Things NOT To Do!

Yesterday we talked about a dozen things that you should do when you are having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Today we will talk about five things that you need to spare no expense NOT to do. 1. Do not allow yourself to spend time with negative people. They may be pessimistic about your situation, or they may want to tell you that their own woes make yours look like a picnic in the park. They will listen to you for three minutes and then spend an hour talking about themselves. All terrible! Lol! It always amazes me. If you already have the kindling and the match, they will gladly bring the gasoline. RUN! 2. I mentioned staying away from the computer on the to-do list, but this goes double for the tv. When things are in a bad way in your mind and with your emotions, almost everything on tv will make it worse, including the news. Guaranteed! The only possible exceptions, if you can limit it to just these:

~a sport that you love, if you can get past the commercials (Go, Orioles!); or

~a very old situation comedy, like 'I love Lucy' or "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (my personal favorite). Invest in the DVDs. Avoid EVERYTHING else by not even turning that thing on! I promise you television will make your sad heart worse. 3. Try not to feel sorry for yourself. Look around. You will ALWAYS find those who have it worse. Always! If you are a Christian fighting cancer, there are people fighting cancer who do not know the Lord. You are going to heaven. I don't say that lightly or flippantly. I have known very, very difficult times. But feeling sorry for yourself is a downward spiral that doesn't end well. Put your hope in Christ and rejoice that He has given you another day and that He is in control. We have the Blessed Hope if we know the Lord, and nothing trumps the joy of that. Nothing! 4. Do not isolate yourself. Get out often if you can. Stay in church every service. If you don't have a church, start going now. Make sure it preaches the Bible, straight up and without compromise. If you don't know of one, contact me and I'll recommend one in your area. If you cannot physically get out, be in contact with other Christians who will love on you and lift you up. If you don't know of any, again, contact me. I get messages almost every day from folks and will put you together with someone who can encourage you and pray for you as you do the same for them. You can help each other. 5. Don't make any important decisions! I've told you before, when I am having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, week, month, or life (You know I'm kidding, lol!), I want to figure it all out and fix it. I want to jump way out in front of God and make things better. I'm running from myself. I'm running from God. Stop. Rest. Wait on Him. Let Him lead. Read your Bible and pray. Trust Him to know exactly what you need and how to take care of things. Because He does and He will! Nahum 1:7 - "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." 1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Psalms 27:14 - "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."