and allow Him to speak to your heart as you "pour out your heart like water before the Lord". You can trust Him with your thoughts, your hurts, disappointments, all your "stuff". Just tell Him all and then wait on Him. He is our Prince of Peace, our Counselor, our Everlasting Father. He is the God who forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion. He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. I want that kind of renewal, and He wants that kind of renewal for me. It comes as we walk in close fellowship with Him. What better thing do you have going right now? For me, I don't have anything better. "For me it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge." (Ps. 73:28, NIV)

My Redeemer is Jesus Christ

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. Job19:25 NIV84 

Thankful this morning for all my Redeemer's done for me. More than I can ever repay. I know He lives, and I am so grateful for that deep-seated knowledge. It was worth going through all the panic and depression so that I could be brought to the point of desperation and finally let go of my fears, doubts and insecurities and let God take it all. I don't know why it took me so long to just give in and admit I couldn't fix myself. My Redeemer is a much better Fixer than me. He does better than fix...He restores and makes all things new. Praise to you, Lord. You are most worthy of all praise! 

Jesus Makes All Things New

It is fitting that we celebrate Jesus' birthday near the end of the year. As we review the past twelve months and remember the hurts, disappointments, and losses, we also remember Jesus--our Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  Instead of placing our hopes in a new year, we can place them in Jesus, who makes all things new.

Hebrews 8 Sunday School Lesson

Gleanings from Hebrews 8: Because of Jesus, I can stop trying hard, trying harder, trying hardest to be good. When I give up trying to change myself by adhering to a set of rules and regulations and instead focus on my relationship to God through Jesus Christ, His Word becomes engraved in my heart and mind and His Spirit directs my actions. I'm freed up from working myself to death at being religious and I'm filled up with freedom that comes from knowing personally my Lord and Savior! This is part of the saving grace of the new covenant. Good news, indeed!

Daniel Bible Study

Finished the 5th session of Beth Moore's Daniel Bible study with my Bible study ladies last Tuesday. Beth had us repeat this declaration after studying Daniel 5. Thought I'd share it because it meant so much to me. Place your own name in the blank if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I, ________________________, belong to God. I am a holy vessel because I house the Holy Spirit of the Living God! The Lord of Heaven and earth has said over me, “I declare you holy.” Today I commit to start believing what He says. I am holy! Empower me daily, Spirit of the Living God, to treat myself as holy. Open my eyes to every scheme of the Enemy to treat me as if I’m not. You, God, are God! Your Word is Truth. This day, Father, I choose to believe You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. (Declared holy in Deut.7:6; 26:19; 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 22:31; Lev. 20:26; Ro. 1:7; 1 Corn. 7:14; Eph. 5:3 {NIV})

God's Children

It’s in drawing near to Christ no matter what the circumstances that we discover who we truly are in Christ--His child! It’s in coming boldly to the throne of grace that we find the strength and hope He provides to carry on. It’s in heartfelt, honest prayer to God that we find healing for our deepest hurts. It’s in abiding in God’s Word and doing what it says that we find out just how faithful our Lord is. There is no downside to walking in fellowship with Jesus--to know Him and the one true God is eternal life (John 17:3)--but there is no hope, no life, no truth, no light when we walk without Him. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 1:3 (NIV84)

Beth Moore's Simulcast Identity Declaration

Be Still, Kay Arthur Photo