Worries, Stress, and a Troubled Heart

Good Evening Ladies,
I hope you all had a wonderful Monday and a great start to your week! For those of you that might of had a pretty rough day, I wanted to send some encouragement your way.

All of my life, I have struggled with worrying. I would worry about everything and anything, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I was finally freed of this sin. I use to be so consumed with worry and doubt, until I realized that worrying actually meant that I had zero faith in Jesus Christ. If any of you ladies struggles with obsessing over troubles and is consumed with stress, I desire nothing more than for you to find comfort in the power of Christ. A book I would most definitely recommend is Approval Addiction by Joyce Myer. Here are a couple of verses that I hold onto when worry comes my way...

"Cast all your anxiety and worry on him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

This verse means so much to me, The Lord is commanding us to discard all of our anxiety and worry at Jesus's feet, because He cares for us! God is commanding us to pour out all of our troubles and to leave it at His feet. TO LEAVE IT THERE. Not to pick it back up minutes after praying because Satan starts tempting us again, but to leave it there and TRUST IN HIM COMPLETELY TO FIX IT ALL.

"Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for His answers." Phil 4:6

ahhh..isn't there so much comfort in this verse. Take a moment and just say this verse out loud. This verse speaks for itself. It is one that I remind myself daily, especially the last part, "Don't forget to thank him for His answers." God answers prayers, every day and every second of the day! He deserves all of our Praise and Worship.

Lastly, Ladies, here is a command that will help us in everything we do...

"Finally, sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phil 4:8

The Lord never said life would be easy, but He did promise that He would be there with us every step of the way, and He has blessed us with His Living word to guide and direct us.

No one can pray and worry at the same time.- Max Lucado

Psalm 25

I would like to share with you my favorite Psalm. I hope that you are all blessed with the opportunity to memorize this Psalm and carry it in your hearts forever.

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
   let me not be put to shame;
   let not my enemies exult over me.
³ Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
   they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
   ⁴ Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all the day long.
   ⁶ Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old.
⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
   ⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
   ¹¹ For your name's sake, O LORD,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great.
¹² Who is the man who fears the LORD?
   Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
¹³ His soul shall abide in well-being,
   and his offspring shall inherit the land.
¹⁴ The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
   and he makes known to them his covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
   ¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
   bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my trouble,
   and forgive all my sins.
   ¹⁹ Consider how many are my foes,
   and with what violent hatred they hate me.
²⁰ Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
   Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
   for I wait for you.
   ²² Redeem Israel, O God,
   out of all his troubles.

Stand Firm

"Be on your guard,

Stand Firm in the Faith;

Be women of Courage, 

Be Strong.

Do Everything in Love."

1 Corinthians 16:13

Ladies, I absolutely love this verse, God is telling us exactly what to do in order to defeat temptation. We must be alert, for Satan is out at all times waiting to destroy. We must stand firm in our beliefs when temptation comes our way. We must have courage to do what is right. We must be strong, and we must act in love always. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Ladies, 

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day whether it was out celebrating with your husband, boyfriend, friends or staying in watching Chick Flicks ;) I hope it was a day of love. 

Whether you had an Earthly Valentine or not, know that our True Valentine, Jesus Christ was with us and Every day He is pouring out His Unconditional Love to us. 

Here is a lovely poem, that I once received five years ago on Valentine's Day from my Prayer Leader in college, I hope you ladies love it just as much as me!

I made her...she is different. She is Unique. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember with great pleasure the day I created her. I made her pretty and not beautiful because I know her heart, and she would be vain. I wanted her to search out her heart and learn that it would be ME in her that would make her beautiful. I love her smile. I love her way, I love her laugh. She brings ME great pleasure. This is how I made her. I made her in such a way that she would need ME. I made her a little more lonesome that she would like to be..only because I need her to learn to depend on ME. 

I know her heart, and she is Mine; I love her.

References: Ps 139:13-16, 1 Peter 3:3-5, Psalm 139:17. 

Author: Unknown

A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

Happy Monday Lovely Ladies!

Today as been a typical Monday with many trials, obstacles and hurdles. Isn't it so ironic how we can have such a wonderful relaxing weekend and the second we step into the office, we are faced with so much overload, stress and nasty attitudes. 

On days like these I find myself reminding myself of James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  Basically, In the mist of terrible things we need to be thankful and shout out praises to God, seriously does that make sense to you! haha This is one of the hardest things to do ever! I love that God's Holy Word goes against Man's Wisdom. When the world faces trouble, it complains, asks for pity parties, and harbors bad attitudes. We are called to do the opposite, we are called to rejoice and shout praise! 

Verses like these make me fall in love with Christ our Savior. Think about it ladies, for example, your boyfriend/husband has had an extremely terrible day at work, when he sees you all you are doing is complaining and being a nag about who knows what because its that time of the month. Instead of him acting out in anger and frustration, he approaches you, smiles and gently kisses you on the forehead and sincerely says, "Baby, I am so thankful for you." Ahh, could you just imagine! How amazing would that make you feel?! 

So, ladies, if you had a not-so-perfect day today, spend some extra time on your knees shouting praises to Our Lord and Savior, for HE is good and we are undeserving of His love.

**A Song that might Help you Shout out Praises to Our Lord and Savior, one of my favorites, "Rooftops" by Jesus Culture and Kim Walker.**

With Love