Tag: Too Blessed To Be Stressed

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The Tail of A Lost Pup (See what I did there…)

Good morning everyone!

I hope everyone had a restful night, but if it was anything like the Lunney Household, it was anything but. (Not complaining…Let me tell you why!)

We left church around 9pm as it still rained and flooded the area. We came to a little dog in the road running around with a collar (no tag), wet and lost. My husband looked at me and of course I told him to put the little guy in the car! We brought him home and our puppy was, to say the least, having a puppy moment. Playing with her new friend or trying to establish dominance, I’m not really sure. Needless to say, we talked about what to do next. We called people who we thought could help and they told us to take him to the vet in the morning and see if he has a microchip. I posted all over facebook pages for lost pets and spouse pages wondering who could’ve lost their baby. This pupper is seriously the sweetest. We drove around the neighborhood searching for people who may have lost him, but came to another dead end. We opened the car door to bring him in and he dashed into the woods. (Yep, that really happened.) My husband and I prayed as we went to bed. He soon fell asleep and I began to pray to God, asking him to put protection over this little pupper that I found…and then lost. I prayed for God’s will to be done and for him to go home or for him to find safety. HERE’S WHERE IT GETS GOOD. My husband woke up this morning and opened the door to let our puppy and this little guy slept on our porch all night. Ughhh, my heart! I’m sure you are thinking a couple things…1.How did she lose a lost dog? 2. This poor puppy. & 3. Why is she telling me this?

Here is why…

During my quiet time Holy Spirit has revealed to me some things through this little guy. (So cool that he can use a puppy to bring revelation and a blog post to share with you all!)

We have all been this puppy. Searching for home. Searching for love, care, and protection. We all have been lost, myself included. How often do we choose being lost in the woods when God has provided us with everything we need? We settle for the woods because, well its adventurous and we don’t really know God when we first come to him. Our old life looks pretty appealing when God challenges us on our behaviors and worldly ways. (Or for this little pup, peeing on the laundry basket…) So we venture out in the woods, lost, “alone”, and searching for home. We can never be fulfilled unless it’s through our identity in Christ. We will continually search and even sometimes settle for less than what God has to offer, like the porch for instance.

Even if you were to get lost, fall off track, I know God still remains the same. The promises of his word tell me so!

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”-Deuteronomy 31:6

It took faith for this dog to show up on our porch this morning. He ran away from us, but something drew him back to our home. Was it the love we showed him while he was here for a brief moment? When you get a taste of what God, his pure,steadfast love…you don’t travel far into the woods before you realize what you needed was back where you just were. We didn’t need the puppy to clean up before he entered our home. God doesn’t need you to clean up before you ask him into your heart. He wants you as you are at this very moment.

I just posted a verse yesterday on Instagram and it’s really fitting for what has transpired over the past 24 hours.

“This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”-Jeremiah 29:10-13

God doesn’t say we aren’t going to go through trails or tribulation’s. He promises us that he hears our prayers and that we will find him when we seek him wholeheartedly. He promises us plans to prosper. Plans to prosper doesn’t always line up with what we think is best. But often what we go through, is what shapes us into Christ-like character and puts us exactly where we need to be. Or for this lost pup, in a warm house out of the rain, snoozing on the floor.

Did God just use a dog to reveal all this to me? Yes, yes he did. That’s the cool thing about God. He will speak to you in ways that you will listen.

Lost-and-Found

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The Day God Saved Me From Suicide

Due to the detail of this article, it may be a little graphic to some.

It was a cold February day as I woke up and the tormenting thoughts still hadn’t went away. I had been hospitalized,many times, for suicidal thoughts, attempts, and self-harm since 2008. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II (manic-depressive), anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD in 2012. I was put on medication since a very early age to cope with my ongoing symptoms. I even tried drugs and alcohol to cope with my symptoms. No matter what I tried to do, the pain I felt from all the abuse, the thoughts of wanting the pain to go away and not come back, the continual thoughts of it will never get better wouldn’t go away. I had suicidal thoughts from the time I got up, till the time I went to bed from October 2015-February 2016. I got out of bed, went to college, worked, and went home. I tired every single coping skill they gave you in the hospital and I was taking my medication as prescribed. Why wasn’t this emptiness, this hopelessness, this feeling of not having a purpose not going away!?! I got up, and started screaming at God. I was angry. Why did all this happen to me? I named off every single thing that had ever happened to me, big or little. If I am trying to get help, why isn’t it working!?!? Why won’t the pain go away!? Why won’t these thoughts go away!? I was about to get into the shower and I picked up the razor blade and sliced my leg, just to feel the pain temporarily go away. I began and it was like I couldn’t stop. I was sobbing on the floor in my bathroom, alone and bleeding out my sorrows. I ended up messaging my school administrator explaining that I was in no shape or form to come in, but was instructed to come in because Monday’s were mandatory. I drove up to school, crying, begging, and screaming about what was going on in my life. I walked into school and was immediately asked what was wrong. I was speechless. I was drowning and no one saw it and if they did see, they couldn’t help me. I had written a suicide note the day before, and the first line stated was, “I first of all want to say I’m sorry, this wasn’t meant to hurt any of you…”

I often hear of people saying suicide is selfish… When dealing with these thoughts for so long, the only thing that kept me here was the fact I would’ve hurt others. It’s a constant pain that never went away. I ended up being released from school and drove up to the Blue Water Bridge. I called my mother, explaining that I was so tired and I couldn’t do it anymore. I was so tired of trying for thing to get better temporarily and for it all to come back. My Mom knew what was going on and she gave me the best advice she ever could’ve…she instructed me to pray.

I begged out for a God… If you are real God, please, PLEASE, show me, please make it go away. I am so tired of doing this on my own. I can’t anymore. Please help me. A sense of peace, came over me. My heart no longer felt like it was physically breaking, I felt an urge to go back home and sleep.

I dealt with these thoughts since I was 15 years old. The very last time I had suicidal thoughts was on that cold February day when I asked God to come into my life. I can’t thank him enough for saving me on that cold winter day. I will continue, later on, about my recovery process.

Look y’all, if you are dealing with that pain I dealt with, I know it’s real, I know it hurts, and I know you want it to go away. But can I tell you, that suicide isn’t the answer… Can I tell you that as big as the demons your facing, God is so much bigger. Can I tell you that you’re not alone and I’ve been there… Can I tell you that God has since then healed me and has used what I’ve been through to help others get through Mental Illness and Abuse.

I take it ,now, as a compliment. All the thoughts and work the devil and his crew surrounded me with. He knew how big of a threat I would be when I was filled with God.

You see, the devil is here, to lie, and destroy everything God has planned for you… and well God gives you life. He does a lot more than that. He gives you plans to prosper. His love is constant. His love is pure! He wants you tell him what is overwhelming you, because he cares. Those anxious thoughts you’ve been dealing with, aren’t from him. Those burdens, the pain you feel, you were never meant to carry. If you feel lost, reach up. If you feel like you don’t fit in, it’s because you’re not supposed to. We live in a world, filled with evil. Let the love and compassion you have deep down inside you be the light for others. You are here on this earth, at this very moment, for a very specific purpose. God said he needed one of you and there’s no one that will ever be able to fill the purpose he has for you!

I am just reminded to where I was to where I am now.

I don’t have a relationship with God because someone told me to… I have one because he saved my life and has continually poured his constant love upon me. I have a relationship with Abba because as soon as I invited him in, he was like “Finally, I have been wanting to help you for so long.” When I mess up, he cheers me on to do the right thing next time.

We believe a lot of lies about who God is.

If you are struggling please reach out to him and ask him to help. I am here too. Recovery is real. But we can’t do it on our own.

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Walking With God Is Intentional

What do you go to for comfort when you’ve had a bad day? Food, your warm fuzzy blanket, a beer, a shopping spree at hobby lobby, your friends, the gym, even your spouse?

When something happens, who is the first person you want to talk to? Do you talk to Abba or do you call your spouse or best friend?

When you wake up in the morning, what is the very first thing you do? Do you talk to Abba and ask what is on his agenda? Do you spend time with him and put on your armor for the day?

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”

‭‭MATTHEW‬ ‭6:24‬ ‭AM

What is taking away from your time with God? Are you putting anything before him?

Ask Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.

I often hear how “busy” we are and how we “don’t have time” for God. Walking with Christ is intentional and choosing him and his way should be apart of our life every single day. I don’t care if you ask him what kind of bread you should get, he is just happy to spend time with you.

When I first started walking with God… he wasn’t first in my life. My whole life and everything in it was completely out of wack. I chose many things, and people, that I thought would complete me. Things I thought would help fill the void that I constantly felt. But really, when we focus on him and die to ourself, is really when we start living.

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you are trying to follow someone you don’t know, I can understand that it can be scary…

But, the only way to get to know him, just like anyone else, is by spending time with him. Once you focus on Abba, things begin to fall into place. Things you didn’t have strength to do, he gives you the strength for. He shows you what pure love is and how to love those who need it the most. He shows you the perfect plan for your life. God gives you purpose. If we could just stop, and really focus on what’s important, God, life here on earth would be so much better.

If I can just encourage you to dig a little deeper, or if you don’t know God at all to talk to him like he’s your best friend, I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Why Is God Taking So Long!?

As I was preparing myself to be married and move to Louisiana, I knew God had a purpose for Brad & I at the church he had been attending. We had gotten conformation that this is the place Abba wanted us to be at. I had served in two ministries at The River while I resided in Michigan, The Awake Café (coffee bar) and The Nursery. I was unsure when I left what exactly what my plans were when I arrived here in Louisiana. I just knew that I wanted to follow God’s will, no matter what it entailed.

Brad and I continued to pray persistently…

Even when it felt like we were never going to get an answer, we knew even if we couldn’t see that things were being set up for us, they were, and that God would reveal to us his perfect plan in his perfect timing. We often thought, “Should we be doing something?”. We continued to ask Abba to prepare us for what he had already spoken over our life. We often sought out advice from elders to seek out wisdom. Waiting is hard at times, but we trusted Abba and his plan for our life.

I went through a lot of change and growth before arriving here. I endured many trials, including looking at surgery just two days before our wedding (NOT TODAY SATAN). I will write about that in a later post. What kept me going were Abba’s promises. Declaring them over myself and our life daily! We know as Children of God, we have authority! When we speak The Word of God, it moves mountains and shifts our focus on what is truly important, Abba!

God’s plan has been slowly revealing itself the longer we are here and let me tell you, it’s a lot bigger than I thought! I know that I can makes as many plans as I want, but his plan and purpose always prevails. “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD ’s purpose prevails.-Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

If you are in a season of waiting I encourage you to… “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.-1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:8-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Seek guidance and accept correction, this makes you wise! “Take good counsel and accept correction— that’s the way to live wisely and well.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:20‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Know that God has a time for everything!

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1, 11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Read his word.

spend time with Abba, he loves you.

& DECLARE his word over your life.

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This Is Your Sign To Keep Going

I have went 9 days without writing a single post and it is now 4:15am on a Wednesday night ,(some it may be Thursday morning), and I feel led to write. Sorry in advance for the typos.

There has been something placed on my heart this past week and it’s how faithful God is, even if I am off. I guess this took me by surprise, probably more than it should’ve. However, I have not truly tried to deepen my relationship with God on a daily basis until about a year ago.

I feel like we often forget where we’ve came from, the trials we have survived, and the growth that has happened. When I look where I was a year ago, dealing with addiction of pills, drinking, and many other temporary pleasures to mask the pain…I realize how many obstacles God has gotten me through, how many times I’ve been forgiven because of Jesus Christ, and what a blessing it is to have Holy Spirit to help make every decision, speak, hear, and see what we are meant to, and then act accordingly. I am thankful for Holy Spirit, for the scripture that has stood out when I needed it most, for the times that when I didn’t have the boldness or courage, the spirit led me to pray for the stranger anyways. I am thankful for the complete healing that The Lord has given me on a couple different occasions.

Even though I came from a spot of, depression, anxiety, and addiction, God just reached out and said “I love you. Do you trust me? I got this.”

It amazes me how completely lined up our lives are. No matter where I have been over this past year, Abba, has placed people in my life to help strengthen my relationship with him. It excites me that I’ll never be able to reach the depth of his love here on earth. It sets a fire inside my soul to get to know him on a deeper level each day.

Much of this walk so far is trusting him. When I trust what he has planned it always is so much better in the long run. I’ve never followed what God has led me to do and been like “Wow, I’m never going to listen to him again.”

I guess what I find comforting and has helped me tremendously over the past year is the fact that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

He will always have plans for me, plans that will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:11)

He will always work things out for the good, for everyone, not just me. (Romans 8:28)

When the enemy tries to come creep in with his sneaky lies, God has given me the armor to defeat him and has promised me that he can’t hurt me and has no authority over me. (Ephesians 6:10-18, Luke 10:19)

When I may become anxious, he tells me that he cares and says stop carrying what you were never meant to carry. (Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 55:22)

Knowing the word of God has not only helped me realize a lot of the enemy’s lies, but it has also given me the truth to replace the lies with so I can come to victory.

I now, wouldn’t change the things I’ve been through. The many forms of abuse, dealing with suicidal thoughts for 15 years, the addictions, the pain, and agony, because now I am able to help others.

I know this post has been kind of all over the place…but I know someone needed something, somewhere in here.

Maybe you were believing a lie about who God is, maybe you just needed a sign to hold on, maybe you just needed a reminder of his promises…

I pray that these posts have helped you grow as much as they have helped me.

Please feel free to message me with any questions or prayer requests @ thatredheadgirl122@gmail.com

These two pictures speak more to me than words could ever express. What do they mean to you?