The Only Thing That Remains The Same, Is Change

Our family has experienced so much change in life. I remember when I was a little girl, I did not do well with change. I hated it! I wanted life to stay the same forever! But the thing I've come to learn is that if things never changed, we would miss out on so many wonderful things and people! 

If things never changed I would not have most of the friends I have today. I wouldn't have my children or my husband. I wouldn't even have the Lord if things never changed. I wouldn't have the amazing experiences I've lived. 

Without change I wouldn't be the person I am today, and I like the person I am today. And the things I don't like, I can change! Ah, the beauty of change. 

We must learn to embrace change because the one certainty in life is that change will happen! Things will change, people will change, circumstances will change. Sometimes for the worse, but more often for the better. We just don't notice the better! 

We all notice and hate change when it's something bad. Losing a loved one, a friend moving away, etc... But there are lots of change we don't even notice. Like new friends! New experiences! New loved ones! That is change also. 

If you think about it there are many more good changes that happen in our lives than bad ones, they're just usually not as traumatic so we tend not to take notice of them, which causes us to view change as a bad thing. 

Change can also be scary. Sometimes change comes in the form of scary things. New jobs, new places, new people, these are exciting things, but also scary. 

Here are some things I've learned about change, 

God never changes. 

His plan demands change.

I can trust Him. 

I can trust change. 

Leaning on Him through change is the only way to get through some changes. Especially the big one, the sad ones, the scary ones. Trusting Him to see me through the changes that I don't want to go through makes it a little easier. 

There's no getting around it, sometimes change stinks! But sometimes change opens the door for amazing new adventures! And sometimes it opens the door for new loved ones in our lives.

Our families grow and change and what new blessings would we miss out on if things never changed? Our family has changed a lot and I am so thankful for each member of our family! Where would I freeze time? To freeze it in one place would mean losing out on the blessings to come. So no, bad or good, I have to accept change because stopping any bad change, also stops every good change.

Our family 15 years ago.

Our family 3 months ago

Our family 8 days ago

Are there changes in your life that you're struggling to accept? I know there are in mine. Today I am choosing to give those changes to Him and trust Him with them. I hope you will do the same. 

Be Blessed, 

Colleen

And don't forget about my giveaway that started Friday! 

http://www.craftilady.blogspot.com/2014/11/official-blog-launch-giveaway.html

Linking up to:

The Modest Mom
http://www.themodestmomblog.com/

Step Up and March! Choosing Courage Over Fear

I am so thankful that God gives us what we need. But do we really take that gift when He gives it to us? Do we open it up, study it, use it and let it make a change in us? Or do we let it sit on a shelf collecting dust like a knick knack? 

When I went through a confirmation class 22 years ago, this was the verse our pastor gave me. Of course it registered with me then, but I let it sit on a shelf for many years, collecting dust. At times over the course of my life I have taken it and dusted it off and played with it a little, but I have never really opened it up and made it mine. I have never made it part of my daily life.

But God is calling me to finally, finally, dust this verse off, take it off the shelf and accept the gift He has given me. He is calling me to finally step out and live the life He has called me to. No more time to sit on the sidelines and watch the parade of life go by thinking, someday I will march in that parade. No. No more. Now is the time that God has said, enough, step it up and start marching.

He reminded me this morning that, "Courage is not the absence of fear. Fear is a natural response. Courage is just not allowing fear to control us." I have struggled with fear most of my life and sadly, I have allowed it to control me most of my life. But through God's strength I keep taking a stand against it and will continue to fight not to let it control me until either it dies or I do. I am thankful that God promises that He will be with me through the battle against fear. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid for I, the Lord, am with you." That is said so many times throughout scripture and in so many different ways.

This is not the first time in my life I've had to stand back up in the battle against fear, it's just the latest go round. Having my surgery was a huge step in the fight for me. If you are struggling with fear in your life, I really want to encourage you too, to take a stand, with God's help, for we can't do it alone!

If you need prayer in this area let me know

Blessings,

Colleen