Alycia W. Morales

When You Walk in Fear, Look Up and Live

by Alycia Morales | Jan 7, 2017 | Faith, Health, Mind, Self-care, Soul, Spirit

As 2016 drew to an end, I considered all I’d seen and heard throughout the year – particularly the end of it. I considered how one election seemed to divide the church. I considered how many people felt as if the end of the world had just arrived. How fear ran rampant. I considered how many were relieved that it hadn’t. And those people rejoiced. And I “selahed.” I took moments to consider God’s Word and what He has to say about all that.

Too often we look at the world around us, and we get caught up in the fears our circumstances command. We pray and we quote Scripture, and we tell our friends our deepest feelings, knowing they’ll sympathize with us. They’ll nod their heads and offer a word or two, share a story of their own. And we walk away placated. For now, the world is uprighted once again.

But that’s not what God wants.

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What we need to do in these times is to walk by faith and not by sight. Putting all of our trust in Him. What did Jesus tell Peter when he walked out on the water and then began to sink? Let’s take a look:

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said, “Come.”
And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. {Matthew 14:27-31}

He talked about Peter’s faith – moreso his lack of it. Peter doubted that Jesus had commanded him to come to Him on the water. Because once Peter took that step of faith, he looked away from Jesus. He became distracted by the boisterous winds.

How often do we get distracted from God’s truths by the voices of the people around us? Whether they’re well-meaning friends or lobbyists or even the voice in our own heads. Will we believe what the physical world is shouting or what God’s Word has held as truth for all of eternity?

Will you trust God with your future, or will you spend your lifetime worrying about what’s to come? If you were in God’s Word and believed Him in all His fullness, you wouldn’t worry about what’s to come. You’d rest in knowing that He has everything under control and that no matter what decisions those around us make, we have nothing and no one to fear but Him. He is the only One who holds our life in His hands. And He knows exactly what we need to endure it.

Q for U: When you look up, what scares you the most? What voice calls loudest? Now, what does God’s Word say about that? Write it down. Put it somewhere you can read it any time that voice calls out or you look up and fear what you find. Speak the truth of God’s Word into that situation. And live.

5 Tips: How To Try Something New

by Alycia Morales | Jan 5, 2017 | Creativity, Lifestyle, Self-care

It’s the new year. What better time to try something new? Have you been longing to learn how to knit or scrapbook? Have you wondered if you would enjoy yoga or wanted to learn to cook? Is there a class you’ve been dying to take?

What’s holding you back?

Are you nervous? I can hear the questions now. Where would I even start? How do I know what to get? What if I screw it up? What about the closet full of supplies I already have? My husband will kill me if I buy one more craft project.

Don't let fear stop you from trying something new this year. #lifeinspired Share on X

Here are 5 pointers for trying something new:

Start with the basics. Rather than going out and spending a couple of hundred dollars on supplies, start with the bare necessities. Most crafts or DIY projects really only require a few simple tools to get started. Don’t go overboard. That way, if you decide you can’t stand what you’re doing, you’re not out your electric bill.
Watch YouTube videos before you start. Research so that you have a good understanding of the skills and supplies needed to accomplish what it is you’re putting your hands to do. This can save both time and money in the long run. And not every video is the same. Some are easier to follow or understand than others.
Find a friend who has experience with the new thing you’ve chosen to learn. Friends are great at encouraging us to try new things, especially if they are already involved in that particular area. They can help you purchase what you need and give you tips to get started. They may even do a project with you in order to teach you.
If none of your friends do what you want to learn to do, look for a local club or meet-up you can attend. Most are happy to have new members.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learning takes time. You may spend an extra hour or a few extra bucks as you get the hang of something. That’s how we learn, and it’s okay. Now you know what not to do the next time.

What else could you add?

Quotes : Trying New Things

by Alycia Morales | Jan 3, 2017 | Creativity, Lifestyle, quotes, Self-care

FFaiSaveFailure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits, trying new things, daring to innovate. – Gavin Newsom

Art doesn’t happen by accident. It is about pulling out new tricks and trying new things. – Nicholas Meyer

Don’t let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to others, even if you don’t like them. – Stacy London

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something. So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make new mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever. – Neil Gaiman

You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discover, and always challenge yourself to try new things. – Nate Berkus

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. – Walt Disney

Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have. – Louis E. Boone

You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you. – Barbara Sher

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. – Ronald E. Osborn

You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be. – Marianne Williamson

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One Word

by Alycia Morales | Dec 26, 2016 | Faith Journaling, Inspiration, Lifestyle

As each year draws to a close, we reflect on life. Did we accomplish anything in the past year? Did we mend or build a relationship? Were we successful at dieting/getting into shape/losing weight? Did we let anyone down–especially ourselves? How are our finances looking? Did we learn anything based on the one word God gave us last January?

While we mull these over, we consider what we want for next year. And we do one or more of several things:

We make resolutions. We determine we will accomplish our goals, and we set them too high to reach. Maybe we’ll feel some sense of success if we get halfway there. Maybe we’ll feel like complete failures at the end of the year. Who knows? But we make those resolutions anyway.
We choose One Word. We pray until God whispers this word in our ear. It’s like a promise or a challenge for the coming year. And even if our friend has the same word, it’s still extremely personal.
We choose a Life Verse. This is going to be the verse that God brings us back to every day for the next year. It’s a foundation for us to stand on each day. Again, it’s a promise or a challenge.
We ignore it all and decide to wing it. See what happens. Or doesn’t. Life will bring what life will bring, won’t it?

Personally, I enjoy One Word. I’ve done this for two years in a row, and God has amazed me each time. It’s simple. It’s direct. It’s personal.

Fullness. That was my One Word for 2015. When I looked back at the end of the year, I could see several forms of fullness that had occurred. It was a year of fullness of life. Abundance. Whether heartbreaking or joy inducing. My calendar was full. We joined a church and discovered we could stay there longer than two years. We were truly blessed in 2015. And, of course, God’s personal fullness invaded my own heart. Even more than it has before.

Relationship. 2016. This one starts with God. I have experienced more intimacy with Him as I’ve learned to trust Him (and continue to do so) with those areas of my life I’ve wanted to keep control over. My relationships with my husband and our four children have deepened and become more intimate. I’ve learned so much about my kids and about relating to teens in the past year. As stated previously, we’ve become members of a church that is beginning to feel like home this year. I’ve made new sisters in Christ. And the two friends I’ve had locally have become my best friends in the world. Our relationships have grown and strengthened. For the first time in … well, so long I can’t remember … 20 years, let’s say, I have a friend I can tell anything. God has answered prayer after prayer this year. All concerning relationships.

That is why I love One Word so much. It’s one word I have to keep track of. It’s something I can always look back on and easily recognize what God was saying or doing in that year of my life. It’s fun to make memes with my one word. And it’s extremely personal, even as vague as it is.

Join the Conversation: What do you prefer to do? Make resolutions? Choose a word or Scripture verse? Ignore the hype and wing it? And why? We’d love to hear from you!

Change is Inevitable

by Alycia Morales | Oct 24, 2016 | Devotion

As I watch the leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow, I can’t help but think of change. It’s one of those inevitable things. Just as the seasons change, so does life.

Change is Inevitable. What are the keys to surviving it? Share on X

One minute we’re in college, finding Prince Charming and graduating to get married and start a career. The next our kids are graduating from high school. And then our grandkids are walking down the aisle.

Some changes are difficult. The death of a parent, child, or best friend. Moving away from home. Divorce. Trying to change a diet or stop a bad habit. Becoming a step-parent. Empty nesting. Growing older and losing capabilities that once were natural. None are easy to deal with.

Other changes are easier, like when the toddler learns to potty and no longer needs diapers. Getting married. Moving into a new house. Getting our hair colored or cut. We see these as changes that bring joy into our lives.

One of the most difficult changes in my life was becoming a step-mother. Before I married Victor, I spent a lot of time with his son, Zachary. I helped him with his homework. I watched him while his father worked a side job on a Saturday afternoon. We played and laughed and had fun.

The moment I said, “I do” at our wedding, things changed. He began a silent rebellion, and his parents often accused me of overstepping my bounds when all I was trying to do was make sure he was safe and taken care of. Sometimes that involves discipline, such as removing privileges. The one time he almost got hit by a truck because he disobeyed me, I thought I was going to explode. For the next nine years I spent day after day reminding myself that God sees all and God knows my heart.

The key to surviving the difficult changes and the winter seasons is to remember that “this too shall pass.” Because change is inevitable.

The second key is to remember that even when everything around us seems to be falling like the leaves off the trees, God remains the same. He is the one constant that never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Just like each season in the physical world has a purpose, so does each season in our lives.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Winter is a time of rest and restoration. Spring is a time of new life and refreshing. Summer is a time of sowing and growth. Autumn is a time of reaping the harvest.

Ask Yourself:

What purpose is this season in your life serving?

Are you resting? Is God working something new? Are you growing? Is it a season of gathering or success?

Whatever season you are in, how are you handling it?

Are you allowing God to work a change in your heart? Are you fighting against it?

Are you in denial of a loss? Are you celebrating a harvest?

Do you trust God to see you through the change?

Pray:

Father, thank You for seeing me through the seasons of life. I know that with You by my side, I have nothing to fear or worry about. You will never change, no matter how much the world around me does. And in that I can put my trust.