I was recently reading a book in which a character mentioned that anxiety is rooted in fear and that if you have complete faith in God, there is no fear. Anxiety is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. Anxiety sets in if we try to control things ourselves and don't rely on God's provision. Guilty here more frequently than I'd like to admit.


A few years ago I was put on an anti-anxiety drug. A secondary usuage was for nerve pain, which I was diagnosed with. Later, the doctor told me he put me on the drugs because I seemed anxious during a visit. I was. I wonder what was his first clue? The woman crying the uncontrollable ugly cry? I don't know if the pain I was having was intensified by the anxiety or not. I wasn't on the drug long. I didn't like how it made me feel "foggy". Do I still struggle with anxiety? Yes. Absolutely. So I find studying these scriptures helps. I hope they help someone else tonight too.

Ps 27:1 - The Lord is my Light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, whom shall I fear?

Ps 34:4 I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Ps 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

Proverbs 3:23-26 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.


1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

He is that perfect love! Let Him comfort you and take away your fear!

More to think about

After reading Beaded Hope about the plight of South African mothers, I found out Kristen at We are That Family was traveling to Africa with Compassion International. I am planning on reading about her journey and living vicariously thru her and her journey. Why don't you join her too?

Operation Organization Week Four!

If you are interested in Operation Organization visit Melinda's blog Coming Clean: Confessions of an Imperfect Parent.

This week has flown by! I found myself scrambling today to complete my week 3 goal. If you missed it last Friday, my goal was to tame my spice cabinet and utensil drawers in the kitchen.

So without further adieu, here are the before pics again -









And the afters -

I have filled up my spice rack. I changed the bottles to reflect the spices I use most frequently! I love my Dymo labeler!



I also have separate baskets for Italian, Chinese, and Mexican spices. I have a basket for sprinkles and extracts, etc. I purchased baskets at Target and Dollar General and spent a total of $14.



I plan to used my labeler to label the baskets too, but I haven't had a chance today.

The utensil drawers still seem a little cluttered to me, although they are better. I washed them out and pitched pacifiers that haven't been used since last summer! (Among other things!)







So, what's next weeks goal you ask? How can I find anything else that needs organizing? I've already done the linen/art closet, tamed the shoe mess, and now the spices and utensils. What could be left you ask? I am warning you that this isn't pretty and these images may be disturbing.... My "pantry" cabinets need some work! Here is the before -





Come back next Friday to see my progress!

Operation Organization Week Three

If you are interested in Operation Organization visit Melinda's blog Coming Clean: Confessions of an Imperfect Parent.

You may remember that my goal this week was my art supply/linen closet. Here are the before pics I shared last week.







Shameful!!!

So I buckled down and spent hours cleaning out this closet! I threw away two bags of stuff, have a bag of old linens to donate, and here are the after pics.

TADA!!






One problem I had was keeping all the sheet sets together. I heard someone say recently that they folded the fitted and flat sheet and put them inside the pillowcase! Brilliant! Used that idea!

My goal for this week -

Three kitchen utensil and gadget drawers and my spice/baking supply cabinet.

Here are the ugly before pics -







I love kitchen gadgets, now I need to find a way to find what I need easily.



This just needs to be cleaned and purged!

Come back next Friday to see if I succeed!!! Happy organizing!

Operation Organization challenge week #2

If you remember, last Friday was the first week of the Operation Organization Challenge. We are picking one area to organize every week for six weeks. See here if you would like to join us.

Here were my before pics of my shoe mess.

Here are the after!






My challenge for next week is my linen/art supply closet.

Here are the before pics -







Come back next Friday to see the taming of the sheets!!!

The first challenge

Today is the first day of Melinda's Operation Organization challenge. For eight weeks starting today, we all pick an area of our homes that NEEDS some ORDER. We announce it on Friday (starting today) and then work thru the week to complete it. Pop on over using the button in the right sidebar to check out the rest of the details.

Now for my First Mission (yes I choose to accept it, I even created it!) HA!

First, I have to tell you, I love shoes. I wear mostly flip flops for casual wear, but like some variety with in the flip flops and I love dress shoes, especially little flirty ones! So I buy/own/hoard shoes!

Before I show you my "before" pics, you have to promise not to cringe. This is all about keeping it real and honest and trying to improve our lives.

With that said - This is my current organization system.


I know - embarrassing!

This is what happens when we are running late and I can't find matching shoes -



And I also have a bad habit of discarding my shoes wherever I walk into a room. (I have mentioned before - I am a barefoot kinda gal at home!)


foot of the bed


doorway to bedroom


next to dining table

So in addition to cleaning up this mess, I am also going to attempt to keep my shoes in one place in the house or put them away.

Of course - I do have help scattering my shoes -


And finally, proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree -

Come back next Friday to see how it turns out and what I've chosen for my next challenge.

Blue Like Play Dough

Perspective is a wonderful thing. A lot in life depends on perspective. When you go through something difficult in your life, are you hard and rigid, unyielding to the point of pain and breakage? When it's over, do you sigh "Whew, that was hard, I'm glad it's over!" OR Do you in the midst of the situation, say "You know what, I can get through this? God has equipped me. What can I learn or impart to others, right here, right now?"

I have to admit I have been guilty of being the stiff, unyielding child in many situations (even the last year or so). God has been working on me in this area, so I was thrilled to read Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer.



As moms, you know that motherhood comes with pulling, stretching and tugging on you in every direction. This book is filled with nuggets of wisdom. Once again, I have marked a dozen passages that ministered to my heart.

Tricia shares personal accounts from teenage pregnancy to dealing with her grandfather's death and everything in-between. From reading her accounts of God's hand on her life, molding her like play dough, you will recognize yourself.

You know how play dough becomes more pliable the more it is worked? Wouldn't you like God to work so much in your life as a mom that you are like putty in His hands? Are you willing to let God use you where you are? Are you heeding His call on your life, even if it doesn't seem in line with your desires? God is there all the time. He loves you and wants to mold you, if you will just be willing to be "smooshed" a little.

Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.

If you are interested in following Tricia's blog, you can get to it from here.

You can read more and purchase the book here.

OR Leave a comment here by Friday, July 31 for a chance to win your own copy!

I'll Beat it yet!

Then join me as I take part in Melinda's Operation Organization: The Battle for Order beginning July 31st! Every Friday for the next eight weeks, participants choose an area of our homes to reorganize. At the end of the challenge, we will have EIGHT reorganized areas of our homes. Woo Hoo! Can you smell victory?!

Do you dare to join us?