turn-around

We say, "I'm afraid..."

God says, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, peace and a sound mind..."

Bible verse: 2Timothy 1-7

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My oh my, this one fits me all over the place. Fear could be my middle name. I am better today, but it's still a lot of work to face my fears and "do it anyway." Or as Joyce Meyer says, "Do it afraid."

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I went to my face-to-face 12-steps for Christians meeting last night. We are on Step 11, which is Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God... I talked about my fear of public praying and speaking. People seemed surprised because I often pray at the meeting, and I often pray on the phone when people are struggling, and I also have spoken a number of times at church and at meetings. Little did these people know how hard it is for me to step out of my comfort zone and do these things.

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Interesting because my private prayer life is good. I love the Lord and I am not at all afraid to pray whatever comes to mind with Him. He knows me through and through even before I open my mouth, and He loves me no matter what.

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I KNOW that it's a pride thing, but it is what it is. It seems like I will be forever working on this character trait!

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God bless me and help me to surrender my self-centeredness and let You always do for me what I have a hard time doing for myself. (I was going to say, "what I cannot do for myself," but realized as I started to type those words that I can do all things through God who strengthens, loves and protects me.) Hopefully, one day I'll get my head in line with my heart.

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On another note, last night God revealed something really interesting to me. The girls that pray beautifully...the ones that I look to in awe...shared that they might "look" good and "sound" good, but their private prayer life is not so good.

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It is like the truth that I found years ago where "thin is not well" or when I went to a class for The Power of the Praying Wife and listened to all the women who were in church with their husbands...those relationships that looked "perfect" to me...AND I heard what they deal with at home. I was surprised...and went home to my husband with a new heart (grateful for him being who he is). I still pray that he'll be more openly in touch with God, and I see signs that he is getting closer, so that's what I am doing now--pray, pray, pray. It's okay. Prayer changes things according to God's will. I but need to let go and let Him handle the outcome.

turn-arounds

We say, "I can't do it..."

God says, "You can do all things..."

Bible verses: Philippians 4:13

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When I think of this, I need to remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me IF IT IS IN LINE WITH GOD'S WILL AND PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE.

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That's a big if... For me, the more I read and study God's Word, the more I understand what is possible.

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I also think of the Scripture about moving mountains with a mustard seed of faith. It takes the action of faith.

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Praise the Lord for His love and grace! He is worthy to be praised!

turn-around

Looking at this one again!

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We say, "I can't figure things out..."

God says, "I will direct your steps..."

Bible verses: Proverbs 3:5-6

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I associate this Scripture with Step 3--turning my will and my life over to the care of God.

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For me, in the natural--when I try to figure things out--it looks like worry, sometimes panic, certainly frustration that people, places and things are not as I want them to be. BUT when I remember that God will direct my steps, I am well.......I can be at peace, even in a storm!

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The steps work. Step 1: I am powerless; Step 2: God can help me; Step 3: I will let Him.

turn-around

We say, "I can't figure things out..."

God says, "I will direct your steps..."

Bible verses: Proverbs 3:5-6

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God is not an author of confusion. Sometimes I try to figure out why things are happening the way they are... and I try to reason by intelligence how to proceed, but God wants me to read His Word, follow His instructions and relax. "Cast my cares on Him."

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Sometimes I need to sit quietly at His feet in the midst of a storm...and simply listen and let His love flow over my tired bones.

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I know from the pit of my being that God has a plan and that plan is good. It's not always easy or fun to walk through the lessons in life, but when I am willing to accept life on life's terms, surrender and let God help me through any trial, I am fundamentally well.

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I like the long version of the serenity prayer's line about being "reasonably" happy in this life and "supremely" happy in the next. My "steps" on earth are to glorify the Lord and edify others (help and encourage others to trust, lean-on and depend on Him--experience God's love).

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I do that by my testimony...God, help me to always trust that You have the perfect plan, no matter how it looks to me or how I feel. Help me to turn to Your Word and "drink" it into my being. Memorizing Scripture has helped me stay close to the Lord. It's my heart-of-hearts to know and think as Jesus thinks... He loves me unconditionally, as I hope to love others.

turn-around

We say, "I cannot go on..."

God says, "My grace is sufficient..."

Bible verses: 2 Cor 12-9 &Psalm 91:15

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Sometimes in this world, I used to get lost in my problems and feel totally overwhelmed and desperate to the point that I felt like dying would be the best solution, BUT God's grace came into my life and showed me a way out of my despair. He set my feet on solid ground and gave me a hope and a reason to live.

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Today, it's almost hard to imagine that I am talking about the same person that I am today. It's my testimony, though. I have said that I am a "from rags to riches" story, and sad as it is, it's the hope that I offer anyone who might feel as I once did.

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God is good. His love is sufficient. He holds the keys to a rich and rewarding life. Praise His Holy name!

turn-around

We say, "Nobody really loves me."

God says, "I love you."

Bible verses: John 3:1-6, John 3:34 and many more

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I remember being introduced to John 3:16, and learning that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to die for us....but learning and understanding that if I were the last person on earth, He would have died for me...personally...that was harder to grasp.

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I do believe that God loves me...because I believe that the Bible is the Word of God...and He tells me so.

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I like the children's songs that we sing in the daycare because they are simple truth. As the Bible says, "Come to me as a child..." That works for me.

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Sometimes when I am feeling alone, I sing the well-known favorite:

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"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so."

turn-around

We say, "I'm too tired..."

God says: "I will give you rest..."

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

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"Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest..."

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This Scripture holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first ones that I held onto and it goes back to when my mother was in the hospital. I remember her quoting it and saying, "I am so tired..." It wasn't long after that when she got a staff infection after surgery and she died.

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Don't know the significance of that (now that I say it out loud), but apparently God felt that she had lived her life on earth and she was ready for a rest like none other...that perfect peace of Heaven with Him.

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It's okay. For me today, I know that when I am overwhelmed, feeling like I don't have enough energy to take another step, God will carry me. I typically don't get that tired anymore because I have learned to ask for help BEFORE I fall on my face... Today I kneel down on my knees gracefully/willingly (half-smiling), instead of falling on my face, humbly begging for help.

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God is always ready and willing to share my burdens. I have a responsibility to ask for guidance and direction, to listen and do as He wills. When I do that, life if good. I am at peace, even in a storm. I let go and let God.

turn-arounds

I recently a message from a friend that impressed me. It was a "handy little chart."

So, today we begin a new series with the theme "God has a positive answer." Each day I'll present what we might say...and then counteract that with what God says, along with some Bible versus to confirm the truth.

We say, "It's impossible..."

God says, "All things are possible..."

Bible verses: Luke 18:27

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I remember thinking that I would never get free from compulsively overeating and food obsession. After all, I had tried every diet and weight-loss scheme in the book! BUT God held my hand and directed me to OA where I learned the skills and the steps to walk out of my misery. He set my feet on solid ground.

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Today I am happy, joyous and free--thin, too. All things are possible.