This Worry Wart has Gotta Go

A worry wart is someone who tends to spend way too much time on – well…worrying -- having anxious thoughts about this and that. I’m, typically, not like that! I just don’t let myself go there. But, this year, we’ve had plenty to worry about – some really serious things to worry about. I seemed to have breezed through it all so far, so my confession of being a worry wart may come as a surprise.

Enters this year’s fishing trip with my family. Something so delightful, invigorating, memory-making with a routine we’ve had for years. But, this year brought changes to our usual routine that caused me some fretting and even some troubled nights sleeping. Rather than the usual cabin we had all stayed in together before, this year, in the mix, is a humongous, beautiful RV. It’s fully equipped, efficient and streamlined. Everything has its perfect place and everything one needs is there. But, the RV experience changes my normal routines (i.e., blog writing, sleeping arrangements, preparing meals for two locations, etc.) The three guys are in the cabin. Logistics just weren’t the same.

I know it was ridiculous to be so anxious about something so trivial, but nevertheless, it still filled my mind with worry. Oh, I know that perfect peace comes from keeping my mind on Christ, but my mind kept taking the detour around the peace. Then, a couple of days before our trip, during my usual morning walk, I heard the song “Fear no More” by Building 429. “You’re my courage when I worry in the dead of night. You’re my strength cause I’m not strong enough to win this fight. You are greater than the battle raging in my mind. I will trust You, Lord. I will fear no more.” Seriously, I teared up as I knew it was a direct-from-heaven message about this annoying anxiety.

What? Such whininess coming from this super-powered woman of God? Lord, PLEASE forgive me -- when there are those who are facing dire reasons for concern and worry. Staci and I were in conversation when Payton, my grandson, called expressing frustration from some diligent, intense work he'd done on a website and suddenly everything he had accomplished, was lost. We prayed for recovery of it all and I told him about my own moments of anxiety and fear. I realized I had been in my stressful moments so that I could relate and encourage him.

It's amazing when as a devoted follower of Christ, I'm being a worry wart! But then, into that place comes a God-whisper in my heart, “Your worry can’t change anything, only I can.” Luke 12:25 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Who of us by worrying can make the bills go away, the sickness be healed, the stress be relieved, the marriage be restored, the lost data reappear, the washer get fixed, the project turn out right?

When I heard that song, I realized it wasn’t a “naughty, naughty, Donna” – it was a relief. Jesus, in all His gentleness and kindness, His extravagant mercy and care, took the big boulder from my shoulders and whispered, “It doesn’t depend on you.” Isn’t that what we really want to know?

It’s a daily suiting up in our armor to wage war against he that is the worry-wart-enforcer. We have a choice to trust the hard things to the Someone who cares for us. Choosing to trust and let go. Here’s what we can rest in today: The only One Who bears the weight of the whole world on His shoulders is strong enough to carry all my little pebble-worries and concerns. How sweet it is to trust in Jesus and to let Him be the worry-bearer and the wart-remover!

No Fear Here!

I stumbled across this little doll girl on Facebook while scrolling through my timeline. It was a video of her jabbering away as she turned the pages of her book. She had her own joy-filled language – free of any worry or fear. What drew me in even more was the music playing in the background, Josh Baldwin’s “Stand in Your Love” : “My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love....."

How befitting to hear a song that spoke volumes to my heart in the wake of this, may I say, crazy crazy time we’re living in. It would be one thing if it was in only China. We’d cast a look, and maybe a prayer said to help them through their troubles, then be on with our lives. But here we are experiencing a worldwide pandemic that crosses borders and invades our lives.

Here’s what I commented on this mama’s post: “Oh I love this so much. That little angel knows no fear! I love that you are making your home a sanctuary of praise and worship where you have no fear either. She sees it and feels it. Oh, that other families would embrace making our domestic homes a place where Jesus abides. “My fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in your love.” You blessed me so much in actions and not just words!"

No wonder Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) That kingdom is here right now. “For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 4:17

What are we manifesting to our children and grandchildren right now? Children see and sense fear. Maybe it’s dispensed to them, unintentionally, but still our actions and the words we speak may expose them to real fear. Children absorb fear and anxiety just as much as they absorb courage, faith, love and peace. So, do they see us in a place of peace, courage, joy and faith by “Being still and knowing God” whose infinite love for us will not be shaken? (Psalm 46:10) Giving them fun, family times and the most they’ll remember is a crisis came but it was the best of times for us? Or do they see us overcome with fear and hustling around, standing in long lines for fear that toilet paper and paper towels are soon to be a thing of the past?” Do we fear and cower to the lies of the enemy who goes around seeking whom he may devour? Or, does our faith level cause the faith level in those in our sphere of influence to skyrocket?

I read an article by Dr. Abdhu Sharkawy, an Infectious Disease Specialist: “I’m scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, open-mindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested. Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and “fight for yourself above all else” attitude could prove disastrous. I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing. Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts. Our children will thank us for it.” -- Dr. Abdhu Sharkawy

And I concur. God isn’t surprised at any of this and if we know Him, He has brought us to THIS kingdom “for such a time as this”! May we prove to be the lighthouses that light the way for those who need to know the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, and the Light in the darkness. Our God – that is Who You are!

An Old Story That Can Bring Us Hope

It’s in almost every conversation. We can’t help it. The effects of the coronavirus are certainly beyond any plague or disease pandemic that I have seen or heard of in my life. I mean – a pandemic that is causing businesses to send their people home to work virtually; causing schools to shut down and children being homeschooled; causing families to store up extra food and supplies – just in case. In fact, in my own world, a group of 38 women are having to meet through teleconferencing. At the hospital where I volunteer, they’ve suspended volunteering until this crisis is over. In my morning text to my kids, I apprised them that the news says “the elderly (70 and above) should be checked on regularly to be sure we’re okay”. My reply to that is “Watch me defy the odds”. I have no fear.

This pandemic is nothing to make jokes about. People are alarmed and are filled with anxiety. Again, I look at scripture that shows us how to deal with the fear of impending danger. This is the perfect time for us to refresh our memory on how Scripture navigates perils, plagues and pandemics. My mind rushes back to serving at Vacation Bible School last summer.

The whole theme was around the exodus of God’s people from Egypt. But before the exodus, ten plagues were inflicted on Egypt by God to force wicked Pharaoh to let His people, the Israelites, go and be freed from slavery. I loved watching the VBS children acting out the various plagues. God answered Pharaoh’s taunts by saying “The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 7:5) Eventually, the Israelites were released and started walking towards the Red Sea. If you saw “The Ten Commandments” movie, the scene that stands out the most is Charlton Heston as Moses, lifting his rod over the waters commanding them to open up. And open up, they did, enabling millions of Israelites to cross over on dry land – but closing up over the Egyptians and killing them all. God provided a way of escape. And He has a way of escape in mind for us in this crisis – those who are professed children of God who know Christ as our Lord and Savior.

What we can easily miss are the details of this story. What is it like to pack up everything you own – your children, your possessions, your livestock to go to an unknown land? What’s it like to wonder if you might lose it all? Sounds like a good parallel to this virus that is seeping across the world and has reached our shores, and we don’t know how treacherous it’s going to be. God is calling us to continue marching forward with a diligence of conquering and overcoming while being very health-smart – following all the rules of washing our hands and staying away from crowds as much as possible.

Waiting well in the face of our anxiety about a coming danger means taking seriously the reality of the danger. Our God takes our lives and our sufferings very seriously, and “He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone” because He cares for us and for the things we care for and He shows compassion – so great is His unfailing love (Lamentations 3:32-33).

In the midst of the clamor, may we pour out our anxieties to our Father in Heaven. May we not allow our hearts to panic over school closings, travel plans, economic downturns, or the potentially infected surfaces we’ve touched! When we are afraid, we turn to Him. We cast our anxieties on Him, because He cares for us. In fact, we can allow handwashing or rubbing on hand sanitizer to become a moment we consciously entrust ourselves and the future of everyone we care about into His hands.

So we do wash our hands, and do what is wise about working from home, or calling our doctor. But we don’t let ourselves forget where our true safety lies. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know the One Who parts raging seas and blocks its flow with His blood-soaked cross!

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.“

(Thank you, CCEF -- Christian Counseling Educational Foundation for some of your excerpts included in this blog.)

Peace Even When Anxiety Comes in Like a Flood

I love the words of St. Francis' Prayer that goes "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace". That is sincerely my prayer -- to be a peacemaker AND to live in that peace.

But, HELLO, anxiety! After two beautiful days in Tulsa, the finale was to be another first-weekend-of-November Sister Marie Pierre Retreat at Helmerich & Payne’s Cherokee Lodge in Hulbert, OK. It was on our calendars for more than a year. First, was the spring mini-retreat with Sister back in April. We thought maybe that might be the end, but Sister, at her almost 91 years, fragile, but with a no-quit spirit, reserved the lodge for us and game-plan was on. It was my joy to be her escort! I was bearing a huge responsibility seeing after this precious saint!

So, it’s 4:30 am on Saturday. I’m awake to pack up for heading to Austin after the retreat, get my blog posted, and pick up Sister by 7 am. I am in the moment. I get my phone to listen to my Bible readings as I get ready and….OH NO! My phone didn’t charge during the night. It is as dead as a doornail. I try the cord in another outlet. Nada. My mind begins to race. An Apple Store won’t open until 10 am in Tulsa and the retreat is in Hulbert OK – an hour away. My dilemma intensifies when I remember that I’m driving straight to Austin after the retreat ends at 3:30 pm. An 8-hour drive, as a single gal, in a car with over 130K miles on it, at night. My friends wake up because of the my debacle outside their bedroom door and proceed to help me resolve my conundrum. Then I remember I have a second charging cord in the car. I try it and whoa la! It starts to charge my phone. Now, I can be at peace, but I’m way behind schedule now in getting to Sister. As I hasten down the hall carrying my Yeti metal mug filled with ice and water, I slip on the floor runner and begin to fall forward but catching myself three times – not falling, but dropping the mug that opens and splashes water everywhere, including the gorgeous drapes. My friend quickly gets her hair dryer to dry the drapes while I’m using my towel to get up the water. Lord, have mercy! Anxiety overload!

I am finally out the door to pick up Sister and I’m fifteen minutes behind schedule. But, when I call her, it seems she, too, is having the same kind-of-morning. She says “If anything could go wrong, it has.” We’re finally on our way by 7:45 am We both survive this morning and it is by no means a surprise when Father Jack Gleason, the pastor we all loved for so many years, is speaking to us about the “Antidote to Anxiety” found in Luke 12:22-31. Imagine that!

“Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry….notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap….yet God feeds them. How much more important to you than birds? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. If God clothes the grass….” Father Jack explains that Jesus is trying to get us to look outward instead of inward. His antidote is found in creation. Birds – flowers – grass. All trusting in the providence of God. I receive his message loud and clear. Sister and I survive our early morning fiascoes because God is looking out for us – even in the midst of the anxiety that we both know came from the enemy of our souls to keep us in a frenzy about a day that would turn out to be glorious and spectacular in every way.

Sister Pierre follows later in the day with her own message of peace, resting in who God made us to be – beings, instead of doings. “God cannot not love you. He is always shining on you even when you feel like you’ve blown it. Rest in his peace and let anxiety go. Settle down.” Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

St. Paul lived by example for you and me. He showed us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or cell phone mishap or a slip and fall. He said "Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!" When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle in to our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.”

I Choose Peace!

Not too long ago, I was in a group meeting and it seemed no matter what I said, there was a gal that continued to contradict something I said. I was starting to tally the number of times she interrupted my train of thought to disprove something I said. My emotions were starting to go south and I felt a wave of anxiety go through me. In a split second, I took a deep breath and I decided to choose peace instead. I have come to know that peace is best chosen before there’s a need for it. I think I’m becoming an expert at choosing peace.

I had plenty of practice at choosing peace over the years. I learned that trying to prove my “rightness” was actually proving how wrong I could be. I was my husband’s navigator and co-pilot when we were flying. He depended on me. But, when we were driving around town and I kept insisting he was going the wrong way or he needed to turn here or there or speed up or slow down, it only led to a disruption of peace. Though it was hard, I learned to let him go the speed and the direction he believed was the right way, and be silent. Getting there 5 or 10 minutes late going his way, was far better than losing our peace trying to prove my way was the right way. I chose peace.
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Today, more than ever, I want to be enveloped by peace. I want to radiate peace and I want to be an agent and a conduit of peace. I decide this while in the grocery check-out line, or sitting in traffic, or waiting on these Frisco 5-minute traffic lights (ugh!) I know when I’ve decided peace as my option. Whether any of us know it or not, we can become practitioners of peace.

What I know for sure, is that the more I plant peace, water peace, fertilize it with prayer and practice, peace takes root. I have learned to shun people, places and situations where there is hostility, anger, and conflict. I avoid conversations that are going nowhere except for a battle zone up ahead. Of course, the wonder of it all is the way peace makes itself at home in us, even when the storms are raging.

As I was writing this post, I retrieved my 2010 November journal to see how I was handling the week of my husband's graduation to heaven on November 16th. I remember so much peace in my heart -- an undeniable, overwhelming, unexplainable peace. I was attending to and watching my sweetheart and best friend for over 44 years grow weaker, sleep more and moan in pain while trying to carry on my other responsibilities. My journal read “I can't explain it, but I have peace that passes understanding.” I remember choosing peace, or, maybe peace chose me.

What I know for sure in that meeting where it seemed the enemy was taunting me, to the times of my life when chaos was all around me and to the 11 months of my Sweetheart’s illness to his final week of life, I felt the sweet assurance of One who always promises, “I’m right here with you. You are not alone.”
So I pray and pay this peace forward to you today, dear friends. I know this for sure: You are not alone. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not in all the days to come. He is right here with you, and He extends the invitation to let peace take root in your soul.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

The Inspiration of a Baked Potato

All it takes is to make myself a baked potato with all the fixin’s to open the memory bank of playing that old game “Hot Potato”! Well, it wasn’t actually playing with a baked potato, but that’s what the game was called when I was a kid. We were in a circle and we tossed around a ball, instead of a potato, but the object was to pretend it was a very HOT potato. It was way too HOT to hold so we wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible. Either music was played and stopped or someone was designated to shout out “HOT” and whoever was holding the “potato”….er…ball would be out of the game. It was great for practicing motor skills involving eye-hand coordination and catching.

Of course, I’m going to parallel that game with another real-life scenario for casting our cares off as quickly as we would toss away that baked potato/ball. It’s time for us to play that hot potato game with our worries, concerns, challenges, fears, and any other taunts and smack talk that the enemy is throwing at us. He plays all kinds of mind games with us that makes us think the worst. I’ve learned the best way to “cast off” his lies is to quickly replace them with God's Word just like Jesus did when the enemy was smack-talking Him. Jesus would always come back with the words from scripture "It is written......" And we come back with God's Word as we say "It is written... "I am more than a conqueror. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Greater is He Who lives in me than he who lives in the world. I am loved. I am a child of God."

It's time to play offensively against our arch-enemy #1, with the power of God’s Word and His Spirit within us. 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxieties on Him (God), because He cares for you.” I love that. Casting is like playing Hot Potato – getting rid of that potato as soon as possible and getting rid of our worries and anxieties by casting them on He Who is our worry-bearer, our care-bearer, and our concerns-bearer.

Anything that causes us anxiety takes a lot of space in our brains. Let’s trade those thoughts for “I am expecting things to turn around for me. I am expecting blessings. I am expecting the answer to my problems. I am expecting God to take over all my concerns. I am expecting good things coming my way. I am a faith-filled, fully devoted follower of Christ, therefore, there is no space in my place for doubt and worry. I can’t help but overcome because the Greater One lives in me and occupies all that space in my brain, in my thoughts, and in my actions. I speak to the enemy “Liar, Liar – pants on fire! I've read the back of the Book and you lose, BIG TIME! I win because I am on the winning team!"

It's Not Easy – But It Is Sure Worth It

I’m here in Austin where we had a sweet Father’s Day with my son and family. My son is a terrific father and I like to think that he is because of his dad who loved him so much and modeled a loving father and mentor to him. Father’s Day prompted the memories of so many joys my husband and I had in welcoming him, our firstborn, to this world.

We were married for just three months when my bold and daring, young husband announced that we should start our family. “We want to be young parents and grandparents” was his rationale. Indeed, we were just babies when we had our babies (we were 18 & 19 with the first, and 20 & 21 with the second). What a contrast we were to how “on purpose” couples are in planning their families these days: finish college; secure a well-paying job with great benefits; plenty of savings and security -- then they're ready to start their family. Not so with us -- two kids that were inexperienced in life, child-rearing, business, and finances. But, we had plenty of faith, self-confidence, determination, ambition, and most of all, profound love for each other. We were flying by the seat of our pants……and what a flight it was!

My first pregnancy was beyond uncomfortable. I was an office receptionist, working to support my “college-man” husband AND we had a baby on the way. Morning sickness that came with nausea and hanging out in the ladies’ room, was no excuse at my job. I’d greet visitors as they entered the building and then I'd make a mad dash for the ladies room. There were the preparations for our little one, moving from a small one bedroom apartment to leasing a little 2-bedroom home, dreaming, and THEN, the labor and delivery….CRAZY pain that seemed to last forever (really, only hours), that eventually became CRAZY sweet. That baby boy, who we only dreamed of having one day, rushed in and stole our hearts. We were completely in love with that little man. My husband was the proudest dad and assumed his new dad role in life with fervor. But it wasn’t easy.

Why am I sharing this little excerpt from our life story with you? Because it’s a story of puppy love that turned into real, authentic love that knew no bound, child-like faith, dreams, taking risks, and making lots of mistakes. It’s a story of God loving us so much, that He even made our mistakes to prosper. It’s a story of believing that what God starts in our hearts….He is faithful to help us complete it. It’s the same story of anyone who starts out with a dream – perhaps a CRAZY idea that is driven by passion and determination. And, along the way, in an effort for the “birth” of that idea -- whether it’s a business, a ministry, an invention, or heart’s desire -- there is tremendously hard work, pain, waiting, dreaming, and struggle….but there’s no turning back. You’ve given your ALL for this “baby”, and though the months of preparation, dreaming, getting ready for the launch or the birth -- seems like it’s taking FOREVER…..in due season, when it seems it’s not going to happen, the greatest PUSH of your lifetime is required, and then that “baby” you’ve dreamed of having, will make its debut and your dream becomes reality.

Today, I urge you to keep pressing in, forging on, stretching greater, and “Be not weary in well-doing, for, in due season, you will reap if you faint not.” (Galatians 6:9). This "baby" you’re carrying will get here. Be faithful to the dream and vision. Do your part as God does His. Soon, your baby will rush in and, all you’ve worked so hard for will be here. The "baby" may not look anything like you thought he would, but he will be just the way God created him to be JUST FOR YOU! When it does, all the pain, all the sleepless nights, all the worry and anxiety, will be something of the past. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy! I am telling you it’s ALL going to be worth it.

Lord, Please Give Me Patience....NOW!

Our generation seems to have little patience for waiting. Road rage is seen when there's someone moving way too slow in traffic. And there's those times when we're put on hold on a telephone call, or when we're placed in yet another queue trying to get to the right customer representative. We talk about slow Internet connections -- waiting for a page to load often feels like an eternity. And, I don't think I've ever encountered the long time wait there is at the traffic lights here in Washington. It seems the demand for instant results has seeped into every corner of our lives. We sacrifice eating healthy food by eating at "FAST" food restaurants -- all too often.

And, the fact is -- we do need MORE patience....and we need it NOW! No question about it, patience isn't easy. It takes practice. And, really takes a lot of inner strength to trust that this delay or situation is a needed hold-up so that I will keep us on pace with God's perfect timing on all that concerns me.

If we allow impatience to cause stress and anger and anxiety, then we're not hearing the "music" or the "symphony" -- the beauty of life going on around us. The music that is in our lives can only be fully recognized, experienced, and played out when we breathe, enjoy, let go and stop rushing around -- then patience and enjoyment of the moment will pervade our lives.

"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4 -- Oh Lord, I desire that patience has its perfect work in me. I want to enjoy YOUR symphony that is all around me!