Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command.   Galatians 6:2

Be kind and good to others; then you will live safely here in the land and prosper.  Psalm 37:3

Have you ever had your heart touched when a stranger gives a big smile and lets you step in front of him at the cash register? Or when someone calls or sends a card when you’ve been feeling blue to say they are thinking of you or how thankful they are you are in their life? Or a neighbor volunteers to take care of your pets when you are going to be away for an extended time, maybe an overnight or two?

There are such good and kind people in our lives. I am so often touched by others—strangers or friends, and am so thankful for their gestures. It is a fairly common occurrence for me to say a prayer for someone who has touched me by doing a gesture or kindness for me. People are so kind, and although I am sure they are appreciative of hearing a ‘thank you’ for something they have done, I say a quick prayer that they receive something they need or may have been waiting for. I have no idea if that prayer is answered right away, but I hope something good occurs in their life during the day they showed me a kindness. But I know God answers prayers, and I know my good wishes for them are brought about in a manner which they need.

Sometimes I wish I knew what occurs for these folks, mostly strangers I’ve prayed for. I would love to know how God answered the prayer sent up as a means of thanking the person who showed me a kindness. I would love to see the outcome for the person. There is no question God answered my plea for the person, but I would still like knowing how it was answered.

But in truth I know I will never know the outcome. However, it never stops me from uttering a prayer on their behalf, and believing God will honor that for them. Just a means of acknowledging the kindness they bestowed to me. I hope there are others who have sent up prayers in my behalf.

And I have to believe that probably is so since I have many blessings in ‘mybellaviews.’ Thank you!

 

Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…..

Lamentations 3:22-23  Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Rev 21:5  Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Spring is on its way!

I love Spring—warmer weather, longer daylight hours, the bursting forth of flowers emerging from hibernation, birds singing and twittering, and there seems to be a spring you see in many people’s walks. There’s buoyancy you can almost feel; certainly not like being suspended in a G force, but still a lightness, an expectation.

Everything feels new. Spirits seem lighter after dealing with winter. It’s easier to cuddle down with a good movie and a blanket, maybe with a fire roaring in the chilliness of the colder seasons. Certainly, most are able to go about their lives—going to work each day, meeting friends for socializing, and so on, but still after the holidays, many tend to spend more quiet time at home. The winter just seems to invite snuggling in, resting more, and relaxing in the longer dark days.

We wait for the longer days; the gradual earlier appearance of the sun each morning, while the sunsets creep into darkness a little later.

                                                                                                                    

I have so much to celebrate and be thankful for DAILY, and spring is a continual time of praising for all the beauty that renews each year.  I have red winged blackbirds at my feeders, the ambitious and brave little hummingbirds flit about the feeders, chasing off other birds, even there own kind. Flowers poke their heads up and spread into wide blossoms of pretty showiness.  The geese have their young, and guide them away from roads, leading them to safety. Last week, i saw a family, two adults with two young hurrying across a busy road to a small brook. A woman had spotted them, stopped her car, and made sure they safely hurried across. God used that angel woman to help these creatures, and showed to all of us who witnessed it the kindness we are all capable of, as well as the glory of his creation here…a family of geese.

I feel more energetic and want to get out and walk and enjoy the weather, rather than repeating how cold it is with the chilly winds blowing. That makes it easier for me to be lazy and not do what I am supposed to do to care for the temple God has blessed me with while I walk here. But finally Spring has burst forth; it seemed late to really arrive no matter the date the calendar showed, but it’s here. Find some of the reasons I so enjoy my bellaviews below.

 

                                                                                                      

 Luke 8:15  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

1 Timothy 6:11,12  But you, oh man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

James 1:2-4  …count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

For those of you who have read my blogs very often, you’ve probably seen I have an issue with impatience. Mine, not usually someone else’s as long as the situation does not diffuse into anger. But I was born with no patience. And of course, as I delve further into the word, I realize that patience and long suffering come as we follow God and learn to develop patience by trusting Him, His word, and His promises for our life. Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, so it does eventually come if we learn about it, study it, and strive to be more Christ-like and seek it.

It will still flit across my head that maybe what I am waiting for will NEVER come, (maybe not His will for me), but when those thoughts hit, I try hard to oust them.

I know Satan loves to lie, deceive and taunt us that prayers aren’t going to be answered—because we are not good enough, we are not worthy, that he, Satan can give us all our wishes and dreams….and his lies continue.

But I have learned over the years to thwart those lies, to remind myself I am waiting on God’s timing to deliver, and to verbally say my special verses on WAIT….PATIENCE…. Within a couple of moments that impatience fades, and I snuggle back, reminding myself my life is good even without all my heart’s desire, and send up a Thank You and an apology for letting those impatient feelings project even for a moment.

I’m going to share a poem I found, signed by Anonymous. I found it on an inexpensive plaque many years ago, and had it hanging in my home for a while. But it says so much to my impatience.

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God, because He was my friend.

But, then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried, “How can you be so slow?”

“My child,” He said, “What could I do? You never did let go.”

That was so me. Impatiently, I would try to maneuver things to come out my way, in my time. And ALWAYS those things did not work out for my benefit. Obviously, I don’t know how they would have worked had I sat back and trusted, but I am sure they would have been much better if I waited on Him.

Over the years, I have learned patience in my life and for “mybellaviews.”

1 Peter 5:7  …casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you

Matthew 11:28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 55:22   Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Years ago, and I don’t remember how or exactly when this practice started, but I began writing worries, fear, concerns, hopes on a piece of paper, folding it 1-2 times and dropping it into a bag. Then I was to forget and push away the nagging negative worry. I cannot say that whatever the concern was didn’t try to sneak in, but AS SOON AS I recognized it slithering into my mind and thoughts, I would forcefully say, “No, you are in the bag. I don’t have to worry and fret over you. God has this, and I am not letting you ooze back in.”

Sometimes, I would have to force out this worry a few times a day at first. I used to like to worry a problem, I guess. YUCK. I was tense, nervous, anxious, and probably grumpy all the time allowing those worries to grip me and try to suck me under to deeper water.  But that plan and the act of writing and putting it into the God’s hands and the bag, and remembering I did that, it was no longer a burden for me. Remembering I had handed it over, truly helped. Truly helped.

Of course, there are things I have to take care of, but I don’t have to worry and fret. I put them into His hands, and wait for direction. Things feel so much more relaxed now, and there is very little negative stress in my life. I can’t control the universe, can’t control anyone else’s actions or thoughts, but I can hand things over to God, and wait for Him to show me the best path.

I choose to go forward and release things to Him whenever I can. Certainly, I take care of my bills, my home care, my health, but I don’t let things I have no control over frustrate me any longer. I can pray about it, pray about clarity for my direction, how I can possibly help with the issue, but there is only confidence now that I will be shown the right path and decision. I am freer and not heaving about a yoke of worry, casting my cares to Him in the bag.

Maybe reading this, you will decide to develop your own God bag. It has been one of the best habits I’ve developed for mybellaviews.’

 

2 Timothy 1:7  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control 

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you.

FEAR=False Evidence Appearing Real   Joyce Meyer, pg 79  Promises for your everyday life, 2013

There are so many verses that discuss fear in the Bible. God is dealing with me regarding fear and waiting. Anyway, thought I’d share some of my thoughts and feelings about fear since it can be so prevalent in all of us.

Sometimes we fear a new job, a change of seasons in our life whether it be from children all leaving to start their own adult lives and employment, a divorce, death of a mate, deciding to move to a new location. Change can be scary, and so can wanting to begin something new. Perhaps you have spent time comparing yourself with another and find yourself lacking and therefore doubtful. Maybe, you have little to no education in some area, but would like to try and work in a totally different field…but can you afford the change? Financially? Emotionally? So obviously, thoughts of doubt creep and slither into your mind. These are unbidden whispers that you don’t know what you’re doing.  ‘You can’t succeed; you have no knowledge of this…..’ Satan insidiously taunts.

And the fears, doubts, and recriminations continue. And then you have to do something, you must make a choice: quit and let fear succeed… or move ahead and go forward.

But if we are sure that God is encouraging this new trek, adventure, we need to step out with confidence and remove fear and those staying thoughts of doubt and anxiety.  But we must be convinced God is urging you forward. Staying with the old and comfortable is not stepping out in faith, it is stalling in fear.  That is not God’s desire for us. He wants us to be bold in His name. Your faith in Him should allow you to move forward.

Facing fear is not easy, and it requires knowing God’s words of not succumbing to fear, and self-quoting them to yourself whenever needed. Fear is a manipulative snake sent out by Satan himself. But it can cripple one. Fear builds immobility on the foundation of doubt, and if that doubt foundation is re-enforced by listening to the whispering lies, it makes folks not step out, not try, and not reach for what God may have chosen especially for you. Perhaps it was something you wanted and were afraid to reach for, or it was something He wanted so you could touch others, to serve others, to allow you to shine.

But He does not want us to fear. We are to trust Him. If we continue to seek and ask Him to show us the way, He will and then we can NOT accept the fear. We must rebuke it and the one who whispers lies and doubts, and forcefully push those uncertainties – and Satan—away.

Next, time I will tell you about my God bag and how that helped me gain more control over the appearance of the lies when they would try to sneak back.

Fear has shaped much of my journey, but it’s a great feeling to know I am conquering it by standing on God’s word. It has helped ‘mybellaviews.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

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