Comfort Blanket

Did you ever have a comfort blanket when you were younger?! I sure did! I LOVED my "blankie." I think it survived all the way up to the ripe old age of 8! It went everywhere with me. When I got up in the morning it covered my face when my mom was singing at the top of her lungs to wake me up. It went to breakfast...whether it was wrapped around my shoulders or on my lap. I took it in the car if we went on errands or school or wherever (mom would make us leave the "blankie" in the car if we were in public places - meaning too many germs. haha). I mean, I wore that "blankie" out!!! I think mom retired both mine and my brother's when they had shrunk down to the size of a patch (slight exaggeration).

Definition of "security blanket"
n.
1. A blanket carried by a child to reduce anxiety.
2. Informal Something that dispels anxiety.


Do you have a comfort blanket in your life? Maybe something that you go to find comfort?! Whether it be something physical, tangible, or an action you do....

Truth be told, as much as I drink coffee....I DO NOT always like that taste of it! (i know, shocking news...especially since it seems like I always have one in hand). Don't get me wrong...I like it, but don't always love it for how much money I spend on it. It's a taste I built up the tolerance for since I was YOUNG (I blame my mother). I like the comfort of something in my hand. In the morning it feels so good to have a hot cup of joe in my hand. I do LOVE the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I also have grown accustom to the caffeine and it waking me up and sustaining me throughout my busy schedule.

So this past Monday marked the start day of giving up coffee til May and as well pushing the reset button on my alcohol intake (admittance: tolerance is way higher than I ever want it to be - all about the healthy boundaries). So no coffee to wake me up in the morning and no glass of red to put me to sleep at night. I don't want to say these are "vices"...but in a sense they were as well as a "comfort blankets." I've made it through this first week...in which there have been a few hard times...especially sleeping at night, but all in all I am glad I have made this decision and it's a healthy one (not to mention will help my voice last while helping lead worship in Africa in 28 days).

I was sharing my decision to do this with a friend and she was sharing with me that she was giving up chocolate starting this week too. She goes to chocolate to find comfort...which is also not good seeing as summer is around the corner ;) But she found herself eating a TON of chocolate when she was sad, happy, bored, stressed. It became a "vise" a "comfort blanket"

I started thinking about this more and more...and then in my quiet time the Lord spoke clearly...the Holy Spirit is your Comforter...He is your "comfort blanket".... So many scriptures back this up (below) and also goes with what I feel the Lord has been speaking to me and many others about the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16
John 14:26
John 15:16
John 16:7
and the list goes on


We all have our "comfort blankets" or "blankies" - not all are bad or unhealthy...it depends how far we take it, but where do you find TRUE comfort in your life?



SIDENOTE:
Well, it has come to the wire....I still need to raise $650 for Kenya by Monday!! EEEKK!!! A lot of you have said you wanted to help and I guess I did not read it clearly that all the moola had to be in 30 days out...and well, we have hit that mark. So (and you all know I never ask for help like this) if you wanna help send me on my first trip to Africa to go work in the slums...you can donate online by going to crosspoint.tv/give, (click: One time donation, Campus: Nashville, Other: [A box will pop up] then type: "Annie Crandall + Nairobi" then continue to the payment info.). ** I also have a "Mission Trip Tax Donation Form" if you need it :)**

Thank you so much for reading this and even considering to help!

Love you all dearly and have a great weekend
Annie

It is what it is....what it is..is a wrastle!!

"It is what it is" a phrase you will here me say a lot. Not being passive, but I like to roll with it...it being life. And in some situations there is not a lot you can do...kind of along for the ride. The past 3 months are nothing short of a lot of rolling with it and God has shown Himself nothing short of incredibly faithful. Showing Himself in ways I would have never guessed. I'll save a lot of detail...or details I feel worthy of sharing in another blog.

Admission: I have like 5 blog posts I've been writing and rewriting and writing and rewriting. Lots to say, share, and speak life into...just finding the right way to say things and in the right time.

So in the past few months I have been praying that the Lord open my eyes up to things in me that are not "pretty," things I need to change....if I say something that I should not that He would make it clear (guard my tongue)...not to be afraid to apologize when I am in the wrong (which is not something I struggle with, but there are things I may not see that I should apologize for). Basically I want to see me and my actions through His eyes...to continue to be stretched, molded, and refined into the woman of God and character that He desires.

Be careful what you pray for sometimes, right?! ;)

The struggle between human nature (my human nature) and God's will has truly become more clear and I am widely aware...even in the moment sometimes. It's been crazy and very challenging. To be so raw and true to myself and to others even when they don't think it's a big deal what I am calling myself out for or what not. I have always said I am an open book and yes, that is about 85% true maybe a bit more sometimes..but let's be real...we aren't fully raw and honest...there are things we keep quiet, hide, maybe fudge on a bit.

Last weekend, some things happend...long story short I met up with some friends and I just felt myself being super bratty...I mean, I didn't like me and that barely ever happens ;) haha. I went to bed feeling icky cause I was not being me and didn't really get why I was being that way. The next morning I got a nice little wake up nudge at 6am and had a great convo with the Lord which inevitably ended with me realizing the root of it and how the snowball effect started and ended with me being bratty. Goodness. All that being said....the identifying of the key "issue" and praying/working through to the resolution....maybe resolution is not the right word, but dealing with it to the degree that I can and then getting my eyes back where they belong....on Him.

I told a friend the other day who is going through a bit of the same "ish" I had to deal/wrastle with about a pic I got...it's super simple, but it is what I needed as a reminder.... I was wrapped up in the circumstances and letting "ish" get me down...saddened if you will...when the Lord gently lifted my chin and made the gesture as to say "eyes up here." it was what I needed to realize what I had allowed in to steal my joy and cause me to be sad.

Now don't get me wrong, we have to go through the motions....sadness, anger, joy....the list goes on AND yes there are times we will be bratty and I am far from being an angel, but when it is unnecessary and something you choose to let bring you down....well, I vote you fight to get out of the funk!

Have you ever had moments when you are doing or saying something that you wish you could push pause and stop something from happening?

Do you have moments when there is a game plan, but you know in your gut the game plan needs to change or even to the point of taking yourself out of the game plan?!

Even though this new season of refinement and lessons to be learned is hard and a bit frustrating at times...I am enjoying it! I want to learn my lessons head on. I don't want to go in circles and the Lord try to teach me the same lesson in different ways or even the same ways. I want to learn, grow, and love with eyes wide open.

This it for now...loves to y'all (said in my best southern accent)