THE WORLD OF JAMIELISH
This site is our personal story and our business life – it’s the journey of husband and wife team, Jamie and Alisha Anderson. It’s what we live, what we love and what we’ve learned along the way between running several businesses together while living life by design and not by accident.
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Did you know that we have the ability to literally change our physical brain function!?
The way in which we think and speak creates neural pathways in our brain. So many want to go to church on Sunday, hear a little sermon and let that be their Jesus time for the whole week. The rest of the time they are feasting on negativity, self doubt, criticism, and some even watching and listening to things that are far less than appropriate.
There is a reason God’s word says to meditate on His Word. We were created to have a daily need to fill our minds and heart with His truths. Often we want to take a shortcut or just hope the one off will do it for us. The word meditate means think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. Another version says, to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. When we meditate on His Word, we are creating a wider neural pathway in our mind which effects our heart, our health and our entire being. When we forge these pathways and they become larger it makes it easier to think about these things again. The more you entertain or think about the same things the wider the road becomes in your mind.
This is why when some is worried or anxious and they continually feast on the fear, the more fearful they become. If you only spend time on Sundays thinking positive thoughts about God’s goodness but spend the rest of the week in worry, doubt and fear the we will build a 6 lane highway then we will be headed straight for the negativity dump where we will get stuck and barely have a little walking train to our divine destiny and God’s truth over our lives.
Whatever we take time to cultivate in our mind will be the thing that dominates us. When I am at home cooking, cleaning, doing laundry I always try to put on worship music and I let myself go in His presence. What an act of worship, serving my family and loving Jesus in worship at the same time. Now I promise you, I have not always had this attitude, I used to be resentful, frustrated and bitter at times because no one would help. Things have shifted in our house and my attitude has changed because I choose to create some different pathways in my brain. When you are uplifting and full of life, people are attracted to you, my family will often just jump in and help because I am a lot more pleasant to be around. I think they used to just avoid helping to avoid my bad attitude and negativity and I can’t blame them, I would have avoided myself too! Some of my greatest times of worship have been while I am doing stuff around the house. I changed my attitude and mindset that I can spend time with my heavenly Father no matter where I am or what I am doing and He sure has met me there! He doesnt mind the laundry or the dishes!
In Romans 12:2, The Passion Translation says, “Stop Imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformations of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.”
We often try and control those things around us, our families, our circumstances, our lives, even our time but God Word gives us control over ourselves not control over others. God’s got our family, our circumstances, He does not need our help to be in control. He is waiting to be our Savior. He is waiting for us to acknowledge our fears and have the freedom to say our fears our not in our hands and that my soul is well with you! We have been going through a big transition in our lives and I have had to choose daily to submit control to my Heavenly Father and make sure I am choosing peace and Faith in the midst of what feels like potential for chaos, fear and frustration. When we submit our hearts to Him and focus on declaring His Words over our lives then our fears are disarmed – they take a backseat to peace and God’s truth! I have had a peace the last few months in my life that I have NEVER experienced before. It doesn’t mean that I don’t face fear or doubt but every time I see the flashing sign saying detour – exit to fear I choose to stay on the path highway I am learning to build toward life giving thinking, creating a neural pathway of His Truth in my life that is far bigger than the Negativity Highway I have been on for so long. It is shut down and being ripped apart but at times I am tempted to get back on what feels like the easy road – but honestly the scenery on that road is boring and ugly. I much prefer the beauty I experience on this new road of Life giving power! WE can’t trust our fears to lead us to a great final destination, They are not honest and will exaggerate, they do not take our heart into consideration. They do not deserve our deepest parts or our allegiance. Giving your heart and allegiance to your Heavenly Father, to a God who is trustworthy and whose promises are the real deal will lead you to an amazing destination. God is bigger and better that the worst thing we can imagine and He is in control! Choose life, Choose to widen the pathway of Life giving thoughts in your brain! I know you can do it – I did and I felt like an impossible case that could never get off the highway of negativity I had been circling for years lost and feeling totally hopeless. He NEVER gives up on us and is ready for you today! Take time for to be in control of your thoughts and heart – fill it with His truths!
Scriptures: Psalm 139:5-6, Romans 12:2, Phil 4:7, Proverbs 4:20-23, Isaiah 26:3
God is about to shift some things big time in my life. I can sense it and I can feel it.
I have never been good at resting or doing nothing. I was raised work hard and to serve with all my heart. That’s not bad at all but at the end of last year, I found myself on burnt out, exhausted, overwhelmed and literally on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
I was experiencing panic attacks and shutting myself in my closet sobbing, hoping to escape this brutal cycle I hated being in so much. I had spread myself too thin, I felt trapped. I felt like I couldn’t say no to things that were wearing me down.
I lived in a constant state of chaos and felt like my heart would explode at any moment. I actually feared a heart attack due to the level of stress I was under. Those times in my closet, were way too often. I was wishing things were different, wanting change desperately but saw no way to get better.
In January 2016, Jamie and I started to see a therapist. I needed it, our marriage needed it and my relationship with my kids needed it. I remember the first day – I sat on her couch sobbing. I told her I was on the edge of a cliff barely hanging on by my fingertips.
I told her I could let go at any moment and that would be the end. I was so serious that day; saying those things out loud and admitting I was at my limit, was the day things begin to shift for me.
I was scared, I had moments where mild panic attacks would hit me and I would feel like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Everything I was doing was ‘part of my job role’ so I didn’t know how to say no or communicate that it was all too much. Over the next several sessions God began to work in my heart and I started to find some peace. In the process of meeting with our Therapist, I realized I needed to start saying no to things.
This was a big challenge for me. I didn’t know how to. I remember being mad at my therapist when she would say “just say no”. I’d say “that’s easy for her personality type but not mine”. The thought of even saying it to my bosses (who were my parents) sent me into a state of panic. They never told me I couldn’t say no but I would feel it by the comments of not attending every church activity. It made me think I have to as part of my job. I began to feel resentful to the church and my job for taking me to a place of no return.
Everyone had an expectation of me and everyone needed me to do something for them; with several job roles in my lap how could I ever say no. Sadly I felt like a failure as I wasn’t doing anything well. My reactions were harsh and often rude, then I’d beat myself up for being that way. I dreaded anytime I had to do anything with church. What was once a joyful thing to do had become a noose around my neck and at any given moment I might fall off the box and hang myself (not literally).
I got to the place that I never stopped working, I never took time to rest and do nothing. I did not know how to sit still and be with my husband or kids without multitasking at same time – after all, there was so much to get done and how could I possibly take time for anything else. I was not a fun person to be around and most people probably avoided me. I had become a person I did not want to be and I felt totally trapped in a cycle I could not get out of.
After one session with our therapists I remember thinking this is such a waste of time – nothing is changing and I will never be able to say no as long as I am in this job. Slowly God had been at work in my heart and step by step He walked me through a process of healing and freedom. I found the courage to pull back a little bit at a time.
I remember the first time I actually said “no” – it was a big deal. I kept apologizing while I was saying – I just can’t take on another thing. It was helping with a woman’s event that my Mom was leading. I was so stressed at the thought of communicating to her that I could not help but I did it! I knew it was not only a victory for my heart but that God wanted to give a confidence to my Mom that she could do it without me too.
We all face seasons where parts of us break and I think it is important to take time to mend. However some of us get stuck in that place and continue to live with a mindset like we’re trapped in some old ugly rental house, when we actually own a gorgeous house full of great things. This was me, I knew I was created for more but I insisted on staying there instead of allowing God to make me new and be fully who He had created me to be.
In serving Church, I got caught up in the ‘doing’ all for the sake of the gospel but at the total expense of myself. It says it so well in the Message in Mark 8:36 “Follow me and I will show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way to saving your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? what could you ever trade your soul for?”
I felt like I had traded my own person relationship with Jesus Christ in order to please others with nothing left to give to the one who matters most in my life – my heavenly Father.
I had to do something or I would be trapped forever. The day I spoke those words out and my counselor gave me the courage to face reality as it was, I began to feel the blinders fall off me eyes. God began to speak to my heart that it was time to strip myself of my brokenness and allow Him to begin to heal my heart, one layer at a time.
He brought me to Ephesians 4:22-24 “Strip Yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old un-renewed self) which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts, and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude). And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image. (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness.”
When the Bible tells us to strip ourselves of our old nature it says to discard your old un-renewed self. When we wear an old stinky t-shirt no matter how we try and disguise it with febreze or perfume it is still an old stinky t-shirt and eventually the nice smelling cover up will go away and we will smell the stench again. You have to get rid of it completely; take if off and throw it away, not cover it up. God says that He has something new for you that is far better than you can imagine!
How do we have a wardrobe change? In verse 23 it says, “and be constantly renewed in your mind” We do this by spending time in His Word, worshipping and being in His presence. When we do this it says we put on a new nature – a whole new self!
You can ask anyone in my family to confirm this but I am not the same girl I was 6 months ago. I am allowing God to come in and do a work in my heart. Do I get in my flesh sometimes and try and put on that stinky t-shirt sometimes… absolutely and man it smells bad – everyone knows when I am wearing it.
My husband has said to me many times over the last few months how different I am – you have such a calmness about you and so much more peace. This is because I stopped living broken and I am allowing God to make me new.
We just wrote a song with my nephew last month that expresses this very thought. “You took a broken me and you made a masterpiece, You fill my heart with perfect love.” His heart for us is so much bigger then our most difficult seasons. He will use any season of brokenness to shape and mold us but don’t get stuck there, allow Him to transform you completely.
A few weeks back my daughter went to a worship night and God spoke this to her heart, when she shared it with my I began to cry but this so accurately fit where I have been and where I am going.
Here is what she wrote: Jesus loves us so much and unconditionally. It’s almost as if He’s sitting there saying, “I Love you, you know why? Because you are made in my image. You are deserving. You are my child. You’re not broken, you know why? Because I love you and I have made you new. You know why? Because you are worth it. You know why? Because you were created by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
He has made you with a plan and purpose, full of life and destiny. Let Him make you new today.
SCRIPTURE TO STUDY
- Psalm 16
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Colossians 3
I started weight loss journey at the beginning of the year which has been impacting my life in the most amazing kind of way. Like any journey it has come with some bumps and challenges along the way. I came to the place a few weeks ago where I hit a mental block and lost my sight for the end goal.
I was having a rough week making several bad choices in a row. I began to look in the mirror and all I could see was the old overweight me. I looked at photos people were taking at me and my heart sank because I couldn’t see any difference even though there was a 50 pound difference. Hello! That is amazing and I should be thrilled but instead all I could see was through my old lens of insecurity and shame. My filter was completely blocking my view of what God is doing in my life and How He sees me.
So many times we allow life’s challenges to color our view and change the way we see. The problem with this is; we don’t get to see real beauty for what it is.
For me, making bad choices and having a few bad days sent me into a spiral of negativity. I began to say this will take forever – I will never get to my goal. All this work and I can’t see progress. On and on the lies went swirling in my head fighting to win first place in my thoughts.
In the midst of it all a heavenly Father who loves me, is calling me higher to see things from His perspective and not mine. His gentle words reminding me to speak life over my situation and begin to change my view of this whole picture. I began saying I am going to do this – it’s only 3 or 4 more months on this plan – that’s not such a big deal for a great result! I began to look past the “now” and see the me that God created me to be.
When you can’t see beyond now run to His truths and let His words speak over your life. He NEVER lies and He will always speak life to your heart.
When I think I can’t win – He gently pulls me close and speaks victory to my heart. It won’t be easy but I can do it with His help. I daily ask the Lord to help me to see from His point of view not mine. I pray He will remove the filters that cause me to stumble into false accusations and lies about who I really am not.
I’m a daughter of the King, made in His image to shine forth His love and glory to those around. I’m not a wounded warrior who can’t ever get it right and who seems to only wear shame and remorse.
His truth is the only view we need to have. His Words of life and love that He so graciously speaks to our hearts!!
Scripture For Additional Study
- Ephesians 2:10
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Isaiah 43:1
- Psalm 23:5