Monday's Blessing
Luke 5:5

"And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing.  But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets."

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Confusion and worry are part of life's idiosyncrasies. 

I have a friend who has never been confused in his life, because worry is not part of his nature.  He is simply not interested in having all the answers to everything, he just trusts God.  When you trust God, you can relax and enjoy life.  You don't have to go through life worrying and trying to figure out how to solve all your problems.  Think about all the things you have worried about all your life, and how they have worked out. That should help you realized that worrying and reasoning are a waste of time and energy.

Me, on the other hand, its a constant struggle for me.  I worry about my work and all the scholarship changes because I support twelve other people's livelihoods.  I worry about my children praying that they will find the right job, the right life, the right wife, and be happy.  I worry about my mother who has dementia, and how I will continue to help her with a full work week and a house to manage. 

It never ceases to amaze me, when I look back at everything so far, all those hurdles and hoops I had to jump, especially for my children.  All those happenings while they grew up- When they didn't get good grades in school, when I was called to the principal's office because of them, when the neighbor complained about them, when it looked as if they would never work or do anything worthwhile or would never be able to handle their fiances.  I would think, "How are they every going to hand life when they get away from me? They can't even handle their allowances." I wasted a lot of time an worrying over them, and in the end they all turned out fine.  

I'm sharing these stories with you to help you realize that where your kids, and your relationships, and your finances, and your job, and your health are right now is not where they are going to end up.  And worrying about these things only helps the problem, it doesn't help the a answer.  Stop worry.  Stop complicating your life by trying to figure out everything. Just admit that you don't know, that you are not able, and that you need God.  Then go on living, and enjoy life while God is giving you the answers.

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "stop worrying."

Pray:

Help me to meditate each day: "Give me peace."
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Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me. Remind me that prayer motivates me.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.
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Monday's Blessing
Matthew 16:8

“O you of little faith!"

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It's so hard just to turn things over.

But if you want to have joy, you must stop trying to figure everything out.  You must stop rolling your problems around in your mind.  You have to quit anxiously searching for an answer to your situation, trying to find out what you should do about it.

When Jesus saw that His disciples were trying to "figure out" what to do about the fact that had forgotten to bring bread to feed to the crowds, he said to them, "O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves?" (Matthew 16:8)

It is so difficult to just hand things over.  You don't know how it's going to turn out, and you don't want to be left with more anguish than you already have.  But all your intense efforts will on frustrate you more and make you more selfish and self-centered.  You can't focus on yourself and expect everyone else to focus on you, too.  Only God can focus and help you.

We reason and try to figure things out, asking, "Why, God, why?" and "When, God, when?" We want to know the answers immediately.  We don't have time to trust in God.  We certainly don't want any surprises.  We want to be in control unafraid and not in the dark.  This driving force to be "in the know" will usually produce one thing - a mind that is discombobulated.  

Those simple two cries of frustration, "Why, God, Why?" and "When, God, When?" can prevent us from enjoying the lives Jesus died to give us.  Many times we do not understand what God is doing, but that is what trust is all about.  Nobody says we have to know everything. No one has ever told us we must know it all.  We need to be satisfied in knowing the One who does know, and that is God.  We need to learn to trust Him, not ourselves.  

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "trust you and and hand it over."

Pray:

Help me to meditate each day: "Give me peace as I give you my dilemmas"
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Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me. Remind me that prayer motivates me.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.
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Monday's Blessing
Colossians 3:15

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. "

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Dear Lord,

Embrace me this week, wrapped in your love, to see my life with a cup that is half full and not half empty.  Open my eyes to the many blessing bestowed by your mindful eye as I go about my days.  Let me live in glory and acceptance knowing full well you have every intention of meeting my every need - every day - every second.

Forgive me, Lord, as it is easy for me to lose site of these blessings.  It is even easier to notice others who seem to be blessed with more.  Deep inside, I know I am not privy to their deep despairs as they trudge through their own lives.  Yet, I know it is remotely human to want and desire all things I am unable to acquire.  Help me realize, Lord, you have filled my cup with all my yearnings, and may I drink abundantly and thankfully each day.

As I wake each day this week, let me begin with morning affirmations reminding myself how truly blessed I am due to your hands........

Let me be thankful for:

The sense of touch, may I use it more this week

My health, may I walk in nature more often

My family, may I share more special moments

Friends, may I drop the daily drudgery to enjoy myself more

My community, may I be more grateful for all they do

Seasons, may I admire the changes

The Internet where I can connect

Freedom and Opportunity to do whatever I desire

Inspiration to redefine myself daily

Aging, may I relish the lessons I've learned in life

Employment, having a job today is a blessing

Second chances and getting things right

The chance to travel and see the world

Literacy, being able to read what I love

Having your bills paid and food on the table

Long weekends to relax

Family and friends to share my life with.

Much love God,
Me

Monday's Blessing
Romans 4:16

“Therefore, the promise is the outcome of faith and depends on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace."

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Are you trying to be a control freak?

Early on pertaining to my Christian faith, I continued to try to change things by myself.  But the best changes in my life began the day I finally realized that only God could make those changes.

I sat quietly, in the utmost frustration one day, and asked God, "Please change the way I think. I am getting no peace nowadays." When I finished this God gently told me, "I will always provide you peace, all  you have to do is ask."

I had reached a point I didn't care if that prominent job would find me.  I stopped prayer begging for changes within my family and friends.  I just wanted some peace.  I had realized I would have to stop trying to change everything to my liking, including myself, and let God handle it if I was ever going to have peace. 

You are never going to enjoy the promise of the new life (Roman 4:16) that Jesus' death promised, until you change the way you think.  It's not about what you can do, it's about what Jesus had done for you.  

Trying to face all the challenges of everyday life can cause you to focus on human needs, rob you of your peace, joy, self-respect, and confidence.  Works trap you into always struggling to be better so you will feel better about yourself. But if you try to do things on your own, you will be unable to bring about the peace and change you desire.  Give it up!

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "trust you and ask for peace."

Pray:

Help me to meditate each day: "Give me peace as I give you my dilemmas"
​
Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me. Remind me that prayer motivates me.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.