He’s Got This

I have Sarah Young’s day calendar sitting on my kitchen counter.

Today, the very first words were TRUST ME ONE DAY AT A TIME. Sometimes I just know when God is speaking directly to me. Don’t dwell in your past. Don’t stress over your future. Walk with Me, one day at a time. One moment at a time.

Trust is not easy on most days, especially when the seas of life are choppy…and the waves of worry are crashing hard. When I take my eyes off Him, I start to drown. Sadly, my typical response is not to trust God. Not really. Oh, I say I do. I want to trust, but it just seems easier to think of ways that I can make things better. What I can do to change things. I stress myself. I make myself sick. I worry.

God calls me over and over again not to trust myself, but to trust Him, keeping my focus on Him, the One who has the power to calm any storm. When the waves of worry grow high, and I feel like I am surely going under…..He says, “TRUST ME”.

Isaiah 26:3-4 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Worry Less And Wonder More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some days I am full of stories and pictures that I would love to share with you, my readers. I am always thinking of moments and the minute details of the day. I want my readers to see the world through my eyes, through my words. I keep trying…..

The day started at 6:15am. I like getting up early when the world is quiet and still. At this time of the morning, during the summer months, it is already light and I can see the glow of the morning leaking between the drawn curtains. After getting ready and making my way to the kitchen, I start the coffee and straighten the house. I admire the beautiful antique rug I got from the lady who runs one of the antique stores in the next town over. It is soft and worn…just perfect for bare feet. The sun streams through the living room window and I can’t help but notice that the sofa table needs dusting, as does the top of the piano.  I wish I didn’t always see what needs to be done.

The jaunt over to the chicken coop and barn was nice. The abnormally cool air, for mid July, felt wonderful on my bare arms. If the entire summer could be in the low seventies with low humidity, I would be thrilled. I think that is why I enjoy Autumn so much, just a tad over two months away…. The Morning Glories are twisted around the railing at the end of the deck, with delicate pink and purple blooms. The lavender is full and the bees hungrily eat, I hear their steady hum in my ears. Aside from the heat, there is much to enjoy about the summer months. I do love living in a place that allows me to see the beauty of all the different seasons.

My to do list is long, and I am well aware of all that must get done. I desperately want to put a check mark next to items on the list. I want to get things finished. The stress of it all drains me some days. I was outside the other day and the thought occurred to me, why do I worry so much about things? As soon as I check off everything on the list, new things will pop up and beg to be added. Do I chain my life’s happiness to an unending list? Am I defeated if I don’t get it all finished? This is something I am working on, or maybe I should say not working on?

My son just asked for my help to take some stuff out to his car. While outside I stopped and stared at the big puffy clouds and the bright blue sky. I noticed the weeds in the flower beds, and even though they are so hated…they actually are pretty with their yellow flowers. The thought occurred to me that maybe I need to just stay outside more, nature reminds me that the list is not as important as I think it is. My worries make my life small. They force me to live in frantic mode instead of thankful mode. I don’t believe that God ever intended for us to live life like it is a panicked emergency.

Over and over again I attempt to learn this lesson. It is important, and I need to get it. Not just with words, but actually live it. These words are an unending loop in my mind. “Rest, don’t stress. To love, not to list. Be joyful, not panicked. Worry less and wonder more.”

Life is meant to be lived fully and big. God wants us to depend on Him for an abundant life, not through our own power of getting it all done.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

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I love reading Ann Voskamp’s blog, A Holy Experience. She speaks to my heart with her poetic words. Yesterday she had a guest blogger, Ginny from the blog, Small Things. Ginny’s post spoke to me, right where I find myself. Maybe you need to read her post too? Click here.

Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

I remember reading a book, years ago, entitled Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff. This book talked about not getting stressed over stuff that in the big scheme of things, really isn’t all that important.

Sometimes easier said than done…at least in my world. Sigh…….

I tend to stress. I fret. I worry. I mull things over until my head hurts. I’ve even at times affected by health because of stress. There are mornings when I get up and half way through my morning routine realize that my shoulders are hiked up practically to my ears! I tell myself to take a deep breath and relax, as my shoulders loosen up ever so slightly.

God tells me in His word that I’m not going to add any time to my days by worrying. Stressing really is the thief of peace.

Honestly, I want to learn that lesson. I want to internalize it. I want to live it.

What am I really saying to God when I continue to worry and stress about the future, as well as the day to day?

“God, I know You are big, but not big enough”.

The hiss of fear wraps itself in my worry. The pain of stress weighs heavy.

God, forgive me.

But, Jesus who loves me so, whispers to my heart…..”You are mine. I bought you for a price. No matter what happens in this life, I am with you. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. You are my redeemed. My child……..and I’ve got you covered. Once and for all.”

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 

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Today I am thankful for: 

* blazing pinks and purples in the morning sky

* sun peeking over the horizon

* waiting for a rainy day

* a slow, quiet Monday

* smiles

* new friends

* laughter

* reminiscing

* comfy t-shirt

* piles of laundry

* furry pets

* clucking chickens

* grass getting greener

* God who IS big enough

* Jesus who stands in the gap

 

 

Don’t Worry, I’ve Got This

Sometimes I feel so weighed down by the calendar and clock. My schedule gets busier and busier. The urgent pulls at me, clawing, ripping. I diligently pen in yet another thing that I need to do now, so I can check it off my to do list later. Keeping up with a marriage, a family, a life….is time consuming and not always easy. In fact most of the time it is definitely not easy, and I am tired. It isn’t even 8 in the morning…and I’m already ready for the day to be done. Is it bedtime yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find myself thinking it will be better when this month is over. It will calm down when summer gets here. I will relax when my schedule isn’t quite so full. Always somewhere down the road. Always another time. Then it hit me. I was spending my time, like coins falling through my fingers. Wasting the moments because I was too focused on the urgent. After all, I’ll never walk this way again. Once this day is spent, it is gone forever. Each day is unique and I was no longer seeing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does worrying about today’s schedule do for my peace of mind? I need to take the moments as they come. My obsessing over the details does nothing to calm my spirit. I might be really organized (and on some days even that is debatable), but what good is that if I’m so stressed that there is no longer any enjoyment? That is not how my Lord calls me to live.

In fact, He talks about worry and time and schedules often, in His Word. His words run over me like cool water in a dry desert. He draws me close and whispers, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4  NIV

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6: 25-34  NIV

Note To Self

Note to self on this day and every day…… 

I wrote this post a couple of years ago. I needed to remind myself of it again.

Maybe you, too?

The backpack is far too heavy for me. I am hunched over from the struggle of having to carry it.

It strains me almost to the point of exhaustion.

I’m weighed down by everything I have shoved in there.

Finances.

Relationships.

Marriage.

The Daily Routine.

The Mundane.

Accidents.

Decisions.

Weather.

School.

Children.

The past.

The future.

Illness.

Health.

The things of life, that I worry over.

Each one seemingly so important that I feel I must carry it.

These things that I continually shove in my own personal backpack.

Sometimes it is so full I can’t even zip it shut. Just when I think there is room for nothing else…I squeeze another worry in.

I cannot continue like this.

“Father, this is so difficult for me. I don’t want to worry, but worry creeps back to me. I say I trust You. I give you the backpack, but then I take it back again. The worry feels comfortable to me…even if it is painful.

Father, will you help me? Help me to trust you more. I need your words fromMatthew 6:34 to soothe my tired back. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.”

Lord, you are so much more capable to carry my burdens than I am. Forgive me for not trusting you more.“

Learn From Me

The mental list of things to do looms large, until my head feels heavy under the weight of all my thoughts.

All the things that need to get done. All the stuff I worry about, stress over.

There is always something more.

Each day adds to the list.

Yet, God tells me not to worry. He is here.  What will worry add to my life?

And I know that, but most days I don’t live it.

Not really.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Learn from me…….

Yes, Lord. Yes.

 

 

 

Then God Showed Up

Sometimes I am just weary.                 

Weary from it all…..

Lately my mind has been preoccupied with insurance changes and the expense of it, changes in education with core standards, and the government consistently not considering what we, the people, think.

Terrorism and shootings. Fear of the unknown.

I worry about the future and I worry about my kids future, and I wonder what our country will look like in ten years?

I had all this stuff swirling around in my head when I went to get the mail yesterday afternoon.

Then God showed up.

In the mail.

He came in the form of words from In Touch Ministries.

Dr. Stanley had written out Life Principles To Live By.

Principle #9 stated, “Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.”

Looking beyond what we can see, because really what can I see? I can’t look even five seconds into the future. I can’t see anything.

And the unknown is always scary.

The future is dark to me. I am blind to what lies ahead, but God knows.

If I stick close to Him, He will lead me through whatever the future holds.

My eyes teared up, right there in the driveway, holding the mail in my hand.

I needed to read this.

I needed to dwell on this.

Thank you, God, for the reminder.

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9  ESV

 

God Will Make A Way

Worried! (Photo credit: photoloni)

Today, at Faith Barista, we are writing about: “God will make a way.”

I remember sitting at the kitchen table, phone in hand, my husband‘s voice calling me from miles away.  He said the company he had worked for for almost twenty-three years was having to let him go.  He was in shock. I felt helpless….a stay at home mom, home schooling our children, right in the middle of building our dream house in another state…..and my husband lost his job. His career. He was just a name to upper level management.

What would we do? What could we do? Not that losing a job is ever easy….but, this happened at the worst possible time.

“God, why us?  Why now? We were just at a place that we could afford to build this house. We used our savings for this. I had resigned from my teaching position a little over a year earlier, to stay home. We were busy schooling, and packing our house for our move to a new state. Our life was going to be changing….but, we never expected this.

“God, please!”

Over the next sixteen months, we struggled. It was not easy. There was not a day, that at least in the back of my mind, I did not worry. Worried that we would lose everything we had worked so hard for. Worried that life would never be the same again. Worried that our credit would be ruined. Worried that my husband wouldn’t be able to find another job in the poor economy.  The worry was eating me alive.

One day, my husband said to me. “God knows. He understands. He will continue to take care of us…..but, we really might lose everything. We might have to lose the house. We might have to live with family temporarily. We have to come to a point where we don’t just say that we know God will provide for us, we need to believe it. Believe Him. Even if we lose everything we know that we have HIM…and He is always enough. He loves His children. He will provide.”

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19  NIV

And God showed Himself real in those sixteen months. Things happened that cannot be explained by man. The miraculous occurred in the everyday. God made a way, when there seemed to be no way. I learned that the verse “nothing is impossible with God”, holds true, through all of life’s trials….no matter how difficult.

The biggest lesson I learned during that trial, is this:  God does not just make a way, He is the Way.

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Learning To Simplify

Image via Wikipedia

It started this morning. I’ve got things on my mind. Schedules. Dates. Things coming up. Holiday events. Planning. I have much to do before the end of the year. It occurred to me this morning that it’s already NOVEMBER 2nd! Two months from now we will already be into the new year. Good grief! Where does the time go? What moments have I let slip by because I’m always thinking about tomorrow. Or next week. Or next month. Or a year from now…

Breathe.

Sigh.

It’s happening again. I feel like a freight train that is out of control, barreling down the tracks, heading for an unknown destination….one bump and I’ll be derailed.

Breathe again.

Another sigh.

I was looking through a favorite house site, and noticed a clip from the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun. Regardless of how one feels about this movie, it does give a good example of a woman who was looking for something different for her life. She left the States, and while vacationing in Italy, bought and restored a rundown house in Tuscany. She found friendship, laughter, and meaning for her life, in the midst of it all. Her life became much more simple.

After seeing that clip, I took a few minutes to dig through my old journals until I found the one that I was looking for. A small black book, with a simple title. “SIMPLIFY”.  I think that says it all. I looked back through it to see what I had written. It was sort of a workbook of how to simplify. I smiled at some of the things I had written, and shook my head at others. Simplifying is a process…and, I am not there just yet.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life.” —Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Earlier this year, I read Ann Voskamp’s, One Thousand Gifts. She talks a lot about slowing down, savoring each moment, and giving thanks. I truly enjoyed her book. It has been a “life changer” for me, not because I have it all down perfectly, but because that is something that I long for. It helps to know that there are other people out there that feel the same way.

The Lord tells me in His word not to worry.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34  NIV

I will be completely honest and tell you that I struggle with that verse. I know that God loves me more than the birds of the air, and the flowers of the fields, but when I’m facing decisions and feeling pressed for time, it’s easier to worry. Not that it does one bit of good, mind you, but I never said it made sense.

Another deeper sigh.

The more I try not to worry, to deliberately simplify, the more anxious I get. Sometimes it seems like a vicious cycle.

I think Ann was onto something …it’s impossible to worry if one is giving thanks to God. If I’m busy thanking Him for all things, I won’t have time to worry about the small stuff. It seems so simple, but really it is true. It is a discipline, though.

A discipline that  I continue to work on because I want this so badly.

 

 

 

 

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Counting My Blessings

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“People often crucify themselves between the regrets of the past and the worries of the future.”  (Pastor referenced this quote while preaching his sermon yesterday morning from Matthew, chapter 6)

The words struck me. There was truth in the sting.

How often do I worry or show regret over things I’ve said, or done, or worse yet things I didn’t say or do?  Then I worry about the future. The state of our country, the cost of gas, the cost of groceries, teens driving, jobs, money, relationships, conversations…Sadly, I could go on and on….and sure enough I am crucified. The hammer swings hard against me. YOU SHOULD HAVE. WHY DIDN’T YOU? YOU COULD HAVE. TAKE IT BACK. WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING! or….WHAT IF? I’M SCARED. I NEED. PLEASE?! I CAN’T. I WON’T. HELP ME!

32(For the Gentiles)…run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6 NIV

Don’t worry. My Heavenly Father already knows what I need.

Don’t worry about tomorrow…each day has enough trouble of its own. (So why borrow trouble from the future?)

Worry is a verb…but, so is trust, and which will I do?

I’m thankful that God knows me. Personally.

I’m thankful that I am loved by the One that holds the future (my future!) in His hands.

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*Cool breezes through an open window

*Less oppressive heat

*Sunshine

*Pillows for the deck hammock that have giraffe print

*Breakfast

*Finding new country decorating blogs

*Vintage

*Men who sing Amazing Grace

*Children that  love me

*Trips to Tractor Supply

*Half tea, half lemonade

*Shade on sunny days

*Walks with my hubby

*Family

*Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dirty floor

*A God that already knows all of my tomorrows and…

tells me not to worry.

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Will you share the multitudes of ways that you are thankful?

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