Mud or Stars

Sorry about my sabbatical.

Life came at me fast and I forgot how to blog.

Lets recap...

So I got home from school on May 12.

The week before that was full of studying for finals, taking finals, and having some awesome dinner dates with friends.

The past week I have been home has been filled with nonstop Chrysalis things.

I love it!

I got the last minute opprotunity to serve on the team.

Even though I only found out a day before I know that God knew I was apart of Journey #23 from I was born.

I am so glad that I got to be apart of his ministry.

It was an incredible weekend of experiencing the Lord's love, sharing stories, rekindling friendships with friends, and hanging out with some pretty cool girls.

This past weekend of Journey #24 which was for the boys.

Words cannot begin to discribe how amazing it is see your best friends serve the Lord.

I am so proud of my J's and S!

I love watching them share their faith with other college boys.

What a beautiful weekend.

I have talked about it a little in past blog entries but lately one of my biggest struggles has been Control and Anxiety.

I want to be in control and make things perfect.

I believe that I know whats best for my life so I try to controll them to end up "perfect" for me.

When I fail...

(which I always do)

I get personally upset because I was in control and it didn't work out right.

 This need for control has lead to my anxiousness.

There are somethings in life that I have absolutely no control over.

For example, what my future will look like.

As hard as I try control things now I have no idea where I will be in 4 years.

This scares me to death.

I catch myself having freak outs because I so want to do things my way.

I become anxious, stressed, and nervous because  I can't control.

As you can see this is a big problem.

But thankfully the Lord has been showing me over the past 6 months my desire for control.

It has not be fun butt when he makes me aware of the problem it helps me to see that I need to change it.

I was talking to a very close friend of mine about my struggle and she suggested the book

Calm My Anxious Heart

by Linda Dillow

I have only read one chapter but I already am noticing a difference when I apply what I learn to my daily life.

So I want to share with you all some of the cool things I am learning...

First, Contentment begins with Eternal Perspective

 not on tomorrow because tomorrow is not ours but the Lord's!

So every morning I must remind myself that I only have to worry about today.

only today. only today. only today. only today.

Second, Contentment is not based off of our circumstances.

"True Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs." 

A really cool example of this is shown through Paul.

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul makes a cool statement on contentment.

"I am not saying this because I am in need,

 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret to being conten in any situation,

whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

It is amazing to see how conten Paul is in any situation.

This is especially cool coming from Paul because he was

beaten, chained to a guard, locked in a nasty dungeon with no sanitation or decent food...

 YET HE WAS STILL CONTENT.

A key word in the passage above is the word "learn".

It proves to us that we can learn to be content which is promising to people like Me!

Another cool thing from the passage that Linda shows is a translastion of the last verse.. a verse I know everyone who reads this knows.

It is translated by Kenneth Wuest and says,

 "I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me."

How does God infuse strength into us?

Through his WORD!

Third, I want to share with you a key verse that Linda gives for encouragment.

I have written this verse on my mirror, post its throughout my room,and on my hand to remind me that I am not in control.

"God is the blessed controller of all things, the king of all kings and master of all masters."

1 Timothy 6:15

Fourth, Linda shares a neat story that I have been thinking of throughout my day to keep myself positive and content in situations.

"Two women looked through prison bars.

One saw mud, the other saw stars."

Do you see MUD or STARS?

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth