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.
Julie McGirk, Prescott, AZ
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12 ESV
Onda Jenks, Morgantown, WV- “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)
Judy Heindl – Cottageville WV
Revelation 17:14
“These will rage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” KJV
Sharon Lee, Riverside, Ca.
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by
faith alone. James 2:24 NIV
Mary Kay Williams, Redding, CA
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 NIV
Lori, Friendswood, TX
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91: 2 (NIV)
Karen Todd, Beech Island, SC
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give
you the desires of your heart.
Ps. 37:4 ESV
Rene Sandifer, College Station, TX “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 (NIV)
“No eye has seen,
No ear has heard,
No mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Cor. 2:9
NIV
Alana McCullough, Lorton VA. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 18-20 NIV
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 NIV
Shiela Meert, Elkhart, IN
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Rev 4:11 NLT
Carol
Carthage, NY
…rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:7 (NIV)
Paige Woodard Mitchell
Minden, LA
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 (NASB)
Margaret
Kingsport, TN
For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:31-32 NLT
Robbyn Hanstad, Frisco, Texas
2 Corinthians 12:15a
“I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.”
Terri Sickles, Richmond, MO
So nowe faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Aransas Pass, Texas
November 19, 2015
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. l Peter 5:7 NIV
Misti Robinson from Houston, TX:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4 NIV
Sue from Midland says:
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalms 18:2 ESV
Sue from Midland says:
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
I Peter 1:8 ESV
Sue from Midland says:
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
Psalms 42:1
Sue from Midland says:
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but not you have received mercy.
I Peter 2:10 ESV
Sue from Midland says:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live in righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
I Peter 2:24 ESV
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Janet P. Paola, KS
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 (NIV)
Alyssa Ethington, Chandler, AZ. “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Philippians 2:2 NIV
http://bible.com/111/php.2.2.niv
Luanne Neely, Marshall, TX
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11, NIV
Becky Purchase Euless, Tx
Ephesians 6:17 NIV
[17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Jen …. Fort Worth, Texas
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
1 Timothy 4:4 NIV
Linda, Longview: For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life
to come. I Timothy 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers,,pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored…
It Thessalonians 3:1. (ESV)
Kelly, CA
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 NIV
Tara Milligan, Stigler, OK. Colossians 1:20-21, “And through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” NIV.
Barbara – Atlanta, GA
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2-8 (NIV)
Vicki C., Lenexa, KS
Pealm 62:8 ESV
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Bethany Sullivan from Converse , IN
Zephaniah 3:9
For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
Arlington TX
Proverbs 31:26 MSG
When she speaks, she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
Jana Fields, Wills Point, TX
Colossians 4:5 KJV
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Carol B., Conyers, GA
As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31 NIV
Madeleine, Corrales And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil.4:7 NIV
Marsha R. Lexington Park, MD
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 17:8 NIV
Emily – KCMO
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:4 NIV
Susan Davis, Lawrenceville GA
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.
Tilley Hawkins, Franklin, TN
“This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.”
Matthew 6:8B (MSG)
TJ, Clinton OK
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
Sarah W, East Liberty, OH
This is what the Lord says: do what is just and right. Rescue
From the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed.
Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or
The widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Jeremiah 22:3 (NIV)
Vicki, Wilmington, NC
Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 117:1-2 ESV
Barb * Burleson TX * Acts 2:28 NIV “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”