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.
Kathy-Jamesville, NC
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor power, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 ESV
Rachael from Union, Maine – Fantastic, Amy! Right there with you! I want to live like I believe! “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matt 6:19-23 NKJV
Ellen Kitt, Chester, VA
1Samuel 16:7 ESV
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville, TX
Colossians 1:10 ESV
“so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Ellen Hollenshead, Albuquerque, NM. Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. Isaiah 26:19, ESV.
Vicki
Murfreesboro, TN
Psalm 16:11b (HCSB)
“…in your presence is abundant joy…”
Dawn Moore Conway, AR
Psalm 112:7 HCSB
(S)he will not fear bad news; h(er) heart is confident, trusting in the LORD.
Shannon Davidson, San Juan Capistrano,CA. “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17 NIV
North Richland Hills, Texas
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
Stephanie, El Cajon, CA Psalm 115:1 (NIV): “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
Lynda from Ocala, FL: (NIV) Isaiah 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Ann Medford, Sunset,Tx,
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Kathy Rowland
Fort Wayne, IN
Psalm95:2 (ESV)
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
Christa, Denver, CO
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jer. 33:3 NASB
Meredith from Columbus, Ohio: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such as time as this?” -Esther 4:14 (NIV)
Anna, Cincinnati, OH
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
Bobbie, Litchfield, MN
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
Kathleen Smith, Georgetown, TX
Colossians 3:17 NIV
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to god the Father through him.
Linda Sommers, Xenia Ohio
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Psalm 107:9 (ESV)
Colleen, Mae Sot, Thailand
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
James 3:12 ESV
Terri, Harrison Township, MI
Ephesians 4:22B-24 NIV
Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Dyersburg TN Joshua 1:5 (partial) Jusr as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not forsake you.
Anne Boone, Chesterfield, MI…Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Romans 12:9 ESV
Diane S., Macungie, PA
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 90:14 NIV
Kim, Laguna Niguel, CA
Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
~ Philippians 3:16 NIV
Kelly from Spanish Fort, AL
” The most important one,answered Jesus, is this: ‘ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul d with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘ Love your neighbor as yourself’ there is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 29-31, NIV
Cindee Johnson
Portageville,Mo
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee
from you.
James 4:7 ESV
Psalm 100:1-2
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
NIV
Mary Joy S., Dayton, OH.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 (NIV).
Gail Hinshaw, Summerville, Oregon
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Titus 2:11
NASB
Mary Lilburn GA Eph 6:12NASB. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Kim
New Port Richey, FL
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Molly, Overland Park, KS “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.” – Isaiah 40:26 ESV
Candie – Waterloo, Iowa He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 ESV
Jackie, Noblesville,IN
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Kathi Anglin
Sykesville, MD
I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:36,37 (ESV)
Glennell Strawn
Proverbs 31:25 NIV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Susan Young, Fairhope, AL
Don’t grumble against each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:9 (NIV)
Gina Demangos San Diego CA
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalm 34:5
Sandra Hicks. Houston,Tx
But whoever hearkens to me (Wisdom), shall dwell securely and in confident trust, and shall be quiet without fear or dread of evil.
Proverbs 1:33 Amplified
Suzanne Carlson – Ridgefield, WA
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 NASB
Joan Vanderwall, Orofino, Idaho
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness”. (I Corinthians 3:19 KJV)
Teach me your ways, oh Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11 NLT
Kathi Griffin from Macon, GA:
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV
Woodburn, IN
Philippians 1:6 (NIV) Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Shelly Albertville MN
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;
Never will I forsake you.”
Dawn – San Angelo, TX
Have patience, God isn’t finiches yet.
Philippa is 1:6
Cindy, Lancaster OH
Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Susan, Andovoer, KS;
Thank you, Amy! You are truly called to write!
“I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips I will praise You!” Psalm 63:5 (NIV)
Marianne Rockford MN
Psalm 73:26 GNT
My mind and body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need