With God all things are possible. And an award!

Thanks to Chrystal at Learning To Be for nominating me for this award! I confess, I’ve been nominated for an award a couple of other times and because life has been so crazy the last three months, I haven’t taken time to respond or repost. If you nominated me, know that I’m thankful and I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you!

Okay, on to the award rules.

The Rules for this award are as follows:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging (or whose blogs you enjoy most). I’ll nominate as many as I can before my littles scream or throw something breakable.
2. Let them know that you have nominated them
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself. I’ll do this so you can get to know me better. I can’t remember if I did this on another blog post…
4. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you.
5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post.

Seven random facts… Well, I’m a fairly random person anyway, so this should be easy.

1. Rottweilers are my favorite breed of dog. I love their strength, their personality, and their loyalty. They truly are gentle giants if they’re trained right from the beginning.
2. Not a breakfast person. Give me a glass of water early and protein bar around 10am and I’ll be good until about 2pm.
3. I really (I mean REALLY) like to sleep. Haven’t gotten much of that in four years. Makes for a grumpy momma.
4. My favorite singer is Harry Connick, jr.
5. I’m the youngest of four children.
6. I’ve heard we only use about 10% of our brains. I’m functioning with about 5% on a good day. Today I’d say I’m working with 2%.
7. I love crafts. All kinds of crafts. Wood, paint, yarn, paper. Scrapbooking and crochet are my faves.

Okay, nominating as many other bloggers as I can.

1. Wordsmith’s Desk He has a way with words that I really appreciate. Also love his shorter style.
2. 5 G’s and a Cup of Joe His blog is a kind of daily devotional and he makes me think without hurting my brain. Remember, 2-5% here, people.
3. Veracity Woman This blog is so affirming and powerful!
4. Bird Martin Bird has a lot to say, and she’s funny. She shows a vulnerability in her posts that allows Jesus to shine through.
5. Mad Mad me This is crafting blog. Just love everything about it!
6. Monica Shaughnessy This is one of the writing blogs I follow. She’s down to earth and encouraging at the same time. No sensationalism, which is good for this drama queen.
7. Writing While the Rice Boils Another writing blog that is amazing for resources and tips! Plus, Debbie is a good friend of mine and she really knows her writing stuff.
8. Get up. This is another brief, but very powerful blog. Especially loved her post on breaking the approval addiction.
9. The Red Pen of Doom. This guy totally cracks me up. Doesn’t hurt that he has dynamite thoughts on marketing, writing, and editing.
10. Terry1954 Her love for her brother just bowls me over. She is such a heartfelt and warm person in her blog, and she genuinely interacts with her readers. Love this blog because it gives me a view of true love.
11. Growing in Jesus Jennifer’s blog points me right to the Source. It’s another one for powerful affirmations from the Bible.

There are so many more blogs I’d list if I could, but the littles have screamed several times now. Thrown things too, but nothing breakable fortunately. And my 2% is pretty much used up for the day.

On that note, I will leave with a confession. No this isn’t cheating because it still applies. If you feel short on attention or time or any necessary element in your life, confess this truth with me today:

With God, all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26 tells us that men can be saved from death because all things are possible with God. Today I will approach life knowing that all things are possible with God. Even accessing more brain power.

What do you need to be possible today?

Nothing is impossible with God

The last two weeks have been an interesting time in my house. For the first time ever, I’ve battled panic attacks that threaten to lay me flat on the floor, gasping for air, sure my heart is going to come to a dead stop. Or I’ve nearly climbed the walls with anxiety that sends adrenaline soaring and blood screaming through my veins. The only thing that keeps me from showing this panic to my children is reciting Psalm 23. I’ve also watched my four-year-old son scream, unable to catch his breath, and almost throw up in fear. I have no idea what he’s afraid of, but it seems to control almost every move.

I make light of my own panic because there’s really no reason for it. (Not that the realization stops my fear, but it is true. Forget what seems to be real; the truth is that I have not been given a spirit of fear. Realizing it and confessing it is the first step to making it real for me.) But seeing it in my child is a different matter. Fear – and overcoming it – is hard enough inside my own head. How do I teach my son to recognize the truth and fight against the fear?

The only way I know is to speak the truth over him, over our entire family. We move forward with normal activities, and if I have to leave him with a Sunday school teacher or a Bible study teacher, I pray and trust God to take care of him. Doing this, I’ve seen the fear we both experience recede. I love today’s confession (the ‘I’ in our alphabet of confessions) because it speaks to the myriad of reasons I battle breathtaking fear.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Do you really believe this? We serve the God of the impossible. What are your dreams or goals? What are your wildest prayers? Here are a few of mine, and what I think of when I pray them.

Establish a successful storytelling career? Impossible.

Raise happy, healthy, Jesus-loving children in a world of pride, excess, and indulgence? Impossible.

Banish all forms of fear, and embrace the future and the hope He plans for me? Impossible.

But nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 says so. For that reason, I’ll continue confessing the truth over myself and my family. My God will make a way, and the impossible will become possible. Beyond that, the possible will become achievable. Nothing is impossible with God.

What impossible things have you seen God do lately?

Anything is possible

I’m becoming an optimistic person.

It would be nice to believe that I’ve always seen the brighter side of things, and I have had moments of brighter-sides, but the truth is that I would not be writing a blog on confronting fears if I always saw the world through rose-colored glasses. Not long ago, I cowered in the darkness, craving the sunshine in my spirit. I even cowered in the sunshine, afraid of the moment it would diminish and clouds would once again cover me in chilly despondence.

But the healing power of Jesus Christ is complete and amazing in its immediacy. I no longer fear the darkness. I don’t fear the end of the sunshine. Now I live in the sun and bask in its warmth. I know how to deal with impending doom and darkness.

I believe.

Take a minute to read Mark 9:22-24. A father, a possessed little boy, and Jesus. The father says, “Help us if you can.” And Jesus says (with amused indignation, in my own mind), “If I can? Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Jesus isn’t talking about the power of positive thinking, or believing in magic or dreams. We can’t ask to win the lottery and then go on a spending spree. He’s talking about having faith in the power of the Almighty God. Read that again: having faith in the power of the Almighty God.

Today’s confession is one of faith and trust. Say it with full realization of the One worthy of your faith, trust, and belief.

Anything is possible because I believe.

What is the ‘anything’ in your life, and what do you believe about it?

With God all things are possible

Pop quiz: When was the last time you used the word ‘impossible’? As in, “That’s impossible.” or “I’m impossible.”

For me, it’s almost a daily challenge to ban that word from my thinking. For one thing, I’m, er… slightly melodramatic. I think we’ve established that fact. I tend to over-exaggerate. (Are you proud of me? I totally avoided – like TOTALLY avoided – melodrama and exaggeration there. I’m never going to exaggerate AGAIN!)

For another thing, I like to use dry wit at my own expense. I roll my eyes and say, “I’m so impossible.” Or I look at my goals and think, “Yeah. Right. IM-possible.”

Today’s affirmation directly contradicts that thinking. I want you to look in the mirror this morning and say these words out loud, believing them, believing in the power of God. This is not about your own superior ability to do all things. It’s not about your super-human efforts. It’s not about you. This is about God, about His love for you, and about His power to do ALL things. (And that is not an exaggeration, my friends. That is Truth. See for yourselves.)

Confession: Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

With men, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:36

It stands to reason, then, that with God all GOOD things are possible. Want to make this affirmation more personal? Do it. “Every good and every perfect gift in my life is from God, with whom all good things are possible.” And name your gifts. Your spouse? Your children? The ability to pay all your bills – and still have enough to get a coffee or a special treat – in this time of economic uncertainty? How about friends that keep your chin up? Your health? Even pets can be gifts from God. Don’t forget those gifts that enrich others’ lives. Wisdom, joy, peace. Yes, all the gifts of the Spirit are included here. Look for them, too!

Go into the world today knowing that every good and perfect gift is from God and that He loves you so much, He wants to do impossible things in your life!

What impossible thing are you asking Him for today?