Jesus Calling By Sarah Young

Come to Me for all that you need. Come into My Presence with thanksgiving, for thankfulness opens the door to My treasures. When you are thankful, you affirm the central truth that I am God. I am Light, in whom there is no darkness at all. The assurance that I am entirely Good meets your basic need for security. Your life is not subject to the whims of a sin-stained deity. Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy. Come to Me with confident expectation. There is nothing you need that I cannot provide. Psalm 95:2, 1 Joh 1:5

Being Strong;

This week has not been an easy one for me. I have always struggled with anxiety and fear, yet this week has been very hard for me. I really think that I haven't dealt with some really tough issues from my past and the enemy keeps bringing those up for me to struggle with again. I know God wants me to face these struggles head on and move forward once and for all. A few weeks ago, on the anniversary of my grandmother's murder, I cried most of that week on and off. The anniversary of her death doesn't normally really affect me in a huge way, but for some reason this anniversary was extremely difficult. I think this week has just been a continuation of that struggle and I don't think I have ever really grieved my grandmother's death. God allowed me to have this wonderful woman in my life for 30 years and for that I am thankful. I will never truly understand why God chose to take her to his home in the heavens, but I know God said to her when she arrived, " Well done, good and faithful servant." My grandmother lived her life for the Lord and she was the ultimate example of excellence in human form to me, yet I know God has a plan for all the pain as well as the joy we face while in our earthly home. Grief is a powerful emotion and I think I had to be strong for everyone else during that time, and I never grieved. I have always had to be the strong one and keep everything bottled up inside and not need anyone to worry about me. Yet, through this past few weeks, I have realized that I am falling apart inside because I keep everything inside and act like I have it all together. Usually, I do have a pretty good grasp on whatever is going on in my life, but lately I really just need someone to stand beside me and say..." I am here" and to give me a hug. I need a friend with skin on as my mom says.. I have just recently been out of the workforce for the first time in my adult life. I am really struggling with finding my purpose in being home. I miss being out in the public and seeing people as well as having a purpose. I really don't know what I am to do while I am at home. I help my husband some with our business but I feel like I am not contributing enough... I want more yet I don't know what that " more " is.. I am not saying material things. I am saying more than just cleaning, cooking and helping with the runnings of the business. Please pray for me and what I am suppose to be doing during this time of transition. I would also appreciate you praying for me to find a good friend that will be a part of my life... I pray for you as well. Please leave me a comment..

Online Bible Study

Chapter 1: Everyone Worries, Don’t They? Hey fellow Bible Study friends, I am so thrilled that you have decided to join this awesome bible study. Dr. Linda Mintle is a fabulous author and has been featured on The 700 Club as well as other prime time shows such as The Doctors. She is the author of over 15 books, including Breaking Free from Anger and Unforgiveness. Linda is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and believes that all women should live a life free from worry, anxiety and fear. You can purchase this from either Amazon.com or Christianbook.com Sample of Chapter Titles: 1. Everyone Worries, Don’t They? 2. Life, Difficult Times, and the Nightly News 3. Confessions of Worriers: Why We Do It 4. Worried Sick: The Physical Toll of Worry I am just finishing up another bible study on fear and living a fearless life, so I know that this study will go along with Letting Go of Worry. Let us find the best for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11. God Bless. I hope you will sign up through the email to join this study. Email me at: joyfuljourneynewsletter@gmail.com or mikesgal65@yahoo.com

Pain

Last week was really a tough week for me due to the memories I faced of my grandmother and her murder. It was also a rough week because in the same week many years ago, my husbands brother took his own life, so the week of April 10-17th is a rough one for my whole family. Yet, this is another week and I am trying to move forward. I have been struggling with some issues from my past and I know that God wants me to be free from the past but for some reason I keep beating myself up over the same things. But I am done with that... Do you hear me enemy? You cannot beat me up anymore. You know exactly where I struggle but I am not going to let you make me jump off into that pit any longer. I previously, willingly, jumped off into that pit because I didn't feel like I was worth anymore than the pain and hurt and fear I struggled with, yet through the last few years, I am learning that I am worth so much to God and that is enough. Maybe I will never be a awesome writer, blogger etc, but I know regardless of what I accomplish in this life, none of that matters to God. He loves me, accepts me, is enthralled with my beauty, chose me and wants the best for me, no matter what others think or say about me. I cannot live in the past or in the pain from the past. Sometimes it might be easier to keep living that "story" but is that "story" glorifying God or glorifying the enemy? I know my story has awesome miracles and powerful experiences that I know are valuable teaching and ministry tools, but I do not want to use my past pain to give the enemy more credit than God. God is the ultimate healer of my soul as well as the lover of my soul. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. He will always accept me no matter how much I fail or how often I keep making the same mistakes. Today, I pray for you that you will also remember that God loves you and wants you to be released from your pain. Use your past to minister to others and help others find freedom, but don't allow the enemy to use your "story" against you. You are free today, my friend. Hugs and Blessings to You...

16 Years Ago Today My Life Changed

Hmmm.. Today is a hard day for me, but really, if I am honest this whole week has been tough for me as well as my whole family. 16 years ago on this date, my grandmother, Neenie, was murdered by my grandfather, who then took his own life. My grandmother, Neenie, was more like a mother to me at times than my own mom. I knew with my grandmother, her love was unconditional where often times at home, love felt conditonal. Neenie loved me as I was.. No question and no doubt. I knew she wanted the best for me and was always cheering me on in whatever aspect of my life I was facing. Whether that was school, friends, choir, dreams, goals or marriage and family. I knew that some of my decisions she might have been unhappy with or disappointed in, but I never once heard a negative word come out of her mouth about me or my decisions. She LOVED ME and I am forever grateful for that. She changed me in so many ways. I had the grandmother that most kids dreamed of having, yet very few had the privilige of having. She was the grandmother who took the time to have slumber parties with me and my friends, took the time to show me how to cook, sew and even had the patience to help me learn to drive. She was the fun grandmother who always included everyone at her house, even my friends and cousins from the other side of the family. We had homemade taffy pulls with lots of dripping butter so the taffy wouldn't burn our hands. We had tea parties and made mud pies and mud towns under the big tree in her backyard. We took trips to Sonic for a coke. She would invite me to her house for the weekend and we would go to church or I would spend the summers with her, which then allowed me to go with her to work. I loved going to her office and pretending to work as a secretary. But my best memory of all is her taking the time to make sure I was in church as often as my parents would allow because we didn't live in the same town. Sometimes it was every weekend or every other weekend, or even at times longer than that before we saw each other again, but I always knew that when I went to Neenie's, we were going to church. Through her example and her love, I was saved and baptized in 1979 at Fairview Baptist Church in Levelland Texas, which is the home church of all of my grandmothers family. They all still attend there. This blog today is to remember my wonderful grandmother, Neenie, who God somehow knew I would need in my life to give me the godly example of a good, christian woman, wife, and mother. I loved her and will always miss her. But one day we will meet again. Today has been a sad time for me. I usually don't go to the cemetary during the year to see any of my family there, but today I really felt like I needed to make that trip. I believe God did something in my heart today when I went there. Something finally broke free in all of the anger I have had in losing her to murder and my grandfather to suicide. The weight is lifting some. More and more each day. I know I will never forget her and I will never stop missing her, but God has a plan even in the pain and suffering. Neenie, I hope you are proud of me and the life I am living. I want you to be proud of me.. I miss you. For: Inetha Henderson Cooke Sones April 11th 1996 Even when I doubt, I know Jesus never fails..

What does your soul look like?

What does your soul look like? If God looked into your soul, what would He see? Would it be pleasing? This is a question I heard someone ask on television and it has really made me think... I know that we have a body, soul and spirit. The body will decay after we die and the spirit will go to be with the Lord but our soul is where our feelings, emotions, hurts, pains, struggles reside. We know that we are seen day in and day out by the Lord and nothing is hidden from his view, so this makes me wonder if my soul is pleasing to the Lord? I just am thinking.... What about you? What do you think about this question? Another question I want you to think about is: What gives you the greatest joy? And Why? Have a blessed day. Check out my guest blog post at www.sistersinbloom.com. My post is called "Don't put an old fear on a new day"

Fear

I have been joining about 2600 other men and women on an online bible study about fear. Before I always thought that fear meant you were weak, lacking or not worthy of God's faithfulness in your life because if I had fear that must mean somehow along the line of handing out character traits, I wasn't given the trait of courage or self esteem.. Otherwise, I wouldn't be fearful. But over time I have realized, the opposite is really true because everyday that I wake up to face my fears and walk through the fire to make my life continue to move forward, that must mean I am being courageous and not fearful. I may be feeling anxious and fearful inside, but I still put one foot in front of the other because I don't want my life to pass me by and one day have regrets that I missed out on a huge plan that God had for me and my life. About 4 years ago, I was totally homebound due to my agoraphobia. One day after many struggles after talking myself into making the necessary steps to overcome this, my husband came home from his job and said that his boss wanted him to go to a class for his job in another town. The town is about 2 1/2 hours from us. Mike wanted me to go with him on the trip and we could spend the weekend out of town. We had not been anywhere in years... Literally years due to my fear of travel. I knew that Mike really wanted me to go with him on this trip but I was so afraid to commit because what if I couldn't do it.. What if something happened and I had a panic attack? What if.. What if... I told Mike that if I could find someone to work for me the 3 days we would be gone, then I would go.. I told God that if He wanted me to go with Mike then he would have to work it all out.. Surprise, Surprise. The next day at my job I found another employee that said they would work all 3 days for me.. Well, now I am in a mess because now I have to go.. We left town on a Thursday and I took my laptop, tons of books, my Bible and my music on my IPOD. I planned on trying to stay so busy that I didn't have time to get nervous or fearful. We had planned to stop about half way in a pretty good size town and do some shopping, then head out again. Needless to say, once we got to Amarillo, I was okay until it got time to go to bed. I just have never enjoyed being in a new town, new place, or around an unfamilar area.. I don't know where that fear comes from but I am really making strides to figure it out in counseling. I know there is a reason. We had a good time out of town and Mike was so proud of me for stepping out and doing something that I was so afraid of doing. I knew it was important to him and he wanted me to go, so I did it. I have realized that I have always believed that I was lacking in courage or self esteem or some other character trait that all of these other people had that did all of these awesome things in their lives, but now I realize that I have that inside of me too. I just need to decide that I have the POWER, LOVE, and SELF CONTROL that the Bible talks about in 2 Timothy 1:7.. I know that God's power lies inside of me, so with HIM, I am powerful.. WIth HIM, I have love. With HIM, I have self control. Basically I am talking to myself trying to convince myself that I can do this.. I can make this trip I so desperately want to make. I haven't seen my grandmother in about 6 years and I haven't seen my cousins or Uncle in that long either. I want so desperately to make this 6 1/2 hour trip.. LOrd, Please guide me on the road to continued healing, power and freedom from this stronghold of fear in my life. I know that you want everyone free from fear and I ask you to do this miraclious work in my life and any other person reading this today. Fear is such a powerful emotion but I know POWER comes from you Lord to overcome anything we face. You know my hearts desire.. I ask that you TOTALLY, TOTALLY eradicate this from my life and for me to never feel its presence again. I know you want the best for me and every other person reading this. Your plans are always the best.. I thank you for the wonderful family I have who are so understanding and so encouraging.. Without my husband and other family that loves me, I would be lost. www.melissataylor.org Online Bible Study.. Check out her website