“That ‘no’ you’re getting from God may be to block you from taking the worst detour of your life. Don’t force a ‘yes’. He has a better ‘yes’ ahead.” – Beth Moore
“You will hear your Teacher’s voice behind you. You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left. It will say, ‘Here is the path I want you to take. So walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21 (NIRV)
Blessings!
Jerry Ann
Living in the Sunshine State, we are accustomed to a lot of sun. We haven’t had a good rain in a couple of months, and we have been in a bit of a drought.
Today, we have had a bit of rain.
“Sitting outside. Heard raindrops patter the leaves before they ever graced the dry ground. Oh, to hear God’s Spirit pouring midair and look up.” – Beth Moore
I have been a drought of self doubt…knowing better. I feel as though I am in a season of renewal. Shedding my fears, and negative thoughts. I question so much…am I good enough?
Listening…feeling the rain…grateful for the earth, rain, and leaves. God’s spirit talks to us everyday…just have to want to see it. What I hear today is renewal. A new season is approaching…
Blessings.
My definition of family keeps changing. I have my husband (and his family), and our children. But I also have friends that I have considered family for over twenty years. Seasons change, and we have changed. My chosen family has changed.
It isn’t personal, it is growth. Change is hard sometimes for me. I like variety in my work, but when it comes to structure of friends and family I tend to be very loyal. That’s is the problem – loyalty isn’t always a good thing. Seasons are required for growth. Love and understanding is required for family.
How is your season of family and friends defined?
Blessings.
From my Passion Planner last week. I have been praying – meditating on this all week.
When the kids were little, our concentration on friends were those with children of similar ages and interests. As adults, those interests have changed. My work has changed…David’s work has changed. He has the time to be more involved with the local community theater. We have met some incredible people along this path. I am so very grateful for the exposure to so many cultures and groups.
I miss my Christian involvement, and have guilt about not being involved with church. However, I feel as though I no longer belong there. Again, it is about growth and change, and it isn’t all bad.
I like the people I/we that are surround us. I love my besties, and miss them terribly when we can’t spend time together. I love our friend groups, and they are most definitely a diverse group of people.
Need to remember that I should be a good person to be around, to encourage others to be better or bring them some amount of joy. I also need to remind myself that it is okay to let some of them go, especially when they bring me down.
Thoughts?
Blessings.
So true.
Carmen is in the process of moving from Baton Rouge to Tallahassee, and has the burden of two rents until she can find a sub-lessor. She applied for and got a new job in her degree field (so proud). She has been anxious about the money, and rightly so, but we have reassured her that we will help. It will be tight, but we are able, thankfully.
She gets her anxiety from me. Although, as her parent, I try to reassure her (sometimes more than twice in a day), she accepts it, and then takes it back. I understand that it is hard not to.
“Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. When I appeared to My disciples after the resurrection, it was Peace that I communicated first of all. I knew this was their deepest need: to calm their fears and clear their minds. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out the other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, every day. Draw near to Me; receive My Peace.” – John 20:19; Colossians 3:15 – Jesus is Calling by Sarah Young
We know as children of Christ, we have peace in Him. He reassures me, I know that. I take back what I give to him thinking that I need to be in control. I know that I am not, but at the time, it makes me feel better. But in the end, it makes matters worse. I know that if I give an issue I am struggling with to God, and let Him continue to have it, it calms me —gives me a peace and understanding. It is when I think He is doing nothing that I take it back. Like I know these things?
We all struggle with peace, and anxiousness, just on different levels. People have struggled since the beginning of time with these things – maybe not a mortgage or rent – but finding shelter, and having food? Why don’t we look back and see that we are carried? Cared for? Loved and reassured? I know these things. I question. I struggle.
As a parent, I try to let our children know these same things, and become frustrated that they don’t listen. I am thankful for a God that extends His care and peace over and over again without limitations. I try to do the same for my family. That is what we are to do, right, be like Christ?
How do you struggle? What calms you with the daily issues of life?
Blessings.
I’m moving from a five bedroom unit at my apartment complex to a one bedroom, and I’m so excited to have my own space and control over the cleanliness and silence. But before I get to the new unit, I have to pack up my stuff at my current one.
This makes me think of the part of the Incredibles where Helen is talking to Bob on the phone about unpacking and she says “why do we have so much junk?”. This line sums up my thought process during packing. Seriously considering donating half the stuff in my room (not really but it would make moving so much easier).
The big plus-side to all of this is that I’m not moving to a new state, or across town, so I don’t need to meticulously pack the breakables and all of that. My winter clothes and purses and soft things are literally in trash bags just so I can easily transport them.
I’ve also recruited some friends to help me move, because my family has to work or something lame like that. Since there’s no furniture involved, technically I could do it on my own because I’m #independent, but there is no way I can get my mini fridge from my upstairs room downstairs. And it would take me 12 hours to move, but with help it might take one.
When I think about moving in the middle of August in Louisiana, I sweat. But then I think of my how happy I’ll be once I’m in my one bedroom apartment, and the air conditioning it will have.
What are your thoughts on moving?
Do you feel as though you have to compete with the person next to you? At your job? Do you feel as though you have to fight for every step? Why can’t we all support one another without having to step on each other? We are all on the same team, right? Women do this, but yet state we want to encourage one another. Fixing each other’s crowns….uplifting, encouraging each other is what I want to do. I shouldn’t have to fight to stand here, right? For my bloom to see the sun? We each have gifts, and each have a right to the sun? Each one of us bring something unique to the table. Not to be difficult, but different. We need to take time to listen to each other. We need to take time to encourage, and support. For each of us just wants to be enough.We are in the same fight…fighting to bloom.Blessings.
This week is full of transitions and change. It is completely out of my comfort zone, and to be honest I am scared of the unknown.
I am trying not to let it get it ahead of me or get to me…anxiety…fear…doubt.
I can do this–just have to get through the first week, right?
Asking for prayers, and uplifting thoughts due to fatigue and stress at the moment. Thank you!!
Blessings!
Lately there have been lots of changes at work for lots of people. Changes have been happening quickly for many, and you have to make a decision pretty quick–like overnight—check with your family if you want to pursue this or not – quick.
Some people have difficulty making a decision. Not making a decision in itself is a decision. I have always said this to our kids. Just make a decision – right or wrong – make it.
Leadership is the same – you have to make a decision. Waiting, and not making a decision is usually the worst decision.
Thoughts?
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