A New Year Full of Awesome Things

I absolutely love a new year. A new year holds so much promise. I get another year older, another year wiser, and married a little bit longer to my main man. My children continue to grow and discover the world around them and it is just all a really awesome thing. As do many, I love to organize things and declutter my life as well as work on priorities. Just like most others, I probably don't keep a lot of these new habits, but I'm a dreamer. That's just the life of a dreamer like myself. I love to dream of new possibilities and what might be. I love to think of better ways to do things and how I can make myself become a better version of me. I would love to be more of a doer. Hmmmm....maybe that should be a goal for 2015. But I have digressed.....

I was studying my last devotion of the year and one of the scriptures to read was Romans 15:13.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Then I read in another devotion, John 14: 26-28 It is Jesus speaking. The words gave me chills. I'm pretty sure I've read this passage often, but for some reason it really hit me.

"But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative - that is, the Holy Spirit - he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And that peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."

So these two passages stayed in my heart over the course of the day. We have a gift. A very important gift. We have peace of mind and heart. It is a kind of peace that nothing else in the world can give. Sometimes my anxiety is over the top, but then I read this. He gives ME peace. A peace that is different. Our God of Hope fills us with JOY and PEACE as we trust HIM. We can OVERFLOW with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. Did you read that? It said overflow. Overflow with hope. Wow.

I don't know about you, but those promises are comforting. So as we go into our new year filled with new adventures, new life, new jobs, moving,  possibilities,  major life changes, or whatever it may be for you - remember, He's got this. HE has GOT this. He has you. He gives you peace. Be brave. Take risks. You might fail. In fact, you probably will fail at some things. It is okay. I promise. You'll keep going. You'll make it. Do some hard stuff. Do some fun stuff. Do some silly stuff. Allow yourself to love and experience joy like never before. He doesn't promise a perfect life, but he promises us something that the world cannot offer - a peace like no other - and I'm clinging to that promise. 

~ Peace out homies. May your 2015 be peaceful, full of hope, lots of joy, and rockin' all at the same time. 

Serenity

Psalm 143:8
"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. "

I prayed that Psalm to my heavenly Father yesterday morning in an uber girly room at a beautifully serene bed and breakfast in Rogersville, Alabama. 

I trusted Him. I walked in a beautiful meadow of wildflowers that He made just for us. All a part of His masterpiece. I was enveloped in His peace. Every step that I took I could sense His calming presence. 

I struggle with anxiety. It comes and goes and here lately, it has definitely been coming more than going. Just walking around the peaceful fields and being able to listen to the quiet. Listening to the squish of mud under my feet. Hearing the song of the cicadas. In tune with the melody of birds.  It spoke to my soul. He spoke to my soul. He touched my soul. 

Later on that day, I walked around a pretty park in the Shoals and viewed Coldwater Falls. I was surrounded by His peace once again. The cold water on my toes. The mist from the falls and the cool breeze upon my skin. He was there showing me His goodness.

Psalm 34: 8 
"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him."

Walking around the birthplace of Helen Keller, Ivy Green, and feeling inspired by her story. 
Determined to have an even better school year with my children after listening to the words of Helen's speech to the Lion's Club. Helen's teacher took the time to learn about her and therefore she broke through the "dark, silent, imprisonment". Feeling courageous and ready to tackle the new school year because of the promises He has made to me. 

2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
 

Experiencing deep conversations and plenty of goofiness with a dear friend that connects us in a spiritual way. Knowing that God crossed our paths for a specific reason and thankful for a friend who understands me so well. 

Photo creds: Sarah Tullock

God gently reminded me of His peace. He reminded me that I can be strong and brave. I needed the reminder.

- Peace out.

 

Peace

I'm guest blogging again for my pastor. This topic deals with my Lent journey of finding peace, and you can read the post over here.

Spring Cleaning

So, I started some pretty hard core spring cleaning today. Much needed. I decided to work in my laundry room, which I hoped to finish, but I still have another hour or two of work left. Honestly, I don't think I did any major spring cleaning last year, probably because I was still getting used to life with three children. It takes me quite awhile to adjust to a new child. Anyway, I'm always amazed at how much stuff I accumulate in a year's time. I'm pretty motivated to finish the whole house and I think next week is low-key, so I really hope to knock out most of it next week.

During my immersion in my cleaning, I had some time with my thoughts because Sam was napping and Kadie was playing quietly. I really started thinking of how Lent has been spring cleaning for my soul. This is really the first year I've been really dedicated to my Lent journey. I didn't grow up in the Methodist church, so Lent is a pretty new concept for me. Even though we've been at our current church for five years (wow), I still really didn't understand Lent until this year.

I've always loved spring but this year combined with my worrying less and having more peace journey and our seemingly record high temps (at least in my book), I am so happy. Happiness is not always something that comes easily for me. I have a hard time letting go of my worries and troubles, and therefore don't always allow myself to experience my joy. That is the problem. I've always let myself be the determining factor in whether or not I experience joy. Quite frankly it is downright stupid. I've had to let go of a lot lately and I'm pretty sure that is why I've really experienced the joy. 

My prayer is that everyone can really let God give your soul a good spring cleaning. Confess your sins, pray, and live your life. I will end on some pictures and quotes that I enjoy.

Enjoying His presence in the present journey

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I can’t even begin to express how much I needed this devotional that I’m doing for Lent. Day 3 hit home with me.

Here is a quote I’d like to share. 

“You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you’re going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you’re not looking where you’re going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don’t know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.”

40 Days with Jesus – Celebrating His Presence by Sarah Young

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

I know that. I have known that as long as I can remember, but it much easier to quote the verse than to live it. If I truly walk with my faith in God, then I don’t really need to worry. And the Bible tells me many times that I shouldn’t worry.

After reading that excerpt from the book, I realize that my worries about things in the far and distant future and keeping me from leading a full and joyful life.

Now most of my blog readers know that our oldest son was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. That brings a whole myriad of new worries for me. It literally consumes my thoughts. I’m reading about it constantly. We are starting different types of therapy, and then we deal with it every day in our life.  I know that it is still pretty new, but I really don’t know that I’ve completely given it to God. There is so much unknown and I have a really hard time of letting go of the unknown. And the thing is, God will do a much better job than I will – so I’m not even really sure why I worry. My worry doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t help God. It doesn’t help me. It doesn’t help my family. Why don’t I just let it go? And I certainly will not be able to figure out the unknown. So, I just need to walk by faith. God has got this. He really does.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

The above verse changes my perspective on absolutely everything.  So short, yet so profound.

Gracious Father,

Keep my heart open to your guidance. Take my stubbornness out of the way. Remove me and my desires from the equation and lead me where You want me.  Fill my heart with peace so that I don’t worry and so that I can completely trust You. I know you want to prosper me.  My inheritance is not of this world. Help me to remember that every day of my life.  

In your Son’s precious name. Amen.

Gonna be all right

I am doing a 40 day devotional for Lent. I probably won’t blog every single day, but writing is a major way I express myself, so I imagine I will definitely be blogging often about my Lent journey. It often is how I hear what God is trying to tell me. And many times when I start writing with one idea in mind, I end up somewhere completely different. I don’t really think that is a coincidence.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8

He is good. The only way we can taste His goodness is to draw near. We are to take refuge in Him. He is our place of safety. Our shelter.

I can remember as a young girl, I would hide in my daddy’s arms.  If I felt scared, I could hide in his giant & strong arms. I felt so safe. Nothing could harm me if I was in the refuge of my dad’s arms. I felt so protected from the world around me. Even as a grown woman, there was nothing comparable to a big bear hug from my dad.  I still felt safe as a grown woman. What a feeling of peace.

Drawing so near to God, that you feel enveloped in His arms. That truly is a feeling of peace. I want that. I want that every day. And I can have it. So can you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

It is really awesome to think about how God actually desires for us to have peace within our hearts. I’m not going to lie. I deal with anxiety. I have a very hard time falling to sleep at night because my mind takes off and I start worrying about everything. I know that I shouldn’t worry. I know what the Bible says about worrying.  Yet, I still worry. But something about reading that passage about peace tonight really hit home with me. It is like all of the years I’ve read what the Bible has to say about not worrying and having peace has finally sunk into my incredibly stubborn skull.  I think one of my sinful behaviors I need to give up for Lent, is worrying.

And I will end with some of my favorite song lyrics from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” because my strange brain often thinks in song lyrics 90% of the time.

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Because ultimately with the refuge of God’s arms and the peace of Christ in our hearts, every little thing is gonna be all right. And that is pretty freakin’ awesome.