Letting Go of Worry

It is hard to let go of worry. It seems to be embedded in me to worry. I'm not sure why, but I know that it has been a part of me ever since I can remember. 

Whether it is worrying about school, work, or getting things done to worrying about baby C or the future - worry seems to be the one thing that I struggle to give to God. I want to. I want to give Him this part of me, especially because it affects me the most. 

This week I have read about worry and depending on God. I have read countless texts about giving worries to God and casting burdens onto Him. I have even been singing "Cast All Your Cares" to baby C. It soothes him. But I can't seem to just let it go. 

So this next week I am working on letting worry go. I will need lots of prayer and reminders, but I want to finally learn how to do this. I want to really learn how to trust God for everything. Even all the little things. I need to really understand the words He says, "do not worry about anything". I want to learn this and live this. 

Choosing Joy

This week I studied a few things to begin my new year:

• His love
• Joy
• Faith
• Attitude
• Trials
• Worship
• Trust

Each day I studied up on these with the help of author Sarah Young in her book, "Jesus Lives". I have read her first book, "Jesus Calling" and wanted to read her other devotional books. This one is turning out to be just as good and I am enjoying reading it every morning. 

I love the way that she writes her books - it is as if Jesus is talking to me. The way she writes each devotion is as if they are His words. It is so comforting reading a passage that I need to hear, and it being as if Jesus is telling me these things Himself. So wonderful. 

~*~

This is the first year that I have started as a mother. So many things are different in my life and the way I see the world and my relationships are so different. Reading about life is from a different perspective. 

Reading on His love is something that I see as a model for my love as a mother. Steady, strong, unconditional. I can relate now. 

The rest are all put into perspective as well: joy, faith, attitude, trials, worship and trust. I was reminded that joy is a choice. I can do this moment-by-moment and must choose to do so. And faith, attitude and trust is a choice as well. I can choose to have faith in God even when things seem uncertain. But having faith in Him that He can make sense of the confusing...I choose to hold onto that. 

Today I am working on attitude. It has been a hard day with baby C. He fights sleep and is needing mommy a lot. I am trying to choose joy. After all, it is a wonderful thing to have a baby need you. It is wonderful to cuddle and hold him. I know there will be a time when he won't want that anymore. Choosing joy today is a tough one, but I praise Jesus for my precious bundle! 

Happy 2014: A New Year, A New Beginning

A few weeks ago I came across this bible verse, Isaiah 63:1-3. As I read this I felt a strong passion to make this one of my goals in the new year.

Now it is 2014 and it is the first Sabbath of the new year. I felt that it was time to pick back up where I left off. I wanted to start this blog up again and have been waiting for the perfect chance to do so. This is it.

Isaiah 63: 1-3 says, 

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. ² He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. ³ To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

I took this as a challenge in my own life in 2014.

• To bring good new to others.  
• To comfort the brokenhearted.
• To announce liberty to captives.
• To open the eyes of the blind.
• See the beauty instead of ashes.
• Feel the joy instead of mourning.
• Always praise.

This is my challenge. This is how I want to live the next year of my life. Seeking opportunities to offer these things to others and to my family. I know that with God's help I will be able to focus my life around these goals and He will provide me with the chance to do so. 

My plan is to blog once a week about the opportunities I was given. To discuss the things that God has opened my eyes to, and to openly talk about the beauty of God's word and what He has shown me through it. 

I can't wait to begin this journey. I pray that you will join me!