Day 9: Drawing Closer to God (Far from Perfect)

Although, my own walk with the Lord is far from perfect, I am so grateful to him for the baby steps that seem to happen every day from over coming fear and anxiety on what to say to people to not beating myself up for my own limitations. I am seeing firsthand how focusing on the Lord and his love for me conquers those fears, clears away the worries and helps me to see myself as the Lord sees me: unique, beautiful, child of God. I feel like I am really living out what Jesus wants for me and he is given me more and more confidence in what he has called me to do. So, I sing his praise because without Him it would not be. He is my strength, my confidence and my peace.
Phillipians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Day 6: Drawing Closer to God (Fear No More)

A few days ago I had to make a phone call that had me feeling a little anxiety. An older member of my flock as a deacon at my church was in her last days I was told via email. In the email, was the phone number for the daughter of this dying lady. So, rather than making a trip out to the facility she and her husband have been living in, I decided it was best to call the daughter since it had been a couple days since receiving the email and I had not been in a situation to be able to reach out to them. I have never been big on calling people that I do not know, let alone calling someone under such circumstances but I shared my anxiety with my hubbie and God worked through his encouraging words to help me let go of my anxiety and just do what God wanted me to do. I made the call and was sad to hear that she had indeed passed away a day after I got the email. I attended her memorial service today and found I had no more fear. I just felt conviction to be there and offer some loving words. I met the daughter and could tell how fraught she was in her grief. I boldly asked her if she was a believer and she said she was working on it; that she had turned away. I told her that I would pray that her heart would be opened to receiving the comfort and peace that only God can give her. I went on over to the husband and prayed he too would have comfort and peace. I walked away from this service thinking how much God had helped me with the loving words and touch I gave these people. I let God use me as his tool. My fearful nature is still there but I have come more and more to rely on God to help me overcome when those moments creep in. I can see a time when I will fear no more thanks be to God.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 266

In all my studying on temperament, I can see how there will be some believers who don’t get into a community of believers. People, some more than others, will be more wary, anxious or even fearful of coming to a group of strangers, even if we have the common thread of believing in Christ. These people need not only the hospitality when they get there but need to be welcomed and personally invited. A personal phone call to say hi and invite the person to come will go a long way to relieving any wariness, anxiety or fear about attending anything within a community of people you do not know. They are the sheep that are on the outside of the group looking in but afraid to get any closer. They need a sheep from the flock to come over to them and personally say “baaaaaaaaaaa” come with me. The lost sheep out on the hills need this personal invitation from the flock, too. Knowing there is a great church your friends go to may not be enough to get them to walk in the door of the church. Invite them to join you for an event or activity at the church or with your bible study group. Practice hospitality by reaching out.

3John 1:8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 89

Little did I know that I was going to come home traumatized yesterday. Now, it may sound like I am exaggerating but remember this is from a born and raised Southern California girl. Wednesday evenings my son goes down to the church for a youth group bible study time. I have been staying in town after work to have dinner and than go to the library and study. So after being at the library for about an hour, I decided to head out early and go get some frozen yogurt but as I walked out the door of the library I was blown away by how much snow had fallen in the last hour. Everything was covered. It was a blizzard! I got 75% of my windows cleared off and started to head out, only to drive up on the sidewalk because I couldn’t see it. I managed to get out of the library parking lot but was now going into full on freaking out mode. I couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of my car and everything was covered with fresh fallen snow making it very difficult to drive on the road and not the sidewalk. Well, frozen yogurt was definitely not on my mind anymore, it was frozen everything else. So, I began the trek towards the home where I would pick up my son. About half way there, he texts me to say they will drive him all the way home. Yeah! Now, I just have to make it home. I wasn’t sure about getting on the highway as I didn’t want to get stuck on it but decided to go for it. At this point, I had already prayed really hard for some relief to my anxiety. I was singing the music on the radio and slowly following behind a snow plow. But than the snow plow stops and cars are diverting around it. Great! Turns out there was a car stuck at an angle right in the middle of both lanes so we had to inch by between the car and the guard rail. Yipes, just glad it wasn’t my car. I get off at my exit and slide here and there in the turns but manage to keep going. I make it to the light to turn left and have to stop for the red light. As I am waiting, a car going the other direction on the green light didn’t make the left turn but ended up sliding into the embankment. Whoa! I made it all the way home and decided to try to get up my driveway but only made it half way when my car slid backwards at an angle so I stopped and left it there. My hubbie just laughed. Really?! I have been totally traumatized by this experience. I am not going to go to work today simply because I have to recover and the thought of driving out in that again is too much. I am so thankful to God for giving us the snow and keeping me and my son safe on our way home but really God, really! Next time, can you please make the snow come after I get home?

Psalm 143: 8 Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 81

I attended a women's day retreat this weekend at a different church than my own. Although it's always a bit nerve-wracking at first because it's a new place, people you have never met and you don't know what to expect, I found it to be very refreshing after getting past the initial gitters. One of the ladies was awesome and probably could see the anxiety in my face as I just have that kind of wear everything on my sleeve kind of face. She got me introduced to a few people at a table and my anxiety started melting away. They are just people for pete sake. I can't seem to remember that. The main message for the day at the retreat was about connections which I was a bit giddy about since it's been part of my mission to make connections with other Christian women through faithbooking. Did I meet my new best friend? No, but it was nice to be reminded of how similar we all are. We all have fears and we can all call on God to help us overcome our fears, to be courageous, to take initiative and seek out other sisters in Christ. I've made the connection with this church and look forward to meeting and building some relationships with my fellow sisters.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?