Updated on June 15, 2017
Seek First Project: Weighed Down by Worry (Day 16)
Worry weighs a person down;
an encouraging word cheers a person up. – Proverbs 12:25
The author of Proverbs sure puts this exactly right, doesn’t he?
Don’t you feel weighed down? I do.
Like anchors are tied to my ankles. As if a millstone is about my neck. The distinct feeling that my soul weighs a couple of tons.
It’s hard to look up when your head is that heavy. It’s hard to move forward when you’re that anchored in place. It’s impossible to encourage when the storm cloud that is your spirit just rumbles and rolls and flashes.
But this is not what God intended. His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Surely you know someone who could use a little load-lightening cheer. We all do. Maybe online. Maybe in real life. Maybe right there in your own home.
So your challenge today is to find two people and encourage them. Hug them. Tell them why they’re important to you. Remind them of Jesus’ care.
Do it now.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your divine comfort that we can pass on to others. Thank You for the privilege of sharing in Your suffering, so that we might also share in Your peace. We love You… Amen
Photo by Christopher Combe Photography 
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 14, 2017
Seek First Project: Pressed On Every Side (Day 15)
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. – 2 Corinthians 4:8
I love this verse. I love it mainly because the context is one of great suffering. That’s what’s being discussed here.
How our suffering showcases the glorious power of our God.
See, God did not say, “Do not fear,” because there was nothing to fear. He didn’t tell us not to worry because we would never have a care.
God said these things because He knew that His power would save us from being crushed. He knew that no matter how much overwhelms us, we will not be driven to despair.
Because of Him.
Are you feeling pressed on every side by troubles? Does life tempt you to despair?
I’m developing a new habit, starting today. I am breathing in and out. Breathe in truth, breathe out praise.
(deep breath in) “You are my defender.” (deep breath out) “How great is Your name!”
(deep breath in) “You never leave me.” (deep breath out) “Oh, how I love You!”
(deep breath in) “You go before me.” (deep breath out) “Your glory shines!”
You get the picture, right? I will do this any time of the day or night that I am feeling overwhelmed.
Will you join me?
Dear God, save me by Your mighty power! Save me from crushing worry. Lift me out of perplexing loneliness. Rescue me from mental anguish. Fill me with Your peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on June 14, 2017
Seek First Project: The God Who Hears (Day 14)
Photo by southgeist
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. – Psalm 112:6-7
Yesterday we were driving along and it was very windy out, as a storm was about to break. I saw a bird in the middle of the lake. He was flying just at the tops of the tufts of long grass growing on little islands in the water. He was flapping his little wings and going absolutely nowhere. See, he was flying against the wind. He wasn’t losing ground, but had to expand every bit of energy he had just to maintain his position.
I began to wonder about that little bird. I felt sorry for him. Didn’t he realize his flight was futile right now? Why didn’t he give up? At least wait the storm out?
And then the Spirit filled in the gaps for me.
The bird doesn’t take the time to contemplate his situation. He was created to fly, and so he keeps on flying. When he has to rest, He perches on whatever reed God has provided, and I had seen first-hand that God provides that resting place even in the middle of a large body of water! When the bird is rested, he resumes his flight. He doesn’t have a time-crunch, a goal or an agenda. He just flies.
Maybe that’s my problem, when worries flood in and push my mind into a frenzy. I think more than I trust. Contemplate more than I surrender. Fear more than I just go.
So today my activity was to research my favorite bird. Mine is a red-winged blackbird. I was looking for amazing ways that the birds trust their Creator. He made them to do just that, and I know I have a lot to learn from them.
Did you know that the red-winged blackbird is a marsh bird? They enjoy making their nests above water, in reeds or small shrubs. Sometimes the baby blackbirds fall into the water. They can swim a little to get hold of a cattail and climb out. Isn’t that amazing? Just like with us, God creates each one to be able to thrive in its specific environment!
I put a picture of my favorite bird in my journal. Then I wrote the things I had learned about them. Amazing things. Things that inspire me to follow their gentle lead.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. – Luke 12:7
God Who Hears, we desire nothing more than to have the trust of a sparrow. Please renew our faith. We believe, help our unbelief! In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 12, 2017
Seek First Project: Sing Over Me (Day 13)
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” – Zephaniah 3:17
This is how He calms my fears. With joyful singing. He delights in me with gladness. He lives right here in our midst.
Our activity for today is to choose your favorite song that feels like God is singing over you. Look up the lyrics and write or copy them into your journal.
It’s humanly impossible for me to grasp that You, the God of all, loves me this much. Oh how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord, because He is so good. Amen…
(**my song in my journal for today:)
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 11, 2017
Seek First Project: Fix Your Thoughts on Lovely (Day 12)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9
There are certain things that are lovely and it’s just the way it is. Then there are some things that are lovely to us, that others may find strange. Lovely thoughts are so important, and it can be hard to call them to mind as we sit in the overwhelm worry or fear or anxiety.
And so today, let’s write. Let’s create a poem that we can pull out on the days we’re having a hard time remembering what things we find lovely. I want us to be able to read it and remember. I want it to focus our minds and hearts on where they should be.
I’ll show you my poem, and then the template will follow, to help you create your own.
Here we go… Thinking On Lovely:
Lovely is a crisp evening breeze that holds the scent of a campfire.
It’s the redeeming sound of the song, “We Dance”, reminding me of His love.
Lovely is the glittering crystals of a freshly fallen snow.
The wink of color on a blackbird’s wing.
A mist that covers the valley places at dawn.
Lovely is that second just before the sun completely disappears below the horizon
when cicadas call and peace twinkles in the first evening star.
Lovely is a warm blanket laying soft against chilled skin.
It’s a hug that wraps you up safe and doesn’t show any sign of letting go.
A pitch black silence that you spend in a rocking chair, peering into eyes that mirror your own.
Lovely is the first bite of a fresh strawberry that bursts on your tongue
or the first sip of cocoa on Christmas morning.
Photo by SweetOnVeg
Lovely is a perfect magnolia, filling the air with it’s unique fragrance.
It’s the family table with heads bowed and hands clasped.
Waking up shivering in a tent in the mountains while you’re wearing all your socks.
There’s a lot of lovely in this world. Just look around and you’re sure to find your share.
And while you’re at it, be sure to count yourself, your Savior and His care.
TEMPLATE:
Lovely is a (your favorite describing word for a breeze) breeze that holds the scent of (a favorite smell that might be carried on a breeze).
It’s the (a word to describe your favorite song) sound of the song, “(your favorite song)”, reminding me of (what the song reminds you of).
Lovely is the (describe what comes to mind that you find lovely to look upon).
The (describe what comes to mind that you find lovely to look upon).
A (describe what comes to mind that you find lovely to look upon).
Lovely is (your favorite time of day)
when (a familiar sound at this time of day) and (a special thing that happens at this time of day.
Lovely is (a favorite feeling and when it’s especially comforting).
It’s a (favorite feeling to experience with someone else).
A (describe a favorite memory of yours).
Lovely is the first bite of (a favorite food) that (describe how the bite feels) on your tongue
or the first sip of (a favorite drink) (when).
Lovely is a perfect (your favorite flower), filling the air with it’s (describe the flower’s scent) fragrance.
It’s the (describe a favorite activity with family or friends)
(describe another favorite memory that stands out).
There’s a lot of lovely in this world. Just look around and you’re sure to find your share.
And while you’re at it, be sure to count yourself, your Savior and His care.
Dear God, keep the lovely forefront in our minds. Thank You for providing so very much of it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 10, 2017
Seek First Project: Praise His Holy Name (Day 11)
– 1 Peter 5:7
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 10, 2017
Seek First Project: When Life Hits You Out of Nowhere (Day 10)
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 8, 2017
Seek First Project: Remember the Glory (Day 9)
Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.” – Lamentations 3:57
There are times in my life when I know… I just know… that it couldn’t be anything but God.
Do you have those memories, as well?
Today I’m journaling about my top 3 favorite (or more if I get carried away).
This could be a time when you heard God’s voice in a terrifying moment. A time when you felt indescribable peace wash over you. A time when you flipped to just the right verse, or just the right song came on the radio. A time when God provided for your needs in an amazing and tangible way.
Let’s remind ourselves of His faithfulness and goodness today, okay?
Wonderful Father, You always come when I call. You tell me, “Do not fear.” I’m trying. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on June 8, 2017
Seek First Project : The Opposite of Worry is Worship (Day 8)
*Instrumental
*Worship
*Victory Songs
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 6, 2017
Seek First Project: The Victorious Right Hand (Day 7)
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
