To have it all is to stop doing it all.

So I used to think Lent was so other religions and glad I never had to give anything up. [lol, smh] Now I am seeing how Lent is close at the heart of Christianity! We give up [all preoccupations] so we can take up [all that we should be focused on] Anyway Raul found an awesome devotional for Lent, So I wanted to share what God has been showing me and was completely summed up on Day 14 of the devotional... During Lent, Jesus especially calls us to re-right our lives, to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). The simple practice of self-denial in Lent teaches us that those who trust God to meet their needs are free to consider the needs of others. They discover this gospel paradox: As long as I’m looking to get my needs met, I will never get my needs met. But when I begin to meet the needs of others – when I begin to live for them instead of for myself – I find that God graciously takes care of my needs in the process. The grace of God turns us into servants. Instead of demanding that we be served, we joyfully lay down our rights and seek to serve God and others. God’s grace toward us in Christ needs to get down deep into our hearts in order to change us. We need to acknowledge our resistance to grace, which manifests itself in our desire to establish our righteousness and meet our needs apart from God. Jesus came to serve—to heal, to feed, to make more wine, to wash feet, and to die. When we humbly receive the fullness and sufficiency of his love, then we will find ourselves increasingly joyful and selfless as we delight in serving others. Closing Prayer O thou God of all grace, make me more thankful, more humble; Inspire me with a deep sense of my unworthiness arising from the depravity of my nature, my omitted duties, my unimproved advantages, thy commands violated by me. With all my calls to gratitude and joy may I remember that I have reason for sorrow and humiliation; O give me repentance unto life; Cement my oneness with my blessed Lord, that faith may adhere to him more immovably, that love may entwine itself round him more tightly, that his Spirit may pervade every fibre of my being. Then send me out to make him known to my fellow-men.[VOV] Amen

R u Trippin?

 A Cause and Cure for Worry.

So I got a letter from my dear friend Joyce Meyer. It was entitled cause and cure for worry. Honestly it probably sat in my mail pile for about 3 months now. Today, I picked up and go hmm, I should give this to my mom, sounds like it’d be good for her. Then I thought hey, if Im going to give it to her I should probably read it first. And turns out it was for me, her and everyone else who turns an ear to what God has to say...

Joyce started talking about the greatest thing that separates Christians who enjoy their lives and everyone else.

If people are to realize all God has for them, their lives need be characterized by a heart fully at peace. 

You will never live in peace until you allow God to show you the cause and cure for worry in your life. 

Lets STOP. I knew I couldn’t entitle my blog today “cause and cure for worry” because you probably would have not read it, thinking the same as I did, tell yourself you are not a worried wart, everythings all good, and the truth is you might be worried if you are actually wasting time clicking the link to my blog. You might be worried that by the time you get to the end of this, that you may not be able to deem it as important productivity and therefore a complete waste of time.  But this truth of God has lead me to slow my life down enough to write this blog so bet your bottom dollar, it will give you freedom and victory, read on...

I always say when God is saying something to his people he comes at it in all directions. Conversations with my husband, bible study, sunday morning, Moms Connect group, in every area God will bring up what he is trying to get me to hear. Honestly I think if our ears are open to what he’s saying, we can hear him speak in a lot more ways. But I loved the message on Sunday morning talking about alone time with God, and how we need solitude and silence. Its when God rejuvenates us, gives us peace, confidence, strength and the next step. But it is sooo hard to quiet our little lives. The pastor had mentioned that his doctor sees a least 7 people a day about aniexty. People---we/I have a peace problem okay?? Im a the first to say it, and not always the first to jump in line and get with God. I try to go and go and go and go and go on my own til I completely break down and crawl back to God as I picture him half smiling, wanting to laugh, but recieving me with open arms to again put me back together. 

Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything. Matthew 6:25 Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, drink or wear. 

Jesus says worrying is what unbelievers do, and we do not have to live this way! 

Living in peace is a promise for the believer, but worry is Satan’s attempt to steal it.

See we need to embrace God’s offer of rest, quietness, and trust instead of relying on our ownselves! (<--yup thats not real word but you get it) 

Are you tired of doing it on your own? 

Ready to recieve the peace and joy only God can offer!? Me too. 

The Israelites in Isa 30 rejected Gods offer and in verse 15 goes to say “only in returning and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength...”

Vs 18 “So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His unfailing love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.”

Will you wait for his help today? 

Get with God and ask him what causes you to worry, ponder it. Ask him what will cure that worry...

Be blessed by His words,

Alyssa 

Please check out JoyceMeyer.org and her series on The Cause and Cure for Worry, to help you identify major sources of worry and fear in your life and begin to live at peace.