When Flocks of Geese Attack: Dealing With Anxiety

Why is it that in the middle of a restless night, worries come at you like a flock of geese relentlessly honking and snipping, demanding the bread in your hand? As soon as you give a morsel to one, another comes charging at you.

As I write this, it’s 2:30 am. I’ve been lying awake due to mid-life hormonal power surges and a persistent snore beside me. Before I rose, my personal flock of geese was closing in, snatching my peace thought by anxious thought.

Question: What do you do when worries surround you?

In the spirit of Family Feud: “Survey says … pray!”
I’m guessing that “pray” is the number one answer for anyone reading this devotional, and that’s a good answer!

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” and the first order of casting off anxiety is to open up conversation with our Father.

Sometimes I tell God about my troubles as if he were an ordinary friend, explaining to him the situation and my questions and fears.

But the Lord is so much more than an ear to bend. He is, of course, well … bigger.

Let’s review, Class. He is:

Faithful

Good

Incomprehensible

Infinite

Loving

Merciful

Omnipotent

Omnipresent

Omniscient

Sovereign

Wise

The list goes on. I’d like to add one more: Near.

Remember Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” He is with us in the presence of enemies, whether tangible or intangible.

I’m so thankful that although God is everywhere, he is also near. We do have troubles in this world. But it’s comforting to know that whatever besieges us, we do not face it alone, even if we’re battling in the middle of the night. He is always near and always awake.

When I turn to the Lord for help, I must continually remember to “cast” my cares upon Him. That is, I have to make sure I’ve done more than just vent my feelings in prayer. I must release the burden to Him in faith, because He is faithful.

In other words, I have to divest myself of the habit of rehashing the whole scenario.

The Amplified Bible opens up 1 Peter 5:7 in the context of giving (casting) our concerns to God: “… the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

I need to digest that: “All of your worries, once and for all, because he cares for you,” and may I add again, this is a really BIG God who watchfully cares for you.

Finally, I will share an exercise that helps me release my burdens, although it is fairly juvenile. It goes like this: my son has shared that he and his teammates are traveling to North Carolina for an Ultimate Frisbee tournament.

Eventually, after I pray about his safety, my imagination will evoke anxiety, in this case, by presenting the scene of a terrible wreck. I then picture a red (appropriate for alert or fiery trial, yes?) helium balloon representing my specific fear. Sometimes I envision the burden written on the balloon, such as “Keep Jordan safe.” Then I let it go, and watch it waft up, up and away. Then I remind myself that I have released this fear to a big, omnipotent God who loves my son more than I do.

Now it is 4:00 am, and I’m getting sleepy. If the geese encircle again, I will stand my ground and say, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust” (Psalm 4:8). And if I have to, I will release a big bouquet of red balloons one by one until I drift off under His watchful eye.

Questions:

1. Do you ever find yourself merely bending God’s ear in prayer instead of trusting Him for peace and resolution?

2. Is there a mental image or exercise that would work for you to help you release burdens for which you’ve already prayed?

3. Which scripture would be most helpful for you to have at the ready when geese attack?


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photo credit

Ready for a Nap?

Our Guest Barista today is Melissa Phillips!

Do you like to take a summer afternoon nap?

After lunch I always find myself getting sleepy and want to curl up with a book on my bed, read just a little and drift off in silence. I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go. It is nice and I am thankful I can do this every once in a while.

Have you ever called and called someone and even left messages and they never return your call?

Have you ever made an appointment and when you go, you sit there for a lengthy time before you even get to see the person?

It can be very frustrating when you need or want something from someone and they are barely accessible. If you are like me, patience is not always easy but has I get older it is a must. The point that I am trying to make is that when you need something, Jesus is always willing, He is there and He desires to give us what we need and even want. He desires most of all to give us rest. We don’t have to wait or make an appointment to see or talk to Him. He is accessible and is always easily reached and available.

There are some at a point in life when the constant stimulation and demands are fast driving to the “burn out” point. If you as a believer in Christ are suffering the symptoms of overload and unrest, then I hope you will take time to examine your own life in desiring the type of rest we all can obtain. To all of us Christ’s invitation is the same. It is not a commandment but an invitation for your benefit.


Jesus tells us to come to Him. He is willing to let you come and gain access into His rest and His glory. He has a gracious invitation, speaks directly to us and not someone else. Plus the invitation is to all those who are worn out, tired and frustrated from this world we live in. Millions in all ages since can bear witness that this promise is sure, He will give you rest.

The people who feel self sufficient in their lives have no need for God. The call of God is addressed to the weary, overburdened, long for deliverance and long for the help of God. God calls them and they respond. Only those who are willing to surrender everything to God, and depend on God for everything can hear God’s call and respond. “Come unto me, all who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest.”

Rest. What is this rest?

Is it like when I take a nap and wake up feeling refreshed but upon getting us you start the daily grind all over again? Yes on the refreshing state but more of peace of soul too. This rest is, a rest of grace, and comfort, and holiness. It is a rest in glory, where the people of God shall enjoy their faith, and the object of all their desires. It is a spiritual rest, in ways we don’t feel like we have to fight the battle because we know He fights for us. It is raising above all circumstances and learning to walk in the Spirit. It is walking in His shoes, the shoes of Jesus.

How come some people find it hard to obtain this type of rest?

We may be too busy in working for the Lord instead of relationship with the Lord. We tend to look at the negative in others instead of the good, showing mercy and forgiveness. Our priorities could be out of order or our minds filled with ungodly thoughts or have other discipline issues. We don’t take our cares or burdens and lay them at Jesus’ feet; instead we try to carry them to our breaking point. We may spend time in worry about the future or daily tasks, bills, or relationships instead of depending upon faith or divine intervention or the leading of the Holy Spirit.

There are more reasons why we don’t find rest than finding it. Rest is obtainable and an open door to all however we must go to Him to receive it.

God has always declared man’s rest to be in him, and his love to be the only real happiness of the soul along with faith in his promises, through Jesus Christ, to be the only way of entering that rest. When Jesus says, “I will give you rest,” he means, “I will refresh you”.

Jesus calls all those who are weary and over burdened so that they may be strengthened and refreshed for our tasks in the world. The ‘rest’ will not be idleness or inactivity but strengthening for our responsibilities. It also means that we will be relieved of our anxiety, as we trust Him.
In Jesus Christ the kingdom of God has come.

He is calling us who are overburdened with sin and sorrow, burdened with struggles of this life and who are anxious about life. He is calling us to himself so that he may relieve us of our anxiety and refresh and strengthen us for our responsibilities in this world. Will we respond to this call and invitation? If you find yourself needing rest today and want to lie in the Saviors arms, He is calling with an open request. This promise is not only refreshing but also what you may have needed for a long time.

Are you ready for a nap?

Lord, help me rest in your arms today. Lead me beside the still water, cover me with peace and your grace. I give you all my concerns today in faith so that I may rest.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you, and give you rest. Douay-Rheims Bible Translation


In Him,
Melissa Phillips

www.melissaphillipsministries.com
melissaphillipsministries@yahoo.com

Melissa Phillips is a native to a small town in McLean County Kentucky. Melissa is a country girl at heart with creative contemporary ideas. Blessed artistically, she expresses her talent through various venues. Her paintings, photography, writings, and theatrical dramas are an inspiration to all.
Melissa is the wife of Pastor Jeff Phillips. The couple shares in ministry responsibilities at PromiseLand Church located in Calhoun KY where they have been pasturing for over ten years. They have four boys, Lyle Benjamin, Bryson Roth, Jordan Heath, and Spencer Edward.

Currently Melissa is enhancing her ministry skills by obtaining a diploma from PromiseLand School of Ministry and Associates Degree from the International School of Ministry. She is recognized as an ordained minister for Destiny Ministries. Melissa is a member of AACC and has completed her studies as a Board Certified Biblical Counselor recognized by the American Association of Christian Counselors. She also is the Discipleship Education Instructor for PromiseLand Ministries.

Melissa’s photography is award winning and is in circulation. Her work is seen across the world by her photocompositions of brochures, books, advertisements, PSAs, as well as in the entertainment and music industry. She writes a daily blog of inspiration and encouragement.

Walkin' in Circles

Walking down a shady neighborhood trail not long ago, I breathed in the air of a refreshing seventy degrees. Starting slowly, I took some time to praise the Lord and enjoy the peace and alone time. I quickened my pace, and anxious thoughts began to jog alongside me. God, please help Annie on her tests today. Don’t let her fail again. She studied so hard. I’ve got so much to do. I shouldn’t be walking. I’m going to get behind on everything else. Why am I always a step behind on everything?

My worries completely took over my steps, and I’m sure my heart rate went off the charts. Ministry at church. My son’s issues. Not meeting people’s expectations. Emails and phone calls to return. Decisions my husband and I needed to make. Kids and families my heart is grieving for. Not enough hours in the day…

Then, one thought hijacked the others: I remembered something that had recently hurt my feelings. I didn’t think my legs could go any faster, but they did. I bit back at this person in my mind. I defended myself. I informed this person through telepathic communication that her actions were immature and hurtful.

Huffing in mind, spirit and body, all of a sudden, I noticed that I’d passed my starting place and was walking around the same trail again, by a long ways. The thought of going around a second time was quite an exhausting one, so I stopped for a moment, leaned the weight of my body via arms on my knees and caught my breath.

Do you really wanna walk down this path again?

This was the thought that stopped my elevated “worry pulse,” and I’m positive it was from the Lord. He had my full attention, seeing as He had given me a real-life scenario to think it through (not to mention, plenty of time).

It took the rest of the trail (a second time) home to allow the Lord to do some counseling with me. He gave me incredible insight into just how far He had brought me down the path of anxiety. He reminded me that I struggle with it so much less than I ever have before. He recounted instances of situations past where He has worked out each and every problem, hurt, fear or disappointment for His glory. He testified of all the ways He has worked in me to grow me up spiritually.

By the time I got home, my hurts and “But hows” had taken a hike, and the Lord had carried my numb legs through the door. 

I was where I needed to be: in the hold of His strong and capable arms. 

That’s when my prayers and praises started me down a new trail—the one they should have veered on about an hour earlier. I had gone full circle, and now it was time for His Truth to speak.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace, 

which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, 

and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. 

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—

everything you heard from me and saw me doing. 

Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT)

What trails keep you running around in circles? Are there any issues in your life that you need the Lord to “stop you in your tracks” over today? Take a few moments to remember His faithfulness on the treaded trails of your yesterdays. Do any of those give you hope for your footsteps today?

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, 

because he trusts in You.”

Isaiah 26:3 NIV


Lord, we praise You, for You are true and honorable, 

most worthy of praise. I pray that You would work Your Spirit 

in and through us, helping us to put your Word into practice on our faith walks. 

Guard our hearts and our minds with Your perfect peace, I pray. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Faith Conquers All...

I have been studying the Book of Romans for a while now. Each time time I read from this awesome book, I learn something new and incredible! This book is full of gold nuggets… that is, if we take time to take in what God is trying to teach us! I have been going over chapter five of Romans for two weeks now.

I believe the Lord is telling me through His word to encourage you:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith in this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

The peace mentioned in verse one is much more than the absence of conflict but rather, the unspeakable peace for those who have experienced that new relationship with Jesus Christ.

For those who have not this saving knowledge and a new relationship with Jesus – they remain awaiting the day of His impending wrath.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Romans 1:18

Paul goes on to say:

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:7-8

Our relationship lost by our all being born into sin, is restored through faith in Christ, which banishes all enmity between we and He. The result is the unexplainable peace we now have - especially during times of hardship and tribulations.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we don't have to go to a mediator to have total access to our Heavenly Father. In verse two it makes it clear that we stand in His presence and He is available and immediate to hear us when we speak to Him.

I don't know about you sisters but these truths brings even more joy and peace to me. He is indeed, a harbor and place of shelter against the storms of life and coming judgment. What about you?

As we respond to tribulations by rejoicing in them we gain eternal rewards too! It is the proper response to our tribulations that really matter to our daily Christian walk. Tribulations don't always mean tragedies but it can mean additional stresses or pressures as we journey the Christian walk day to day.

In verse 3, we are reminded to glory our trials. Why? Because these tribulations produce perseverance - meaning we don't give up but rather, pressing on to something greater with God’s power to help us to do! Paul is encouraging us to endure the hardships and life's difficulties because it produces character too. Character learning to walk with grace under pressure and is another part of our Christian experience. Through all these things, we are being purified through and through.

I remember when my kids were younger, I would read a character building book to them that helped their realizing just how God builds character in their lives. Thinking back of some of the different characters gleaned from the bible, individuals such as David, Samson, Zacheeaus, Deborah and more, became real-life examples. These wonderful saints still are there for our examples too!

When we finally grasp some of these basic truths found in the scriptures; coupled with the testing and trials each of us face day to day, we emerge victorious! We possess "hope" which is based on the eternal love and power of God. This same Hope is our one day, making to our eternal heavenly home with our sweet Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

I was so excited to grasp this as I have really been digging in these few verses. What an encouragement it is, to know that what we go through and how we handle each hardship is building in us character, perseverance, peace and hope!

He is working in us what we don't know we even need! The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to endure and persevere though… so as we are building our character we look forward to the day we see our Savior face to face too. We wait to hear these words from our Jesus Christ:

"Well done thy good and faithful servant."

Romans chapter five and in fact, all of God’s Word is really helping me to understand and to handle the day to day crisis we might face as wives, mothers, and daughters.

If we decide to question our Savior, it should not be.”Why?”, but rather, “ What?”

This nugget you might want to carry with you as you walk this journey in life!

Close and Personal;

• How do you handle the day to day crisis?
• Do you make a point to remember through out the day where and what is our hope?
• Have you been thankful for "character building" techniques that our Savior has used in your life?

Dear Lord,

Thank you Father for your many blessings and love you have for us your children! Thank you Father for choosing us. Lord, I want to take this time to specifically thank you for using the tribulations we face in this world to build into us perseverance and endurance in our Christian walk. As we have experienced this in our lives we have a peace that reminds us of our eternal hope Father. I am here to tell you Thank you and I love you!

Join Elaine daily at her personal site.

Are you going to freak out or FAITH out?

So I’m writing this on Christmas afternoon. Due to sickness, I was not able to go to the family dinner (which is usually at my own house), so I’m home drinking hot tea with honey and writing.
I’ve been tempted to throw a pity party for myself. Maybe even freak out a little because I am so upset that I can’t enjoy this day. After all, it is Christmas Day and I am all alone. It could be a little or even a lot depressing to be alone at Christmas if I let myself “go there”. (Let me clarify to save Mark’s reputation, he wanted to stay home with me but I didn’t want the kids to miss time with Grandpa, Grandma and family, so I insisted they go without me.)

That’s what brings me to my thought for today.

Life is not just about what happens to us, but also what we do with those
happenings and where we let our thoughts go in light of them. I can choose today
how I will respond to these circumstances.

Have you ever been alone with a thought that spirals out of control and before you know it, your mind has you in a state of sadness, confusion, fear, anger, anxiety or even depression?

It is easy to do. In fact, I can almost guarantee it will automatically happen if you do not make the choice to take control of your thoughts. It is our human (sin) nature to see the cup half empty instead of half full.

Thankfully though, it’s a condition we can change.
We can choose to respond and react in a way that is hopeful instead of dreadful.
We can change out those thoughts for God’s thoughts, but let's call it "faith out" those thoughts.

I am reminded that the first and greatest commandment is this:

Matt 22:37-38
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest
commandment.
NIV

With “all your mind” is a pretty powerful command. That means that in light of all else we may think on, first we are to love the Lord with all our mind. Well, it’s pretty hard to put out the streamers and fill the punch bowl at a pity party when we are loving the Lord with all our mind. I don’t know about you, but when my mind is on Him, it is filled with peace- no matter what is going on around me. And I’m so glad that joy and hope are never far behind that peace!

Maybe that sounds really difficult and far reaching for you. Some of us were raised in a very negative atmosphere and that carries over into our lives today.

However, this next verse shows me that no matter how what our natural tendency, we have a choice.

Look at this:

Rom 12:2
2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God
transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
NLT

Now in the New King James Version:

Rom 12:1-2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.
NKJV

The word transformed is to “change.” And the word renew is to “renovate.”

God’s Word would not tell us to do something that was too far reaching for us to achieve.
Therefore, we have a choice.
We can follow the pattern of this negative thinking and responding world, or we can renew our thoughts and thought patterns by surrendering them to God.

I agree with the principle that 10% of life is made up of what happens to you and 90% of life is decided by how you react.

I believe that thankfulness is a key ingredient in a well balanced mind. When we
are thankful instead or regretful or disappointed, it will produce a healthy and
happy attitude towards God and this life He’s given us.

I’m choosing not to freak out today. Not to dwell on the fact that I’m sick and not spending time with my family right now, but instead being thankful for so many incredible blessings in my life. Instead of freak out, I’m going to "faith out" the thoughts.

I love this picture of Job choosing to respond to awful, horrendous circumstances with hope:

Job 19:25-27
25 I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he
will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet
in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes-I,
and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
NIV

Let’s pray,
Father we come to you, with so many reasons to have anxiety, fear, anger and depression, but we know that none of them would be beneficial to us or the people around us, so we lay down these things at Your feet and surrender our thoughts and minds to You.
Lord, help us to see things through Your eyes. Help us to see hope in hopelessness and joy in sorrow. Whether a huge trial or a momentary displeasure, I pray that You help us to change the way we think and compel us to love You with all our heart, soul and minds. Help us to walk by faith and not by our feelings.
Thank you for so many ways that You bless us Lord.
In Jesus name, amen.

Showers of Stress

“Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.”
James 5:7-8

I was blessed recently as I read the book of James. James 5:7-8 seemed to wash over my heart as I reflected on it and on the life God has entrusted to me. The phrase "patiently letting the rain do its work" seemed to jump out at me. Often times we can see the storms in life as things that God uses to push us to His loving arms (if we "patiently let them"), and certainly they do, however, the word used here in this verse is "rain". I thought of the song by Mercy Me, Jesus Bring the Rain, and began to contemplate the term rain. Rain comes with storms, for sure, however, it also comes with simple showers. Showers can be aggravating (especially if you are parked outside and have to go somewhere with a decent hairdo ~ha!) or they can be refreshing on a hot summer day. I thought of the song, Showers of Blessings, and how blessed I truly am. I have received showers of blessings, but I have also experienced in recent days the showers of "rain". Oh, not "storms", like most of us would think of. I haven't lost a child, gone through a divorce, or hit a financial crisis. I have, however, felt the "showers" that come from people hurting you or taking advantage of you, unexpected hurdles that cost time and money, parenting challenges, and life decisions that just weigh heavy on your heart and mind. These are what I call "showers of stress", if you will. None of these things are "storms" or even "big problems" in the big picture of life, but they are often times annoying and energy zapping things that Satan can use to suck the life out of us.
These verses reminded me that God desires to use even these "smaller showers" in our lives to remind us of just how dependant we are on Him.

We truly need Him for everything! We cannot let the showers "soak" us and weigh us down. We have to "patiently let the rain (whether a storm or a shower) do its slow and SURE work", by staying covered in the Word each day. I want to allow even the "showers of stress" that sometimes fall around us (OK, they daily fall most of the time), I want them to do their work in my heart and life. I want to become more and more like Jesus!

Just like the earlier verse in James 1:21, which reads, "In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." I am far more blessed than I deserve and I deeply desire for God to cultivate a garden in my life that will bring glory to Him and enrich the lives of others, as well!


Lord, thank you for being our Gardener and for tending to every detail of our lives in order to make us a beautiful display of your Glory. Enable me to see the showers of stress as reminders of how completely dependant I am on You! Enable me to be patient and to allow them to do the work you desire them to do in my life. Speak to me as I am in Your Word each day and enable me to remain steady and faithful to you. Thank you for the showers of blessings that you always intermingle with the stress to remind me of your sweet presence! You are so good, all the time!



You can read more from Tammy at Steps In Our Journey

Let your hair down

There was a very famous newscaster in Houston who was on the air for years and years. If you grew up here you knew him from your earliest childhood. He was a very kind man and did great things for the community until his recent death. He was a local character. So much so that I saw him once on the sidewalk outside Walgreens and I just froze in awe. It was as surreal as if I had seen Bugs Bunny picking out produce at the grocery store. He always wore loud suits and ties, blue tinted glasses, and a very white, very luxurious wig.

Well, we are in Texas, y'all.

Recently I heard an interesting story about him: When he first started appearing on the air, he had a phobia that is common to man. He feared that he would go bald, and the entire city would watch the eventual demise of his glorious mane. So, to avoid that humiliation, he began wearing a wig, so that no one would be able to tell whenever it happened.

Guess what? It never happened. He never lost his hair. For decades, he awoke every morning and put a hot, sweaty, piece of synthetic on top of his real, perfectly nice hair, in a city where 100 degree temperatures are the norm. All because of fear. Crazy, huh? So irrational.

Aren't most fears just that? So irrational?

In this country, we all love a good scare. If you believed the media hype, California should have fallen into the sea long ago while the rest of us were chased by killer bees who stung our flesh-eating bacteria ridden arms. The only reason that we haven't all starved from the Population Explosion is because of SARS or Bird Flu. And I would have thought that Y2K or the Second Ice Age would have wiped us all out before we even had a chance to worry about Global Warming.

Those of us who become mothers face another onslaught. If the coffee I drank when I was pregnant didn't ruin my children surely all those toxic plastic bottles and pacifiers will. And what about that bacteria they consumed when I gave them baby food from a jar they had eaten from previously? And don't get me started on the future calamity I inflicted upon them because I couldn't breastfeed.

We just love a good scare.

And then there are the more personal scares: fears of death; fears of cancer; fears of losing our children, our husbands, our jobs, and our material wealth; abductions; failure; shame; not being a good mother; what other people think; insert your's here - I know you have a list like I do.

How much time do we waste on fear and worry?

I am not saying that we should be irresponsible and just stop wearing our seat belts or eating our green leafy vegetables - no. Not at all. It is our duty to prevent as much evil from happening as we have the power to do. I do believe that the majority of our fears, however, have a minute chance of happening - regardless of how much we worry about them.

Chances are we will never lose our proverbial hair. Yet, we walk around sweating under big stinky wigs because of the "it could happens."

Personally, I have dealt with paralyzing fear of losing one of my children. Could it happen? Of course it could. Have the hours I have spent lying in the dark worrying prevented it from happening, even one tiny bit? Nope. All it did was rob me of my much needed sleep.

Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who saw the majority of her worst fears realized in Nazi Germany, had this to say about worry:

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.
It empties today of its strength.

and

Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts
whirling around a center of fear.

Oh, what a waste of time!

What does the the Lord say about it?

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34

I could go on and on. Phrases such as "fear not", "do not be afraid" and "do not fear" are mentioned more than 100 times in the bible. We are commanded not to fear even more than we are commanded to love!

I think we begin to fear when we forget to trust. I must remind myself - daily - that God is sovereign over all, that not a hair falls from my head without his will, that he is in control of and has ordained every single detail of my life, and will use any trial that does come my way for my sanctification and for his glory.

I can choose to meditate on my worries or I can meditate on the goodness and strength of a Father who loved me so much, he sent his only son to face the worst fears imaginable.

Only then can I take off my hot, stinky wig and rejoice as I shake my hair in freedom.

As Ms. Ten Boom said,

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

Reflection:

1. Make a list of your fears, either irrational or reasonable.
2. Confess your lack of trust and pray for forgiveness and the ability to repent.
3. One by one, ask the Father to send you a spirit of peace, power, love and self-control.
4. Find some verses to commit to memory that you can speak to your spirit when the worry begins to sneak in.

With thanks to Gary Thomas for his inspirational thoughts on fear.

Visit Missy at her blog

High Faith ~ No Worries

High Faith ~ No Worries


It's easier said than done with the rise in both gas prices, groceries and just about everything else to not panic....yet.

However, we have found that by cutting back on errands and even just "luxuries" that we were use to such as, eating out once a week and just where we traveled too, what was really important and what was just wants that fill up empty time slots and empty souls.

One of the blessings and yes there are blessings in the midst of all this, is that Our Heavenly Father had us really looking at ways that we can invest spending time at home and as a family.

T.V. time was really cut back (which actually and secretly made me happy since I'm more into reading books than watching t.v. but don't tell that to my husband) and we had invested in a Wii sometime back.

With the Wii internet connection, we could still play with my mother in law (and I didn't have to hear her try to talk smack to me or try to psych me out and get me to lose, p.s. I love you mom, but I still bowl better than you nyah nyah), but more than anything, we actually have gone out and bought board games that require us to actually sit down and *gasp* interact as a family.

We trust in our Heavenly Father, even in the midst of tightening our belts and watching each cent and despite how gas prices are rising higher, He is and I deeply believe, He is and will,l provide us with our needs.

The importance is remembering though what is a need and what is just a want...I don't believe we will go hungry.

He will find a way to help us keep a roof over our heads and like God provides for the flowers and the birds, He will bless us in ways that we may not have many material things, He will see that we are provided spiritually.

Tomorrow has enough worries on it's own, not knowing what is going to come about with rising gas prices, but today,tomorrow and always, we have our Heavenly Father.

So though we may trade an arm and a leg to make that short drive to the grocery store, I trust in our Heavenly Father to help us see through this as He sees us through every trial in our lives.

It may not be as comfortable as we want, but I think about how He didn't let the Israelites go hungry while they were out in the desert.

It was a fitting reminder that our manna comes in many forms of just bare staples to make it through each week, a blessing of a sale ,a pantry that we keep stock with what we need and not just wants, or in the blessing of the garden we are going to grow in our backyard.

As we struggle,like we all are across this nation, to deal with the rising costs of gas and groceries, no matter what, don't worry. Really. Don't worry. God will provide. It may not be as we plan it out, but He will find a way.

Okay. So I may have to check out two weeks worth of library books (you don't want to know), but despite the cost of gas that seems to keep rising, we have homeschooling to occupy our days, a garden that needs our attention, church each week to bring us to praise and worship our Heavenly Father, and each night, we have the company of each other.

That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending how you want to see it and if you are open to bowling competitions and talking smack (in a good way) with your mother in law even if it is over the phone; at least she can't see you sticking your tongue out at her when you bowl that perfect strike...oh yeah!

Heavenly Father, I thank you, that despite these trouble times, You prove in the midst of trials and tribulations, You can and do, use all things for good. I kneel in awe how no matter how trouble things may seem, You find ways to turn things for good and to Your Glory and I humbly bow before You as Your servant.

Lord, I praise Your name for humbling me and teaching me what is important and not important in life and I continue to pray that You guide me and teach me to have trust and faith in You like the Israelites did as they wander in the desert.

I don't know what tomorrow may bring and I leave that in Your hands Lord, for I know You have conquer tomorrow and it's in Your control not mine. Thank You Heavenly Father.

Questions for Reflection:

• How has God touched your heart and reminded you that He is in control?
• Many of us are having to find ways to cut back in different areas of our lives to help ease the strain of rising gas costs, how can this be used as a blessing to help bring you and your family closer to God.

Romans 8:28 (KJV), "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

• Reading Matthew 6:26-34, what meaning does this passage give to you and reassurance that despite concerns about the economy, what God promises to deliver you through?

You can find Vida daily serving up inspriattion at her blogspot Sunflower Faith

DEALING WITH THE STUFF

My sister, Aimee called me Sunday afternoon and said, "the ladies are so excited that you are coming to speak!"....I said real quick like...."well, they better get over it!---I am nothing to be excited about!" But Jesus is. Actually, I am the one that is excited. I am excited that the Lord has allowed me a voice to share His mercy and goodness to any person with ears! Whether they want to hear it or not....and you know, every now and then you come across someone that "does not want to hear".

This past Sunday, Rylan, our oldest grandson (the one with the autism disorder), was able to spend the day with us and he was doing pretty good that day, so I thought, well, I'll just take him with me in church instead of taking him to nursery (he's 6 but because of his condition, he generally doesn't do well in church with the sounds of the instruments, singing, etc.---too much stimulation). Anyway, we were getting to the "preaching segment" of the service, and he had done well so far, but I was still of holding my breath. As the visiting minister came to the platform and began his welcome, Rylan said in a not so quiet voice, "Is he Jesus?"....I said no, but he is about to tell us about Jesus. And so he did.

This actually brings me to something the Lord has been dealing with me about. Our reflection of Jesus. What are we showing the world? If the world came to our house, could they look inside every closet, drawer and cabinet?...What would they see? If nothing was hidden....what reflection would be seen? Jesus? Or, the world?

The Lord began directing my thoughts in this line during my sister, Wanda's last few months, and even more so just after her passing. What her life reflected. What you saw in her home. What was in her spiritual heart. Not the physical one. For that one was malformed. But her spiritual heart was completely in perfect order with Him. Her Lord.

I was talking with Aimee about this as we were cleaning up before she came home from the hospital in January after the long stay just days after Christmas. Her kitchen counters had "things of life" on them. Music CD's that she listened to "to encourage her heart", medicine, papers, mail, cards, a book or two, many things that had just not been put in it's correct place.

She had become overwhelmed in the days before Christmas with all the functions, activities and cooking that was necessary and had not had a chance to put things that was readily visible in complete order. But, when you opened the cabinet in search of something, the cabinets were in tip-top shape. Bowls stacked according to size, lids all together, glasses clean and without spots, and in their correct place, and her pantry was much the same.

Wanda could tell you exactly where everything was kept. (Which she did once she came home and we began cooking for her.) Everything on the inside was in perfect order. She had more stuff on the outside than she could cope with at times, but she organized and put away as she could to keep things in such condition that she would not be embarrassed for anyone to come in and visit.

I began to think of my own house. Not only my physical house, but my spiritual house. I have too much stuff. More furniture than I know what to do with right now (since we just let the lease on the apartment go). I have had to crowd as many things in a closet as will fit. While most of the time, the dishes, pots and pans are in a passable order, there are the times when my husband may put something away....and not knowing my "system" ---well, you get the picture...or at least once it all falls out you will!

As the Lord began dealing with me about things in my house, as well as things in my heart, I knew it was time to deal with both.

Stuff can overwhelm us. Not only too many things in our home, but too much going on in our lives. Philippians 3:13-14 says "No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (NLT)

Have you ever noticed how the world makes it all too easy to just "hang on to stuff". Not only do we cram our closets, but we rent "storage rooms" or warehouse units so that we can "keep piling things up". Why? Why would we want to continually flood our lives with things that we need to deal with now?

I am guilty of that myself. When we moved to Marianna we had to rent storage until we "repaired" the house we are living in. Then we had to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Right now, we have some things in storage. Some is being stored for future use for Tiffany and Jared, some for April and David. But as for me....I am dealing with and getting rid of all things that are unnecessary in my house and life right now. Lesson learned long ago.

Almost 15 years ago I was in a raw emotional condition due to not dealing with some critical issues in my heart and life. They were painful. It was hard. It was much easier to just tuck it all away in a pretty box and label it "do not open". Trouble came though, when the box lid slipped. I don't remember what caused it...but when it slipped...the stuff came boiling to the top. This is painful even to admit I allowed myself to become so "overtaken by anxiety" that one night---after many nights of sleeplessness, the enemy of my soul crept into my room and whispered into my ear..."What's it all for? Why continue on? Who would miss you? Who would care? They'd all be better off"....and I listened...and cried in my pillow. I will tell you --I am ashamed to say this, hardly anyone knows the depth of my pain from this moment of my life, but even the thought of ending my life entered my head.

Tormented in my heart as I was, I cannot believe now that I could be in such a despondent condition. I hardly remember that girl of anxiety and despair. I know in my heart and mind right now that I would have not followed through with the thoughts of destruction, but I say this to tell you that "anyone" is susceptible to the attack of the enemy.

I look back now and wonder how/why? I had done almost everything in the church from cleaning toilets to teaching Sunday School. Yet, in all of that life of "christian activity", I was not exempt from the evil attack of satan. It was the most horrendous of enemy attacks I believe that exists, because when he tempts you to "take your life", he is telling you that you can "control" your life and God. Friend...you cannot control God. The enemy is trying to succeed in casting you in outer darkness forever. No turning back. When the last breath flows out, there is no putting life back in. I believe you have just physically plucked yourself from God's hand and jumped headlong into eternity---without Him.

Fortunately, I had presence of mind to cry out to Abba Father, and He was in the house---chasing the enemy from the room as I called out to Him in my pain. As I lay on the floor in the bathroom and sobbed out to Him, He reached down and picked me up. I eventually returned to bed---and Jeff was never aware (until days later), of the spiritual battle that had taken place that night while he slept. It was a battle. And I knew that I was not "armed" for this battle as I should have been.

While my house and life had been flooded with "stuff" ...there were some things I had neglected. Daily prayer. Daily reading of God's Word. Intercessory prayer for others. Yes, you can do all the "christian things that are expected of you" and still neglect your own heart and prayer life. Oh, I was still a Christian, but I was running around practically naked (if you will pardon that example). My spiritual clothing was missing. Parts of it was there, but it was ill fitting because I had neglected to keep it in tip-top shape. What to do?

Clean out your closet and drawers. Don't leave anything in. Get it all out. As Aimee, Wanda and I had made plans to help each other in the beginning of this year "clean out the excess stuff"...we had proclaimed that we were going to get "Ruthless" with each other's stuff. No hanging on to things that were unnecessary. Apply that to spiritual things in our lives. Take it all out and examine it for wear and tear. If it's not appropriate....get rid of it.

The closer I get to the Lord, I am finding that things---I'm not necessarily speaking of clothes here, but some things are just not "for me" any longer. Things that might have been okay, in the past few years, aren't any more. Even some --dare I say..."TV shows"....make me uncomfortable the closer I get to the Lord. I have a new determination that I have never experienced....to follow hard after Him. I don't want anything...ANYTHING to stand in the way of my relationship with God. Not any individual...nor any earthly possession. There is nothing...and nobody like my JESUS!

Ephesians 4:10-18 (NLT) "A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere."

The entire wardrobe of holiness must be donned daily. DAILY. In a recent discussion with Aimee, we both shared our need for prayer in the morning. Aimee said, "I don't feel fully dressed if I haven't prayed." Without a doubt, that is the truth.

We aren't adequately covered spiritually if we don't get with the Father....and I have to do that in the mornings as well as at the close of my day. My former prayer life was not as fervent. But I have learned. It is the "effectual fervent prayer that will avail much". The Matthew Henry Commentary shares that "the prayer itself must be a fervent, in-wrought, well-wrought prayer. It must be a pouring out of the heart to God; and it must proceed from a faith unfeigned. Such prayer avails much. " To get a clearer understanding of this I looked up avail. Avail means to be of use or value to; profit; advantage; have force or efficacy; or the power or capacity to produce a desired effect.

So, where do we go from here? I tell you where I'm going. I am dealing with everything that comes up....as it comes up. No waiting. No putting it off or in a cute box....It's deal with it now. If you wait, the enemy has a chance to plan a strategy to use it against you.

I am closing with this: After Wanda passed away, Mark asked Aimee and I to meet him at the house to choose her clothes for burial. As we began searching through her closet for a dress, I noticed how neat and orderly her shoes and her clothes were. She did not have a cram packed closet of clothes. Just enough to take her through each season of life. Her shoes were neatly hanging in the shoe bag. Not an extraordinary amount. Shoes were not her obsession. After we chose her dress, I began going through her dresser drawers for other necessary things and found her things in perfect order.

As I rolled this over in my mind---I realized that with Wanda, what you saw on the outside...a neat, petite, orderly sweet woman, was exactly what she was on the inside. Both physically and spiritually. While her physical "heart" was not formed from birth as it should have been, her spiritual heart was in perfect formation. I knew right then I had some things that needed tending to. I am continually cleaning out. Continually removing, rearranging, and getting downright "ruthless" with myself, to be in perfect alignment with my Father.

So...are you ready? Grab those garbage bags girls....let's get to it!

I welcome your visit to my blog!

Grace Under Fire

Is not just a TV show. It is real life.

I never watched the TV show...but I have lived the life. Grace under fire.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Grace is the presence, favor and power of God. God's grace and power are clearly visible in a profound, irrefutable way while we are in the midst of our tribulations. In the middle of our weakness God comes in with His awesomeness....and just blows the lid off the situation....sometimes.....
And then sometimes we are instructed to wait....

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

Just after the Christmas feasts were consumed all around us, my family watched as my sister, Wanda's breathing became more and more difficult. Swallowing was next to impossible except in very small amounts. That verse is what my sister, Wanda has been praying. Claiming a tight hold on. We each have our own...for the different times of our lives. You probably do as well. I have held this one as well. What is so odd....or maybe not, Wanda had been praying this "strengthen thine heart" prayer... and one of the doctors stated-seemingly in amazement "for the condition she is in, her heart is surprisingly strong".

No surprise to God. We have each been on our faces before the throne of heaven--- He has strengthened her heart. As He has ours, as we have all watched. And waited. And trusted.

The neatest thing happened a few weeks ago. We have accepted the fact that Wanda may be on oxygen for a while, and my friend (the seamstress---crafty creator of all things fabric, Vivi--aaahhnnnne--as I pronounce it with extreme Southerness), has gladly accepted the task of creating Wanda a "Vera Bradley" -look alike- purse with matching oxygen tank cover. We had discussed that morning, the need for measurements for the tank cover. Hmmmm. My brother, Charlie works with a medical supply company that places equipment in homes. However, I didn't have time to call him and give him a full explanation---[which he'd want]---before he measured anything---[since he's a guy and all].

Anyway (I feel myself chasing a rabbit here), shortly after I had hung up the phone with Vivi--aaahhnnne (sorry, I must do that each time--I am from the South!), a client walked in that had been in before. Wait for it----- she ---- had ---- her very own ----- oxygen tank! Now how like God is that! I greeted her in my "officie, cordial way" and then said, "Mrs. Smith (not her real name), I have a crazy question for you"---she smiled---"I would like to measure your oxygen tank". She kind of chuckled and said "why, sure". As I got my tape measure, I began to explain the situation with my sister, Wanda. I gave her the short version. Ending with the fact that when she was allowed to come home, she would be on oxygen. I explained the need for her to feel as stylish as possible while breathing!

I gave her a bit of information of the severity of Wanda's condition, ending with the fact that we really were praying for a miracle in her life. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "honey, don't you discount what God can do". Her face was very solemn.

I replied, "No 'mam, we don't. We have witnessed miracles before as she has faced death head on and the Lord brought her out. We fully expect God to turn this situation around."

She began to describe to me her own heart/lung condition. Her heart was enlarged and had compressed one lung almost closed. Her heart was growing larger and was now starting to compress the other lung. I would have not guessed this at all. She drove herself to our law office. She came in with her tank, purse and brief case. She was very stylish and extremely sweet natured. She told me that in 1991 two of her doctors, her cardiologist and her internist, gave her instructions to get her affairs in order and be swift about it! As she told me this I felt the tears and the excitement in me stir. I felt she was sent by God. She was told that in 1991. Girls (and any fellows that may be reading), it's 2008 in case you forgot. See what God can do? Miracles. This precious lady has lived "grace under fire".

I am quite certain that we can each name a place of grace in the midst of a burdensome trial. One so heavy that we crumpled under the load. But with His power, He reached down and relieved us of that burden as we each came to the realization that we could not carry on without Him. And we can't. I can point you to scripture verses, show you places on the floor where I buried my head crying out to Abba Father, and take you to the place where God "did the work" in my own heart and life in critical times.

Since Wanda was released...we have been meeting in her living room for Bible Study each Wednesday night. We are studying the Beth Moore series called "Stepping Up". What a study! Can I say, "perfect timing"? But then, God's timing is always perfect. So let me offer you a bit of encouragement, if you're stuck in a situation that there seems no way out---look up. He's there. Or, if you feel like you have held on as long as you possibly can....let go. He is waiting on us. He's been there the whole time...you see, if He did it all---without us ever asking----would we learn? Would we learn to trust? Would we learn to believe without doubting? Would we still struggle for days, months, and sometimes years with the problem before we let go and handed it over? Hand it over sister. It's past time. Walk out of the fire and into His grace....marvelous grace.


Father, in the precious name of Your only Son, I pray right now that each and every reader of this post will feel Your mighty power flow through their spirit. If they know You in their heart, please encourage them. If they don't know You, please allow them to feel the tug in their heart that each of us felt as we came to the place in our lives that we knew we couldn't do it alone. Lord, we give You us. Just as we are. Right now. Help us. Use us. Enable us to be what You desire. Show us where to turn in every situation. Guide and direct our lives. Be glorified in our lives. Everyday. May each of us feel Your presence as I felt it when You directed that sweet lady into my path. Thank You Lord for that. You are awesome in Your grace. In Your sweet name I pray---believing---trusting----~Amen.


I feel like I have worked on this post as the Lord has worked on me. It has been lengthy...if you stayed around for the very last word...my hat's off to you! If you skipped through it...sorry, but growing in grace is sometimes a lengthy process. At least for me it has been. I am a somewhat slow learner at times. I pray that you are blessed in your journey with Christ. If you have not started on that journey yet, I encourage you to scroll down on the page and find the "READY" button on the sidebar. Meet Him. Your life will never be the same. The fiery trials of life will still be around, but this time you will have Someone that will be your Rescue Team. Be blessed!









Come by for a visit!

Shore of Salvation

"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Me – the very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.”
Isaiah 30: 16-17

Have you ever seen a drowning person being rescued? I remember seeing a young girl flailing around in the water as my dad and a friend jumped in to save her. She fought at first, grabbing at them with all her might and fighting to stay afloat. With fear in her eyes, she wasn’t realizing that she was actually working against those who were there to help her. It wasn’t until she settled down and depended on them to help her, that they were able to pull her to safety.

The Bible says, in the same way, that our “salvation requires us to turn back to God and stop our silly efforts to save ourselves. Our strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Him.” So many times, we fight against all that Christ tells us, thinking that we are going to help ourselves, but this verse tells us this is simply “silly efforts”. We are only saved by “settling down and completely depending on Christ”.

What is tugging at you and trying to pull you under? Perhaps you are still searching and have yet to even find Christ as your Savior. He is waiting to rescue you from your sin and be everything you need. For those of us that have already experienced His salvation, is there something that is pulling us under the waters of life? Are we struggling to stay afloat financially? Is it taking all of our strength to tread the water in a strained relationship? Perhaps we are simply struggling in the undercurrent of our culture and finding ourselves being drug out further than we should go. No matter where we are, the rescue itself will look the same. We must “stop our silly efforts to save ourselves, settle down, and depend completely on Christ to save us. He is able and He is there waiting for us to turn to Him and trust Him to take us to safety.

Stop grapping at everything else around you and looking for another way out, and just surrender to Him. Allow Him to pull you from the water of worry, the sea of sin, and the rivers of regret, and take you to the incredible shore of Salvation.

Lord, thank you that you are my Savior. Thank you that you are always there to rescue me if I will only stop my own silly efforts to save myself, settle down, and depend on you. Thank you that no matter how deep I may find myself, You are always deeper still.

In Him~
Tammy…

You can read more from Tammy by visiting her at Steps in Our Journey

God is Sovereign

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a)

Now that is a great idea. Why is peaceful meditation and individual worship so hard for me?

For instance, as I visited several blogs over the holidays, I envied women who reported sitting on the sofa all day in their PJs, eating goodies, enjoying their kids, reading or watching movies. I marveled at their ability to let go of the “ought to’s” and “should’s.” My thoughts say, “Sure, you can take the day off from laundry, but is the price you’ll pay tomorrow worth it?” And so off I go.

My life totally has room for this kind of relaxation, but my brain doesn’t. I have trouble being 100% in any moment, whether at work, at home, at church, on vacation or even watching a movie.

From the moment—the instant—I’m conscious each morning, my thoughts are rolling and roaring like ocean waves, tossing about the priorities of the day and the consequences if I fail.

I am so task-oriented that I have trouble tearing myself away from the computer at work when a friend drops by or my husband calls, or even when my supervisor needs to talk to me!

Dr. Gerald May (Addiction and Grace) says it’s quite possible to become addicted to stress. For one thing, stress causes the release of two hormones that we are all familiar with: the feel-good endorphins and the energy-surging adrenaline. If you have chronic stress in your life, such as caring for an ill loved one, or if you are naturally wired to be a little more rattled than others, your body adapts and accepts the heightened state of those hormones as the normal state of being. When you slow down and try to have a stress-free moment, your body simply doesn’t know how.

And that’s the biological perspective. Here's the spiritual perspective according to May:

… the simple matter of taking time for daily prayer can become a battle of the will excruciatingly reminiscent of that encountered in chemical addiction. The mind can generate wondrous excuses to do something instead of just being open and present. The struggles that go on between being and doing can be awesome.

In this new year, one of my goals is to make an effort to focus on the sovereignty of God. Notice I did not say “to worry less” or “be in the moment” or “trust God more” or even “read the Bible more.” While these initiatives are good, for me, they simply amount to another stress-promoting list to tackle.

I will make headway in this challenging aspect of my personality only by focusing on how big God is, on how the universe is his, and on how my self-worth has been validated solely by his decision to create me.

Being still may never be easy for me. Nevertheless, in the morning and in the evening, when my thoughts are crashing and rolling and threatening to drown me, I will repeat, “But God is sovereign.”

It is only by his power that I exist and am able to do the smallest thing. Just saying, “God is sovereign” releases pressure. It takes the focus off me and puts it on God, which is the heart of worship.

My hope and prayer is that the entire chapter of Psalm 46 will become the new endorphin-producing, Holy Spirit-calming force in my life.

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Attachments or addictions to anything in life can be strong, but God is stronger. After all, He is Sovereign.



Please stop by my personal blog at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

A Reluctant Martha

Everyone seems to view Mary and Martha of Luke 10 as a biblical “Goofus and Gallant.” (Remember the illustrated manners-teaching brothers of Highlights Magazine?) Recap: Martha frets over the details of preparing a large meal for Jesus and his disciples (including the sisters, that's at least 15 people total, maybe more) while Mary chooses to spend time with Jesus, who commends Mary for focusing on relationship rather than tasks and details.

I always feel sympathetic toward Martha. Perhaps she, too, would have liked to sit at Jesus’ feet but felt pressured to be a biblical Martha Stewart. I’m not losing sight of Jesus’ point; I’m just saying I feel Martha’s stress. After all, Jesus wasn’t performing any food miracles that day. Although I’d much rather learn at Jesus’ feet than baste a turkey, sometimes you have to bring on your best Martha. It’s simply your turn.

Pressure! Like many of you, I have just come off a long weekend of cooking and cleaning and a Martha-esque existence that Luke reported as “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”

In Mark 6:31, Jesus encouraged his tired disciples to “come ye yourselves apart and rest a while.” I did indeed almost come apart this week, but I don’t think that’s what Jesus had in mind. Consider the following "distracting details" which contributed to my anxiety. Somehow I managed to:

• Leave my emergency back-up roast in the carousel of bags at the end of the checkout line and not realize it until I got home.
• Break my vacuum just before guests arrived.
• Spill a gallon of apple cider down the front of me and onto the refrigerator shelves and the newly mopped floor.
• Blow candle wax all over a brand new table cloth and onto the wall behind the table.
• For the second year in a row, bake a ham that didn’t come out completely warm in the center and was thus hastily shoved into the microwave without anyone knowing.
• Dump half of my drained boiled potatoes into my sink while the family waited for dinner. (Someone tell me why these people keep coming back year after year. Wait a minute—I know why. They have to. They’re family.)

As you can see, I’m probably never going to do this big holiday meal thing perfectly. But I want the holidays to be all warm and rosy and glowing for my family or anyone who visits. Anything less feels like failure.

But that’s not the truth. What’s worse than bad food and disorganization and frantic behavior? Allowing the pressure to tempt me to snap at my kids or husband. Guests feeling more like a burden than a blessing. Failing to rely on the joy of the Lord to be my strength when things go wrong.

I fail if I do not love extravagantly, not entertain extravagantly. Cold hams don’t really ruin a holiday, but a cold, stressed-out hostess can.

So what’s a reluctant Martha like me to do?

1. Focus on others, not on personal inadequacies or past failures.
2. Serve with a joyful heart and smile. You can always implode after everyone’s gone!
3. Remind yourself to be grateful for having the means to host a meal and a body strong enough to do so.
4. Remember that sometimes it’s good to challenge yourself by stepping away from activities and roles you’re comfortable in and forcing yourself to do things that don’t come naturally. It’s like spiritual, mental and emotional calisthenics, and it increases your appreciation for others’ sacrifices and giftings.
5. Remind yourself that you’re making memories, not works of art.
6. Remember that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Maybe you have more tips to add here.

We are not called to be perfect but we are called to be obedient, loving and thankful. Gary L. Thomas wrote a book called, “Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy.” I have also decided to apply that supposition to holidays: What if God designed holidays to make us more holy than to make us happy” (hence: holy days). That puts the focus back on the Reason for the holidays, which changes the perspective of this reluctant, bumbling Martha!



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