When God Tells You to Let It Go

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

I love reading God's Word. Last year, I finally finished reading all the way through the Bible. It's the first time in my life I've read every word God wrote. And it took me three years to complete a one-year reading plan. {No judgement here...}I loved seeing how the Old Testament verses would line straight up with the New Testament verses. I loved getting new glimpses into my Creator and who He is and how He loves.

And I had a renewed desire to get to know Him on an even more intimate level than I already do.

So I thought I'd spend this year focusing in on the Gospels that I've read so many, many times over. I'd look for how Jesus lived His life. What He taught us to do through His example and His stories. And I'd focus on the Psalms, which I've been told are full of examples of God's love for us. They're good for the soul. So I would seek out God's goodness for His people. Because I've read the Psalms over and over and over again, as well. But sometimes we need to read things in a new light. One of fresh revelation.

And then, just the other day, I realized that people were doing these things called Yearly Scripture Journaling Plans. And I thought, Hmm. Focusing in on one small portion of Scripture each day. One small portion of God in all His greatness. One key element of His love. One step in His journey of life.

And it hit me. How often do I blow through my daily chapter of Psalms, Proverbs, and a Gospel? How often do I miss the revelation because I'm already on to the next verse? What if I were to slow it down and set aside the expectation to read it all and focus on the small? The intimate? The detail?

And so today, I started. And today, God revealed.

"Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back." Luke 6:30 woke me up this morning.

2016 has been said to be a year of restoration. A year of getting back what the enemy has stolen from us. Multiplied as only God can multiply. Blessings.

As I read Luke 6:30, the still-small-voice asked, How often have you asked to have these stolen things returned? If not verbally, how often have you asked for them in your heart?

See, several years ago, my husband and I attempted to rent our home. We were on the road with his career and needed some extra income to help us pay the mortgage on that house while we rented in the city we were in at the time. So we let a friend of mine rent from us. With promises to pay us half of what we would normally charge for rent in exchange for some cosmetic work, such as putting up new sheet rock, taping, spackling, and painting.

Instead, we were taken advantage of. No work was done. No rent was paid. And when they moved out, they left a pile of furniture and trash in back of our barn where no one would see. Two dumpsters' worth.

And then the house went into foreclosure. And we spent some of our retirement plan to get it out.

And then we tried to sell it. And then we tried to go to a short sale. And when neither of those worked, we ended up giving the house back to the bank without foreclosing.

Something we had invested tens of thousands of dollars in. Something we had invested our sweat, blood, and tears in. And I still feel taken advantage of. I still feel stolen from. I still feel angry over.

And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

In other words, let it go.

Because when you sit under that spirit of injustice or entitlement or self-righteousness, you hinder God from restoring. Restoring peace. Restoring hope. Restoring what was lost. Restoring what was stolen. Healing. And you hold onto unforgiveness. And that hinders all.

So if there's anything you're holding onto that you need to let go of, please do it today. Learn to live as Jesus did. LOVE your enemies. DO GOOD to those who hate you. BLESS those who curse you. PRAY for those who spitefully use you. OFFER the other cheek. DON'T WITHHOLD what's been asked of you. GIVE to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods, DO NOT ASK THEM BACK.

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Follow the Golden Rule.

And watch what God restores. Watch how He multiplies. Watch how His blessings flow. How His favor pours out...

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A Lesson from Luke 6 about Letting Go via @AlyciaMorales

The Five Times I Met Myself ~ A Book Review

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

5 Reasons You Should Read The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart:

1. The cover resembles a Christmas gift or Valentine's chocolates. Maybe it's the red. But by the end of the book, you'll know you've found a sweet gift in the pages of this book.

2. It's all about relationship. Our relationship with God the Father. Our relationships within our families. And our friendships.

3. It's about how our personal decisions don't only affect our lives. They affect others just as much. Because there are many people we touch with our words and our actions (or lack thereof). And unlike Brock Matthews, we can't go back in time and talk to our younger selves to try to fix our past mistakes to make our present better. All we can do is live in the moment and hope to make amends.

4. It's about forgiveness. We all make mistakes. We're sinful by nature. But GOD. But JESUS. But LOVE. When we can look at others the way God sees them, it's far easier to love them and to free ourselves from the deadly root of bitterness unforgiveness will harbor.

5. The story is pure genius. Of course, I would expect no less from my friend Jim. His stories always are. It will leave you thinking for a good long while...

And if you're a fan of his novel, Rooms, you'll love this just as much! (Or, if you love this, check out Rooms.) For more on Jim, visit James L. Rubart.com.

My One Word for 2016 ~ Relationship

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

2015 has come and gone. Last year, my One Word was "Fullness." And 2015 was definitely a year of that. We experienced a lot in our household: my father-in-law's death, three different kids breaking bones, another move (local, this time), and several unexpected bills (financial crunch). Yet we also experienced a shift in life. God revealed that we are to begin fostering children with the intent to one day adopt. God provided a solid ministry plan for my husband and I to pursue (Together Ministries International). I was given the opportunity to submit a novel to Love Inspired (which I'm working on writing). And we had one of the best Christmases ever. We actually got to relax!

So as I look back on 2015, I can definitely see God's abundant life infused throughout it. His "Fullness" is definitely evident.

This year, God has blessed me with the word "Relationship."

It is going to be a year of getting to know Jesus on an even more intimate level. A year of experiencing the Holy Spirit in power. A year of strengthening the bonds of my marriage and with my children. A year of bringing new children into our home. A year of deepening friendships. A year of networking with other ministries and ministers and writers and readers.

I am looking forward to what 2016 holds in store. The prophetic word is that 2016 will be the best year yet. It's supposed to be a year of restoration. Of blessing. Of miracles and breakthrough. These are the words being spoken by various ministries and ministers across the world. The hope and expectation that's rising in me looks forward to the testimonies 2016 holds.

What about you? Has God given you a word or verse to stand on in 2016? Have you heard the same prophetic words in the Spirit? Feel free to share in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!

My Identity Isn't Found In What Others Say About Me

by Alycia W Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lesson #10

Where do you get your identity from?

Is it the things others say about you? Your career? Your relationships?

I am many things: Wife, Mother, Step-mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Writer, Editor, Reader,  Crafter, Perfectionist, Multi-tasker, and so much more.

If I found my identity in what others said of me when I was young, I would be a loser, ugly, an outcast, unworthy of love or affection or attention. (Peers)

Or, I would be the teacher's pet, a great student, going places, smart, intelligent. (Teachers)

Honestly, I can't remember what my parents said about me at that time of life. But I can remember that they were hard-working, poured themselves into their careers. They loved me, for sure. But I was rebellious at that age, so I wasn't focused on them so much as I was focused on myself.

Which didn't get me very far.

The voices that followed me to college said I was depressed, lonely, striving, a seeker of affection/attention, a chameleon who could fit in anywhere out of desperation to fit in anywhere, yet still a good friend and student.

As long as I kept seeking to find my identity in relationships and what I did, I didn't succeed at any of it. I continued in unhealthy relationships with college-aged men and was depressed and alone for two years.

It wasn't until I met Jesus for the first time in forever that I was able to truly find myself. It wasn't until I gave my heart to Him that I truly knew who I was created to be.

It wasn't until I read my Bible and prayed and sought out God's heart that I discovered just how much I am loved. How to have a healthy relationship with anyone else - my parents, my mentors, my husband, my children, my friends. It wasn't until I met God that I discovered what I was created to do with my life on earth. Which, surprisingly, is what I wanted to do all along - write. That and other things.

And it wasn't until I got to know Jesus that I realized that my identity comes from God, not what others say of me. Sure, some do really know me and know what lives within me - and what they say still matters to me. But the enemy, unfortunately, will also try to use those same people to pull me down and rip my heart apart. Thankfully, I know who I am in Christ and can discern that it's not my husband or my child who is coming against me in that moment. So I can let those fiery darts bounce right off the helmet of my salvation, keeping my thoughts focused on who God says I am. And I can let those fiery darts bounce right off my breastplate of righteousness, because I am covered in the blood of Jesus, who holds my heart strong. And in those moments I can bring a word from the Gospel of Peace, which is sharper than any two-edged sword and can cut straight down into the matter and right the heart of the person the enemy has chosen to use to attempt to bring me harm.

So where do you choose to get your identity from? Is it time to find a new you?

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness ... So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." 

Genesis 1:26-27

Tweetables:

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True Love Isn't Afraid to Speak the Truth

 by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lesson #9

The women's leadership team sat in our pastor's living room, and his wife asked us to go around the room and let each other know what we loved about one another.

When she got to me, she said, "You know what I love about you? I love that I can take a baseball bat to you and you keep coming back for more."

In other words, I'm teachable. I have a desire to learn. I'm correctable, even if I make the same mistake 50 times before I get it right.

See, I know that I don't know it all. I know that my knowledge is limited. I know that I am not always right. But I refuse to remain stuck in my lack of knowledge.

I refuse to deny that I need to be corrected when someone else sees me erring.

Because I recognize that I can always learn something new. I can always change my way of thinking, so long as it lines up with the word of God. Learning is a lifetime adventure.

And I'm not afraid of the truth. I desire it. Long for it. Seek it out.

I also recognize that LOVE corrects wrong. God's Holy Spirit brings conviction, alerting us to our sinful ways. Revealing our wrong thinking.

Friends sharpen me when they come against my fault. Iron sharpens iron. And for that I am thankful - not angry.

So the next time someone takes the time to point out in love (I'm not talking jealous condemnation here...) that you are in error, rather than lashing out at them in defense, consider what they are saying and take it to the One who desires to change you into His image and likeness.

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor detest His correction;

For whom the Lord loves He corrects,

Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:10-12

Tweetable:

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Friday in Focus ~ The Gift Within

By Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales 
 

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you ... 
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:6-7

What's that thing deep inside of you that you've put on a shelf because you don't have the time, money, or ability to pursue it? Or maybe you know you've got a talent, but you've shelved it because you don't believe you're good enough for it to matter.

Don't let your gifts lay dormant. God has given them to you for a purpose. Stir them up.

I recently read an interesting post by Seth Godin. Basically, he states it isn't the why or the how that trips us up from doing something we know we're supposed to do. It's the what. It's the fear that we don't know enough, aren't trained enough, don't have the perfect audience yet, don't have the finances yet, and any other fear-based excuse we can come up with that keeps us from stepping out in faith and allowing God to work in our weakness.

There's a gift inside of you that's meant to be given to others as the Holy Spirit prompts you to use it. What would happen if you didn't do so? Who would be missing out on the goodness of God because you are too afraid to open your mouth, write that novel, or serve at that homeless shelter?

Don't let fear stop you from doing what God has called you to do. Let God's power, love, and a sound mind (right-thinking) lead you as you step out in faith in your gifts.

Tweetable:

What is holding you back from using the gift God has given you? {Click to Tweet}

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I'm Not Perfect and Neither Are You

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lesson #8

This one's all about grace.

Being a perfectionist, I tend to expect more of myself, which also makes me expect more of others. Which, unfortunately, can lead to judging others. Which I really try hard not to do.

Because if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's this:

Are You Really a Christian? Or Is It Just a Label?

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Identity - Part II

My husband sat down with our boys one evening while I was out with our daughter. He handed each of them a sheet of paper and asked them to write down five things they considered to be part of their identity.

Before you read the rest of this post, I encourage you to do the same. Then, click on "read more" and finish reading this post.

If You Think You're Ugly, You Probably Are

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Identity: Part I

You are what you think and what you speak. Why? Because from the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks. And when you open your mouth and say you're ugly, worthless, unlovable, and all those other degrading things, you believe it in your heart.

Sure, others say bad things about us, and we tend to believe them after hearing it for so long, but we don't have to. It's a choice we make. Every time.

Friday in Focus ~ The Narrow Path

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:25-27

My husband and I love to hike. We will travel an hour or two to hit some of the "local" trails, we love it so much. Thankfully God has placed us in the vicinity of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, where trails, rivers, and waterfalls are plenty.

As I considered this verse this morning, I thought about how narrow the hiking trails we love tend to be. It's the narrow ones that are surrounded by

It's Okay to Want to Escape

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lesson #6

I think my kids were still knee-height when a close sister-friend of mine mentioned that she couldn't wait for her kids to grow up and move on in their lives. I think my jaw dropped and I stared stunned.

I feel that way too.

It was nice to know I am not the only one. I'm not alone. I'm not crazy. Others think the same things I do.

But let me clarify: we're not wishing our children's lives away. No. We value and treasure the time we are blessed with their presence in our homes.

But we also have hopes and dreams for what life will be like when we have an empty nest.

Because sometimes life is overwhelming and we really need sight of the future in order to make it through today.

And sometimes, we just need an immediate escape route ... for a short time. Like locking ourselves in the bathroom and counting to ten or whispering a quick prayer for patience and the ability to push on. Or taking our chosen summer reading and heading to the back porch. Or putting on headphones and tuning out the noise.

Because if we don't take time for ourselves every once in awhile, we'll eventually crash. Melt down. Fall apart. Ugly cry.

And that doesn't do well for our children, our husbands, our friends, mothers, sisters, or us.

So hear me today: It's okay to want to escape. You're not alone. Breathe deep. Take a time out. And find some semblance of peace so that you can move forward. No one will hold it against you. At least not me. Or any other woman out there who knows exactly what you're going through.

Tweetables:

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One Simple Way to Gain Favor

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lessons #5

I recently returned from teaching at a Christian Writers Conference. One thing I love to do is to encourage other writers. Other people who are chasing their God-given dreams. I was blessed with the opportunity to share my writing journey with the small group of women who were taking my class this year.

At its core, my message to those who dream of being something bigger is this:

No Place To Hide by Lynette Eason ~ A Book Review

by Alycia W. Morales

Summer is just around the corner and for some, this means compiling a summer reading list. One of the books I would pick to be at the top of my pile is Lynette Eason's new release, No Place To Hide.

There are two reasons I love the latest from Lynette.

1. The chapters are short (just a few pages each), so the reading is quick. And the story's easy to follow, despite ...

Haters Will Hate, So Shake It Off

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lesson #4

For nearly five years, my oldest son, Ezra, would come home from school upset. Every time I asked him what was wrong, his response was the same. "So-and-so doesn't like me."

Sometimes, it was a variation of that. Someone was mean to him. Someone called him names. Someone he'd befriended didn't want to be his friend that particular day.

Friday in Focus ~ The Fallow Ground

by, Alycia Morales
@AlyciaMorales
 
Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor;

And for lack of justice there is waste.

Proverbs 13:23

For years, this verse has caused me to stop and think. Selah.

Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but we tend to look at outward appearances and pass by. In our hurry or out of our fear, we neglect to take the time to stop and consider what lies beneath the surface. The filthy skin. The greasy or knotted hair. The torn clothing. The stench from lack of bathing. The things we don't want to touch. Don't want to deal with.

No One Else is Responsible for Your Unhappiness

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lessons #3

Nobody likes the Debbie Downers in life. It's no fun when your kid wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and whines until you drop them off at school. Or you call your friend and all they do is complain about this or that, never letting you in on the conversation other than to ask for your pity.

Don't these people ever have a happy day?

Do they enjoy being down all the time?

Do they know there's a solution?

Do You Have It In You?

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

This past week, my husband and I started our P90X3 workout. Before we began, we were required to set goals. My goal is to get healthy. I want to drop weight, tone up, and have the energy to hike uphill without losing my breath.

We also had to set smaller goals with a few of the workouts we did. Pull-ups. Push-ups. Sit-ups. And of course, there's always the goal of getting through the entire workout without quitting. Knowing how out of shape I am, I set lower goals that I knew I could achieve. Right now, I don't want to push myself over the wall. I just want to keep up with the race.

Friday in Focus ~ Life is Like a Box of Puzzle Pieces

by, Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Every year, as Christmas and the New Year roll around, I find myself longing to put together a puzzle. Or two. Or three. It was no different this year, and my husband was kind enough to bless me with two puzzles for Christmas.

I love 1,000-piece puzzles. I love the challenge of more pieces. Smaller pieces. And I love the amount of time it takes me to complete one. It's as if the gratification of finishing is greater.

Isn't that the way it is when God decides it's time to work on us again? When little by little, piece by piece, His master hand puts us together... When we're going through an assembling or reassembling and we're anticipating the final product... If we're patient enough to endure the process, what we experience in the completion is so very much worth the wait.

Which Is More Important - How or Why?

by, Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

I'm 50 pounds overweight. And unfit. My core suffers as I enjoy chocolate and sweet tea and sit at a desk all day. My husband isn't in much better shape than I am, and we've decided to eliminate our "extra." But that's not the only "why" we're doing this. At least not for me.

So, this past week we began an all-natural, daily supplement dose that is increasing our energy, blocking an enzyme that turns sugars and starches into fat (so we shed our fat intake rather than retaining it), suppressing our appetites, increasing our metabolisms, and cleaning our systems. We'll take these for a month or two and then give our bodies the appropriate break they will need.

Like It or Not, Your Kids Are Just Like You

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

Life Lessons #2

I used to stare at people in disbelief when they'd tell me my kids would be just like me ... only twice as bad. And when I became a Christian and heard about this thing called generational curses, I wondered ...

Could it possibly be true?

So I started praying. Lord, please make them twice as good, not twice as bad. Please give them a double portion of honesty, loyalty, and the desire to love deeply. Please skip the perfectionist tendencies, the moodiness, and the desire to be left alone most of the time. Don't give them those, Lord. Especially not in a double portion.