Bad emotions

If this current blog post could just be made up of facial expressions - that probably would be more helpful.  I found myself speechless today - I know, surprising - but very true. 

So alas, there are words. 

You know how in my last post I was talking about how life is about giving God the glory, and not focusing on myself?  Well, it's still true.  That doesn't necessarily mean that it's the easiest pie to bake.

Why is it so easy to lose focus?  I mean, hello, the Creator of the Universe shouldn't be that hard to replace with other thoughts, feelings, or whatever else I choose for the moment.  Right?  How can I let anger, frustration, doubtfulness, in so often as my first reaction to things?

I've been trying to figure this out for a while now, and maybe finally something clicked.

Okay, let me think this out.  Men are known as "thinkers," and women are known as "feelers."  (Obviously, there are many exceptions out there - I get that.  We all know at least one emotional man and at least one logical woman)...  But, let's put aside the exceptions and focus on this:  Men are typically logic driven, and women are typically emotion driven. 

This brings me back to my original question.  How can I let anger, frustration, doubtfulness, in so often as my first reaction to things?

Is it because I am driven by emotion?  Or, am I making excuses?  You know, so many times, I can see myself making the choice to "fall back on my emotions," "blame it on my emotions," thinking that people will understand that I'm a woman.  You know, that typical woman trait.  Oh, she's just, you know, moody, because she's a woman. That good ol' X Chromosome coming out.

But wait.  I think we women have taken it too far - and I'm the first to admit it.  I truly believe that women should bring out the emotional side of God.  The good emotion.  Love.  Compassion.  Peacefulness.  Gentleness.  Self-control.  

I just think back to earlier today - even thirty minutes ago - being frustrated about something, and legitimately justifying every bit of it.  Sick.

Listen people.  I'm pretty sure that the "Proverbs 31 woman" didn't get angry about little things, and if she were angry about something big, she probably would have not flipped out - and first went to prayer.  Ouch.  Did that truth hurt you as much as it hurt me typing it?  

 Prayer.  Prayer is the key.  Pray immediately when your bad emotions start to kick in.  Being frustrated or angry is not how we were intended to live our lives.  We were created to glorify God, and if we let other things in the way, we are ignoring the goodness of God.  Acting on our bad emotions basically translates to, "Hey God, you know this situation I'm going through?  I'm too afraid to count on you because I just literally don't trust you."

Lord, let me not give into what the world calls a woman - but let me trust You - that You know everything that's going to happen in my life - Nothing is a surprise to You.  So, I give my nasty reactions to you, and I pray that You break this stronghold in my life.

Praise be to God!

Half Full

Okay people.  So, this was literally the last thing on this planet that I thought I would ever do.  Ever.  EVER.  Blog.  Disclaimer:  Thoughts might be random and hard to follow - but it will all hopefully tie together by the end of each post.

Blogging.  Who really cares what I have to say?  Sad to say, friends, this isn't for you.  It's not even for me.  Let me explain.

There are things that happen in my life, your life, our life - that I cannot explain why at first - or even at all sometimes - or... could they easily be explained and I just choose to ignore the simple answer?  Sometimes, it takes longer to realize, so I just have to talk it out to try and make sense of it all. 

As I was saying, there are some things that happen in my life... mold my life, break my life, strengthen my life, stronghold my life, consume my life, drain my life, distract my life, help my life, recharge my life, simplify my life, complicate my life, annoy my life, frustrate my life, encourage my life, de-stress my life, bless my life, protect my life...

Okay, you get the picture.

I said "my" an awful lot up there, huh?  I did that on purpose.

So many times in my life, I've just focused on how things affect "my" life - as if it's about me.  Let me assure you that the point of this blog is for one reason, and one reason only:  To proclaim how my life is not about me - and how things happen to solely glorify God.

Still interested in reading?  Either way, God will get the glory here.

I have titled my blog as "Half Full" for a reason.  Life is about seeing how awesome God is... in every situation.  I'm choosing now to be a "half full" person.  Now.

Too many times, I chose to be "half empty" in my attitude.  Up there, we were talking about things that happen in life.  Here's a sad recent example:  Just last week, I was reminded about how my student loans literally have complicated everything in my life.  I got really "half empty" about it, and I wasn't afraid to share it with the world.  Let me not sugar coat that:  What I was really doing is not trusting in God to provide.  Plain and simple.  I was basically saying, "Hey God, I know better than you, so thanks for complicating things."  How dare I?  You know in that same week, God provided monetary help on something else when it shouldn't have been possible.  You see, God provides.  If you keep Him close and obey Him - you will start to notice more and more.  Don't miss out on all the positive, because of focusing on all the negative.

Lord, I do not want to live this life thinking about me.  So, I pray that this blog is a constant reminder to me, that my life is to glorify You.

Praise be to God in all circumstances!