Comfort and Peace in the Storm

I’m continuing my blog series about these two furry grand-dogs that I’m keeping while my children are away. It’s Sunday morning and I get a wake-up call, rather a wake-up barking at 4:30 am from Emma, the Yorkie. I’m not a happy camper. Who wants to be awakened by a barking alarm? My sleep is very important to me because I get so little of it. So the little I get doesn't want to be disturbed. I prance into my granddaughter’s bedroom where Emma sleeps and I shoosh her. I get back to my room and determine to get just a few more minutes of shut-eye, then I hear thunder bellowing loudly. Aw! So that’s why Emma is barking. She is afraid. I go pick her up and bring her to my bed. She snuggles in closely to me. She is comforted. She is at peace because I represent peace and comfort to her.

Rarely do I veer off-course from my life experiences in my blogs. That’s on purpose. St. Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 1:4 "That you may be comforted with the same comfort that I have been comforted with." And, indeed, that is my desire to bring comfort – not to just a furry friend, but to comfort others with the many times of comfort that I have been comforted with during my own “thunderous, stormy and difficult times. I want to help others learn their lessons.....much faster than I do.

I found that when the storms come, it’s our nature to get worried –- like little Emma. She doesn’t understand loud thunder. And, maybe we don’t either. Oftentimes, praying and seeking God for the answer is the last thing we do to escape our storms. "Well, I've tried everything else.....so as a last resort, I'll ask God for help!" We do our best to try to figure it all out, when He Who knows everything about everything has it all figured out. He is just waiting for us to cry out to Him for the answers.

The disciples knew Jesus was on the mountain praying. They discounted the fact that He was the authentic, unparalleled storm chaser and peace maker. They toiled and feared in their boat on the stormy waters, but Christ was praying on the mountainside for them because He saw the storm come up and He saw their fear. And we should realize that He sees and knows the storms we're going through and He is hearing our prayers in the midst of OUR storms.

Little Emma snuggles in close to me and even as I type this blog this early Sunday morning, she sleeps on, and, in fact -- snoring. If my tender heart cares for the concerns of this little dog, how much more does our loving Heavenly Father care about us? He is always inviting us to “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We can know this: There is no difficulty in life that is stronger than Jesus. We can snuggle in close to Him and face our difficult times with courage because He promised to ALWAYS be with us! I love knowing that His peace is ours during our storms....and how reassuring to know that right behind this storm is a rainbow of blessing! He promised it, and I've come to count on it!

This is the Day the Lord has Made

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)
I sing this scripture as a song and I use it in expressing my gratitude. It’s not unusual to read it as a text message when a friend or loved one has a birthday. I say “This is the day the Lord made you and I’m rejoicing and so glad for it.” And, for you and me, this is the day the Lord made for us.

Notice that scripture isn’t talking about tomorrow and what may happen tomorrow. The psalmist is putting an emphasis on THIS day! That reminds me of another scripture. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)

We have had plenty to worry about, haven’t we? As if the pandemic wasn’t enough, now it seems our country is at war with itself Oh, how we need unity! We ponder about the future and what it will look like My friends, two who are pre-school teachers and the other is a special needs teacher, were talking about what school is going to look like come August. Too often, we set ourselves in a whirlwind of worry and anxiety about what tomorrow will hold. Especially during these times: If we are concerning ourselves with the future, we are overthinking. That’s opposite to the point the psalmist was making “THIS is the Day” to focus on, to rejoice in whatever this day holds.

Remember when the disciples said to Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray!” And Jesus gave them the template for all our prayers. “Our Father…..Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.” He didn’t say “give us today and next month’s bread.” This DAY! Can we trust Him for today’s faith – today’s daily bread?

Each day is a blessing from God. He has blessed us with a new day to live it to the fullest, doing the necessary tasks for this day, loving and helping one another and discovering new things about life and about ourselves. Being present with God Who gives us wisdom for today, may be the game changer we need for what tomorrow holds.

No matter what kind of struggle we are facing, we can be secure in knowing that if we do our best in this day to make progress and trust our tomorrows to God -- He will meet us there tomorrow like He does today. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

God is love and everything He does in the world is out of His love for us. He can turn this day’s struggles and suffering into blessings for us if we run to Him and trust in His promises to us. But, how, Lord? And He responds with these words:
"'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'" (Isaiah 41:10).

The Sky is Falling!!! Oh, No, it’s Not!

Remember the story of Chicken Little? Chicken Little was having a great day when an acorn fell from a tree, hitting the top of her head and she cries out: "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Proverbs 4:23 says "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Isn't that so true? From just an acorn, Chicken Little thought the world was coming to an end. We have encountered something far greater than an acorn. The COVID-19 has consumed our thoughts and actions and our "normal" is no longer normal.

I’ve heard many talks about this being the “end-times”, so in a sense we could be thinking “the sky is falling” or rather, the end is near. But, rest assured, only God knows "the end", but I do believe that "what the enemy meant for evil" (Genesis 50:20), God in His "Master Plan" mode is causing us to have an “upward” perspective towards Him. COVID-19 is nothing compared to our God. If we continue to immerse ourselves in daily binge-watching the news and dwelling on the 33,000 people who have died from the C-virus versus the 150,000 who have recovered out of the 778,000 confirmed cases (statistics from WHO), we’ll get as worked up as Chicken Little.

We must get a grip. Are we going to live by news reports or recognize the enemy who wants to keep us in fear, worry and doubt? We can turn those thoughts inside out and into thoughts like "We will overcome. I am strong. I am protected by the blood of Jesus. I have an assignment to fulfill. I walk in divine health. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. God is for me and who can be against me? God holds my todays and tomorrows, so why should I worry or fret?" I know this about God:: “Fear is reality minus God. Faith is reality plus God.”

The sky is NOT falling! So, there is no need to buy paper goods and antibacterial soap till the shelves are empty every day. Unfortunately, some people get the virus and recover and sadly some die. (Last year 18,000 to 20,000 died in the U.S. from the flu). Let’s keep everything in proper perspective. Let’s do what the medical professionals and our government officials are telling us to do – social distancing, washing our hands, etc. – and spread positivity while the scientists around the world are working on the solution to kill the virus.

The most important is to PRAY – big time. Many faith groups are setting up the Sign-Up Genius app for around-the-clock prayers for our health professionals, laborers who are on the front lines and for those who are relegated to stay at home and especially for those who are struggling with their finances and for anyone who has contracted the virus. Lord, have mercy!

There are NO negatives in the Kingdom of God. Every obstacle in our life has a promise and a provision attached to it. The Father is not up in Heaven losing sleep over the COVID-19 virus. He is not filled with fear for His children and He does not feel like He is losing control. Let’s be like Him and apply His Word (like these) to our daily routines:

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬). God gives us His wisdom, so ask His advice before we leave our home or do something that we think could possibly put us at risk.‬‬‬

“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.” (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6-7‬). God wants us to come to Him with thanksgiving -- thankful that He directs our steps, gives us His wisdom, fills us with hope, and casts out all our fear.‬‬‬

“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭10-11‬). This promise wasn’t only for the Israelites. In Jesus name, and by the healing power of His blood, we are protected from this plague!‬‬‬

Heavenly Father, Your faithful love endures forever! Nothing surprises You. You delight in steering us clear of fear, anxiety, panic, sickness, and any other negative in our life. We ask for divine revelation to come to scientists and medical teams for a cure and it is administered quickly. Help us to be a light to those that are filled with panic. I pray that our peace would draw them to You. You are a good, good Father, and we love You! In the healing name of Jesus, amen, and so be it. 🙏🙏🙏

Listening to God’s Still Small Voice

I know you’ve seen this many times as we pay close attention to the recommendations by medical professionals: "COVD-19 Prevention: Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes. Drink warm water as an effective way to stop all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice. Gargling with a simple warm water salt solution is also an effective measure for preventing contraction of viruses. Ensure your mouth and throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water at least every 15 minutes. Drinking water or other liquids will wash the virus down the throat and into the stomach, where stomach acid will kill it. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables."

God sure amuses and blesses me with some of His “aha moments”. Each year, during the Lenten season, I choose the Daniel Fast which is just fruits and vegetables and water. So preparing for this fast, I made a freezer full of vegetable meals as well as have lots of frozen fruits for making protein drinks. I love my coffee, but hot water helps satisfy me. I was already in go-mode before this crisis ever hit. I’ve got the handwashing down, drinking warm water multiple times daily AND I’m eating lots of fruits and veggies. Thank You, Lord, for your still small voice that prepared me for this season. In fact, unlike before, I bought a ginormous pack of toilet paper a couple of weeks ago. Thank you, God, again!

I spoke to two of my friends yesterday. One shared that she felt so strongly, three weeks ago, that she and her husband should close their stock accounts. At first, he didn't agree and even their financial advisor disagreed since the stock market was higher than ever before. But she wouldn’t back down. They closed their accounts. And, another friend said that she and her husband closed theirs five weeks ago. Both have a very tight relationship with God. They know His voice.

We’re sort of quarantined to our homes, our churches’ doors are pretty well closed, except mine has a chapel that stays open for us to go in and pray. I'm going there today. There’s something about that solitude, no phone interference, no outside noise and, oh, the presence of Jesus that is there. I take my journal with me. I hear God’s still small voice and I write those words down. Such peace is found there. Such comfort.

I get it. Since anyone can get COVID-19, everyone can get COVID-19. Those of us who have the antidote, can live without fear. Jesus asks us, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If you then are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25–26). Worry provides the sense that we are doing something about our fear, but that’s an illusion. Rather than worry about the future, we should prepare by doing what we can do and trust God with what we cannot.

I understand that the virus is one nine-hundredth the width of a human hair. Our Father measures the universe with the palm of his hand (Isaiah 40:12). He is on the throne of the world. Let’s be sure He is on the throne of our hearts today. Let’s get better acquainted with Him and His still small voice that has the answers for us.

When Success is Simply Saying “Yes”

So, I’m doing a final review of a talk I’ll be giving very soon. Suddenly an unexpected wave of concern sweeps over me. I remember that the talk I’ve readied in the quiet will soon be seen and heard by real people.

I’m not alone in that feeling. The bookkeeper who must present her spreadsheets in a board meeting knows it. The mom whose child is suited up for that big game understands it. The runner who trains on the streets of a neighborhood and then takes his place at the starting line battles it. In those many varied moments, we all want assurance of success.

I begin to ask, “How can I make sure this goes well?” And a verse from Proverbs pops into my mind: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3). I pause and consider the words. “Is this a guarantee from God that everything will always go the way I’d like it to? Not so according to my life experience and the rest of God's Word.

Slowly I began to grasp the true meaning: Success isn’t about outcome; it’s about obedience. The “success” this verse talks about is set in motion not when the results are in but as soon as we say, “Yes, God, I give this to You.” He thinks differently than we do. To Him, every obedient “yes” is already a success.

I’ll confess a part of me wishes that verse meant what I want will always happen. But when I look back over my life, I realize there have been many times when what I thought would be best would actually have been a mess. Thank God He didn't answer that prayer the way I was wanting Him to!

And the real relief is that when I commit something to God, I no longer have to carry it. I don’t bear the weight of the fears, expectations, and pressure. I can faithfully do what He’s asked me to and know He will take care of the rest. Whew!

I return to review my talk and all that concern fades with this realization: Who I’m turning this over to matters more than how it all turns out. God’s got this. He’s got me too! And, He's got you!

“Do Not Fear” Seems to be a Theme Here

Those three words “Do not fear” pack a punch, don’t they? While I stay on the bandwagon about living by trust and faith, the fact is I am not so Pollyanna-ish that I am unaware of the fears we all face: taking care of bills, repairs, health concerns, pain and struggling relationships, etc.. And, I'm very cognizant of the seriousness of those who are at the end of their rope in coping with fear. It is no laughing and quick-fix matter.

So where do we start when worry, fear and concern dominate our lives? Can we live above our fears? Or at least quiet their gnarly voices? I really feel this season puts the answers for us in neon, flashing lights. By this season I don’t mean the "Christmas carols playing, Santa ho-ho-hoing, colored lights and sentimental old Christmas movies." I mean how Christmas can point us to deeper sources of hope, courage and fearlessness.

Those of us in the Christian tradition believe that this time of year presents us with the answers we need that can change the whole picture. No wonder the angels announce to the main characters in this drama, “Do not be afraid.” Mary hears it. Joseph hears it. The shepherds, scared witless by all the radiance in the sky, hear it from a chorus of angels. No wonder “Don’t be afraid” appears in the Bible more than 100 times.

It sure sounds like God delights in turning around “fearing times into holy, providential moments" of His presence and His promises to keep us in spite of times of fear.

But God. The ONE and ONLY -- the same God Who told Mary, Joseph and the shepherds to not be afraid, is still telling us "Do not be afraid." The "Do Not Fear" words don’t sound like a suggestion to me. Why does God COMMAND us not to be afraid when every day there are situations that occur and it seems impossible NOT to fear?

Throughout the Bible we learn that our Lord is a Lord of miracles and we are not to fear or have a lack of trust, because all of it, even the tough times, even in the uncertainty of the 21st century (or the 1st century) God’s plan is greater than our fears. So whether in this season, or the days to come, let’s remember that the perfect love of God casts out fear. The message of the Angel of the Lord is for every day - not just Christmas… “Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day … a SAVIOR which is Christ the LORD! (Luke 2:9-11) Picture the God of the universe handing you his Son, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Hear him say, "Don't be afraid of anything….ever. I give you joy. I give you peace. I give you comfort. I give you hope. I give you good news of great joy! I give you peace that passes understanding. I give the the perfect love that casts out all fear. I give you JESUS!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” Psalm 41:1-2

What Have You Tolerated Far Too Long?

As a follow-up to Dolly's "dumb blonde" joke and story from my blog yesterday, I thought I’d share one of mine. A blonde tells her doctor that her body hurts wherever she touches it. She touches her knee and yelps. Touches her ankle and shrieks. Touches her elbow and screams. The doctor looks at her and says, “There’s nothing wrong with you in all those places. The truth is -- your finger is broken!” As silly as that dumb joke is, the message is clear -- she tolerated the pain way too long. I was reminded of that joke when I was having terrible pain in the arch of my foot. I did what I could to remedy the pain but it wouldn’t go away. I tolerated that pain for a couple of weeks.

It’s Friday of Thanksgiving week. My kids and I are sitting in my living area. That foot is throbbing. I rub the arch area to try to lessen the pain. Suddenly I feel a little pinhead-size spot. I ask my daughter to look at it and she sees a bump with a black dot surrounded by red infected skin. Then, I remember several weeks ago when my foot rubbed across the edge of my coffee table that I felt a prick. I noticed the table's edge was slivered. I never thought something went into my foot. As I did with my kiddos when they got a splinter in their hand, I burn the end of a needle to sterilize it. Staci digs (ouch) and digs (whine). She shouts: “I got it!” It is a quarter-inch sliver of wood that had been embedded, causing me misery that I tolerated for weeks. Not five minutes later, the pain is gone. Free at last!

Long story, but I believe that God is nudging me to share it. I sense there are those who have tolerated and put up with nagging pain, nagging relationships, nagging financial woes, and nagging concerns for what tomorrow holds. Those tolerations can bleed us of energy and make it impossible for us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. It’s really difficult to live a happy, successful, fulfilling life when we’re spending all our energy tolerating things that shouldn’t be tolerated. Sometimes we simply need to put our foot down, or in my case – put my foot up so someone can get the “nagging” issue out for me.

I have no idea what you may be tolerating in your life, but I encourage you today to get help from a close “someone” like I did with my daughter or better yet, seek help from God to help you dig out what you have tolerated too long. Pray for God’s wisdom and Holy Spirit’s guidance to help you get out of the “tolerating” mode into a joy-filled life of freedom. It starts with you. Don’t tolerate a negative attitude. Don’t tolerate judging and gossiping. Get caught up in being thankful and being way nicer than necessary. (Go see “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and try to be NICE like Mr. Rogers!).

Don’t tolerate self-deprecating thoughts. Don’t tolerate living in the past. Don’t tolerate being too busy to appreciate life’s sweetness. Don’t tolerate worry – find something to be grateful for. Don’t tolerate people who make you feel worthless. Stand your ground and if need be, let them walk away rather than all over you. Don’t tolerate dishonesty in life and business. Our reputation and integrity is always more important than our next paycheck. Don’t tolerate anger, arguments, grudges, and resentments. Don’t tolerate unforgiveness. Forgive others, not because they deserve it but because you deserve peace. Don’t tolerate anything that takes away your peace. It is the single most required fruit of the Spirit that I demand in my life. I know how to walk away from anything that tries to take it away.

I could go on and on about what we have tolerated far too long, but I know you get the message. It’s a new day when freedom can be ours as we refuse to tolerate those things that shouldn’t be tolerated any longer. Freedom is oh so beautiful!

All Tied Up in Knots

Here I am again with inspiration-overload from my youngest grandson, Bryson. This time it comes from his wall climbing lesson at Crux Climbing Center (indoor wall climbing of gigantic proportions). He has moved on up (literally) in his skills to the “advanced” level – going 30 feet up -- climbing with the safety of a rope held by his instructor while Bryson uses his legs and arms to grab hold of the strategically placed holds. He grabs the rope, brings it up and hooks it into a clip. I am so impressed. His birthday is next week and all he has asked for is to go with his instructor to scale a nearby mountain.

Yesterday I noticed that his instructor checked how he had knotted his safety rope. Bryson thought he was good to go, but he had missed one of the ties. Yikes! That was a KNOT – he couldn’t get wrong. It was a life-saving knot. There really are times when a knot is essential – like “tying the marriage knot” – that we hope it lasts a lifetime. Tight knots in the rope are absolutely necessary in wall or rock climbing, at the end of a fishing line with a hook and lure on it to catch a fish, or a knot that holds an anchor to the rope to keep that boat or ship from drifting. There are knots we need and those we don’t. What about those knots in our lives that we don’t need – like the two knots I have in one of my favorite necklaces or the knot that was in Bryson’s yo-yo yesterday that kept him from a good spin!

Or what about the "knots" we get in our stomachs that represent a concern or worry? Sometimes we need to untie some of the “knots” that keep our minds and our hearts in bondage. Often, they are “knots” of our own wrong thinking, “knots” that we’ve allowed to burrow deep into our souls and become permanent residents there.

I'm going to use a "play on words" to encourage us to let go of some KNOTS – the have-nots, the can-nots, and the am-nots. All of these nots are legitimately knots that keep us tangled up in woe is me, poor me, and not me. For example, we can get all tied up in the "have nots" when we focus on what we don’t have instead of being thankful for what we do have. A post of mine from 2016 showed up in my memories timeline and I saw the homes of people in Mexico who truly have almost nothing of this world’s goods, but I was again amazed at their contentment, their joy in the midst of what we would call deep poverty. We classify them as the have nots of this world, and yet they displayed more contentment and purpose in life than lots of us do here where our lives are crowded with stuff. We can untie ourselves from the have-nots by developing a thankful attitude. To start each day with a focus on being gratefu by saying, “Thank you, Jesus,” at every point in our day—for the sunshine, for safety, for good health, for friends. Being thankful will set us free from the have-nots!

And then there are the can-nots where we talk ourselves out of stepping out and doing something because we tell ourselves we can-not do it? Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength." That means that everything God intends for us to do, we can do it in His ability and strength in us!

And, finally, one more “knot” that has many of us tangled up is the am-not. How often we focus on all our am-nots instead of focusing on the WHO we are in Jesus Christ. For example, the times when we think or declare “I am not qualified,” “I am not good enough,” “I am not as good as others”? Oh, how the enemy of our soul loves to keep us looking at ourselves instead of looking at the child of God, royal heir, who was purchased with a great price. When God sees us in Christ, He doesn’t see our mistakes of the past; He sees the righteousness of His Son. God never compares us with others; He takes us where we are, gives us hope for the future, and assures us that nothing can separate us from His love.

It's time for us, by God’s grace, to get rid of the have-nots, can-nots and am-nots that we’ve harbored far too long. Don’t believe the enemy’s lies any longer. When you get all tied up in KNOTS, just quote this scripture from Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Be Fearless

Fearless in these days and times? Get real, girl! Who can be fearless when from the smallest fear (like a snake in a flowerbed -- that was me yesterday) to my friend's upcoming major surgery or another friend's livelihood being challenged after a hard fall that fractured some bones? I get it. There are plenty of reasons to be in fear about what tomorrow holds. But God has solutions for us to squash those fears. We can be fearless. It's not a suggestion from God -- it's an actual command! Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God..." God Almighty is our back-up and our back-up plan for being FEAR-less.

Clearly, God's solution for annihilating fear is Himself. He shows us how to be fearless. It is by trusting in His sovereignty and power which keeps us in peace when everything else in the world screams out for us to FEAR. My husband identified FEAR in an acrostic -- "False Evidence Appearing Real". Reality tells us that so much of what we spend our time worrying about never even happens. Living under the weight of the "what if's" is a mighty heavy blanket to live under.

My younger self struggled with fear and worry for years, so much so that I developed acute colitis. My amazing Christian doctor coached me to healing by giving me the prescription of taking God's Word into my heart and meditating on it as soon as anxiety showed up. I took that prescription, faithfully. I learned to call on the Prince of Peace (Jesus) to give me peace and I found it as I relied implicitly on what He promises in His Word. In time, I began to find that the things that I once feared, no longer affected me. Change happened. Anxious thoughts disappeared. Worry released its constant grip. God's words became "life" words, soothing to my soul, calming my spirit, giving power to my days. It wasn't always easy, and it often came down to a choice. Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control my life. Choosing to guard my heart. Choosing to focus my mind on what is truth in the midst of uncertainty.

If you're relating to what I'm speaking about today, and FEAR has you in its grip, I urge you to take the same prescription that Dr. Gregory gave me. As many times a day as you can -- take God's Word in, speak it, pray it, meditate on it and be healed. Our Master Physician is on call 24/7. Find Him in His Word that is full of His promises. Be assured that He is a promise keeper!

~ Psalm 34:4: "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."
~ Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
~ John 14:27 "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be ~ worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
~ Psalm 118:6-7 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper.”
~ Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

PEACE be with you! Be FEAR-less!

HELP! If You Have a Great Passage – Send it my Way!

When we are far removed from the turmoil and fear that others go through during storms, tornadoes, torrential rains and now flooding, we pray and give positive thoughts and hopes for them, but still, we’re not in the middle of it. It's not touching us, so we go on about our business.

But this is Oklahoma, where our roots were for over 38 years, so my heart naturally gravitates to my friends and family there. Social media gives us visuals that tenderize our hearts. This photo is of Skiatook, OK (near Tulsa) that is under water right now. The relentless rain has raised the river and lake waters and can’t hold back the deluge. My friend’s drug store is under water. My sister and brother-in-law were helping to evacuate some of their employees because the flood waters are expected to cover their homes and more rain is on the way. Reports are that never has there been flooding so serious as is expected.

I saw a frantic FB post two days ago from a Tulsa friend. Her children were in the middle of the storm. She tagged me in her message. This is an excerpt of this desperate mom: “I can’t even keep tabs on them all, 40 plus tornadoes since Friday, now all over the State of Oklahoma -- homes lost, lives lost, flooding everywhere. Almost to the top of our bridges. Now time to be prepared to go down into our fraidy hole, again! I will be up all night now worrying about all our loved ones/friends and complaining it may seem, but I'm actually just venting and fear-filled, so please guys, pray for Oklahoma! Donna Wheat Wuerch if you have a great passage/message, please send it my way, Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

Bless her heart. I did pray. The fact she called out my name put me on the spot of prayer and encouragement. I am humbled and honored that she called out my name while she was calling out God’s name. This is some of my response to her and it is my response to you today because you may be in a physical or spiritual storm and you need words of encouragement too:

“Oh, yes, sweet girl, I know those concerns. We lived in Oklahoma for 40 years and am well acquainted with storms and tornadoes. We knew those violent winds. I remember those times of concern when we went to our safe place in the middle of our home many times. It can be scary but we always trusted and placed confidence in God. We would speak to the storm, "In the name of Jesus, be gone!" I recalled scriptures like this one: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him." (Jeremiah 17:7) As Jesus did, we spoke to the storm "Peace be still!" And then we'd hover until the storm passed over. Eventually, it did. It's a huge test of our faith to be in a storm and trust in God, but it's those times, we have nothing left to do but to hunker down and trust in His mighty hand. Sweet girl, let peace in the storm be yours. God was always faithful to us and He will be to you, too! I pray for "cease and desist" to those storms now, in the mighty name of Jesus! I read your words: "I will be up all night now worrying…” Precious girl, worrying gets you nowhere, but praying God's Word, believing in His faithfulness and being confident that He is with you and your family gets you somewhere. Here are some to pray:

~ Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him."
~ Psalm 107:29 "He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."
~ Psalm 91:1-2 "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
~ Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God."
~ Isaiah 26:3 "I will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Me."
~ Matthew 8:26 "He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."

Stand strong for you and your family. Be the faith-talker, God-can-do-anything, nothing-is-impossible-for-Him, mighty woman of God you know you are! God’s peace be with you. Love you much. <3

Dear Jesus, wrap your loving arms around these families and bring a peace that is unexplainable and unending. I pray that a DIVINE sense of your presence invades their hearts and homes right now. Thank you for bringing light and hope to their lives. Thank you for the safety of my family and friends today. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen!

We Don't Know What to Do, But Our Eyes Are on You

We live in a mighty crazy, shaky world. Everything seems to be going our way when, in a moment's notice, we can be gripped with fear, concern, and worry. At those times, if we’re keeping our eyes on Jesus, we’ll stand strong no matter what the circumstances are that are swirling around us. Keeping our eyes on Jesus will keep us strong during those shaky times.

When the Israelite King Jehoshaphat first heard about three fierce armies coming to attack his kingdom, we read: “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). Jehoshaphat praised God before he cried out, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

Life happens. Those times when we don’t know what to do or where to go. We’re quite willing to be directed by God to do and go – but sometimes the doing and going is hard to figure out. I’ll never forget when, like Jehoshaphat, we faced armies of our own. During my husband’s illness, there were many do-gooders who gave us advice. “Take this nutritional product. Trust God. Try this doctor. Go to this facility. Don’t eat this or that.” And, even some well-meaning people, with well-meaning intentions, told us of their own awful experiences or someone they knew who had died from the same illness.

How can we graciously respond to the voices and not give in to fear? God answered King Jehoshaphat — and all of us — by saying, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chron 20:15).
When Jehoshaphat and his armies were confronted with an overwhelming challenge, they prayed instead of worrying. They moved their eyes off the problem onto the ultimate Problem-Solver. Although they didn’t know what to do, they were filled with God’s inexplicable peace as they walked in faith.

Our family did the same thing. When wisdom was needed, we prayed. We didn’t make a decision unless we conferred and prayed about it. We daily sought God for guidance, and He led the way to the best medical teams. We had people around the world praying for us. We ate more nutritiously. We allowed God to fight the battle for us.

God carried us through, defeated the enemies circling us, and, ultimately my sweetheart got his "fast pass" to heaven. Through it all, we trusted in Jesus like never before. We were an example to others of what to do and where to go when you don’t know what to do and where to go. We learned to “keep our eyes always on the LORD. With Him at our right hand, we were not shaken.” (Psalm 16:8).

What are you facing today? The battle is not yours, it’s God’s. Start by praising God for who He is, then rest in the fact that He goes before you to help tackle whatever problem stands in front of you.

Lord, we praise You for Your power. We need only to look to You because You will go before us and fight our battles. Please forgive us for the times we take our eyes off You and become shaken and fearful. Help us step out in faith, knowing You go before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Welcome to my Wild Frontier!

Maybe not the frontier, but it’s sure been wild at my place. I have felt like Annie Oakley in my determination to rid my home of an outlaw squirrel. This wildlife adventure began several weeks ago when I heard scratching outside my window. I went out to my patio and saw all kinds of wood shavings on the ground. I spied the evil varmint who was cozy in-between my pergola and roof eaves. I shewed him away using a can of bug spray (not harmful to animals) to deter him and he was gone for a week. The next week he returned. I shot my spray and he left again. This went on for a few weeks but no more wood shred because of my keen eagle eyes and ears. But when I went to Austin for a week and returned home, that critter had succeeded in chewing out a 6” x 3” hole, quite adequate for his home in my attic! His tactics were made clear when I heard rustling above my bedroom."Vengeance is mine" saith Donna (rather Annie!).

I sought Dr. Google's advice and found others who had squirrel invasions and how they rid themselves of the nuisance and destruction they can cause. They said, "Use mothballs, fox urine (gasp), animal deterrent spray, a cage trap or get a remove-a-pest company (and plan to pay $250 to $500)." A friend told me I should be glad that I only have one squirrel. He had two squirrels and a possum in his attic! WHAT???

My accomplice, Denise Gerrich, and I went to Lowe’s and found an animal deterrent spray. When an animal smells it, it triggers their natural instinct to escape. When we got to my home, we made sure the rascal wasn't in the attic and then in my best Annie Oakley sharpshooter form, I proceeded to spray the animal deterrent all over the eaves and pergola. The smell was ghastly. I can see why it makes an animal run in terror!

That was a week ago. It's quiet now at Donna's wild frontier. When scurrying up trees, that cute, little furry guy was a friend, but when he started messing with my domain, my peace, my comfort, and MY frontier, he became my foe. Like that annoying squirrel -- so is the enemy of our souls. He pesters us and gnaws away at our hearts and minds trying to invade our thoughts with concerns, doubts, and worry. It can be incessant and troubling -- just like that pesky squirrel. We can let our concerns get to us or we can let go, and let God do what He is best at. What I’ve come to know is worrying gets us nowhere and gives us nothing but sleepless nights and destroys our peace of mind. God’s Word says: “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.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Our best defense against annoying intruders or circumstances that try to steal peace is doing what we can and get on the offense instead of letting the enemy take over. Seal up and fortify the weak places, like in my roof AND in our hearts. We apply covering to the vulnerable places to protect our roof and we apply prayer and God's Word to our heart. He will give us His peace that’s beyond anything we can understand. His peace will guard our hearts and minds against the anxieties that can be as persistent as that squirrel. I’m hopeful that the squirrel has moved on to another frontier. I'm also hopeful and determined to be on guard against the enemy of my soul! "Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

When It Seems Impossible NOT to Worry

I know worrying is counterproductive to anything we are pursuing and are believing for, but sometimes it’s just impossible NOT to have “spells” of worrying. We can apply “mind over matter” to the task of not worrying and boldly declare: “I will not worry. I will not worry." But then, here it comes again -- those tinges of worry slip through the crack of our heart’s door.

Winston Churchill said, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never.” That describes the enemy of our souls who doesn't give up on creating anxiety and worry. I’ll never forget the woodpecker that caused us to worry about the side of our home being devoured by this beautiful, yet determined bird. I think Churchill’s quote was the rallying call for that woodpecker that decided the side of our home was perfect for his machine-gun beak exercises. I remember running out the door with a broomstick waving at him like a crazy lady. He’d fly away. Yay! Silence. For one whole minute. I would no sooner go back inside and he was back at it. I ran out the door again and he fluttered away to the neighbor’s fence. I knew he was smirking; I could feel it. By the time I was back inside, he was back at the siding, probably laughing. I don’t remember how we resolved our “bird” issues, but eventually, the machine-gun stopped.

This story, from well over 20 years ago, came flooding back to my memory when I heard someone telling about their own machine-gun woodpecker. Those woodpeckers reminded me of the worries that kept coming to my mind, usually in the middle of the night. The doubts and fears fluttered in, and I would fervently try to figure out a solution. It would be incessant, troubling and, burdensome -- just like that annoying woodpecker. After hours of sleep deprivation, I’d remember: God is God, and I am not, which meant that I had a decision to make. I could continue to let that woodpecker AND my other many worries get to me or I could let go, and let God do what He is best at. What I’ve come to know is worrying gets us nowhere and gives us nothing but sleepless nights and destroys our peace of mind.

God’s Word says: “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.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Aw! Our best defense against annoying birds and circumstances that "drill" on our minds to steal sweet sleep from us, is praying and applying God’s Word to the situation. When we find the enemy drilling holes through constant worry, we can cover those vulnerable places with prayer and God’s Word, which redirects our thoughts and keeps us focused on Jesus. God promises that when we release our worries and turn instead to prayer, He will give us His peace that’s beyond anything we can understand. His peace will guard our hearts and minds against the anxieties that can be as persistent as that woodpecker. The woodpecker eventually went away which is a good reminder to be diligent in prayer and not let worries flutter back and nest in our heads.

Dear Lord, it’s so easy to fall into worry. When our fears and worries are drilling in our minds, help us to stop trying to fix everything ourselves. Please teach us to turn to You in prayer, trust You to be in charge and let Your peace reign over us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

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.

Our Room With a View

After a sweet heaven-on-earth few days at Beavers Bend with my family, we parted ways as they returned to Frisco, and I headed to Tulsa because the next day I would be attending a Confirmation Retreat as a sponsor to a precious teenage girl. First things first when I go to Tulsa -- I go to see Mom and spend time with her while Karen and George get to have a date night. As it turned out, the night became one that we had to rush Mom to the hospital ER because of medical concerns, which ended up being two days of Mom, Karen and I being “guests” of the Oklahoma Heart Institute Hospital for Mom to undergo many tests and procedures. Thankfully, I can report, as of last night, Mom is back at home in Tulsa and I am back home in Frisco.After a sweet heaven-on-earth few days at Beavers Bend with my family, we parted ways as they returned to Frisco, and I headed to Tulsa because the next day I would be attending a Confirmation Retreat as a sponsor to a precious teenage girl. First things first when I get to Tulsa -- go see Mom and spend time with her while Karen and George get to have a date night. As it turned out, the night became one that we had to rush Mom to the hospital ER, which ended up being two days of Mom, Karen and I being “guests” of the Oklahoma Heart Institute Hospital for Mom to undergo many tests and procedures. Thankfully, I can report, as of last night, Mom is back at home in Tulsa and I am back home in Frisco.

God’s timing was impeccable. Of all times for me to be in Tulsa when I could be a moral support to Sis and help carry the responsibility of the next couple of days. Teamwork lightens the load. We grabbed a couple of hours of sleep with one of us in the chair and the other on the window seat. When the sun came up, that first morning and we looked out the window, we saw our view from Mom’s room. We realized we had a “Room with a View” in this 5-Star Hotel --er’ hospital! The gorgeous Tulsa skyline welcomed us to this new day of faith and hope. It’s a matter of perspective – being IN a room that accommodates every medical device and equipment imaginable which could accompany all kinds of concerns and wonderings about what this day and tomorrow could hold. Or, it could be looking OUTSIDE that room to the beautiful skies, the Tulsa skyline, as well as the fond remembrances of walking in Pro-Life marches, participating in charitable organizations benefits, remembering the Route 66 marathons that I and family and friends ran on those streets, the great restaurants and shopping that THAT VIEW gave us instead of worries and concerns.

A special memory that came back to us was 10 years ago when in this same hospital when Mom was a patient and we were snowed in for days. Karen and I were Mom’s roommates then and because of the impassable roads, medical personnel had to use vacant rooms to sleep in. We had other memories in this hospital as my sweet husband was in there two separate times. I reminisced about our “Trust Me and relax" message from God during times of overwhelming concern and worry.

Karen and I were Ron’s (my husband/her brother) prayer team. We would go for walks during “stressful times’ at the hospital. We could have worried, but we turned those times into opportunities for stretching our faith muscles. During one of those “faith walk” times, we noticed a mama cat and her baby kitten, lying on the grass at the corner of the hospital grounds. They watched us intently, and unlike wild cats, they never flinched. Immediately, we could sense God saying to us "Just like these cats….. RELAX – be in peace -- I am with you." After those sweet prayer moments, we could go to sleep….completely at peace, knowing that God would be orchestrating the plans for the next day. And, He most certainly did. That’s where we are with Mom. At 95, there are expected AND unexpected ups and downs along the way. After all, lots of body parts in these bodies that have many miles on them. You just never know when a replacement or tune-up is necessary. At the end of a couple of days of little sleep, we cherished our “Room with a View” because the view we’ve come to know is God’s view.

Maybe the view of your circumstances has you overwhelmed and your heart is heavy with troubles that loom in the “room” you are in. Maybe it’s time to take a little walk and have a talk with He Who knows everything about everything and He wants you to turn your cares over to Him. He knows what tomorrow holds, so why not allow Him to orchestrate the details? In the meantime, take a deep breath and RELAX…..God has got this! Turn that ROOM you are in, into a ROOM WITH A VIEW of God’s faithfulness, of His promises to never leave you or forsake you, of turning your mourning into dancing and the spirit of heaviness into joy. THAT room, my friends, is better than a 5-Star hotel!

Life Lessons From the Birds

If you follow my daily posts at all, you’ll know I seem to be fixated on birds. I’ve shared about the cardinal family that visited my home in Tulsa, who set up housekeeping (nesting) in the tree behind my bedroom window and how I liked to think that the daddy cardinal was sent by my sweetheart when I could use a little kiss from heaven. I also shared about the swallows that I wasn’t so fond of, that set up housekeeping on my front porch where I tried all kinds of tricks to get rid of them because, unfortunately, their poop wasn’t exactly the “welcoming mat” I wanted for my visitors.

I shared about the birds who, with their stealth vision, would watch for a customer leave their table at an outdoor restaurant, and would zero in on what little scraps they left in their plates. To correspond with that analogy, I used the scripture reference: Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Indeed those birds had the Father’s “royal treatment” as they only needed to hover until their prey (rather, food scraps) were wide open for their taking.

My grandson, Payton, does “handyman” jobs for people in his neighborhood. One of his customers gave him three birdhouses/feeders. He was delighted with his new aviaries, setting them up in great areas of their backyard, filling them with feed and keeping a close eye on his visitors. Before long all kinds of birds were making their home in their back yard, including this nest that would soon have eggs in it. Daily, Payton and Alexia checked their tenants' progress, but before long, they saw that, though the eggs were still there (pictured here), holes were in the sides where a predator had sucked out the contents. That little safe haven met up with very bad tidings.

Alexia, with her heart for the cardinals who had worked so hard to make their nest a protected home, proceeded to see if she could provide easy access to their building materials in case they wanted to start over again. She proceeded to take the nest apart – laying out all the materials on their outdoor table: ribbons, string, sticks, fabric and other materials. After she had it all sorted out, she exclaimed: “Come cardinals. NEST DEPOT is open for business.” LOL! Such is life with Lexi!

With all my ramblings about birds, I think we are in good company. Jesus used birds in many of his illustrated sermons to explain God’s love for us. He said in Matthew 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.” God does provide care for the sparrows, and the fact that "not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's care" means that sometimes bad things can happen, like the cardinal eggs at the Wallace's. Although He watches over the sparrows, it doesn’t prevent them from being hunted by predators. Although He watches over every one of us, it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free from care. He even went on to say to us “…you are of more value than many sparrows" Matthew 10:31. So if God is concerned about the tiny sparrow, how much greater must His concern be for us. Bottom line, we are told to be care-less. There is no place for worry in the life of a sparrow, and they carry on. For them AND us, worry is needless, wears us out and keeps us from living our lives knowing the eyes of our Father are on us.

God's care for us is immeasurable -- He allowed His only begotten Son to die in our place (John 3:16).

God's care for us will sustain us throughout our lives, because “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28)

For the birds, Alexia made a Nest Depot for their building supplies. Our place of refuge, for life's building materials and the how to's for building a rock-solid foundation is found at God's Word Depot. Maybe if we would spend more time in those aisles, we'd find all the supplies we need for a worry-free, care-free life!

Worry Less -- Smile More Often

One of the greatest "joy stealers" in our lives is worry. God knows that -- that's why he reminds to not worry and to trust Him completely.In fact, He emphatically told us "DO NOT WORRY!: Here's what Jesus said about worry:

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE. 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?"

I can hear God saying to us today, "DON'T WORRY -- BE HAPPY!!"

Take a Deep Breath, Chill and Relax....God Has Got This!

Day before yesterday, I had the privilege of waiting with a dear friend as her husband was in back surgery by the same Neuro Surgeon and in the same hospital, that my sweetheart was in four years ago. I had a flood of memories as we set there, and I reminisced to my friend about this one. I think it bears repeating to encourage us all to “chill and relax” during times of overwhelming concern and worry.

We found out my husband had to have another emergency surgery to, once again, remove the tumor that had returned on his vertebrae and was impinging on his spinal cord. It was then that I grabbed Karen's hand (Ron's sister) and said "Let's go for a walk!" (You know, like Joshua marching around the walls of Jericho.) As we did, we prayed for God to station His angels around the hospital, for God's healing touch to Ron, and for wisdom and knowledge to our medical team. As we made our 6th round, we noticed lying on the grass at the corner of the hospital grounds was a Mama cat and her baby. They watched us intently, and unlike wild cats, they never flinched. Immediately, we could sense God saying to us "Just like these cats….. RELAX – be in peace -- I am with you! Enjoy the journey." We made our final, and 7th round, and just as we had not seen the cats in rounds one to five, they were gone on the 7th, but those words resonated within us. We came back to the hospital room and Ron, our daughter, and her husband were singing and praising God for the answer we knew He would give us the next morning. We went to sleep that night….completely at peace….knowing that God would be orchestrating the plans for the next day. And, He most certainly did.

What is weighing heavy on your heart today? What troubles loom above you like dark clouds? If it’s possible, go for a little walk and have a talk with He Who knows everything about everything – give the cares to Him. He knows what tomorrow holds, so why not allow Him to orchestrate the details? In the meantime, take a deep breath, chill, and RELAX…..God has got this!

Acknowledging Him = Straight Paths

“Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day. Each day provides many opportunities for you to learn My ways and grow closer to Me." -- God

Ever look back on your day, and because of so many distractions or needless worry, you realize that you missed the lessons God was trying to teach you? Even the most inconsequential events could be God speaking. I know He is working on me to be “present” with Him throughout my day, to know those little nudges and kisses from heaven, to experience Him in the beauty around me, and to recognize the undeniable times when He sends angelic protection my way. I sincerely want to live, even though I'm in the middle of traffic, or in a long line at the store, or writing checks for this month's bills -- in the KNOWING He's as close to me as a whispered prayer, and in that knowing, I acknowledge Him, and then I recognize His wisdom and direction in what I'm doing -- in ALL MY WAYS.
".....in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6.