Author Archives: ginamd

34 Books Complete!

08 Thursday Sep 2016

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For my 34th year I decided to make a goal of reading 34 books. When I made this goal I didn’t know if I would be able to do it. I’ve never kept track of books I’ve read before, so I don’t know how many books I usually read in a year. I was lazy for a while, but I pretty easily read all 34. Now I have a starting point. I KNOW I can read 34. So I guess I’ll see if I can read 35! If you have any recommendations let me know!

  1. For The Love ~ Jen Hatmaker
  2. The Last Battle ~ C.S. Lewis
  3. The Shack ~ WM Paul Young
  4. Poldark ~ Winston Graham (fantastic British TV series)
  5. In the Heart of the Sea ~ (book better than movie)
  6. Mean’s Search For Meaning ~ Viktor Frankl
  7. The Rock That is Higher ~ Madeliene L’Engle
  8. Bird By Bird ~ Anne Lamotte
  9. Demelza ~ Winston Graham
  10. Breaking Busy ~ Alli Worthington
  11. The Russians Series ~ Michael R. Phillips
  12. The Russians Series ~
  13. The Russians Series ~
  14. The Russians Series ~
  15. The Comeback ~ Louie Giglio
  16. Sisi: An Empress on her own ~ Allison Pitaki
  17. The Calling ~ Rachelle Dekker
  18. Life’s Great Dare ~ Christa Hesselink
  19. Brazen ~ Leeana Tankersly
  20. Miss Perigrines Home for Peculiar Children ~
  21. The Dressmaker ~ Rosalie Hamm (book better than movie)
  22. Through the Looking Glass ~ Lewis Carroll (book better than movie)
  23. The BFG ~ Roald Dahl (book better than movie)
  24. Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them ~ J. K. Rowling
  25. The Night Circus (highly recommend) ~Erin Morgenstern
  26. The Bell Jar ~ Sylvia Plath
  27. The Cursed Child ~ J.K. Rowling
  28. Dark Places ~ Gillian Flynn
  29. Present Over Perfect ~ Shauna Niequist
  30. The sun also rises ~ Hemingway
  31. The Old Man & The Sea ~ Hemingway
  32. Ethan Frome ~ Edith Wharton
  33. The Magician’s Nephew ~ C. S. Lewis
  34. Chronicle of a Death Foretold ~ Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

Audio Books (Which I’m not counting in my reading, but I feel like deserve a mention because I “read” them)

  1. Harry Potter 1
  2. Harry Potter 2
  3. Harry Potter 3
  4. Harry Potter 4
  5. Harry Potter 5
  6. Delicious (Probably one of my most favorite books ever. It’s about food and it’s amazing. Recommended by Shauna Niequist)
  7. Delancy (really not good)
  8. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (brilliant)
  9. Sarafina & The Black Cloak (literally one of the worst books ever)
  10. Harry Potter 6
  11. Harry Potter 7

Looking for hope

18 Thursday Aug 2016

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He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars and names each one.
Our Lord is great and very powerful.
There is no limit to what he knows.
Psalm 147:3-5 

Orlando

Last weekend I went to Orland with a group of Boston survivors. We met with some of the survivors from the PULSE shooting, hoping to share with them our experiences  also bring hope, sharing how we got through the hard times.

We met with different groups of survivors. One just talked in circles. Mixed childhood stories and stories from yesterday. I didn’t know what to say to him, so I just listened. Maybe that’s all I needed to do.

There was a man who watched as 11 of his close friends were killed. The pain and hurt filled his eyes and spilled over onto his entire being. He was sad that he couldn’t do anything to save them. Sad that he alone remains.

Others only spoke only spanish. So we did a lot of sitting and listening. We had very few translators so that made it difficult. But we watched as survivors were connecting with each other, coming together to offer each other support. They didn’t know each other at the club. So they told their stories, where they hid, how they got out, where they were injured. So much like us three years ago.

War stories and battle wounds.

We had brunch at a family’s house. An amazing Colombian breakfast. Cheese Almojabana, bunuelos, arepas with chorizo, fluffy pancakes, fresh squeezed orange juice… We gathered in the sun room that held a long table. All 19 of us fit comfortably and had a long meal where we discussed the bombing, the shooting… tragedies that brought us together.

What they are looking for is hope. They are looking for someone to say, you’re not alone in this suffering. These things you are feeling. The fear, the flashbacks, the nightmares, that’s all normal. Because we had them too. And they need to hear that they won’t always feel that way. Those things will fade. They need to know that the hell they are living in isn’t forever. That they will slowly get back to normal. And there isn’t a time frame. It takes some a short time. Others, much longer.

Sunday we were in a park next to a pond with a fountain. The city of Orlando in the background. People from the community trickled in. People who had gotten tattoos to show their support for those in the PULSE shootings. Tattoos of love, hope, togetherness. We took photos and heard their stories. Soaked in the Orlando sunshine and the breeze coming across the pond. Willow branches hanging low. Tickeling the edge of the water.

Lifestyle choices were put aside. Language barriers. Cultural differences. What brings  us together is similar experiences. Terror ripping apart lives. And we, being three years past the terror, were there to bring hope to those just surfacing from it. To show them that life does go on. Survival is attainable.

I hope we brought a little hope.  A pin prick of light at the end of the dark tunnel. Knowing that we can bring others hope out of our suffering, gives us hope too. It helps to know that our suffering is not or was not in vain. If through our suffering, we can help others, we gain purpose. And that makes it seem not quite so bad.

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I won’t let you go

09 Saturday Jul 2016

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“I Won’t Let You Go”

When it feels like surgery
And it burns like third degree
And you wonder what is it worth?
When your insides breaking in
And you feel that ache again
And you wonder
What’s giving birth?If you could let the pain of the past go
Of your soul
None of this is in your control

If you could only let your guard down
You could learn to trust me somehow
I swear, that I won’t let you go
If you could only let go your doubts
If you could just believe in me now
I swear, that I won’t let you go
I won’t let you go

When your fear is currency
And you feel that urgency
You want peace but there’s war in your head
Maybe that’s where life is born
When our façades are torn
Pain gives birth to the promise ahead

If you could let the pain of the past go
Of your soul
None of this is in your control

If you could only let your guard down
If you could learn to trust me somehow
I swear, that I won’t let you go
If you could only let go your doubts
If you could just believe in me now
I swear, that I won’t let you go

I won’t let you go
I’ll always be by your side
Yeah

If you could only let your guard down
If you could learn to trust me somehow
I swear, that I won’t let you go
If you could only let go your doubts
If you could just believe in me now
I swear, that I won’t let you go

(I won’t let you go)
I won’t let you go
(I won’t let you go)

There ain’t no darkness strong enough that could tear you out from my heart
There ain’t no strength that’s strong enough that could tear this love apart
Never gonna let you go
Never gonna let you go

No I won’t let you go

Three Years

15 Friday Apr 2016

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Three years ago I wrote these posts. Can you believe its been three years? So many ups and downs. Such a journey. The bonds we have formed with other survivors, people like Steve. Dara. Sam. Nicole. Liza. Linda… These can never be replaced. No one knows my feelings like they do. No one understands my emotions as much as they do. What a BLESSING it has been to have such a wonderful, tight knit group come out of something so tragic. I love that three years after the bomb we are even closer and I imagine thirty years down the road we will still be the best of friends. We share a bond that can never be taken away. To my survivor family, I love you guys. I couldn’t get through the hard days without you.

Today is a lot of mixed emotions. Mostly I am fine. This is the first year I haven’t gone back for the marathon so it does feel a bit like something is missing. I know it seems strange to want to go back to that place, but its more going back to my people, my city. Those who were so strong for me when I had no strength of my own. The community of survivors is what I miss on days like this. And on marathon monday I know I will be missing them even more. Knowing they are all gathered together, cheering on the next set of Boston Marathoners.

Most people now don’t know. I live in a new place. With new friends. A new job. It is weird to have people who know so little about the biggest event in my life. Some know absolutely nothing. But it isn’t something I tell people anymore. It seems so strange to bring it up. Oh yeah, I was in a bomb. My leg is a mess and yeah you know… I don’t want pity. And no one understands. So sometimes its better to just keep that part of my life in the unknown. But it’s still a part of me. It’s part of who I am. I will always bear the scars. I don’t usually think about it. But today is a day to remember… So here’s some old stuff from those first few days.

4-23-13

Today I met Steve. Steve was in the ambulance with me when we rode to the hospital. He was watching the marathon with his 4 year old son. He was hurt far worse than I. But all I remember from the ambulance is him holding my hand and alternating a between telling me it was going to be ok, and yelling at the medics to find his son who was now all alone. He held my hand the whole way. i have been wondering about him. How he was doing. Did they ever find his son? So today, then the nurse told me the man who rode in the ambulance with me was hoping to see me before he left for rehab, I was of course eager to see him. He came in on a stretcher, on his way out of the hospital. when he saw me tears formed in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. I of course started crying as well. his son had been missing when we were together in the ambulance so I inquired after him first. They foun him and he only had a small scratch on his head an was fine. Thank God. And Steve? He said he was fine. But I pushed. Really fine? No. His leg was missing from the knee down. I cried even more. My leg is useless and probably will be for a very long time, but at least I have it. Steve is going to the same rehab center that I am so as he was pulled out of my room we promised to find each other. I don’t know Steve. But I know he held my hand during some off the scariest moments of my life. And for that I will be eternally grateful.

4-24-13

Rehab has three hours of physical therapy a day. That scares me. But then I remember that Meggie and I were spending almost 3 hours a day at the Y before I came here, so I got this! We were swimming almost an hour a day and I know that is the only reason I have the upper body strength to pull myself around on the walker. God was preparing me for this long before I even knew I would need the strength.  Amazing right?

Please continue to pray for pain management for all of us. It can be extremely frustrating to be in so much pain. Also continue to pray for God’s healing in each of our lives. Lastly pray for my family members who although they were not hospitalized, still experienced as much trauma as we did and who are getting very worn traveling from hospital, to hospital, surgery, to surgery. There is no way we could make it through each day without all of your prayers. Thank you so much for your faithfulness.

4-26-13

I am moved to rehab. Kim and Colton and my Aunt Shari have gone. Slowly the visitors are dwindling down and people are returning to their normal lives. But what does that mean? Many of us will not be returning to normal life. Maybe ever. Our injuries will be with us. We may never walk normally again. We may never be the same as we were before. Even if we get to “normal” physically, these events will always be with us. And I can’t even process that yet. I don’t know what that will look like one month from now, one year from now, ten years from now. But I read these verses and I am comforted. My Father knows what the future looks like, and He tells me “do not be worried about your life.” I hope that comforts you. I hope that you can read these verses and find some peace. The road ahead is long. And will be very painful. But we can do it one day at a time.

25“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

4-29-13

Anyway, there have been several comments that whenever we show up in a picture, there is utter chaos surrounding us, but we all look so peaceful. We are either laying patiently on the ground, or sitting calmly. In the midst of chaos, peace. And I never would have had a second thought about it, but several people have brought it up today. And I’m not ready to write about all that happened in those moments. The explosion etc, but I would like to address this one subject.

First of all, there must have been hundreds of angels all around us. The new Chris Tomlin song Whom Shall I Fear kept running through my head. “The God of Angel armies is always by my side”. So yes, I believe there were angels all around us. We were so close to the bomb, we should be hurt much worse, or even dead. Although our injuries are extensive, they should have been much worse. Second, Colton brought this up to me today. People keep asking “where was God in all of this?” Just look at the pictures. Look at the chaos and then look at me or Rebekah, or Peter or Kim or Colton. That’s where God was. We are His children, filled with His Spirit. In the midst of chaos, He WAS there. Third, I believe that God gave us so so much grace. Grace to think clearly. To know how to respond in trauma. To know to tie tourniquets. Or to coach people to breathe. Or to know how to communicate with the first responders. Not one of us lost control or freaked out.

Someday I’m sure I will look at the pictures. But I just want you to know today, that God was there. He was with us. We would not be where we are today if it weren’t for Him. And as we are experiencing more and more of His grace everyday, we are amazed and speechless and we just keep clinging to Him.

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies is always by my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies is always by my side

Life’s Great Dare

31 Thursday Mar 2016

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“God, like no other, transforms cold, dark places and makes them beautiful. 
He mends the broken and refreshes the weary.
He restores the smoldering and dying and gives hope for new life.
He really does make all things new.”
Christa Hesselink

Guys. You HAVE to read this book. Order it from Amazon. I promise you won’t regret it!

I don’t really know how to begin this book review. I feel like I have to read the book three more times just to be able to absorb it all. What Christa has done is amazing. I am so excited to be able to say this book has come from someone in the Author Launch class. Someone whom I have met and spent a day with. I’m proud that our little writing community is beginning to produce books and I’m proud that I got to experience this one.

It is a refreshing read. Something that compels you, dares you, to actually believe that God loves you. In one of the first chapters she said; “He [God] finds us completely worthy just because we are, because he made us…when you create something out of deep love, you make it your business to do whatever you can to fix it when it breaks.” And I don’t know why but this hit me so hard. I can relate to this, but I don’t know why. It just really tugged my heart. I think it has something to do with creating art, and how you always want it to be perfect, so you will do whatever you can to make it better. And I never thought about God making me and then doing that exact thing.

Each chapter I read I thought, yes, she knows me, she’s been through the same things as me. She went through cancer and treatments and the afterwards, she called it a “new normal”. Guys I have a chapter in my book called “New Normal” and I know I didn’t go through cancer, but so many of her struggles were exactly struggles that I have felt since the bombing.

I will read this book again. I read the whole thing today, and I need to read it again slower and really process it. But I promise, you won’t regret reading this book. This definitely will have many copies on my shelf, ready to give away to people who need encouragement during tough times.

Thanks Christa for your openness and for sharing your story!

more terror

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

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It seems like the anniversary of the marathon can’t approach us without tragedy, fear, sadness, or anxiety. Last year was the trial. We were all dealing with giving statements, attending hearings, being bombarded by the media. This year one of our survivor community, Victoria, has had a tragic accident and is no longer with us. And now today the attacks on Brussels. I woke up to phone calls and texts from friends asking if I’m ok. I avoid the news so I didn’t even know what had happened yet. Each attack is terrible. It doesn’t make me relive what happened to us. But I do avoid seeking out stories and photos. I know what it is like. I know what it looks like. I don’t need that reminder.

The thing about all this is that things never go back to normal. Nothing is ever the same. Even as much as you try to be normal, or be how you were. You can’t get back to that. You can’t go back. And maybe that’s ok, but these intermittent attacks, like regularly scheduled reminders, beat into me the fact that I too fit into that category. One who was in a terrorist attack. One who was in a bomb. One who is a victim. A survivor of something so tragic. These bombing survivors are our family. Only they know what our lives are truly like. Only they can truly understand us. But it saddens me to see our family growing. What is happening in the world when this is so common it is no longer surprising. It is no longer something that makes you gasp and say “WHAT things like this NEVER happen!” Because they do. They happen a lot. More than we even know, I’m sure. The news doesn’t report every terrorist attack or bomb that goes off.

It used to seem so far removed. It wasn’t anywhere near us. We didn’t know anyone involved. But now, each one is a reminder. Each one slams you back down on the ground and reminds you of where you were not so long ago.

John 1:5 says : “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Which doesn’t seem true. It just seems dark here. But I read it over and over. The darkness can not overcome the light. And where does the light come from? It comes from God. John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” But it also comes from US. We are the light of the world. Jesus told us that, Matthew 5:8: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” 

I feel like every time something like this happens all I have to say is “cling to Jesus”. But really, is there any other answer? We are the light, we can not be hidden, the darkness can not overcome us. So we need to cling to Jesus and keep shining our lights. And someday, the darkness will be destroyed forever. Today is not that day. Today we mourn with Brussels. Today we are sad and we remember our own experiences. We call some friends from our survivor family and make sure they are ok. We lament together. But because we have gone through these experiences, we have an understanding that others do not. We can show more love. We can help bring peace. We can bond together and show these new additions to our family what surviving looks like. And we can show them that we can continue on, together.

 

Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki

07 Monday Mar 2016

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“I wander lonely in this world,
Delight and life long time averted,
No confidant to share my inner self,
A matching soul never revealed.”
Empress Elisabeth 

When I started reading this book, I knew nothing about Sisi, Empress of Austria-Hungary, but as I set it down to write this review, I feel as if I know her, deeply, intimately. Her hurt, frustration, sadness, and passion, followed by slanderous gossip, destined to live a life unfulfilled and alone. This novel begins in the late 1800’s, and takes you through important historical events, leading all the way up to the start of WWI and the collapse of the Hapsburg empire.

I love historical fiction because I feel like I am learning something while being immersed in a captivating story. This book took me through a whole realm of emotions. Sadness in the realization that she was in a loveless marriage, excitement in her joy of traveling and finding adventure, heartwarming in the way she loved her children, but couldn’t figure out how to be a mother to them, all the internal struggles and hardships of the young Empress.

Allison’s elegant writing style flows naturally making Sisi an immersive novel that is entertaining, and an easy read. However, in reading this the reader will come to view Sisi as a selfish, ignorant, immature, and irresponsible leader who disrespected her husband, the Emperor, and was clueless about how to be a mother. I found her character conflicting. At one point she returns to the court to rescue her son, the Prince, who was being mistreated, and she was firm and stood up to her husband and other advisors and did what she thought was best for her child, but then the next chapter she is off riding horses and neglecting her responsibilities. The ending felt rather anti-climactic, despite the traumatic events that were occurring.  I enjoyed the book for entertainment purposes. It was quite lengthy, but I had no trouble reading the 420 pages in 2 days.

In response to the many reviews saying that Allisons’s research wasn’t done well and had many historical inaccuracies… I guess I would just say keep in mind it is fiction and enjoy the story.

You can order the book from Amazon here. Enjoy!

 

a key to key west

23 Tuesday Feb 2016

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This past week, Eliza, Rachel, & I took a road trip to the Florida Keys. The road going from Miami to Key West is supposed to be one of the most beautiful road trips in the US and we wanted to find out for ourselves. Eliza & Rachel are moving to Missouri soon to perform with Story of God, so this resulted in last minute planning and a surprise road trip to sunny beaches and warmer weather.

Savannah was our first stop. I love this city. The eerie spanish moss blankets the trees throughout the city creating a tranquil atmosphere, reverent and whimsical. The old brick buildings sit on the water, full of history, serene and peaceful. We detoured through the beautiful Canaveral National Seashore before stopping for the night in Fort Lauderdale.

The next morning we did a quick tour of Miami & South Beach  before heading to Key Biscayne where we explored the state park, teal water sparkling all around us. Everything I read about Key West said the Card Sound Road and Alabama Jacks was a MUST. I’d skip that if I did it again. The conch fritters were nothing to write home about and the atmosphere of the haphazard restaurant was nothing special. The Card Sound Road was fine, but I don’t know that it gave us a better experience than if we had taken the main road.

The Keys don’t have very many beaches. We drove along route 1 and stopped at the parking lots at several of the bridges. They usually have observation points, walking bridges you can go out on, or rocky shorelines that are fun for exploring. We ate at Harriette’s which is a MUST. The Key Lime muffin is absolutely to die for. They serve it to you warmed up with its key lime filling all warm and oozy.

When we got to the Seven Mile Bridge, we stopped to walk on the old railway bridge that has been there since 1912.

We camped for one night at Boyds Key West Campground. The spaces were TINY but we had a spot right on the bay so it was fun to wake up and look out at the sunrise over the water.

At the very end of Key West is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. This was a good beach and a great place to hang our hammocks. We spent most of the day there. Walking the shoreline, soaking in the sun and swinging in hammocks in the shade.

We meandered back to the mainland. Stopping on Big Pine Key at theNational Key Deer Refuge where we saw turtles, alligators, and Key Deer, which are much smaller than the White Tailed Deer we are used to. They are also very friendly. One licked Eliza’s hand! Next we stopped at Robbie’s in Islamorada where we had read about feeding the huge tarpon.  It was $1 per person and $3 for bait and so not worth it. We watched for a while and decided against spending our money. If you walk around at Robbies’s, there is another pier you can go out on where there were fisherman cleaning fish and feeding the pelicans. This was so fun and we spent a lot of time watching the hundreds of birds fighting over fish and clamoring all around the harbor.

Back on the mainland we stopped at a fruit stand called Roberts Is Here. I know, weird name. Amazing place though. They had probably 50 different flavors of fruity milkshakes. We split a strawberry, key lime shake which was absolutely delicious. We browsed through the shop reading about the different types of fruit we had never seen before. They also have a strange petting zoo type area in the back with macaws, huge tortoises, emu, and other animals.

We drove straight through the everglades, stopping to see more alligators, and landed in Naples Beach for sunset. Naples is beautiful. The beach was nearly empty and we sat there enjoying the waves crashing onto the beach and the orange sun setting over the horizon.

Orlando was next. We got up super early and spent the day at Universal Studios exploring the world of Harry Potter. It was even better than I expected it to be and we had a BLAST! If you are a Harry Potter fan this is something you absolutely must do.

On our way back to Asheville we swung by Blue Spring State Park which is a place where hundreds of manatees go for the winter. We watched they floating lazily around the river for a while and began our long trek back to Asheville.

It was an amazing trip. One I hope to repeat again someday soon. The Keys are beautiful and that teal water… there’s nothing like it.

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waves of the sea

04 Thursday Feb 2016

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Do you ever get so wrapped up emotionally in the people around you that they can change your emotions in an instant? This happens to me sometimes. I get so emotionally involved that I go crazy trying to please everyone and make sure no one is upset with me and everyone is happy and wants to spend time with me. If a friend can’t hang out I think they don’t like me anymore. If someone doesn’t talk to me at church, I assume I’ve done something wrong and they’re upset with me. If I see my friends went out without me I’m hurt and think they intentionally left me out. On the flip side if someone sends a nice text, my mood instantly flip-flops. If someone calls to do something I go from sad to happy. Then someone cuts me off in traffic and I’m frustrated for the rest of the day. And on and on it goes.

This week has been exceptionally emotional and I just sat down and realized I am basing all my emotions on PEOPLE. People. Who will always fail me. Who have a sin nature. People who make mistakes, fail and make poor choices, the same way that I do. I can’t base my feelings on people. My brain gets jumbled. I can’t focus on anything and I get so caught up in it. I read texts over and over trying to see if there are hidden messages. I replay conversations in my head. I over-analyze everything. By the end of the day I can’t sleep because my brain is processing a million things and I worry about things I imagining are happening with all my relationships.

James 1:5-6 says: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (ESV)

This is such a great description of how I so often feel. I doubt. I doubt God’s goodness. I doubt the people around me. I lack the wisdom necessary to be grounded in Christ and I get blown and tossed by the wind. Happy, sad, angry, elated. Rollercoaster days abound.

In the song, My Anchor, Christy Nockels so beautifully expresses the answers to my emotional blowing and tossing.

My anchor, forever
My shelter within the storm
You’re my deliverer
You never falter
You’re the rock I stand on

I should be grounded in Christ. I shouldn’t be blown and tossed by the wind. I should be holding so tightly onto my anchor. He should be the Rock I am standing on.

 

In an article about managing emotions, Joyce Meyer says: You cannot control what everybody else does, but you can control your reaction to it. It’s time to stop letting someone else’s bad behavior steal your joy… With God’s help, you can learn to manage these and every other negative emotion that comes your way…in Christ Jesus, you have the power to change your response. You can rise above your emotions. After all, you are not what you feel.

I am not what I feel! How glorious that is. This week has definitely been one full of blowing and tossing. But today, I am asking God to calm the storm. I am grabbing tight to my Anchor. I am choosing to rise above the emotional waves and praying they would release their power over me. I am not what I feel.

How to Manage Your Emotions God’s Way: Joyce Meyer
http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/16305-feeling-your-emotional-best