My Monday Map to Success

One Step at a Time

"You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity."

Epicurus

    The one thing that I have learned is that I become more courageous as I go through difficult situations. In the last year, I have lost my Aunt Ellen and health problems that have left me frustrated. Even though I have gone through difficult situations, I have understood that I am making it through.

    This weekend I asked Brenton how he gets through difficult situations. He told me, "One step at a time." It sounds so simple, but many of us find it hard to take even one step through difficult situations. Yet, as Brenton told me, if you take one step, the next step is easier.

    Today, I was getting some errands done. I texted Brenton and said, "Well, I am getting it done one step at a time." I stopped and realized what I had said. That was it! I was surviving one step at a time. Now, the next steps I take will be easier.

The Challenge for the Week:

    Look at the situations you are going through. Are you making it one step at a time? If not, take one step, and then another step. After a while, you will be making through the situation with no difficult.

Giving God Our Nothing 2

This week I decided to repost a previous blog. The reason I want to repost instead of writing an original blog is because I need to spend time with my family. After the first week of school, I also needed alone time.

    This week spend time with your family. Even if you have to reheat left overs or forgo checking your email, you need to have time with your family and time alone. While you have time, read this blog about giving God your nothing.

"The Lord God says, "I am Alpha and Omega, the one who is and was and is coming. I am God All-Power!"

Revelations 1:8

This week I struggled with my emotions, and I had one anxiety attack after another. On Wednesday, the anxiety was so bad that it felt like someone was squeezing my heart and I felt pain shoot down my left arm. It was agonizing!

My husband, Brenton, finally said, "Enough is enough." He rescheduled an appointment with my counselor that I had cancelled. He even drove me to my appointment, so he made sure that I got the help I needed.

    What she and I discussed was about my problem with perfection. She talked to me about giving God my nothing. At that point, I understood what she meant, because I did not have anything to give but nothing. When I understood that all I had to do is take my nothing and hand it to God, I realized what a lighter load it was and became more relaxed almost instantly.

Friday, I went to work and faced problems, but I already gave my nothing to God. When the problems arose, I knew he already created the solutions. This made me relax and enjoy every minute of the day. Although there were problems, I ended up having a happy day.

    The next day I received a revelation about giving God my nothing. When God gets nothing, he turns it into something amazing. There are several instances in the Bible where God took seemingly useless items and turned them into something great.

    First, God took the earth that was a blob and created the heavens and the earth. Next, he took dirt and created man. Finally, he took one of man's ribs and created woman. We do not have any way of creating something from nothing, but we continually try on our own. God, on the other hand, can take our nothing and create something.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:1, 2

God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came and then morning- that was the sixth day.

So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created.

Genesis 1:3-2:1

The Lord God took a handful of soil and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing.

Genesis 2:7

So the Lord God made him fall into a deep sleep, and he took out of one of the man's ribs. Then after closing the man's side, the Lord made a woman out of the rib.

Genesis 2:21, 22

Challenge of the Week: Every day, give your nothing to God. Trust that He will give you what you need, and that he will turn your nothing into something. If you wake up and feel frustrated and stressed, then you are trying to do it all on your own. When God takes your nothing, you don't have to become frustrated. Let God take your nothing and turn it into something amazing.