New Year-New Beginnings. Facing Fear and Starting Again

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28(ESV)

If God closes a door AND a window, consider the fact that it might be time to build a whole new house." ― Mandy Hale

Fear of something bad happening in the future is one of the things that make us human. I know when I contemplated starting over in a new career, with new relationships, thinking about a totally new plan for life - fear of the unknown was "stifling", "paralyzing". I have friends that are in the beginning stages of "starting over". What makes us fear starting over so much? Here are a few guesses:
failure
abandonment/rejection
intimacy
success
being broke
not being good enough What can help us "battle fear" and bring all things to good? Many of the writers I interact with in the "blogosphere" do not have a true belief in "God". Very sad to not have a belief/relationship in God. FAITH in Him is the true weapon against fear of the unknown and "starting over".

The Truth About God
(taken from http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=expecting_the_good_that_god_wants_to_give_you)

God is good. Everything He does is good and wonderful. Everything God gives and offers is greater than what the devil offers, so shouldn’t our expectations come from God? God wants to do something outrageously wonderful in your life every moment of every day. But you have to be ready and expect it to happen.

Isaiah 30:18 (AMP) says it perfectly: "Therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you…. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him…."

God is looking and longing for someone who’s waiting for Him to be good to them. God wants to be good to you, but you have to be expecting Him to move in your life.

Today is your day to start believing something good is going to happen to you! God is working in your life right now, and when you get your breakthrough, it will be the result of what God has been doing for a long time. Whether you see it or feel it or not, keep praying and expecting because God is longing to be gracious and good to you.

Father God - Thank you for wanting to give us "good things" if we have faith and expect "good things" from you. Remind us that all things work together for your purpose for our lives. Point out that you want GOOD things for our life if we have faith and communication with you. Help us to lean on you when we are fearful. Help us to rejoice in our baby steps that we achieve through You. Help us to continue to pray for a break through when we aren't seeing results. Thank you for your continual faith and love. Amen.

New Beginnings for the New Year

 

 Some of you say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money." 14 But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. 15 So you should say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that." 16 But now you are proud and you brag. All of this bragging is wrong. James 4:13-17

"Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one." ― Brad Paisley

I think we have ALL made grand, huge New Years Resolutions only to break them within the first few months, haven't we? Why was it so hard to stick it out? I'm beginning to learn that setting goals, with God's guidance; is ONE part of the equation. Attaining them requires daily work and mindfulness of the goal we want to attain. Baby steps.

Goals, with God's guidance give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level.
]So I pose these questions to you as we get close to another New Year:
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With God's guidance, what would you like to have happen in your life this year? What would you like to do, to accomplish? What good would you like to attract into your life? What particular areas of growth would you like to have happen to you?

With God's guidance, what problems would you like to see solved? What decisions would you like to make? What would you like to happen in your career? What would you like to see happen within your family life?

Write it down. Take a piece of paper, a few hours of your time, and write it all down - as an affirmation of you, your life, and your ability to choose. Then let it go and pray to God for support daily to attain what you seek in His will.

Father God - Thank you so much for your guidance and teaching as a "compass" of where to head in the next year. Help us daily to read, pray and act on what we would like to attain, within Your will. Help us to relax and know that some of these goals require daily baby steps. If we get off track, we can get back on track - with Your help and love. Thank you for new beginnings. Amen

GOD'S GIFTS- CHRIST'S BIRTH

Luke 2:9-14
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Father God - Thank you so much for the miraculous birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for the bright star of Bethlehem. This star is a symbol of our only source of true hope, true love, true salvation-Jesus Christ. Help us to remember the importance of "Christ's birth everyday and share this with others. Amen

Taking Care of Family/Loved Ones in Need

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

These verses were on my mind for a few days now. I think this is a good biblical example of how God views the role of family. When family are physically sick, are in emotional downturns, going through "storms", God points out through verses and parables how we are to care for them as example of his Love. This has been especially on my heart since my parents have been "under the weather" and deailing with illness.

Our extended family "strives" to hold Christian values. We have had very many good role models DESPITE our society that provides a mindset of independence. A mindset based on "me and mine" versus "us and ours". I remember my paternal grandpa caring for his mother when she was in need of care at an older age. My mother was able to provide care to her elderly father despite conflicts in their relationship. My father, very much a "caregiver" has given care to my mother, my stepmother, to me, to my child when sick and other family members when in need.

WHY ARE WE TO HAVE LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS TO FAMILY AND LOVED ONES DURING TIME OF SICKNESS?

God points out through many passages and parables. Luke 10:30-35 - describes a Good Samaritan coming by a man, beaten stripped and robbed. He took him to an inn, asked the innkeeper to take care of him and paid him what was required to stay. And said "'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.'

Matthew 25:35-40 God wants us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and unfortunate, take care of the sick. God states 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

As individuals, we never know when we are going to be the "ones that are cared for" or "the caregivers". However, as family/loved ones, to be faithful and caring to our other loved ones in need is a fundamental belief that God reminds us to uphold. When we do we are making sure that are family is taken care of. Also, its very rewarding to take care of others when we have been taken care of in some point in our lives.

　

Father God - Thank you so much for taking care of  us during times of need through the care of special loved ones and friends. Help us to learn to give back and to be loyal, faithful and compassionate to those in need. Help us to uphold family as a gift that you give us. Thank you for your blessings and unfailing love. Amen.

God's Gifts - Unconditional and Unfailing Love

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.1 Corinthians 13:7

Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves Romans 12:9-10 (NCV)

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Ephesians 4:2-3
(ESV)

Unconditional love in relationships. How many of us experience that? How many of us "practice" that? If we haven't experienced, how do we give that to others?

Jesus set himself as the standard for how to love. His standard is the greatest act of unselfish love humanity has ever seen – as God entering Mary to come as a child to save us. Laying down his own life for the salvation of humanity. And that is how he showed us the meanings of ‘what is love’ and ‘how to love’.

When we have experienced "unconditional love" from others, isn't it wonderful? Loving each other through thick in thin? Sickness and health? When we are angry, disagree - knowing we can still know we can count on our partner, friend, parent, brother/sister? So difficult to strive for, maintain, even feel from someone else but worth it. God teaches us this is the greatest gift that HE gives to us.He wants us to give this wonderful gift to others.

Father God-Thank you so much for you wonderful unconditional love for us. Help us to not take for granted our partners, friends/family members that we live experience "everyday" life with. Remind us that you are the most true example of the "gift of faithful love" that we can strive for. You love us though we are flawed, selfish, quick tempered. You hang in there with us when times get tough. Please help us be more like you. Amen

Assertiveness for the Christian Women

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ". Ephesians 4:15

Can a Christian woman be assertive? I believe that we, as women, get mixed messages from society. It is so easy to believe in the peace-making, loving, loving others more than self example that mostly we strive to be.I reflect on my mother. Wow, was she ever assertive Christian mother lol. But, for the most part, she had a level head but spoke her mind if she felt things weren't right. Family and friends truly "respected" her for that quality. There is a time for being assertive. Assertiveness is standing up for dignity, self worth, service and true spiritual values in the face of a worldly, self-seeking system in today's society. It is refusing to be to be walked all over, or to be a "Christian doormat" because there is work to accomplish, for God, for things in our lives. Sometimes, its "standing up" for yourself or something you strongly believe in when others are looking after themselves. Its having values and believing in them . There are several examples of "strong women" in the Bible. It would be great to highlight them more, wouldn't it?

Someone that caught my eye this morning is Deborah, only female judge and prophetess in Israel. Deborah, with the help of a man named Barak, led Israel to victory over the Canaanites. The leader of the Canaanite army was a man named Sisera and Deborah played a major part in defeating him. (Judges 5) Deborah is one of the oldest examples of fighting women. The story of Deborah shows that a woman can have a mind and can help others in hard times and that she could stand up for what she believes in. She is a leader for women everywhere, proving to us that women can do everything that men can. While her people were in battle Deborah still praised the Lord and kept in mind that it was God who was helping her people fight. The balance of assertiveness and "prayerfulness" and "" helped Deborah to fight and to succeed for what she felt God wanted her to "fight for".

　

Challenge for today: With prayerfulness, ask God to help you be bold and truthful with your words. Think about the values that you hold most high. Ask God if these values are "self seeking" or truly things that he would want you to stand up for as a Christian. If you feel peace and an urging to speak boldly about what you truly believe in, do it. Pray for the right time. Pray that others will understand and do what they believe is truly what God would have them to do. Pray that this honesty will help the relationship grow in respect, love and consideration. Amen

　

　

God's Gifts - A New Beginning with each New Sunrise

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life."John 8:12

SUNRISE---

Oh, Lord today I was breathless, when I saw the beauty of Your love
while gazing at the sunrise peaking through the skies above.

I watched as the stars disappeared, fading with the dark of night
the morning first rays beaming with Your glorious eternal light.

As the beauty rose up before me, a crimson glow was all I could see
oh, Lord today I was breathless as Your beauty surrounded me.

How I love these early mornings, when I get a glimpse of You
watching Your love spread outas Your glory shines through.

Lord, You gave me this sunrise, with just the stroke of Your hand
oh, Lord today I was breathless as You lit up the whole land.


Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

With all the hussle and bussle of "getting ready for Christmas" : buying presents, getting menus together, shopping, Christmas parties; its difficult to realize how many daily gifts we receive from God. It was on my mind today that "every sunrise/morning" is a true blessing from God. NOW, do I think that EVERY morning?? No lol. Sometimes its hard to get up, think about bus duty on a cold morning, bills that need to be paid, etc. But with each day He allows us to "start again" and meditate our hearts on Him and love for others. No matter what we are going through, he is consistent and faithful like "the morning sunrise" to give us new hope and beginnings for the day.

 Challenge for this day/every morning: Will all of our hearts, let's thank God and praise Him for His immeasurable love and grace. Let us look at each new day as a new beginning, and an opportunity to show Him how grateful we are for all He has done for us. Recognize that the trials in our lives have been orchestrated out of love and for a reason. They are meant to refine and transform us. Let's thank the Lord for each new day, and each new challenge, and each new person He sends our way.