Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything....

Today was a snow day for my family. It was a school holiday for my boys because of President's Day but it was also a snow day. In the south we don't get very many snow days but when we do ,we celebrate. It's a day to not worry about work, school or sports. We can just hang out in our PJ's all day, drink hot chocolate, bake cookies and be together.  I love snow days!

The weather today was more icy than snowy and it reminded me of icy weather we had nine years ago. I had a business trip to Miami that could not be rescheduled and needed to get to the airport. My husband picked up my co-worker and drove us to the airport. I remember being nervous about the roads on the ride but not anxious about the flight.

We boarded the plane but we were stuck on the tarmac for over an hour. I wasn't a nervous flier. I had been flying all over the country for work and was in seven cities in four days two weeks prior to this flight. But, sitting on that plane that day overwhelmed me. I allowed fear to take over.

Eventually we were let off the plane and loaded onto another flight a few hours later. Since that day, when I fly, I have to sit in an aisle seat as close to the front of the plane as possible. My 6' 1" husband has to take the middle seat for my 5'5" self to even think about getting on a plane. My traveling work days are over which means my airline upgrades are also a luxury of the past. So, if we are going to fly anywhere I have to pay extra for the "premium" seats. But, it's the only way I will get on a plane.

While I am still a "freaky flier," I have learned how to manage it. Yes, it can get a little expensive and uncomfortable for my husband but it's a solution. I realized the reason I was anxious about that flight on that cold day nine years ago was I was worrying. Worrying about missing our meeting in Miami, worrying about other work commitments, worrying about once again leaving my boys behind, worrying about Chris making it back home in the weather- just worrying. I worried myself into a panic attack. All that worry did not do anything positive for me or my friend that day, it actually made me develop a fear of flying.

Since that day, I've learned to manage my anxiety by praying when I find myself starting to worry. This picture hangs by the sink in our bathroom and it's the first thing I see each morning as a constant reminder to not worry.

"Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." Philippians 4:6-7.

This picture and Chris (who is always reminding me if I have time to worry I have time to pray) help keep me focused. Why worry? God always has been and always will be in control. Turn it over to Him and let Him do the worrying. The thing is you have to turn it over to Him and keep it there. You can't give it to Him then take it back to handle yourself. I do that often and I end up right back where I started. It's like being a hamster on a wheel. You can keep running faster but you are going to end up right back where you started- on the wheel going around and around to nowhere.

So, I try my best not to be that hamster when worry creeps in my thoughts. I still give my worries to God and take them back on occasion. But, I am getting better about keeping them with Him because I understand the peace the verse speaks about and I love that feeling. It truly is indescribable and is much better than being anxious and certainly much better than the feeling of being stuck on a plan in an ice storm!

Grace and Peace,
Misty

Faith of a mustard seed is my Bible verse

Grace is my word and Matthew 17:20-21 is my Bible verse, "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

When this verse first spoke to me I had no idea about the story behind it. A friend simply said, "All it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed and you can do anything." I looked at her like she was crazy and thought she has no idea about the mountains I am facing. But my analytical side won and  I asked "What is a mustard seed and how small is it?" Then, I went to Google to seek images of mustard seeds.

This is what I found- a tiny seed. Then I wondered how big that tiny seed compared to something else, and I found this image:

It is significantly smaller than a penny. If a penny is our least valuable denomination, and if that was all the faith I needed; then surely I could manage that much faith. So, I wrote out that verse and taped it to my desk at home and my desk at work. I placed it where I would see it many times each day. During this time I was struggling to get through each day. I knew God had me where I was for a reason, but I needed something to hang onto. I needed hope, and this verse helped me remember that all I had to do was have a tiny bit of faith and God would bring me through my valley.

Days and months and years passed and I clung to this verse. Eventually, that particular valley was in my rear view mirror, but the verse was still a part of me. I have the same sticky note on my desk today as a constant reminder that so little is required of me.

Years later I read the entire 17th Chapter of Matthew to get more perspective on my verse. I learned that Jesus was talking to the disciples when he said, "you have so little faith." They were trying to cure a boy but gave up too soon. Isn't it comforting to know that even the disciples had too little faith? We all fall down and we all question. I know I question Jesus every day. It doesn't make it right but it does make it real. 

We are all perfectly flawed and we are all in this together. So, if all it takes is faith as small as mustard seed can you imagine what great things could happen if our faith was as great as say, an apple seed?

Grace and Peace,
Misty

Why Grace? Why this blog?

Grace is a word that has been with me my entire life. When I was a young girl attending Catholic school, I loved the hymn Amazing Grace. While I didn't understand the meaning of the words, I loved to sing the hymn.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.


These are the verses I remember when I was a grade school student, and as I grew, the subsequent verses in the song became more relevant and meaningful.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

With life experiences, I began to realize that God's grace truly is amazing. He offers it to us new each day and expects nothing in return. It is a precious gift.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.


I walked though early adult trials. I  faced the challenges of being a single mom of two young boys with a new career that required demanding travel and long hours when my first marriage fell apart. Most nights I would fall into bed so exhausted from a full day, and  I would cry myself to sleep praying to God to give me the strength to make it through another day. Often I would ask God why I had to walk through that valley. What did I do to deserve those circumstances? It was in those dark hours that I clung to Him. He was the life boat that allowed me to get through each day- one day at a time. He became my shield and portion and now that I have walked through that valley I am thankful for the experience as it forced me to trust in Him.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.


As my faith continued to strengthen though my life journey, these verses became clearer. I lost my beloved grandmother, but I knew we would one day meet again. I knew she was dancing in heaven and I was at peace knowing where she was.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun

I am so thankful that I can freely sing God's praise and share it with my husband, friends, co-workers and three boys! I have learned to give grace to others and most importantly to myself. God has been placing this blog on my heart for awhile and I keep finding excuses to not start it: I'm too busy, it will take too much time, I will share too much information. As a private person by nature the most daunting part is opening myself up to others. But, I have also learned that when God asks something off you it's for a reason. No one may ever read this but I know I'm doing what I've been called to do!

I am by no means perfect and I do not have all of the answers.I am a work in progress as are we all. I am simply a child of God learning as I go. My intent is to share life lessons I have learned, life lessons I am in the progress of learning and ones I hope to learn.
 
So, thank you for visiting.
What is your word? We all have one but we may not know we have one. What word speaks to you?
I would love to know.


Grace and peace,
Misty