Matthew 6:25, 33, 34 Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Years ago I used to worry almost constantly about almost everything in my life. I guess I didn’t realize at the time that was not the best way to go through life. When I discovered God did not want us to go through life with worry, anxiety and fear, I was then baffled about how to go about getting rid of it. How do you change a life time of behavior (even misbehavior) and get it totally out of the way?
Somehow, and I am not sure how, as it was a long time ago, I learned about the ‘God bag’. The idea is to write your worry, fretting, anxiety, fear down, and then drop it in a bag designated to God. He now has it; you are not allowed to snatch it back.
Did that mean the worry wouldn’t try to sneak back in? No, the demon leader would certainly like you to pick up the worry and take it over again. And I did. When it crossed my senses I was picking at the issue again, I would have to forcefully push it from my mind, and loudly say, “NO, Satan. I’ve already handed that to God. He’s got this. Back away and leave me be. That issue is not my concern any longer. It will be all right. Now scat!” And he would go, along with an immediate release of the worry and tension.
Wonderful! Instant release of worry and tension. (Doesn’t it sound like a great advertisement?!) Yes, the king of lies and deceit would sneak back, and yes, I would have moments of angst and fretting, but within seconds, I would be reminded to hand it back to God. And I would, as well as sending Satan off again.
I liked the idea of an actual bag. For a few years I used a bag that came on a set of “tee shirt” material sheets I’d been given. However, when a friend was cleaning out cabinets and found a couple of extra flannel navy blue bags with gold trim and the words Crown Royal imprinted on them, I loved the idea that these royalty-looking bags could be used for my God bag. What could be higher than the highest Crown Royal, my loving, and giving King and Creator?
But to me, the most important thing is mentally handing over my worries and concerns to my Creator. Now, it is far easier to do than it used to be—and I can do it most of the time without actually writing and dropping it into the bag. But occasionally something is of great concern, and my mind does not want to let go, and I have to actually write it and drop it. And it is handed over. I no longer worry. He’s got this…after all He’s got the whole world in His Hands!
My life has gotten so much less stressful and burdensome since. And it’s helped me to thoroughly enjoy mybellaviews.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
I am so blessed with the good people in my life. Presently, I am visiting friends, catching up on news face to face, and sharing in their accomplishments and new things happening in their lives. Both of the girls I am visiting have purchased new homes this year, so it’s fun to see the house, the location, the décor and get to know the new area a little.
To me, it’s a blessing to have so many family and friends in my life and share their news, their blessings, their worries and concerns. They, too, share mine. And when good things happen, they cheer and are happy for me. And conversely, when difficulties arise, they share that too, even if just keeping me in prayer. What a comfort it is to know I have so many people praying when I am going through some dark period. But I like to think all people do that for loved ones. But, sadly, there are those who do not believe in God or prayer.
I am so glad I don’t have to go through life without knowing God and my friends are there. When I go through some adversity, at times, it may not seem like He is working for my good, and things are not working out as rapidly as I would like, but I do have the comfort of knowing I am in His hands, and He will work out issues for my best. I find great comfort in knowing He is in control, and on my behalf, my prayer warriors will seek His will and guidance for me.
Sometimes, we are blessed with folks who will pray for strangers because they’ve heard of another’s problems. I find it comforting to know persons care enough to lay my burden and their wishes for a resolution at the Lord’s feet.
I know God has it, and He’s working on issues both good and bad. His word promises He can turn all things to our good. He is there for us. I certainly can be impatient and want things much faster than they come at times. But when things turn around, I am usually able to see how waiting a bit longer brought about things that were even better than I’d hoped for.
I’ve seen and lived many of your promises. Thank You for mybellaviews.
n he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.” Judges 6:17
So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—loo, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung out a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. Judges 6:36-40
Judges 6:36-40 was preached the day I accepted the Lord as my savior. I had found a bible teaching church which was a wonderful and exciting time for me. But I had my doubts, and found I would be unclear as to the direction I should take at times.
The, with the sermon, I learned all about fleeces and finding God’s will by asking for signs….if this, then that. I sought most of my answers through signs. That is not the best way to seek God’s will for yourself and your path, particularly not as you are growing in your faith. But, I continued to ask often, and when did not get an answer was discourage. Folks who knew me knew I depended strongly on answers to fleeces I sent forward to Him. I frequently would not move in a direction I was unsure of without a discerning sign. However, that was NOT the way God wanted to interact with me. He wanted a closer relationship. Although I was reading the Bible (hmm, probably not the best word choice. I was SKIMMING the words, putting in time, chapters, and getting very little out of it.) It was about accomplishment, not study, not creating a relationship.
Later, as I became a slightly more studied bible student, I learned God doesn’t like to be tested. “It is said, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” which is written in both Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12, and in Deuteronomy 6:16 ‘You shall not test the Lord your God as you tested Him at Massah.’
Oops! I certainly had never intended to test Him, but I also had not delved further into the studies to develop a RELATIONSHIP with him. I stopped sending up fleeces and began reading, studying and developing a relationship, learning to hear the ‘still and small voice.’
Now I no longer test God every moment. I will sometimes ask if He really is directing me a certain way. If I have an uneasy spirit, I know that is not God, but the liar who has tried to whisper quietly, trying to trick me into believing it was God’s voice.
I am so glad I learned of fleeces and now no longer need to test God to communicate. I am thankful that those fleeces introduced me to a deeper way than my childhood church, but am delighted to know Him well now. He and I walk and ‘chat’ with “mybellaviews.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
1 Peter 5:8,9 Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
I like to garden and tend plants, weed out nasty things that are detracting from the plants — bugs, weeds, and overgrowth. There is a quietness to the work, my hands get dirty, and I have the satisfaction of a job that shows. The grounds are a bit neater, there is less crowding and everything looks a bit fresher.
A couple months ago, temperatures were in the high 80’s to mid 90’s. I live on a beach on the east coast, and we frequently have a hot breeze blowing, and my plants and flowers were DROOPING. There were no vibrant colors and some actually died, despite watering. There was a sadness to the look of the plants—some leggy – too tall and awkward, like a teen who has had a growth spurt. With this heat, the plants can’t have enough to thrive. The conditions were too hot, the sun too bright, and the heat lasted too long for the plants to thrive, but after a little tending and cutting, they did survive.
Truly, this is often the way our Father tends us. He needs to trim wayward limbs, misbehaving direction, and show us a more healthy way to go and grow.
I wondered if my plants would thrive; as sometimes they are not overwhelming healthy until the next year. But I know when the weather breaks, and I tend them more, all will return to more healthy life. although sometimes not quite as strong as I would like. This is the awkward stage when nurturing and caring still are important, and the steadiness and continued care get us through difficult stages.
As it is with plant care, we all have peeks and valleys, stressful periods and easier times. Although the stressful times are no less difficult, for those who put their trust and faith that God will deliver them through, they seem to get out of the fires of life in better form–a more positive outlook, stronger faith and dependency on God– than those who do not.
Since my faith has grown, I cannot say I do not have periods of stress, but the traveling through to the other side is so much easier now. I say daily to Him that I know He will take care of this problem, issue and He has a plan for me, and will direct my path. I ask Him to show me if there is something I am supposed to do. If not, I just move steadily forward, believing in Him, and the walk itself seems less scary and stressful than it did a few years back when my faith was newer, more conditional and testing.
If we walk faithfully and continue to trust ourselves to His care, as with all things we work toward, our steadfast diligence will get us through and bless us with a reward.
My deepening relationship with Him is the most important part of “mybellaviews.”
Romans 5:3,4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
John 13:34,35 “… A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Sometimes, I think we need to see people actually living their lives like Christ in order to fully understand how a true follower shines. They do not necessarily have to be missionaries, ministers, deacons, and the like, but ordinary people who KNOW the love of Christ and share it with each encounter they have. I think if I had never seen the love, grace, and welcoming of many people, I would not truly understand how I am supposed to live like Him. Fortunately, I know several folks who show it in how they live their lives.
But I have been blessed to see, experience and feel that love. Oh, please do not misunderstand and think they are holier-than-thou, or supremely perfect they make no errors, or have never sinned or regret decisions they have made. These are folks who have stumbled, had their share of hardships, made mistakes, sometimes, according to them, grievous errors, but have sought forgiveness, and then carried on with their lives, including the consequences of bad decisions. But they go through life with a smile, warmth, a generosity of spirit, a grace, you can FEEL, experience, and then say, “Oh, that is a true of example of Christ. That is peace, love and serenity.” And, at least for me, I want that. I want my life to show that, to be an example, and for folks to ask why have you got such a glow, peace, warmth to others.
Because I am shy by nature, I don’t reach out fully initially to others; a casual smile, but don’t engage unless first approached by another. So, that shyness makes me wonder how many opportunities have I passed by because I did not persist and persevere in making that grace an outward part of my being? I have not persevered and persisted in reaching OUT to others; have only waited on them to reach to me first.
There have been several persons in my life who were wonderful examples of Christ’s love, but the most special had a glow, smile, and warmth that radiated from her, and folks were drawn to her. She beat breast cancer, but when she was supposed to get the news of being cancer free, she was told she had colon cancer. She had treatment and was told they “had it all,” and six months later a new lesion was found which meant she had a permanent colostomy—a major body image change to deal with, as well as the recuperation. But they “got it all.” Until she went for that six month scan of tests and was told she had several lesions in her liver and a couple in her lungs. She had maybe six months to live.
Even when she was ill, and not looking sick, folks asked about her health, she would answer truthfully that she might be tired, but all was well. I think all those people looked at her and believed she was recovering and would be around for years, because she didn’t dwell on not feeling well, but on giving others a beautiful smile, a warm few comments, asking about their family or situation, and showing the love she had for them.
She persevered and persisted giving grace and love to others. She is one of the best examples I have ever seen or experienced of Jesus’ love for us. I want to persevere toward that same manner. What a wonderful way to show people Christ!
Dawn was my best example of Christ’s true nature, and very important to “mybellaviews.”
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!