Do not be afraid

Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; 

do not be discouraged, 

for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

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Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Gifts from above

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 NIV

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Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Don't be anxious

Whenever you're facing a major decision, I urge you to pray about it. God will answer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build, 

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

a time to search and a time to give up, 

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend, 

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Seen or unseen

I've read these verses several times over the years but still, this morning got something different from them. It probably has to do with reading scripture in light of what's happening in life at this moment. That's how we find answers to life's questions. God reveals Himself through His word.

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory 

that far outweighs them all. 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"what is seen is temporary..." This makes me think of the past and the present. What's already happened is in the past; it's gone and we can't get it back, but there are times I long to go back in time and take a different path only to realize that a different path would alter so much more than the one thing I want to change. I need to let the past go and the events and decisions. Whatever choices I made back then or even just moments ago, God used to set me on the right path - the path that leads to Him and to my purpose in life.

"what is unseen is eternal..." The future is timeless. Christians have (literally) forever. We may shed this body today or tomorrow but we will live on. Instead of dreading or being anxious about the future, the unknown or unseen, we can delight in knowing that we're doing what we're supposed to be doing and that God will guide our way if we ask.

So, change or moving on doesn't have to be looked at with trepidation. It can be a wondrous opportunity that God has presented to us which is for His purpose.

My life verse is a reminder to leave it up to Him and not to worry about what choices I make if I make those choices by consulting Him first.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Everything will be okay

I believe that everything happens for a reason and that reason is in keeping with God's plan for us. It may take months, years or even a lifetime for a person to be able to see how God guided his/her life; all of the accumulated steps that were necessary to reach the person's destiny. It's difficult to be patient. It's difficult not to worry about the future. We want assurance that everything will work out. So, here it is:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Whatever change you're going through: moving, starting a new career, going back to school, dealing with an illness, ... trust in the Lord. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Moving on

I know I'm stating the obvious when I say that 'the world is constantly changing,' but I'm telling you, it really is, and I don't really care for change. Change is stressful to me most of the time, but I know that depending on the circumstances, it can be a relief and it can definitely be a blessing. The stressful part is usually temporary and soon the change itself becomes the new normal.

See, I am doing a new thing! 

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

I am making a way in the wilderness 

and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is facing a life change, moving on, or moving forward. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

How I spent New Year's Eve

I spent New Year's Eve this year with my husband (a rare opportunity, because he usually works all day and then wants to go to bed early), playing Wii Sports, drinking chocolate wine, and sneezing.  I have a cold, and it seems to be getting worse instead of better.

However, I didn't want to miss posting my philosophical approach to 2016...
I see New Years as a chance for a new beginning.  My sins of the past are dead and buried, my hopes for the future are just within my grasp.  Like the old saying goes, “today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

Technically, I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions many years ago, but I can’t quite help but think about what they would be, if I were to list them.  One of my old blog posts was somehow, magically, emailed to me this morning, and I thought, “that sounds pretty good.  I’ll do that.”  So, I’m making a New Year’s “Theme” (actually, 2):

  “Do It” and “Be Myself”.  

Both parts of these themes have a history to them, which I might go into later.
From my 2013 blogpost:

"Rules to Live By"

(in no particular order)

Only eat if I'm hungry.

Stop eating when I'm full.

The couch and laptop are not bodily parts, 

so make an effort to break away from them once in a while.

Go for a walk.

Take care of tasks as they come up instead of adding to the never-ending "to do" list.

Just "be"; live in the moment.  Quit reliving the past and worrying about/planning the future.

Forgive.  Let go.

Try new things.

Do what makes me happy.

Say what I feel.

Relax.  Meditate and pray.

Learn.

Be kind.

Help others.

Listen.

Appreciate.

Count my blessings.

For the full post, click here

What did you do for New Year's Eve?  What are your themes, resolutions, or goals for the new year?

A New Year's Revolution

It's a "revolution" because it's time to change the status quo.  It's time to take a firm stance that I'm going to improve.  I learned that some of the problems with New Year's resolutions are that they need motivation in order to work.  We can only motivate ourselves for so long and often times, its not long enough to turn a new way of life into a habit.  You need at least 6 weeks for that, and even then, its easy to slip back into our old ways.  We have this mental block towards New Year's resolutions.  They are usually a big departure from our normal way of living, and we give ourselves a lot of slack to fail, because, they're "just" New Year's resolutions; not to be taken seriously.  Knowing this and being somewhat of a hopeless optimist (sometimes), I'm trying a little bit of a different approach, and starting a bit later too, to avoid the rush at the gym.  So, my New Year's resolution is to devise a list of:

"Rules to Live By"
(in no particular order)

Only eat if I'm hungry.
Stop eating when I'm full.
The couch and laptop are not bodily parts, so make an effort to break away from them once in a while.
Go for a walk.
Take care of tasks as they come up instead of adding to the never-ending "to do" list.
Just "be"; live in the moment.  Quit reliving the past and worrying about/planning the future.

Forgive.  Let go.
Try new things.
Do what makes me happy.
Say what I feel.
Relax.  Meditate and pray.
Learn.
Be kind.
Help others.
Listen.
Appreciate.
Count my blessings.