Just because it has been, doesn't mean it always will be.
Yes, I believe history, in general, repeats itself. If things don't change, things won't change.
As a Christ Follower, I also believe some things in history will not repeat itself because there is no lack of newness of life in God's Kingdom realm. In the timeline economy of God, time is relative...some things will repeat themselves, but for many things they will not.
Let me explain.
Have you ever caught yourself saying something like, "Well, it happened once, I am sure it will happen again," "It's in my family," "I will never change," "this always happens," "it happened to her, I am sure it will happen to me too."
Here are some of the assumptions I have made over the years in my own personal life...
- My Grandma had cancer, I probably will too.
- I miscarried once, I probably will this time too.
- My friend's husband struggled, I am sure mine will too.
- Doors never opened, I guess now they never will.
- I don't have an inner circle of Sister Friends, I guess I never will.
- I wasn't successful in that, I won't be successful in this either.
- It's in the family, I guess it always will be.
- I lost that time, I will surely lose this time.
- They have it so its not meant for me.
- It didn't work last time, it won't work this time.
BUT GOD...
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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 43:16-19
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Matthew 16:8-9
We believe scarcely. I can't help but wonder how many of us are suffering with a scarcity mindset when it comes to newness of life in Christ. He is our renewing, healing, redemption. In Christ, chains are broken, curses lifted, He makes a way when there seems to be no way, blessing abound in His Name.
His power dwells within us and in Him, we are new creations, each one of us fearfully and wonderfully made, hemmed in before our breath took it's first gasp on earth. He seeks after what is lost that they may be found. He parts waters, purifies, protects, conquers, removes, satisfies...He is the God of mercy and healing.
He is doing a new thing, always.
In Him, we armor up in faith, believing, trusting, seeking, refining, pruning, maturing, sanctifying, fighting...surrendering.
"I remember when," is a great recall both in the Word and by word of testimony from your own life, but also through others. This is why it's so important we share our testimonies as evidence! I love the lyrics, "Who am I to deny what the Lord can do." As Christ Followers we are charged with renewing our minds and fixing our eyes on Jesus, not on the earthly things our flesh dwells amongst, rather the eternal....the redemption and circumcision of Christ's Love.
History will not always repeat itself and what was will not always be when we look Heavenward.
Blind will see.
Death will live.
Lost will be found.
Mercy will renew.
Dead will rise.
Old will be new.
Jesus came to set captives free and in Him, our hope strengthens, by faith that He is Over All.
So whatever it is in your life that was, "it WAS."
Let God be your "IS."
Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen or repeat itself? No. I love what Paul says, he has learned how to be content in the plans of God, in turbulent waters and beside still waters alike. In the fire and in the den, He is with us.
We can choose to live, not in our flesh that WAS, but our spirit that IS, in the abundance of surrender that says, "I believe God can do anything." Will our faith set us free from the bondage of "cants?" Yes. We choose to live in the blessing and provision of God, according to HIS perfect will for our lives.
It won't always look like what we thought it would and He certainly is not a Magic Genie to grant our wishes, but He is Lord and Creator over all who is head over all things and in Him all things are redeemed and held together. Everything sifts through His hands, meant for our good and His glory alone.
Grace Upon Grace....we are NOT as we were!!! Glory to God!
His Word, Who Was and Is, will always be, forever and ever. THIS is our history, NOW!
Through the unknown, through what was, through the deep waters, Go Change History by Faith Sister! His heart is for you!!!
Your Heart Sister, Michele
In the next blog, let's talk about the power of our words since Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
If today's encouragement hugged your HEART today, let me know in the comments or meet me over
in my Facebook Sisterhood Community! Feel free to share this blog with a friend who needs a heart hug too!
This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!
Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
Congratulations on your decision to embark on a journey of personal growth and development! This is a significant achievement, especially for those who have struggled with anxiety and insecurity. By trusting in yourself and in God, you are bravely setting aside your fears and pride to say, "Help Me Grow."
Starting off on this path may feel overwhelming and scary, but it is a normal part of the process. However, it's important to note that personal development is different from simply solving problems. It's about growth and learning, and sometimes this may be unfamiliar territory, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom. You may have approached learning as a means to fix things, but now it's about developing new skill sets and becoming a leader, even within your own home.
As you begin your personal development journey, it's common to feel both excited about the possibilities and humbled by how much you still have to learn. Unfortunately, this vulnerability can become a trigger for anxiety. The enemy will try to highlight your weaknesses and discourage you from growing closer to God. Insecurity may tell you that you're not ready or capable of leading, but remember that faith tells you that you are capable of doing all things with God by your side. Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it.
To navigate this journey, here are a few steps you can take: First, acknowledge that feeling nervous is a natural part of growth. Trust that God will provide what you need, whether it's building up or tearing down. Second, surrender control and understand that it's okay to be scared. Cast your cares on God and ask for His strength and guidance. Third, surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can offer support and accountability. Lastly, evaluate your environment and be mindful of the influences around you, as what you listen to can impact your personal development.
Remember that personal growth is a continuous process, and there will always be new challenges as you continue to learn and develop. Embrace the grace in the hard times and avoid getting swept away by doubts and insecurities. Take one step at a time and don't let fear hinder your progress. Trust that God is with you every step of the way and allow Him to prune, cleanse, and lead you. This is an adventure worth embarking on, and God's heart is for you as you grow and shine your light.
Read more...In this blog post, the author shares about a personal experience of feeling like giving up and how they discovered a different perspective through personal development. They discuss the importance of worshiping in our worry, trusting in God's character, and developing resilience through faith. Readers are invited to join the conversation on emotional intelligence, trust, resilience, and faith through a provided link.
This blog post explores the author's journey of learning to overcome moments of doubt and uncertainty. By shifting their focus to worship and trusting in God, they experienced growth and maturity in their faith. The post encourages readers to embrace emotional intelligence, trust, and resilience in their own lives.
Read more...
As an introvert, annnndd if you struggle with insecurity, doesn’t mean you have to skip out on socials and events. Let's Chat....grab your coffee...it's Sister Time.
I used to avoid going anywhere alone, especially if it was new to me, even if it was an event at my own church. I didn’t wanna show up into the unknown. Not knowing who would be there or what to expect! I missed out on a LOT of love and experiences until I learned it was a good idea to buddy up and not miss out on what could be a blessing!!
With time and healing and some awesome Sisters to be my Event Buddy, I learned to be courageous and confident enough to go out alone. ALONE! It feels embarrassing to say that because soooo many people don't even think twice about going places alone....not sure whether to blame shyness, insecurity, fear...but I blame the enemy.
I used to sit in the shame and feeling less-than-ness. Because I was feeling small in my shyness and introvertedness, I saw myself as boring and lacking. I wanted so badly to be fearless, vivacious, fun and extroverted but it wasn't me and trying to be was soooo draining and exhausted me. Knowing it would take so much energy to "keep up" I mostly chose to stay home.
Anyone else?!?
Now, all these years later, I have since hosted events, and plan to do more, mindful of people who are scared to be there just like old me! Funny how God works!!! Sure, depending on the event, I get butterflies, but it's not fear based.
Whether it's with a Friend, or by myself, I actually enjoy going out to new places, seeing new things, trying new things, walking in the anticipation God is revealing His glory to me, cuz He knows I can't help but shout out the praise and use it as an encouragement for someone else!
Some may call it a mid-life crisis when you see us over 50's stepping out and doing new things. I think it's more about mid-life crunch time...we recognize it's time to DO THE THINGS because we just sat through intermission and it's the 2nd Act and it's almost Finale time.
I don't want YOU missing out on timely appointments and enjoyments because you think you can't enjoy going! It's gonna take some time, but you can do this! If I can, YOU CAN! BUT GOD!!! This first time is an Overcoming Moment and it's gonna feel good to make it through without total anxiety. The next time you go, it's actually gonna be fun because your brain remembers the last one and you survived and thrived! From now on, you are going with chin up, eyes wide open, eager to meet God there.
The most important thing I came to realize was it wasn't always about me. Fear and insecurity keeps us focused on ourselves whereas love and blessing focuses us on others. So now, before I go anywhere, alone or with a whole group, I am praying for the Lord to lead me and give me opportunity to be a blessing there. It helps my heart and mind to stay in eager anticipation to listen and look for God's direction.
Do I still have a good time when I am focused on others? Yes. The possibility to be used by God is exciting! Now, I love going places and meeting people. I am still an introvert so, after so many people, I do need some quiet space to recharge! Experiencing events without the complete freak out overwhelm is so much fun!!! You ready?!?
Here are a few quick tips to get you going places in peace and courage:
PRAYER! Ask Him to lead you. Also, guard your energy before and during with Prayer. Deep breathes, enjoy conversations that uplift and bring you joy. Move away from the drama if you walk up on it or if you begin feeling depleated. Sometimes a little bathroom break or stepping outside for a minute helps with that fresh breath.
Look for ways to volunteer beforehand if it’s an event of any kind. Otherwise, walk around or start in the back, look for ways to help serve, greet or help others.
If you are still needing a Buddy, Get One!! Invite a buddy so attention can be deflected as needed. Be sure to let your friend know your level of anxiety or nervousness so they can step in if they see you struggle with words or energy. If I find myself with someone who talks non-stop, plus it is negative chatter, it's like someone has pulled out my battery's drain plug. I deplete quick. I also don't last long with surface conversations. I can manage for a bit if it's relative, but otherwise, I try my best to move along.
No sugars or caffeine’s that day (or few days before) that fire up your adrenals - instead camomile tea and be sure to stay onto of your vitamins. There are great supplements you can take too. Just message me.
Lavender oil is always good to have on you as well as inhaling the hour before, and during! I use diffuser bracelets too. 
Worship the Lord with every breath and count your blessings in that moment! Continually praise and say Thank you Lord for...
Stay in the moment. Look for ways to distract your mind if it becomes anxious and serve in some way. Something as simple as holding a door or saying words of affirmation over another person. Anything that turns your brain from mess to bless! Don’t miss out on life. Open up and release the fear of the unknown, fear of rejection. Trust and Faith. You only get one life, so LIVE IT!! Do not let fear steal blessings purposed from you and through you.
Sister, remember this, it's not always about YOU! Perhaps the Lord has invited YOU into this space to bless someone else, to be His hands, heart and feet to someone else. Don't miss out on those Divine Appointments and Enjoyments! Walk with eager anticipation! He's Got you!!! Trust yourself. Trust Him!
It's Time!! Let's Go in Love and Faith!!! He is able to do exceedingly more than you can imagine! And you know what else, YOU are a blessing to those you will meet too! And when you bless, you receive too! I am so proud of you already! I hope one day to cross paths with you at an event! We will have so much fun in the back row, TOGETHER but who knows, maybe we will end up on the dance floor!
Hugs, High 5's and Blessings!
Yo Big Sister Shell
If today's encouragement hugged your HEART today, let me know in the comments or meet me over
in my Facebook Sisterhood Community! Feel free to share this blog with a friend who needs a heart hug too!
This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!
Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
Share your testimony and use words if necessary. ♥️
I’m the first one to say I AM NOT PERFECT!!! I admit I tried hard for it for many years, never achieving it cuz NO ONE CAN be but Jesus. It wore me out trying to be everything to everyone.
Another struggle for me was taking off the mask, another blog for another time. When you are someone who struggles with insecurity, your greatest fear is rejection. The greatest rejection being rejection of self as you share yourself out into the world. So we wear the mask and build walls.
🌸Freedom came when I realized I couldn’t be perfect and those whom I was measuring myself up to didn’t expect me to measure up to them- it was my insecurity seeing myself as less than they.
🌸Freedom came when I stopped expecting perfection from myself.
🌸Freedom came when I surrendered my worry, fear, insecurity in who I saw myself as and began to learn who I was created to be and chose to live a life of Grace and Acceptance in the name and identity of Christ my Savior.
🌸Freedom came when I let go of all I was trying to control and let God carry those burdens, hopes and prayers knowing He holds everything together and has a plan beyond what I could imagine.
🌸Freedom comes when we let God be God! He doesn’t need our plans or suggestions. As a Mama, I also had to let Him be the Holy Spirit in my home. I released myself from thinking that was somehow my part as a Mom. I learned to surrender control and wow, that weight was heavy, and not mine to carry. Mamas, pray for you Husbands and Kiddos and move out of the way at the Amen.
♥️He knows those decade long prayers.
♥️He sees the hurt that just stabbed your soul.
♥️Every tear is caught by Him.
♥️Sometimes He moves the mountain and sometimes He moves you.
Whatever you are facing, be FREE!!! Got on the trust bus….In Jesus, He will equip you to accomplish the things He has called you to. He’s not gonna mold you or shape you into someone else’s likeness.The peace you are looking for deep in your soul are found in Jesus, just as you are, where you are.
‼️He created YOU to be YOU, in the likeness of HIM!!‼️
Live FREE and sharpen others to do the same!!
Let’s stir one another up!!
1 Thess 5:11🌸♥️
God Loves You! God Sees You! God Hears You!
If today's encouragement hugged your HEART today, let me know in the comments or meet me over
in my Facebook Sisterhood Community! Feel free to share this blog with a friend who needs a heart hug too!
This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!
Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
