For a Christian, is anxiety a sin?

Hi friends, it’s been almost a year since I’ve posted, and I’ve missed you.  Seminary is keeping me busy and there’s not been much time to write.  But, since I have a lot of new subscribers, I wanted to send something out to welcome them!   

It had been a horrible week. I was finishing up one of my seminary classes that had required mounds and mounds of work. My anxiety level was through the roof. Sadly, just to function like a normal adult, I had to take a lot of medication. Otherwise, my heart would just race and race, which feels horrible. The medication calmed my heart so that I could feel normal and function like I used to.

During this week of overwhelming schoolwork, I fought anxiety tooth and nail. I battled it during breakfast. I prayed while I took a walk. I practiced mindful meditation in the bed. But still, anxiety had kicked my butt and I was exhausted. I was weary of the daily, even hourly, fight to live like God created my body to function.

Panic attack (more…)

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My story of finding true love and acceptance in a world full of rejection

Many people who knew me “then” and see me “now” are surprised to see that Lisa Morgan Moore, of all people, is a Christian!  My teenage and college years were full of rebellion and deep, dark sin.  I’ve been traveling NC, SC, and VA for three years telling the story of why my life changed, and Who changed it. If you need a life change, or want to be inspired by seeing the power of a changed life, listen to my raw, honest, and inspiring story that tells the true meaning of what Christians believe.

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How you can live a life that inspires others

My thirty minute talk is finished and I’m standing at the door greeting women as they leave. Some walk on by, some give me a hug, and some give let me know how my message impacted them.

“You are such an inspiration!”

“Who, me?” I wonder. Dumbfounded, I look around, trying to figure out who she was talking about. I look at my life and I have no idea what she is talking about.

I see the struggle.
I see the pain.
I see the weakness.
I see the failure.

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Overcoming my fear of flying to go to Costa Rica

Hello friends!  And welcome to all of our new subscribers!  I’m so thankful you have joined this journey with us.  My January was a blur of busy-ness.  How about yours?  I’m starting to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”…well, until I say “yes” to something else!

I wanted to write and share with you about my mission trip to Costa Rica in late January.  If you follow me on Facebook or YouTube (Lisa Morgan Moore) then you know that before this trip, I was afraid to fly.  I had not been on a plane in almost 20 years.  Being afraid to fly is quite a hurdle for someone who is endeavoring to become a professional speaker!  I’ve know for a long time that I needed to overcome my fear of flying.  And in my mind the only way to conquer a fear was to face it down and “just do it.”

God’s grace met me right at the point of my fear.  I worked with my therapist for weeks, talking about the flight, how to handle anxiety, and what things would help me stay calm in the airport and on the plane.  I had snacks, chocolate, a blanket, a stuffed animal, my favorite necklace and on all my flights, I sat next to “Miss Addie,” who’s the “Mama” to everyone in our church.  She held my hand and I put my head on her shoulder during takeoff!  I was so proud of myself – while medication was in my “tool box” of things to help me get on the plane, I did not need it.  Courage got me on that plane.  I did it afraid.

overcoming fear of flying (more…)

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You’re not a failure if you admit that you need help

For months, the Zoloft prescription sat on my desk gathering dust. I didn’t need it. I stubbornly thought I could beat my anxiety disorder without it. I didn’t want to break down and have to go on medication. Month after month I valiantly battled anxiety. I read books, talked to friends, prayed, binged on worship, and refused the help my doctor had offered.

Finally, declaring defeat. I broke down. I filled the prescription.

I need help

Me, during a debilitating anxiety attack

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How to grow in courage and confidence

My stomach was in knots. Butterflies, grumblings, and cramps swirled around while I waited for the church service to begin. It was January, 2015, and it was my very first time teaching a Wednesday night Bible study at my church. I was prepared, but scared. I looked around the room and saw about 75 people. Oh, Lord, help me.

Then SHE walked in.

I did not expect her to come. After all, for years I felt that she didn’t like me. Then after our “conflict,” I was pretty certain she didn’t care for me and she definitively intimated me. Why was SHE here? She was the last person in the world that I envisioned being here.

Nausea joined my stomach problems. Instead of peacefully trusting in God before I stepped up on the stage, I was sitting in my chair with my head between my knees. No joke. Trying to breathe. Trying not to throw up.

But then the time came for me to walk up on the stage, and I had no choice: I did what I had to do. I shakily walked up the steps and stood on that stage and taught the lesson I had prepared. In front of 75 people.  Including her.

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Sometimes I hide, but people weren’t made to hide

I never wanted to be on Facebook.  In order to be a professional speaker, I was told, I HAD to have a Facebook account and  begin networking with others.  The memory is forever seared in my brain of when a friend came over to help me set up my Facebook account.  I was terrified.

Why was it so hard for me? There were people out there who had hurt me. And I didn’t want to be hurt again.

I am on Facebook because it’s a way that I can reach and encourage others, and let people know about my writing and speaking ministry. But honestly, if I had my druthers, I would hide out at home, like a turtle, never sticking my head out. Alone. And safe.

sometimes I hide

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I didn’t know I needed a friend

Lately I have been thinking about friendships. Don’t we all long for a good friend? Through the years, my friendships have been feast or famine. There have been times when I was satisfied and content with my circle of friends. There were times when I took a new job in order to find friends. And there were times – lots of times – when I felt like I had no friends.  In those times, I needed a friend.

The past few years have been good for me friendship-wise. I have a small circle of close friends, and then a wider circle of women that I have mentored or have ministered to who have become friends. Spending time together does that! So I have felt full, and blessed, and thankful for my friendships.

I was not looking for a new friend. I didn’t think I needed a new friend. I definitely did not have time for a new friend!

But God thought differently.

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I feel so alone. God, where are you?

It was a day where I desperately needed to hear from God. I had been reading my Bible. I had been praying. And I had been worshipping. But I felt far from God, and I did not understand why. I was in a near panic because I was speaking at a retreat in a few weeks, and I NEEDED GOD’S HELP to write my message and then deliver it. This was not a good time for God to seem so far away.  I wondered, “God, where are you?”

There are many times when God seems distant. He definitely feels distant when we have done something wrong and we are ashamed of our sin. Just like Eve in the garden of Eden, we hide from God when we have fallen into temptation and done wrong.  Also, there are times when we are doing everything right, but it feels like our prayers are hitting a glass ceiling. And then there are other times when it feels like our life is crumbling around us, and we ask in bewilderment, “God, where are you?”

God where are you

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The time that I didn’t get the memo about what to wear

My husband, Brian, is an executive at General Electric and through the years, we’ve had many occasions to go to company dinners at country clubs and golf resorts. These events have always been hard for me!  I’m a down-to-earth girl who grew up roaming her grandmother’s farm, and I would much rather eat a burger and fries at Five Guys than a fancy meal at an expensive restaurant.

The question is always, “What do I wear?” I can’t remember what I ate yesterday, but I will never forget being in the ladies bathroom at the Landfall Country Club here in Wilmington. I was dressed in my frumpy mommy clothing, desperately trying to cover up leftover pregnancy weight, and the other wives were dressed like they could be on magazine covers. They looked like supermodels.appearance

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