Hello Siestas! I pray you are well and blessed.
My name is Amy. I grew up in Texas and New Mexico. I’m blessed to have been raised in a loving home where I grew up as a Pastor’s kid. While I am no longer living in either of those states, I still claim Texas as my ‘Home Sweet Home.’ I love to read, cook, organize everything, and writing. Just recently I took up knitting!
I chose a scripture that while I know it – I don’t live it. For that reason I don’t have it memorized like I should. It carries so much promise I knew I needed to share it with you.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 NLT
I could write about my insecurities and fears all day. In fact, I have re-written this post four times now. Why? I have a fear of what other people will think of me – of how I will sound when people read it. The funny thing is that I want to be a writer. My heart and passion are in encouraging others, listening to their stories, and teaching God’s Word.
It has taken me a few years to find out this is what I really want to do with my life. My education is not in English or Communication, but I have figured out that it doesn’t matter. As my pastor says, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”
For years I have allowed my insecurities and fears to control me. I allowed the enemy to use them to hold me back from God’s call on my life. It has crept into my life in many areas: with my weight (a struggle that has lasted over fifteen years now), in finding a spouse, with other relationships, with job opportunities, with life goals I’ve wanted to achieve, and so much more.
Coming into this year I knew I had to change focus. My problem wasn’t that I didn’t know the issues I needed to deal with, or even the solutions to those issues, it was in the action to take the steps to achieve them. We’ve all been there at one time or another, right? Take my weight issue, for example: I’ve known for years I’ve needed to admit it, work on it, and conquer it. My problem wasn’t admitting I needed to lose weight. I had admitted that to family, friends and even myself. My problem wasn’t in knowing what to do – I had read everything, been to a dietitian, nutritionist, a few trainers, and tried many diets. My problem was simply doing it.
I have a wonderful younger brother. He has grown into an amazing man of God. He is my best friend and the best person in my life when it comes to being honest. He isn’t afraid of hurting my feelings. He loves me enough to speak truth. He talked to me the other night about this very issue of weight. His words, while truthful and hard-hitting, held so much grace. While I was carrying on about feeling alone with no one around to help me, he said “Amy, in the physical sense you are alone. You are alone because you are the only one who can physically do this. I can’t step into your body and make you – it’s up to you. But in the spiritual sense, you should know better. You are so strong. Physically you are strong. Spiritually you are strong. But you’re also strong mentally. If there is anyone I know who can do this it is you. You really are a warrior. You just have these jabs the enemy keeps hitting you with. You are in this for yourself!”
I need to hear those words. My eyes watered when he called me a warrior. I don’t know that I’ve ever been called that before. It made me realize that I’ve allowed my insecurities and fears to control me for too long – not just in my weight, but in many areas in my life. To hear someone I admire so dearly call me a warrior! I associate warrior with words like boldness, courage, dedication, steadfast, determined, unstoppable. To see my brother’s confidence in me helped me to understand that is how Christ sees me – like a warrior! I needed this to kick me into high gear.
Now I’m determined. I won’t allow fear or insecurity to hold me back from what God is calling me to do. It doesn’t matter what the issue, I can conquer it. I am a daughter of the Most High God. Dear Siesta, you are too!
I want to encourage you that whatever issues you are facing this year, remember that Jesus adores you and calls you His daughter. His Word says that we can confidently walk forward in life wearing strength and dignity as our fashion statement. We can walk into our future knowing that we are warriors for Christ. We don’t have to know the future to face it with confidence. The Word says we laugh without fear of the future! We don’t have to fear what is to come, our future mistakes, our insecurities and how they will play out.
We just do our part and take a step. Our confidence comes in knowing he is taking us one step at a time as Psalms 37:23 says: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” NLT
My prayer for us, Siestas, is that we take Him at His Word. He delights in the details of our lives, He knows what is to come, and we can confidently take the step, the action, and move forward, without fear.
Misty, Pflugerville, TX
“Peacemakers who sow peace, reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18 – NIV
Kim Haines-Ashland, Maine
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word
stirs up anger. (NIV)
Christy, Granger, IN ” I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,” Eph. 3:16 (NIV)
Lori, Edenton, NC
God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy and He gave Himself to purchase our freedom.
1 Cor 1:30, NLT
Lee Ann Wimer, Norman, Oklahoma
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto thee. Jeremiah 29:11-12. KJV
Pamma Rippe, Abingdon, VA
2 Chronicles 20:17 HCSB
“You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourself, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD. He is with you Judah and Jerusalem (Pamma). Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.”
Olda, Huntsville
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14 (ESV)
PSALM 33:20 (NIV)
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Nancy Bradshaw Melbourne, Florida
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Proverbs 31:6 NIV
Deb Hansard, E. Tennessee
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
Jeanette Plummer from Mesquite, TX
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. ~Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
Tanya from Kenosha Wisconsin
Micah 6:6-8
What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, oh people, the Lord has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Valerie
Clinton, Me
“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” -Philippians 1:10 (NLT)
Julie/Deer Park Listen to my cry for help, my king and my God, for to you I pray. Psalm 5:2 NIV
Lisa S., Cibolo, TX
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36, NASB)
James 4:10 NIV
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Linda, Johnstown, Pa.
“O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 37:16 (NIV)
Jenny- Shelby Township, MI
Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you.
I Peter 5:6&7- NIV
Soni in Gulfport
1Peter 4:9 NRSV (11/1/15)
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Colleen, Orlando, FL
Blessed is the man who keeps on going when times are hard. After he comes through them, he will receive a crown. The crown is life itself. God has promised that to those who love him. James 1:12.
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
Lamentations 3:24 NIV
Betty Mullaney – Brown City, MI “It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. A person without self control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Prov. 25:27-28
Sherri Frey, Hagerstown, MD
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 (NIV)
Amanda Teske, Chandler AZ
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14, ESV
Theresa Dau, Chesterfield, MO
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
Lisa, Fort Worth, TX
For You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
Psalm 86:5, NAS
“The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Proverbs 11:1-3 NIV
James 1:6 (NKJV)
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Sheilah, Melbourne, FL
Psalm 26:12-13
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being and his offspring shall inherit the land.
Robin Greenwood IN
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
LeAnn Nichols. Spring, TX
“However, as it is written:
‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’- but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
I Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)
Jessie Y. Jackson, MO. 2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets ot stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
Alice from Ooltewah, TN. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. AND BE THANKFUL.” Colossians 3:15
Elise, Cypress tx
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them
Jennifer, Chattanooga, TN
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 NIV
Kathy Emeigh from Bethlehem, PA
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD,
For He is good!
For HIs mercy endures forever!”
Psalm 136:1 NKJV
Abbey Le Roy, Bluefield, West Virginia. “For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.” Psalm 22:24 (ESV)
Dacia Edmonson
Bullard, Texas
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. ~Proverbs 31:25 NLT
(loved this, Amy! thank you!)
Jana, Quitaque, Texas
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. James 2:2 NIV
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. –Psalm 34:2 NASB
Amy, thank you for sharing your heart with us. I didn’t know who the guest blogger would be this month, but I’ve been praying for you, sweet girl.
Kim, Amherst, Ohio
Ps. 139:14 NIV
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Mona Huston, Bossier City, LA, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
Laura Grassi, Denver, CO
John 14:27 ESV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hears be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Sallie Russ, Greenwood, SC
“but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him” 1 John 2:5 NASB
Deborah Harney, Columbia City, IN, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Redfield, AR
Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV)
[13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19
Valerie ~ Shawnee, OK
“”Thou has covered me in my mother’s womb.”
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works.”
Psalms 139: 13b & 14 KJV