Overcoming

Our summer Bible study has been amazing so far.  The church gave me a smaller room for the normally smaller summer studies.  Each week we've had about 20 women pack the little room, more women than we normally have in the "larger" studies!  I love that they come from different services, different churches, and such different walks of life.

This particular study has no video, so I assumed we'd keep things short.  Maybe an hour at most.  Especially since getting people to talk can be like pulling teeth in some studies.  Nope.  With no video to show, we get into some really great discussions.  After a full ninety minutes, my ladies' are still meeting with their prayer partners, encouraging each other, opening up to each other, learning how to best pray for one another.  The church is "kindly" kicking us out fifteen minutes past 8:00, our "ending time".  I love it.  It's been a real encouragement to me, confirmation that God chose this particular study specifically for these women.

We are learning how to live free, how to overcome strongholds, by praying Scripture.  I think I've found my biggest stronghold--anxiety.  I struggled with severe anxiety when we went through the adoption process the second time. (Who wouldn't?) I blamed it all on the process and assumed it would go away.  Sadly, a year later, I find myself still struggling.  Before, I worried about not having enough money just to get through the process.  Now, after finally getting that long-awaited tax check from the Adoption Tax Credit, I worry about spending it unwisely or too quickly--rather than seeing it as the blessing it really is.  I fret, I stress, and I panic, even when I see God blessing us through it.

So, I am claiming today's verse as my own, one I want to commit to memory to help me overcome this stronghold:

Mark 4:19--The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

I totally see my mind going in all of those directions when it should be going straight to God first thing every day.

Instead of focusing on the worries of this life, fretting over a lack of or even an abundance of money, or thinking about more stuff that I want, I came up with a list of ways God has blessed our family this summer alone.

2014 Summer Blessings
 A gym membership, giving my boys an incredible bonding opportunityFeeling healthy again, reenergized An abundance of work-out clothes that a friend passed to me a year agoCoffee dates with friends A friend's gift toward our family vacationFamily camping timeAn adorable little camper Church camps for the boys$ to pay for the boys' campsJuan David making so many new friendsJuan David's English suddenly improving by leaps and bounds David's desire and opportunity to serve on a mission trip this month with other middle school kidsNew floors in the houseBedroom makeoversOur adoption tax checkOpportunities to improve the health of our home and familyAn amazing group of ladies for Bible studyA publisher (friend) to work with to publish my books together as a setWriter's group--a constant inspiration and learning experienceOur amazing church, Lifegroup, and small groupWatching my boys bond more every day David's indoor soccer experience Getting to know the Colombian family with boys on David's soccer team
It's amazing how our whole mindset can change when we focus on our blessings.