Finally taken the next steps. We finally opened for business this month. It is really cool having a job (outside of writing) that won’t consume all of my time. I love being able to still take care of my kids and husband. I love that I have a chance to do what I love and still be blessed with an income. It was a scary thought, thinking about what could happen, what could change, if I could really do this. But I have chosen to not look around, I will keep my eyes on Jesus and my steps will be established. That is something that isn’t always easy to do. You know when Jesus called Peter out of the boat, Peter was fine. Until he started looking around. The circumstances around him are not what caused him to sink, it was his focus on the situations around him instead of staying focused on Jesus.

A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:29-31 NKJV

I have said time and time again, life is hard. Things are always going to happen. No matter who you are, or what you believe. There will always be trials and tribulations in your life. BUT, you get to choose, you get the choice, what are you going to focus on. Will you choose to focus on the rude man at the store, or focus on showing the Love we have been given unconditionally? Are we going to focus on the traffic jam, or start praying for the family that was devastated in the road ahead? Are we going to focus on the kids bad attitude and let it completely destroy our mood, or are we going to breathe through it, pray through it, and power through it?

We have daily, hourly, sometimes even just momentary decisions and choices to make. What do we choose to focus on? Revenge?, Doubt?, Our broken heart? We should be trying our hardest to give God those feelings. Those feelings of hurt, hate, and sorrow. It is the only way we can truly work passed them. Giving it to God, letting it go, and staying focused on the Words of Truth. Staying in the Word helps us combat all those “crap filled negative feelings”. It gives us weapons to fight against the enemy. The enemy who ONLY wants to steal, kill and destroy. When we are focused on, hatred, our bad moments, on how scared or even how worried we are. Who do you think is going to win in that situation when all you can do is stir up problems, hold grudges, or stewing on how wronged you were? I have got to tell you, we as Christians, we as Children of God, We were meant to be victorious.

¹¹ A [self-confident] fool utters all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it.
Proverbs 29:11 NKJV

Victorious over EVERYTHING the enemy has to throw at us. We get to fight against the lies that fill our minds. We get to be delivered from the anger, and hatred. We are delivered from the sorrow, fear and anxiety. When we put our faith and trust in the ONE true God. When we look to Him first and give Him our negative feelings at every first sign of them, HE WILL TAKE THEM. Then replace them with something new. Something better then we could imagine.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

The old me, wants to be scared, sad, and panicky all the time. The old me would not have been able to advertise for a business. I am not even sure the old me would have even had the guts to go for it. The old me didn’t feel good enough. Not good enough to do anything great. Not good enough for the people around me. My thoughts and mind fight against some of those feelings, even to this day. But I am not that person anymore. I do not have to live in fear. I do not have to let anxiety run ramped in my life. I get to be free. I get to be A New Creation in Christ.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Cor. 5:16 NKJV

I am not alone. I know a lot of people who still struggle. I know real people who bring their struggles to the light. That lets ME know, that when I feel a certain way, I am not alone. There are hundreds of people around us that have gone through, or struggled with the same kinds of things. The enemy likes us to feel secluded. Alone in a situation. Like we are the only ones who ever felt that way. You know when Jesus walked the Earth He struggled too. He had a hard time too. Being human is not easy, it is a constant battle. It is even harder when you are seeking God, and trying to stay focused on Him and His Word. The enemy wants to distract us. He wants us to look away from God and sink into the deep. He has every intention of trying to keep us away from a REAL relationship with God, and keep us held in a fearful, dark place.

Some days I feel scared, but…..

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Those are just a few, there are soo many verses that instruct to FEAR NOT! We are children of God, we need to train our hearts and minds to counter such attacks from the enemy.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 NKJV

Lets work on the Love in our hearts and minds. God gives us unconditional love, and blesses us with a constant flow of Him. All we need to do is ask for it, ask for more, ask to be filled with it. John 14:14 says If we ask anything in His name, it WILL be done for us. We can ask for the things we were promised, and receive them. Love, peace, joy, a sound mind, wisdom, strength. He will bless us with all of those if we seek Him, ask Him, and He will bless us. More then we could ever imagine.

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matt. 6:33 NKJV

I do not have to live my life in fear. I do not have to try to please the people around me. I do not have to walk some goody goody tight rope. I do not have to try to be perfect. I do not have to keep a hold of all the things in my heart that hurt moment by moment. My heart hurts all the time over the hurt and pain going on in the lives around me. I choose to give those hurts to God and ask Him to replace them with what I need. I need healing, I need strength, I need an abundance of LOVE.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV

Life will always be tough. We will always go through tough times. But we can choose to let them go, grow, move forward and keep fighting this battle until the day the Lord comes back and takes us home. We are warriors , children of God, an army in Christ. We don’t have to take, or keep the lies the enemy throws at us.

We can do ALL things through Christ who is OUR STRENGTH!!

We have a hope. We have a purpose. We were all made for something. We are all loved!