Norma Jean

17F6EAA8-D249-4619-AE6C-269AC42D6CA3Last week was the last straw. My emotions had been on overload due to my training and basically stuffing the emotional turmoil within while on the job. No doubt we have all had to do this at times, otherwise we might get fired. It is hard to maintain a smile when tears are on the verge of breaking lose but you do what you have to do and I had to just that.

Discussing my training and what I endured with the co-workers, their moods, attitudes, etc., with my oldest sister on Messenger one evening, I felt rejected to the core.3F26103C-9C54-4B51-A860-4378850BF8DA

Not only did I feel rejection while training, my own sister did the same with me, I felt. I love her and we are closer than I am with my other siblings. I believe I will need to discuss with her of how this affected me. My sister is very involved at her church and there is an older woman that contacts her daily, if not more, which is fine. I am glad my sister is there for this woman and vice-versa. What is not fine is that over and over again when we are talking or messaging one another, if Norma Jean calls, she 2982E916-AEB2-4CB9-AE79-729854D8820Dimmediately says she needs to go, leaving me hanging.  I hate that. If I am in a middle of a message to her and this happens, I just go ahead and delete my message of whatever was on my mind, thinking what’s the use.  Typical of me as I have experienced this many times in life. What is the use, is usually my thought so I backoff, as this person or another just proved to me that I am not important to them.

41736280-3776-4A78-8F90-C7CC863CE47EWhile her rush to end our conversation has bothered me more than once but last week, more so. It triggered the rejection within me and I just cried, as again my emotions were raw.  I needed my sister. All I wrote was “goodbye.” No emojis or anything like normal. I needed her to hear me or read my woes and encourage me, which was non-existent. Norma Jean was more important, I felt. While I do know that is not one-hundred percent true, it sure felt like it.

Until afterward, I knew this has always bothered me but to add and feel the rejection, it made sense. It brought up rejection of her lack of interest in me, my training which was terrible with those employed and back to my childhood. To acknowledge and realize what was happening, it can bring a healing by being aware of it so it does not trigger the alarms within to make matters worse. This has been discussed numerous times in counseling and in my session the other night, it became more evident as tears poured from my eyes, the ugly cry, and realizing of past rejection, as I could not handle anymore.

While I do not want to cause an issue with my sister, I do plan to request that she talk to Norma Jean first and then message me due to the feeling of being rejected. Knowing ahead of time that she may not understand fully or may think I am being too sensitive or whatever, I have my boundaries and that is taking care of me.

F43B9C6F-EC66-48C5-BA63-97C03BF606A4Rejection after awhile builds a wall within relationships. It would be easy for me to just pull away from my sister and not say anything. This would prevent that I do not get hurt again but that’s not good.  If I did just that, as I have done in my past avoiding conflict, that is not fair to her, not knowing why.  I know I can politely express and request that she talk to Norma Jean first and then we can have our time of conversing and remain close since we live hours 21183E9E-DF51-474D-846C-431ABE842705away from one another, which is what I know we both would want. Plus, it is not fair for me to remain getting frustrated with her and Norma Jean. Neither of us are getting younger.

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Which Door?

The open door? The closed door? The shut door?

1236B6DB-E353-4844-9F47-07C755EED023I am waiting for the open door, to walk through to freedom in life, as there is more for me and I await patiently because it is happening, I feel it. I want to rush through it but I continue to stand, knowing the Lord’s Timing is always right on time.  I wait.

There have been situations where the door has been shut in my life.  While that can be hard to understand, I realize also that the Lord closes doors on our behalf.  It will all make sense later and we will be thankful for that shut door whether that be in an opportunity or relationship.

I have had to shut the door this year to a relationship, sadly a family member, as I know my boundaries and I am stronger within than I was before with their rumors and lies. It’s okay to shut the door.  Sometimes lock it and throw away the key.  CA2CB93D-0546-4B1B-BC93-F69ED34BA8CD

The closed door tends to sting somewhat, okay a lot, as I do not understand and I am left standing with questions.  I will not knock or pound on it to let me in. Perhaps time will open this door and if it is meant to be, the door will open.  Life goes on.

God’s Timing is always right on time.

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Zoom In?

D033BD35-324B-4B9F-85AD-CB34C5C90FDESmile, you are on camera.

These days, I sense ‘frown’ you are on camera. They are everywhere. While very handy, they can also be intrusive.

I have cameras inside and outside of my home. I get that. Our cell phones can take great pics and I like that until used wrongly.

Where I am going with this, is in the church and those emotional moments at the altar or in worship.1486566F-A67C-4548-8816-9D2414A8F116

I don’t mind the cameras rolling to get the service so the service can be shown for many to view to shut-ins, around the world to spread the Gospel, to watch again, etc.  What I do mind whether it be me or others, please get that camera out of my face and allow my private time in prayer or worship whether in the congregation and especially at the altar.  630FBAFC-E0B4-4D5B-8A99-C2EAA3243044

Then you know the cell phones and in church. People feel they can video or snap pics of the same.  Please have respect.

One service I was at, one heavy set woman was touched by God and she was worshiping. I could see her fat jiggling as she was dancing and joyful, being touched by the Lord. I was happy for her but would have been mortified if she knew behind the scene, the cell phone camera.  The mother and daughter in front of me were giggling and videotaped this of her.  I was livid. No wonder I do not move out in such services.  There are other reasons but the cameras are hindering the move of God, not just in me but for many, which is not right.

Many, as I stated, not just me feel the same. They, too, will stay seated and not move anywhere the camera might zoom in.  The altar for one, and the most important place of a church.

Respect! Where has it gone?

15CB6338-7CDA-4FE4-888A-28DB1CECF8B9This past weekend, I was at a great ladies conference and while no large camera was rolling, I saw many cell phones out and being used more and more as the conference continued.  It was like, monkey see monkey do.

I would say that many would be intimidated by such and freeze. This action halts the flow of the Holy Spirit. While we should not hinder His move, it does.  To bring this up, it goes in one ear and out the other of those in leadership. Sad.

I myself attend a late church service when I know no camera is used and it is less drama and theatrics.  I know some love the spotlight and I understand the 3E63E732-FAFC-4D5B-8670-3810AD8D6CEEplatform of those to be on camera, close shots, etc., but the congregation in worship and prayer, it is not the place.  To cover the whole service from the back of the sanctuary is sufficient and still allows a freedom.

This is my pet peeve, as you can tell, but I have heard so many say the same.  How about you?  What are your thoughts?  Do you experience the same?

Please be considerate and respectful during such spiritual moments. Reconsider your camera use. If your church and mine and video techs are zooming in on the ugly cries, please stop.

6301DAB7-F907-4F46-8F7C-5E945BB9D65AThe ugly cry. What is it? Urban Dictionary defines it as “a type of crying that feels really good and really bad at the same time.” But it’s more than just that. In an article for New Republic, Rachel Vorona Cote writes that “to ‘ugly cry’ means to weep so fervidly that one’s face contorts in ostensibly unattractive ways.”  

These days, more than ever, people need God. Those camera moments can be made from a distance and the message received for the hearts to receive instead.  Newcomers are fearful enough and dealing with sinful matters that they do not need to fear this, too.  Even professed Christians are dealing with matters, we all are, so let’s pull back the cameras and let God move.

Let God move on the hearts of those in attendance. Please!

We all need a move of God more than ever in our lives and in our churches.

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