by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Sep 4, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
Communication Tips for Ministers to Avoid Overwhelm and Burnout
“In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” – Dalai Lama
The amount of work ministers do is rarely understood by any other than pastors and helping professionals alike. Countless hours spent with your flock dealing with out-of-control teens, sickness, death, hospital visits, marriage counseling, and interventions. Add in the number of invitations you receive for this dinner or that, a birthday or other celebration and the hours are staggering! And it seems all of these responsibilities are amplified during the holiday season. It requires a lot of energy to balance all those relationships plus take care of your relationship with your spouse and your family. Not to mention, the required downtime needed for your own spiritual and mental health and well-being.
Your job is more than the sermon on Sunday, occasional wedding or the unfortunate funeral services. You probably have more than just one role as minister. You may be a jack of all trades – the accountant, janitor and sound manager. It is a job, a calling, a career and a lifestyle.
More than that, unless you are a minister or minister’s wife it’s hard to understand the burnout that can overwhelm you. Sometimes there are feelings of loneliness and depression. And, although you wholeheartedly love your congregation and consider it a privilege that God has called you to this life, resentment can crop up. For as absolutely glorious, miraculous and rewarding the calling is, it can be just as thankless and tiring.
So what is a minister to do?
Communicate Clearly
The concept of communication may seem like an easier-said-than-done task, however, the right communication can save your energy. The right communication creates space for you to cover all the bases and do the things you do best.
Establish a Support System
Most ministers have an inner circle or close network of personal support. If not, look around at the people who are most faithful to you, not necessarily to your church but, you personally. Consider the people you spend time with who, when you depart, leave you feeling energized and refreshed. These are people who can be a great help to you during draining times. Consider delegating some responsibilities to them. If they are not part of your congregation and you just feel better when you see them, purposefully schedule time with those friends when you start to feel overwhelmed.
Admit Your Need for Help
Yes, you are called to this work.
Yes, God will grant you wisdom, strength and endurance for the difficult times.
Cry out to God first.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” [Psalm 57:2]
God “accomplishes” for his saints whatever is good for them! He will do so for you as well.
Sometimes God is telling you, through that wisdom, to get some rest! You have a body that needs care. You have a need for mental and physical rest just as any other individual. Taking the time to get that rest is not selfish. You are not letting anyone down. If you took a two hour nap on Sunday, before the marriage counseling session, how much better would you feel? More than that, how much clearer and sharper would you be when assisting the couple in crisis. Taking care of yourself helps you take better care of those you serve.
The key is acknowledging and admitting you need help. Do you need someone else to mow the widow’s lawn? Or clean the bathrooms at the church? Or visit the hospital?
Tips for Improving Communication and Increasing your Energy
1. Acknowledge your need of help. Acknowledge it to God and to your personal and church support systems.
2. Communicate your need for help to others. Be clear about how you feel and what you need.
3. Utilize or establish your personal support system. Spend time with people who make you feel best. It’s ok to spend time with people who give back to you.
4. Be willing to delegate what you can, and accept that the task may not be done exactly to your specifications. It can’t always be perfect but often people want and need to help. It makes them feel needed and re-joins them to the church and serving community.
5. Take the time to rest and refresh. He said, “Be still and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10] Stillness is a command for all of us. This is often when God speaks to us – when we are still and quiet enough to hear. Busyness is not a measure of success. The Hebrew definition is actually to stop striving, to let go, to surrender because God is your refuge. Another literal translation of “Be Still”, taken from the Greek, is – Hush! [Mark 4:39]
Benefits of Communicating your Needs
Do you think God can use another burnt out minister? How many stories have you heard about ministers who get exhausted and discouraged and leave the ministry? How many ministers do you know with this story? You were not meant to do it alone.
Don’t let fear or hurt from past attempts to get help and support stop you from doing it now. God will take care of those issues when you trust Him to heal the hurt places and pray He brings the right people into your path.
When the minister is vulnerable it is not a sign of weakness. Communicating your needs for support to the right people does not mean you have failed. It does not mean you are doing something wrong. It means you recognize you are not God; you are a human, imperfect, and you are just like everyone else you teach and serve!
Sanity can be maintained, mental health restored, and burnout avoided if you follow these tips for clear communication. Don’t wait until you feel you are at the end of your rope!
What are your Tips for Coping with Burnout and Overwhelm?
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Sep 4, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
Dealing with Negative Emotions during the Holidays
“Tis the season to be jolly!”
(Deck the Halls by John Thomas & Thomas Oliphant)
It doesn’t always feel like a jolly season; and it is sometimes very hard to find the jolly and the joy. During the holiday season there is so much going on that we can lose our Christmas spirit. Or those around us are so The Grinch who Stole Christmas we wonder what we can do to help their heart “grow”.
The celebration of the season is sure to bring joy AND sorrows. Many people express the following emotions: depression, loneliness, overwhelm, busyness, anger, resentment, regret and anxiety. It is pretty normal to feel any of these emotions because we are much more likely to be social and dealing with other people during this time. Our interactions with loved ones can bring up a host of feelings – good and bad.
Here is a quick guide of how to deal with those not-so-joyful feelings that may surface during the Holidays.
DEPRESSION
Depression seems counter-intuitive to the holidays but it comes upon us for a number of reasons. It can occur as the result of comparison, because of the end of a relationship, or as we mourn the loss of a loved one who won’t be at our Christmas celebration. God will comfort you. He will not leave you dismayed when you call out to Him.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
He comforts us.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
LONELINESS
Even surrounded by friends and family, loneliness can be pressing. The feeling stems from not feeling truly connected to those around us. The Christmas season also has such a romantic feel with the lights and music and sappy movies – this can contribute to feelings of loneliness. One way to handle loneliness is to reach out to just one person and make a sincere connection. Remind yourself you are not alone with these verses.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
“For the Lord will not forsake his people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself“. 1 Samuel 12:22
I love this verse because when I meditate on it, I am reminded the Lord is pleased to have me a part of His family. I picture Him smiling over me.
OVERWHELM
Between working, decorating, shopping, cooking, hosting parties and going to parties it is not hard to see where overwhelm comes into the picture. Truthfully, overwhelm of your to-do list can occur at any time, but add on the responsibilities and festivities of the holidays and it becomes a delicate balance.
Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”(Mark 6:31) He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Take it from Jesus, if not me, sometimes you have to go to a quiet place and rest. If it’s good enough for Jesus; it’s good enough for us.
BUSYNESS
Busyness will keep you from rest. It can steal your peace and make you feel hurried and pressured. It is hard to accept every invitation, meet all expectations and still function in your everyday life. If we could all take weeks off during the season, busyness might not be an issue. But since we live in the real world, keep these things in mind when busyness starts to wear on you:
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Just a reminder to remember this holiday is about Jesus.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46 is chock full with the bigness of God. Taking the time to “be still” may make the busyness feel much less oppressive.
ANGER & RESENTMENT
I love Christmas movies. Nearly every movie is about a family that has some minor discord, then overcomes together. In real life, families fight and argue, and sometimes rifts are healed and peaceful and sometimes they are not. This family-oriented time of year can bring up feelings of anger and resentment. You don’t have to let those feelings ruin your day.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
Read my Blog on Anger, “Three Steps to Clear Communication When You Are Angry”
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
It is so easy for resentment to grow during a season of giving. Just remember not to give up and keep doing good.
REGRET
Regrets come when we are reminded of relationship failures (which happen to everyone). Regrets can occur because you don’t have the resources to make all Christmas wishes come true. Don’t let regret become a stronghold.
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” Psalm 51:8-9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Since the Almighty forgives us and cleanses us, shouldn’t we work on letting go of our regrets as well?
ANXIETY
If there is any time when anxiety will rear up – it is during the holiday season. Racing thoughts about the right gift, the right outfit, the right dinner menu, the right holiday salutation, the right decorations, and the right…ahhh!!! Just writing that list makes me anxious! We all want our holidays to be dreamy and perfect, but just remember anxiety is based on fear and is exacerbated by a lack of peace. This is The Season when peace entered the earth!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
When you feel anxious you should pray and thank God. Thank Him for what you have and let Him know what you need. This is the best way to ease feelings of anxiety.
The dread and stress that comes with the Christmas season can be a thing of the past. You can be full of peace and joy. You can feel all the warmth and comfort the season has to offer when your focus i s centered. It’s okay to be emotional during the holidays, just remember you can turn the negative emotions around with sincere prayer and meditation. Don’t wait until you feel you are at the end of your rope this Season!
What are some of the ways you deal with negative emotions during the holidays?
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Sep 4, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!
Mothers Love Their Daughters:
The proof is in a trip to Tokyo!
I love my daughter!
I traveled to Tokyo, Japan in September 2015 to prove it. She and her husband had just moved from Texas to Tokyo in June 2015 for work. It was a huge adjustment for her being away from us with a young child, and it was a huge adjustment for us being away from her for the first time.
I truly love my daughter!
I traveled to Tokyo again in May 2016 to visit and support their growing family as they welcomed their second daughter into the world!
I really, really love my daughter!
The proof is in my trips to Tokyo. Let’s count down the proof!
PROOF #5: MISSING AND GAINING DAYS
They are 14 hours ahead of us, so to visit by Skype I always have to stop and figure out the time zone difference. If it is morning for me, say 7 AM, then it is evening for them, 9 PM. If it is evening for us, say 7 PM, then it is morning for them the next day, 9 AM! I must have a mental block, because I am forever getting it backwards and making assumptions and missing phone calls and precious visits.
PROOF #4: JET LAG
Let me see if I can get this one right! I left on a plane at 7 AM on a Sunday. The flight took 13+ hours. They are 14 hours ahead of us. So I arrived in Tokyo and fell into her welcoming arms – including one layover and checking in and finding my baggage and exchanging money and finding a bus and meeting my daughter’s husband at the bus stop and walking forever and finding a taxi and locating our hotel and checking in and dropping off the luggage and walking to their apartment… – at about 4 PM on a Monday! But coming home I am told I will arrive in the United States before I left Japan!
PROOF #3: OH MY, THE FOOD
Now, I like just about everything, but… a girl has her limits. I don’t know if my daughter just wanted to take me to “the next level” since this was my second visit, but one bowl full of noodles had a bazillion little fishes with eyes looking up at me all over it! And another bowl of noodles had fish flakes (or so I am told) sprinkled on top and they were literally moving! She swears they were moving because the heat rising from the noodles made the fish flakes move. I traded meals with her and had a wonderful noodle and salmon dish with a creamy sauce throughout!
PROOF #2: CRAMPED LIVING QUARTERS
I’m a little bit ashamed of the amount of space we use in the United States. But I love our home and looking out over 25 acres of beautiful land covered with trees and running water and beautiful fields and “expensive yard art” (horses)! I promise, to get around my little hotel room, you sometimes have to walk sideways around the bed! I made a pact with my personal fitness trainer that I would walk and keep up with my planks, at least… Well let me tell you this has really been a challenge… as there is barely enough space on the floor of my hotel room to do a plank!
And finally…
PROOF #1: OH, THE PARKING GARAGES
Thankfully, I have yet to be run over by a car in Tokyo! But I have had about seven heart attacks in front of parking garages! For before a car even gets remotely close to an exit, the loudest and most irritating alarm will blare, practically blowing a pedestrian off the sidewalk and causing the most distressing heart palpitations I have ever experienced!
Just in case anyone needed proof that I really love my daughter!
About Karen Lindwall-BourgKaren Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Sep 4, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
Starting over means meeting with family and your team and your business coach and mapping out your goals and dreams for the new year.
“Don’t You Just Love New Year’s …you get to start all over!” – Forrest Gump
In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest spends the holidays with Lieutenant Dan. They’re in a bar watching the magnificent ball drop on TV at the countdown to the New Year and two girls walk up to greet them. One of them says excitedly, “Hey! That’s, like, Times Square – we were just there! Don’t you just love New Year’s?” then wistfully, “You get to start all over.”
Well, I don’t know about you, but I must’ve been about six years old the last time I actually truly got to “start all over”! But there is that feeling of completeness – I survived and grew last year, and I am able to celebrate lots of exciting business milestones. There is that feeling of newness and the possibility of second chances. I have prayerfully met with my family and my team of counselors and my business coach and mapped out my goals and dreams for this year.
Mind you, this is no small undertaking. May I encourage you, if you haven‘t already, to stretch yourself and to map out the whole year, at least tentatively, completing the five following steps to “start over” your entrepreneurial endeavors.
ONE: PURPOSE in Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
First, ask yourself, “What is my God-given purpose?”
According to Scripture you are to do all that you can to bring Him “glory and honor” (Revelation 4:11). You are to do everything you do “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). You are to “study to show yourselves approved” by Him (2 Timothy 2:15). And only those things that point people to the Redeemer and further His kingdom belong at the top of the list!
TWO: PASSION in Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
Second, begin to ponder, “What are my passions? What is our mission statement and what is the vision of our organization? Are they in line with my passions?”
If you have never allowed a certified guide to take you through “The Passion Test”, I would definitely encourage it, for it clarifies and defines in the most unique way what you will do and how you will do it! I really feel my brand was not complete until I walked through the amazing journey of The Passion Test (http://www.thepassiontest.com/ ).
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
THREE: TEAMwork for Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
Third, look at your yearly calendar in one glance and synchronize your yearly calendar with those around you that are most important – family, associates, coaching events, holidays, the needs of your team and clients…
FOUR: PLAN for Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
Fourth, work each day or week with the following in mind:
–your most important yearly event
-your most important quarterly event
-your most important monthly event
Plan so that these big events aren’t left to the last minute causing you undue stress. As your calendar solidifies, work backwards. I have a list of tasks that need to be done to make a certain event happen and have worked backwards on my calendar placing those tasks at strategic points so that things will get done in a timely fashion leading up to the date of the event.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
FIVE: SUPPORT for Starting Over for Entrepreneurs
Fifth, get a second and/or a third opinion!
Run your calendar through another person – your associates or team, or your coach, because they will be able to see things from a different angle than you will! Two heads are better than one!
“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
Are you looking forward to starting over? Contact me if you need help!
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com .
Posted on Oct 7, 2019
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Sep 4, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!
Veterans Day- Remembering 1945
from Grief Beliefs guide to Reconciling Grief and Mourning
1st Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) John C. Phillips, 1945
The Company Morning Report Data document for January 29, 1945 for First Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) John C. Phillips reads, “Battle Casualty. Missing in action in Belgium and dropped from rolls effective 26 January 1945.”
April 25, 1923 – November 12, 2013
Sgt. Lawrence B. Lyon, Junior, 1945
The same report for January 31, 1945 for Sgt. Lawrence B. Lyon, Junior reads, “Battle Casualty. Lightly wounded in action (right and left thigh). Transferred to 45th evacuation hospital and dropped from assignment effective 26 January 1945.” Biographical notes read, “from Hill County Texas. Born 1925. One year of college. Civilian occupation: sales clerk. Single.”
November 12, 1925 – July 17, 1999
Daddy:
Sgt. Lawrence Boyd Lyon, Jr (L. B.), Daddy, GrandPop – served in the Army during World War 2 in the Battle of the Bulge. He rarely talked about his time in the service.
1944
What does the Bible tell us about war?
God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war. Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).
SCARS: Daddy was shot in both legs and received the Purple Heart. When we 3 kids (Ron, Karen, Anita) saw his scars we would always ask what they were. He would explain that he got shot. We would ask how it happened and he would always reply/his only explanation was that he was standing up when he should have been lying down!
God can use our scars: Often, if we allow Him to, God will use our deepest hurt to develop our greatest ministry. The reason our scars can be beautiful is because God gives us opportunities to invest in other people because of the struggles we’ve gone through ourselves. We should look for how God may want to use those circumstances. If we allow God to replace our wounds with scars, and we are willing to use them to help others, He will redeem even our most painful experiences.
A few other stories about Daddy came from relatives (I always thought they came from Uncle J. L. Lyon).
AGE DECEPTION: We were told he lied about his age so he could enlist at 16; he wanted to serve so badly.
MP ENEMY ENCOUNTER: We were told that Daddy was on a mission alone and came upon a German soldier in the woods. They both drew their weapons on each other and both decided not to fire. Instead, they exchanged items – Daddy was given a German Bible which we still have; he gave the soldier a pocket knife – and they went on their way.
EXHAUSTION: We were told that his platoon returned from an exhausting mission and were presented to a superior officer for further instructions. They were cold and wet and tired, their socks were rotten, their boots were in disrepair, and they were hungry. It was said that the officer dispatched them further and out of despair Daddy supposedly jumped the guy! We know he could have been court-martialed and dishonorably discharged for such an infraction, but he finished his tour of duty and came home when the war ended.
1946
HOME: We were told that he came wearily home and greeted his beloved Mother briefly before falling into an exhausted sleep that lasted for days. His father returned home relieved to see him well and whole and they say he lovingly picked him up in his arms and cradled his returned son like a small child, shedding tears of love and relief.
What a beautiful picture of the love of a Father for his child – of God’s love for us!Jesus showed us that the Almighty God is our Abba Father! (Mark 14:36). The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of all of us who follow Jesus and he intercedes for us from deep within, crying out, “Abba Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 6:4).
Bible Verses on the Father’s Love
- “[The Father] guarded him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10)
- “O Lord you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands.” (Isaiah 64:8)
- “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)
- “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor [or Comforter] to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:16)
- “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)
(See also Psalm 68:5-6; Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:26; Matthew 7:11; Matthew 18:14; Luke 15:20b, 22-24; John 14:6,9; John 15:16; Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 6:18 & 2 Samuel 7:14; Ephesians 1:3-5; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:15; Ephesians 3:20-21.)
NEW INFORMATION: On February 4, 2012, I (Karen) received an interesting call and soon after, we were put in touch with an Iowa veteran from the Battle of the Bulge 1st Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) John C. Phillips who saved our father’s life one fateful day in January 1945!
GRATITUDE: We do SO appreciate the service and sacrifice of John Phillips and of all those who join all branches of the military.
This is one of those passages in Psalms where the writer has enjoyed deliverance from peril by the hand of Jehovah. In the Psalm, he is expressing his gratitude and praise.
Psalm 116
“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalms 116:1-19, KJV).
We reap…
PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
One of Job’s friends said: “God giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields,” (Job 5:10). Therefore, when we breathe, eat, relax, drink water and enjoy things here on earth, we ought to acknowledge God as the origin of it all.
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS:
Jesus Christ – the salvation which is now available in Him – is the greatest benefit God has ever given to man; the supreme example of God’s love for man, and His determination that sinners must have a way to be saved.
In Ephesians1:3 , we are impressed that “every spiritual blessing” is located IN CHRIST, then in verse 4 – “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”; verse 5 – He “foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ”; verse 6 – The grace of God is freely bestowed on us; verse 7 – “we have our redemption through his blood”; verse 8 – He gives us wisdom and prudence; and all through Ephesians, and all through the New Testament we see the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
We respond with GRATITUDE.
As we meditate on all the good things we have from God — our hearts should swell in gratitude; “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving…” (Psalm 116:17) (See also Colossians 1:3; 1:12; 2:6-7; 3:17; 4:2)
PRAYER: Lord God, we offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving for being our Father, for saving my father, for all you have given us. We pray for godly wisdom for our leaders, for the safety of our military, for quick resolution to conflicts, and for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).
1990 – Matthew Lindwall, Ron Lyon, Katie Lyon, Karen Lyon Lindwall, Andrew Lindwall, Anita Lyon King, Philip King, L. B. Lyon Jr., & Melanie Lindwall.
Join me in honoring the veterans in your life as we remember 1945!
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
