LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Trusting our broken pieces to the Ultimate Artist

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Conquering Fear with Faith Requires Action

September 20, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

This week my sister-in-law received news no woman wants to hear.

After going in for a mammogram to address some changes she’d been experiencing the last few months, she was referred for a 3D ultrasound and then for a biopsy later in the week.

She called me, thanking me for encouraging her to follow up on the unusual symptoms that prompted the initial visit to her GYN doctor. She also asked me to pray for her. The uncertainty evident in her voice, we both knew the results of this test could indicate a serious health concern, one no one wants to talk about at the young age of 36.

cynthia with kidsAs a single mom of three kids ages 16, 13, and 11, the “what if’s” whirled. At the same time though, everything in her fought to trust the God who she knew had gotten her through a plethora of arduous situations the last few years.

The fear was there, yes. But she determined in her heart to not let the fear rule. Instead, she chose faith. And choosing faith in the middle of a trial requires action.

Choosing faith in the middle of a trial requires action.

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She chose to reach out to other believers to request prayer for specific needs and to focus her mind on God’s truths.

She asked for peace to replace the fear threatening to take over her thoughts.
She asked for patience as she awaited biopsy results.
She asked for favorable test results.
She asked for strength to walk whatever path was ahead.

In the middle of her trial, when it might have felt easier to try to attempt to control the situation and Google her way to the answers of looming questions, she chose to lean on faith instead of giving into the fear of the unknown.

fear faith pillow

Whether it’s a medical scare, a period of financial uncertainty, or a broken relationship, it only takes one trying situation for fear to take over our thoughts and wreak havoc on the peace in our heart.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

trust in the Lord

God’s word reminds us that we’re NOT going to understand everything that happens in this life. But you know, I don’t think we’re supposed to understand everything.

Trusting God is an integral part of growing in faith.

trust pillow

Learning to acknowledge Him in the middle of our trials squelches the fear that is human nature and replaces it with a growing measure of faith.

Our confidence in His provision for our lives grows as we walk through trials. We seek Him, pushing away fear, and embracing an active faith in the One who created us and loves us unconditionally.

I’m not going to pretend this is easy!

In my life, this looks like daily submission to God’s ways, remembering He is in control, not me. However sometimes I really struggle to remember!

I’ve found that constant visual reminders really help. Scripture on my shower curtain and pillows on the couch and in my office chair bring God’s truth to my mind during the day and help to quiet my overly anxious heart. Scripture on the walls helps too.

For me, the process of pushing away fear and instead embracing a growing faith has been just that, a process. I’m learning the importance of trusting God to make good on His promises to make all things work for good in my life (Romans 8:28).

What about you? What helps you combat fear in your life and instead trust God as you grow in faith?

 

 

Thank you to Family Christian for providing pillows for the photos for this post from their new home goods line. Affiliate links are included in this post. When you click and purchase, I receive a very small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. These funds help keep the doors open here at The Mosaic Life and support Eva, our Compassion International child in Columbia.

You Were Made To Fly ~ Faith & Fellowship Friday {A Community Link-Up}

September 18, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

What’s holding you back from a rich spiritual life?

For me for the longest time it was years spent in a religious tradition that valued rules and regulations over relationship. While I developed strong relationships with other Christian brothers and sisters, many of whom are still some of my closest friends, my relationship with God suffered.

When I was 16, I knew there was something more that I was missing. I wondered aloud to my sister in the car one day, “Why have we been taught all these things about God but no one has ever taught us how to know Him?“

Years later I’m just now discovering the freedom Christ offers us as believers.

God woke me up this morning with the lyrics to the song Make Me More Free playing over and over in my mind. Maybe I needed a reminder!

(click the play button to listen)

Help me to see, free me

To see You and know You

To know I am known

Help me to see You, see me

And know I am Yours alone

With wings like an eagle, my heart made to fly

Over sin, over sorrow, to new realms of life

From glory to glory, my gaze fixed so high

That I only see Jesus, the love of my life

My heart is no longer held back by a narrow interpretation of the body of Christ and instead I’ve started building stronger relationships with other Christians and with God, my creator, sustainer, friend, and provider. It’s a beautiful thing, freedom.

So what’s holding you back in your spiritual walk?

Be encouraged today. Christ came to set you free. God promises to provide and loves you as His child. Break free and FLY!

Isaiah 40:31 wings like eagles

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday weekly link-up. Today’s writing prompt was HOLD.
 
Also, I’m so excited to be co-hosting this week’s Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop along with Susannah from Simple Moments Stick. Take a moment to link up your latest encouraging, faith-building posts. Let’s continue to encourage one another on this journey of becoming more like Jesus.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11
So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.

So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.

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Faith and Fellowship Guidelines

1.  Link up a post (not just the link to your blog) from the week that shares what the Lord’s been doing in your life or speaking to you.2.  Put the button on your blog post or blog so that others can hear about this wonderful group of Godly women.

3.  Visit as many blogs as you’re able and get to know your sisters in Christ!

4.  Share this blog hop on social media using #faithandfellowship or pin the button on Pinterest.

Simple Moments Stick

Your Host:

Susannah1Susannah from Simple Moments Stick
 If you’d like to cohost in the future, please email Susannah at susannah.kellogg (at) gmail.com

This Week’s Co-Host:

LeeAnn from Embracing the Mosaic Life

 

Now it’s your turn! Link up your faith-based, encouraging posts here:

 

An InLinkz Link-up

 

God Specializes In Small

February 21, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

I can hear my daughter singing now:

“My God is so BIG

so strong and so mighty

there’s nothing my God cannot do

for YOU!”

Isn’t our perspective like that too, and rightly so? God is powerful, all knowing, mighty, glorious, and our salvation. He has always been and will always be. How much bigger does it get?

We forget sometimes that God specializes in small too.

mustard seed god specializes in small

Consider with me:

  • At creation, God started with nothing and made everything. He used the mundane {dust and dirt} to create life.
  • Jesus called 12 ordinary men to spread his message and change the world. Men unschooled and unnoticed, and not worthy of stages, lights, or book deals.

Why do we wonder if God can use our seemingly insignificant lives for his glory?

Today, let’s embrace the small.

Let’s remember that the key to a strong relationship with the Lord is FAITH.

Not lot’s of faith. Not faith like Abraham (although that’s nice too). Not faith like your neighbor down the street or the woman singing next to you in church.

Instead, God calls us to start with faith like a mustard seed. Offer him the tiny black speck in the palm of your opened hand and watch him do the impossible, moving mountains in your life!

Embrace the call of small faith and watch God use your life to change the world, one day of your seemingly small life at a time.

*This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she empowers bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. Writing just for the sheer joy of it. Today’s topic was “Small“. Also sharing with The Weekend Brew, Fridays Unfolded, Beauty Observed, Jesus Take the Wheel, Faith-Filled Fridays, Friendship Fridays, Essential Fridays, Recommendation Saturday and Titus 2 Tuesday.

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