Don't Give Up!

Anita Kelley

Description

What would happen if people who have lived through life-altering adversities and have successfully started over could give you lessons they have learned about beginning again? What if those lessons came in the form of a handful of life-changing, God-given principles designed just for you? Your life could be forever changed!In Dont Give Up!, people just like you share their personal stories of how God helped them not only survive, but also begin the journey of leaving the old behind and beginning again.What about you? Where do you need to start over?Are you stuck in a job that is causing you misery and pain?Is an abusive relationship keeping you feeling trapped and hopeless?Do you feel like you are just existing and not really living the life you always dreamed of?What fears keep you up at night?Where are you stuck?If you could begin again in some area of your life, where would you like to start?God is waiting. He believes in you. You can begin again!

Sujets

• Assertiveness

Informations

• Publié par: Inspiring Voices
• Date de parution: 31 janvier 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781462408672
• Langue: English

Extrait

Don’t Give Up!
 
HELP FOR BEGINNING AGAIN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANITA KELLEY
 
 


 
 
Copyright © 2014 Anita Kelley.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com   The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
 
Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
 
Inspiring Voices
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.inspiringvoices.com
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
 
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0866-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0867-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013923166
 
Inspiring Voices rev. date: 01/29/2014

CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1:   Starting Over… My Story
Chapter 2:   How Do I Start Over? Deuteronomy 31:6
Chapter 3:   How Do I Pursue My Dreams? Hebrews 12:1-2
Chapter 4:   Potholes… How Do I Dig Out Of A Rut? Psalm 103:1-5
Chapter 5:   Forks In The Road… Which Way Should I Go? Psalm 57:2
Chapter 6:   Naysayers… What Should I Do About Negative People? Isaiah 54:17
Chapter 7:   How Do I Stay Positive When My World Is Falling Apart? Philippians 4:8
Chapter 8:   How Do I Overcome My Fear? Psalm 27:1-2, 13-14
Chapter 9:   Who Can Help Me In My Journey? Proverbs 15:22-23
Chapter 10:   Where Do I Go From Here? Proverbs 4: 25-27
Suggested Reading

INTRODUCTION
Dreams…goals…plans sometimes have a way of slipping right through our fingers as the daily grind of kids, schedules, work, problems and birthdays takes its toll. Where did we get off track? How did we end up in this troubled marriage, dead end job, miserable friendship or financial pit? Do you realize that God knows right where you are? Your circumstance is not a surprise to Him. He sees you, He hears the desperation in your cry for help. Most of all, He loves you with a love that knows no bounds. He is calling you to take that leap of faith. He will catch you. He will restore what has been taken from you.
The enemy of our soul, Satan, wants to make you feel defeated. He wants you to feel weary, frightened, overwhelmed, weak and defeated. He wants you to give up. He wants you to feel that there is no way out. He loves to make us feel all alone and isolated, believing that no one else has ever faced a mountain like this. Satan’s goal is to steal, kill and destroy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10.
Don’t believe his lies! God has something much better in store for you. God wants the very best for you. Read the stories in this book from other people who have “been there.” Rise up from the bed of discouragement and listen to the wisdom of other fellow travelers.
Yes, beginning again is a journey, a wonder-filled, exciting, incredible journey. Let these Scriptures and stories wash over you and inspire you for your own faith-filled trip. Get ready…God has great plans for you!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN!!

CHAPTER 1
STARTING OVER… MY STORY
The day started out as an ordinary day… a Monday. On my short drive to work I popped in a new CD of worship music that my husband had recently downloaded for me. Downloading worship music is one way my husband expresses his love for me. I didn’t realize at the time how much this simple gesture would dramatically change the course of my life.
One song in particular seemed to resonate deep in my mind and heart. It was called “You Can Begin Again” by the Daystar Singers. I played that song over and over in my commute to work each morning. Before long I knew every word and often sang the lyrics in the shower, doing housework and even walking the neighborhood.
You can Begin Again… God was speaking to me many months before I recognized the message that He had for me. I began to hear Him whisper “Your life is going to get rocky – hang on.” I don’t know how you would feel hearing these words, but I was terrified! I wondered “what does going to get rocky mean” and “will I be able to handle it?” I even asked “how much pain is involved here, Lord?” I don’t particularly enjoy pain!
Just a few months later a new management company took over at my place of business. I was shocked and dismayed at the oppressive atmosphere. I often felt bullied by the new management. I had many questions for God beginning with “Why?” “What should I do?” “What is your purpose?” Have you ever been at a point in your life when you found yourself asking God “Why?” “What happened?” “What now?”
The pain and anguish of those questions comes from some of our darkest times. I felt overwhelmed. Every morning I went into my office and asked God to protect me from the darkness. I learned that when I fall on my face before God in pain and anguish, He lifts me up, brushes me off and speaks His love into my mind and heart. I felt His presence each day. I felt him say “I want you to wait.” Waiting ranks right up there with pain as far as I am concerned…I like to avoid both!
I felt like fleeing and never looking back. I wanted to ride off into the sunset! God had a different path for that time… waiting… ugh! Many days I had to take a break from my work, find a quiet place and cry out in pain and frustration to God. I cleaned out my desk, I wrote my resignation and I waited… and waited… and waited some more.
One Friday morning about 9 long months later I wrote this in my journal:
“My Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you have said that my vision will be fulfilled and that it will not disappoint. It is for an appointed time. I will wait on you although I am ready to leave ––—now! I know it will be on the day you have appointed. Prepare my heart and my mind, Lord, for your time and way so that I will be ready. Keep me from doing anything out of anger or frustration. Make it clear to me when the time is right. I don’t want it to be any other decision but yours, Lord. I am waiting on you!”
During a meeting with the new management, I heard the Holy Spirit say “Today is your day!” I had the biggest smile on my face even though the purpose of the meeting was not positive. I printed out my resignation and handed it in. God had finally released me. I can’t explain the joy that I felt! If you have even been released from a painful experience, you can understand. I was free…God set me free!
A friend shared this Scripture with me. It is David’s song of praise found in 2 Samuel 22: 17 – 20:
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
From my foes who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
I was finally in a safe and spacious place only by God’s grace and goodness. What would have happened if I had followed my own instincts or feelings rather than following God’s leading? I don’t know but I am sure my plans would never have led me to such a spacious place!
Even though I was finally released from the pain and anguish, I felt sad. I was leaving the work that I had loved for over 9 years and people who had become like family to me. I spent the first few months grieving what was no longer in my life. I loved working with senior adults. I missed hearing their stories, feeling their love and hearing their words of encouragement. My plan had always been to work with seniors until I retired. God had other plans for me. Although I knew that His plan was the best, I grieved the loss of these people in my life. If you have ever had to say goodbye to someone or something that you hold dear, you know what I am talking about.
From my training in grief I knew that I needed to work through my feelings and not bury them. I have always believed that you cannot say hello to the future until you grieve the past. With God’s help, I was able to begin planning and thinking about a new future.
What should I do now? This question and others rattled around in my mind and often woke me early in the morning.
Where is God leading me?
What’s next?
What is my worth?
Where do I fit in?
What talents and abilities do I have?
What work does God have for me?
Where can He use me?
How will we survive financially?
Will I be able to find a new vocation that I enjoy?
Where will I go?
What will I do?
How do I start over?
…questions circling in my head. I know that you have had them too at some crossroads