Dr. David Levy - God's Wisdom Freshly Revealed

Stressful Holiday Situations: Part 2

Validation is vital when caught in a toxic shame spiral.  Cindy has shut herself in the upstairs bedroom and is prepared to boycott Thanksgiving. Jesus experienced abuse and toxic shame. Jesus experienced attempts to control from family and friends. He is able to validate and guide us through these difficult situations but it is not easy to connect when full of anger and adrenaline. How can you connect with God when you are stressed? Breathing is one of the  best ways to get your physiology back from the "fight or flight" response.  The mother-in-law will need boundaries in the future, but what can Cindy do now? She feels humiliated and it will take humility to rejoin the party. Was Jesus ever humiliated? If you were a guest, what might you offer Cindy to help her recover and rejoin the holiday?  

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Dr. David Levy Podcasts  created on Podbean: (Photo for each episode)
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Stressful Holiday Situations: Part 1

Based on a true story. Tom and Cindy are having Thanksgiving at their house this year. Tom's mother wants to control the event and pulls a stunt that leaves Cindy angry and hurt. Tom wants to please his mother and doesn't validate Cindy's hurt. How do we deal with emotionally immature people during the holidays? What are the signs of an emotionally immature, abusive or narcissistic person? What do you do with the negative feelings you have? If you were a guest, what might you offer Cindy to help her recover and rejoin the holiday?  Did Jesus experience any poor treatment from people who wanted to control him? What can be done to recover from the offense?

Photo by Julian on Unsplash

Further resources on DrDLevy.com and Dr. David Levy App.

Dr. David Levy Podcasts  created on Podbean: (Photo for each episode)
https://davidilevy.podbean.com/

iTunes Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-david-levy-gods-wisdom-freshly-revealed/id1403541244?mt=2

Google Play Podcast
https://play.google.com/music/m/Itnylngdsghg425rjbhhcfzfw2y?t=Dr_David_Levy_-_Gods_Wisdom_Freshly_Revealed

Website
www.DrDLevy.com

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7aq4WGV71EkeEWnAkVunQ

App for iPhone or iPad from Apple App Store
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Before Whom Are You Running?

Have you miscalculated when change would occur? Have you ever thought someone was following God but they were not? Have you ever been angry with God about what is happening in your country? Do you feel God isn't helping you? If so, you are in good company. Elijah is one of God's favorites yet suffers greatly from disillusionment and fatigue. Some of his suffering is caused by his own choices and some by others. Ultimately, God redeems all of Elijah's mistakes and ministers to his broken heart. We see evidence of a changed man. How does God validate Elijah's pain? Do you allow God to validate your pain?

The Bible text is from 1 Kings 16, 17, 18 for the Ahab/Elijah episode and 2 Kings 1 for the Amaziah/Elijah conflict.

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Further resources on DrDLevy.com and Dr. David Levy App.

Dr. David Levy Podcasts  created on Podbean: (Photo for each episode)
https://davidilevy.podbean.com/

iTunes Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-david-levy-gods-wisdom-freshly-revealed/id1403541244?mt=2

Google Play Podcast
https://play.google.com/music/m/Itnylngdsghg425rjbhhcfzfw2y?t=Dr_David_Levy_-_Gods_Wisdom_Freshly_Revealed

Website
www.DrDLevy.com

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7aq4WGV71EkeEWnAkVunQ

App for iPhone or iPad from Apple App Store
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Is The LORD Among Us...or Not?

How are you at interpreting data? How do you assess danger? What does God call a "bad report?" Have you been given a "bad report" that you are repeating? We are overloaded with data and it is always interpreted by a person with a bias–which includes every one of us. 
Bible text: Numbers 13-14 finds the Children of Israel at the border of the Promised Land. Twelve spies are sent to spy out the land and 10 return with a "Bad Report" according to God. The 10 spies saw the same sights but interpreted the data differently than the other two.  Joshua and Caleb tried to convince the people how God saw them and the land He promised them. They tried to tell the people God was with them but they were already too afraid. The people would not listen to God speaking wisdom through Joshua and Caleb. It kept them out of the Promised Land. Is your idea of the Promised Land one of rest and relaxation? If so, you may be in for a surprise.
Exodus 17:7 ...is The LORD among us or not?

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Further resources on DrDLevy.com and Dr. David Levy App.

Dr. David Levy Podcasts  created on Podbean: (Photo for each episode)
https://davidilevy.podbean.com/

iTunes Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-david-levy-gods-wisdom-freshly-revealed/id1403541244?mt=2

Google Play Podcast
https://play.google.com/music/m/Itnylngdsghg425rjbhhcfzfw2y?t=Dr_David_Levy_-_Gods_Wisdom_Freshly_Revealed

Website
www.DrDLevy.com

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7aq4WGV71EkeEWnAkVunQ

App for iPhone or iPad from Apple App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dr-david-levy/id1422510199

App for Android from Google Play App store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.drdavidlevy&hl=en_us

Imagination 4 of 4: David‘s Battle and Yours

Did King Saul really believe David could beat Goliath?

Your thoughts have substance in your brain. Thoughts change the physical structure of your brain. David's imagination was trained by meditating on God's mission. Even his family could not dissuade him.

Unless you become like a child you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. A child has a good imagination and childlike faith.

Can you imagine good things happening to you? What has God deposited in you for the battle this season?

Betrayals have happened to all of us. Have you been offended by someone? Forgiveness is important to move forward into joy. There are reasons we don't forgive. It gives energy. If you are energized by being critical of others, you may have someone to forgive.

Bitterness is like poison you drink while hoping someone else dies. If you don't forgive, your relationships will suffer.

Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash

Imagination 3 of 4: Goliath vs. David‘s Imagination

Bible stories require imagination. The story of David and Goliath is no exception. You don't go up against a giant without a healthy imagination.

In 1 Samuel 16, at great danger to himself, Samuel anoints David in front of his brothers, who are jealous of him.

Goliath is described as an imposing human - like a tank.   David wants to know what he will gain if he kills Goliath. Does David imagine he will get into the palace by marrying the king's daughter?

How did David kill the lion and the bear? Did he use his sling like an underhand and overhand club (without releasing the stone)?

How would you counsel the boy David before he goes into battle against Goliath? Would you recommend he go or not?

What has David been practicing and dreaming as he keeps his sheep? Does he want to be the best shepherd in Israel or to be the best soldier?

What was David's spiritual journey?  What is yours?

Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash

Imagination 2 of 4: Surgery, Forgiveness, Orphan Character

Surgery failure and my father forgiveness story. I displayed the character of an orphan.

In John 14:18 Jesus calls his disciples orphans. Why does Jesus use this term?

Are you acting like a spiritual orphan? How fast do you eat? How are you sleeping? How are you with trusting people? Do you trust God?

Do you act like you are on your own? Are you in survival mode? Do you believe in a God of scarcity or abundance?

If your faith isn't growing, you are going backwards.  Hope is the Bible's word for imagination. How is your hopeful imagination?

Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash

Imagination 1 of 4: My Story

Imagination Series Part 1 of 4. Are you speaking life? What words are you speaking over your life and over the lives of those you love?

Prov. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue...

To read the Bible you must have a good imagination. God requires a vivid imagination to understand His Kingdom. You won't grow spiritually without being able to imagine good things happening in your life.

Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash

George‘s Anger: Part 3

Part 3 of 3. Story of a difficult relationship with George and Barb. George had been a pastor and had multiple health issues as well as repressed anger. He and his wife requested medical advice but did not want any spiritual or emotional advice. Is anger like murder? Why was Jesus angry if he told us never to be? Why did Jesus instruct us to turn the other cheek? Are Jesus' disciples to be doormats inviting and even encouraging exploitation? Where does forgiveness fit into the anger scenario? While expressing anger as rage and violence are bad for health and relationships, repressing anger can also be bad for health. Have you been taught to repress your anger?

Photo by Tim Doerfler on Unsplash

George's Anger: Part 2

Part 2 of 3. Story of a difficult relationship with George and Barb. George had been a pastor and had multiple health issues as well as repressed anger. He and his wife requested medical advice but did not want any spiritual or emotional advice. Is anger like murder? Why was Jesus angry if he told us never to be? Why did Jesus instruct us to turn the other cheek? Are Jesus' disciples to be doormats inviting and even encouraging exploitation? Where does forgiveness fit into the anger scenario? While expressing anger as rage and violence are bad for health and relationships, repressing anger can also be bad for health. Have you been taught to repress your anger?

Photo by Tim Doerfler on Unsplash