Worry FREE - Guarantee!

"Don't Worry???" You may be saying "That's easy for you to say -- you're not facing what I'm facing today." Perhaps not the exact challenge or situation, but I've known troubles and I've had reasons to worry. And, out of those times, I survived -- so much so, that I sincerely desire to "help comfort others with the same comfort that I was comforted with". (2 Corinthians 1:4). A young mother messaged me when she was facing some tremendous challenges. Her mind was bombarded with the worst thoughts. Her imagination was getting the best of her. She was expressing so much worry, fear and concern. I replied with these words, and in case you are in a place of fear and worry, I share them with you, too!

"Sweet Friend, I want to put my arms around you and help you through this time, and the best way I can do that is to give you a "Worry-FREE Guarantee". I am completely convinced that "If God said it, I believe it and that settles it -- no ifs, ands, or buts. It's a done deal!" That has been our anchor and our mode of operation for many years. Plain and simple......God's Word (the Bible) is the key to overcoming fear, sickness, discouragement, etc. There's an answer for everything in God's Word. In Joshua 1:8, God gave a "key" to success when He told Joshua: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then YOU will make your way prosperous, and then YOU will have good success." Wow! There's the key -- we always think that it's up to God to take care of this and do that. But, very clearly, God is saying that if WE do OUR part (not letting His Word depart out of our hearts -- thinking/meditating on His Word) that WE WILL BE successful. Here's some of those "God words to take to heart:
~ Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he......" Obviously, this means you want to do your best to stop thinking the negative thoughts. How do you get a handle on your thoughts? A shortcut to this is to THINK the things that you feel good about, and avoid thinking about what you don't feel good about."
~ Philippians 8:4 "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."
~ Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

It is a matter of absolutely disciplining ourselves to put a halt to negative thinking. It's like changing the channel on the TV. A negative thought comes in....quickly change the channel to the positive thought. Let this prayer be your prayer:

Father, I commit to live free from worry. I cast the whole of my cares -- all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns -- once and for all on You. You care for my family and me affectionately. You sustain me. I cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of You. I lay aside every worry. I think on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and deserving of praise. I will not let my heart be troubled. I abide in Your Word, and Your Word abides in me. Thank You, Father, for helping me to be care-free. I walk in that peace that passes all understanding, in Jesus' name! Amen."

Perhaps you, my dear FB friends, needed this "word" today. I urge you to take this "word" like medicine.....DAILY. Put it in your heart and mind. You will come through with flying colors......just like the gal that I wrote this original letter to. VICTORY was and is hers, Victory is yours, too!

The Butterflies are Dancing....Are You?

Day 284 of Photo Inspirations -- The Butterflies are Dancing!!
I've been amazed at the number of butterflies I've seen over the last couple of weeks.  I'll admit I'm not a butterfly enthusiast that plants foliage just to attract butterflies, but now they are attracting ME. I would think it were Springtime instead of Fall.  They are so light and free and FAST!  It seems like they're dancing on air!

We've all read butterfly transformation anaologies where they go from a caterpillar to a cocoon to a butterfly and how we, in our lives transform from  death to life -- our emerging to be all God destined us to be.  We've all been through metamorphosis -- where we had to go through lots of physical, spiritual, and mental changes.  But I love the "ARRIVED" stage the most -- when our wings have developed and we can take flight and DANCE  -- just like the butterflies.  Then, like them, our dance reflects joy and freedom from worry or concern, from the questions:  "Why? When? Where?"

I'll never forget when my husband was going in for an emergency surgery to remove a tumor that had taken over his vertabrae and was impinging on his spinal cord.  It was a really big deal -- his nuero surgeon said it was one of the three most serious and life-threatening surgeries EVER.  But, even with the seriousness of it all, what I remember most was the peace that passed understanding that God had given us, that we were experiencing that morning.  We just knew God was in control so we could be lighthearted and free of worry.  We went into the pre-op room to get him ready for the surgery and we looked up at the ceiling and there were butterflies, and if that didn't cause even more care-free and care-less attitudes......in walks the nurse with a butterfly jacket on.  The message was loud and clear...."DANCE as if you don't have a care in the world."

Like the butterflies that are on wing and dancing around right now at this time of year, that is what our hearts were doing back then in that hospital room.  We knew, like those butterflies, that transformation and resurrection was taking place in us.  They reminded us to let go of worry or concern, and be free to dance with lightness and joy....right in the middle of our circumstances.

Butterflies continue to remind us to get up and move, for if we don't move, we cannot dance. We're all going through transition and transformation -- in one way or another -- from one age to another, from one season to another, from one stage of life to another.  It is only through exertion that we emerge into who we will be next.   We know it's time for a change and the need for courage to break free from our "cocoons".
 
I can only prove the freedom we felt during some of the toughest and most challenging times of our lives by telling you -- it's worth it to DANCE -- to break free from worry and doubt, and just trust that our Creator has the best possible outcome in mind -- so why should we worry or fret?  Let's just DANCE!

Worry FREE Guarantee

Day 181 of Photo Inspirations – Worry FREE - Guarantee!
"Don't Worry???"  You may be saying "That's easy for you to say -- you're not facing what I'm facing today."  Perhaps not the exact challenge or situation, but I've known troubles and I've had reasons to worry.  And, out of those times, I survived -- so much so, that I sincerely desire to help comfort others with the same comfort that I was comforted with.  (2 Corinthians 1:4).  A while ago, a young mother contacted me when she was facing some tremendous challenges.  Her mind was bombarded with the worst thoughts.  Her imagination was getting the best of her.  She was expressing so much worry, fear and concern.  These are the words that I gave her.

"Sweet Friend, I want to put my arms around you and help you through this time. Mostly, I want to give you a "Worry-FREE Guarantee".  As you know, I am a huge believer in "If God said it, I believe it and that settles it -- no ifs, ands, or buts.  It's a done deal!"    That has been our anchor and our mode of operation for many years.  Plain and simple......God's Word (the Bible) is the key to overcoming fear, sickness, discouragement, etc.  There's an answer for everything in God's Word.   In Joshua 1:8, God gave a "key" to success when He told Joshua:  "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; FOR THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have good success."

Wow, there's the key -- we always think that it's up to God to take care of this and do that.  But, very clearly, God is saying that if we do our part (not letting His Word depart out of our hearts -- thinking/meditating on His Word) that we will be successful.

Proverbs 23:7  "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he......"    Obviously, this means you want to do your best to stop thinking the negative thoughts.  How do you get a handle on your thoughts?   A shortcut to this is to THINK the things that you feel good about, and avoid thinking about what you don't feel good about."

Philippians 8:4   "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."  

It is a matter of absolutely disciplining ourselves to put a halt to negative thinking. It's like "changing the channel on the TV".  A negative thought comes in....quickly change the channel to the positive thought. Let this prayer be your prayer:

Father, I commit to live free from worry.  I cast the whole of my cares -- all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns -- once and for all on You.  You care for my family and me affectionately. You sustain me.  I cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of You.  I lay aside every worry.  I think on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and deserving of praise.  I will not let my heart be troubled.  I abide in Your Word, and Your Word abides in me.  Thank You, Father, for helping me to be care-free.  I walk in that peace that passes all understanding, in Jesus' name!  Amen.

Stay tenacious in your faith.  Don't give up.  I love you and please don't hesitate to call, e-mail or ask us to come over for a "faith pow-wow" anytime.  You are so precious and you are going to make it!"

Perhaps you, my sweet FB friends, needed this "word" today.   I urge you to take this "word" like medicine.....DAILY.  Put it in your heart and mind.  You will come through with flying colors......just like the gal that I wrote this original letter to.  VICTORY was and is hers,  Victory is yours, too!