PAIRINGS - Luke 12:27

What a reminder of how much our Father cares for us...

"Consider the lilies, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin;

and yet I say to you,

even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these."

Luke 12:27

Photo taken 6-7-12, our second summer at the home in the country

The verses prior to that speak to us about our worries...

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And, if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" Luke 12:25-26 

Another great verse about worry...

"Give all your worries & cares to God. For He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

The Grand Illusion of WORRY

My tendency, from childhood to the present day, is to WORRY* about things -- believing, in some way, that my extensive thoughts about a subject may in some way influence or control the outcome. I can't even count the minutes I've lost in my life by worrying. I dare say the number of minutes lost would match the pieces of broken sea shells in the picture I chose to "inscribe" today.

The Lord has helped me be stronger in the battle against worrying in the past 5-10 years. But, I have to be very careful to not fall back into familiar habits -- habits that solidified & became the norm in my life by constantly repeating them! I have to challenge myself to be vigilant against worry!

This morning, I saw a post by Ann Voskamp that reminded me once again that worry (*or whatever name we choose to call it... fretting, contemplating, planning, understanding something, preparing ourselves for what might happen, etc. and sometimes even PRAYING FERVENTLY??) does not add ONE GOOD THING to my life. It's hard for me to choose just one quote from what Ann writes. It's nearly impossible, to be quite honest. Today I chose the one above in the picture and paired it with a scripture that I have memorized & repeated to myself so many, many times!

 "Worry is merely the illusion of taking action -- when prayer really is." ~ Ann Voskamp  

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Some other great quotes from that post:

• When you let the weight of worries at the center of your life be displaced by Christ, your life takes wing. 
• Worry is what leaves your wheels spinning. It's prayer that puts your life into drive.
• Christ at the center of your life displaces gravity -- Worries lose all weight.

What are YOUR names for WORRY? Feel free to make a comment or contact me privately. 

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Be Still... Get Peace!

What brings you peace? Do you feel peaceful in the hustle & bustle of life? I don't. Getting away from the hustle bustle brings me peace.

God's Word says that He will give us no more than we can bear... "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13 

And, God's Word also tells us to not worry about tomorrow... "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34. 

How can we balance that? Who doesn't play out what might happen tomorrow? Who doesn't try to figure things out "with the mind that God gave them"? As far as I'm concerned, the only way to keep the balance is to take time to be STILL & reflect upon the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. I need to be still & KNOW that He is God... and, I am not! 

When I take time before Him, I stop trying to figure out all the what if's & the what won't be's. 

That, right over there to the left,
looks like peace to me. 

I don't know why but, I am overwhelmed with peace when I have a combination of sky, sea (waterfalls, creeks, lakes too!!), heights, sunrise or sunset & warm breezes. When my mind is racing & sleep is, once again, eluding me, I often picture a scene similar to this one in my mind. I almost always begin to relax, breath more steadily & drift off... away from the cares of the day and the hustle & bustle of my life.



God's Word gives us many reminders that peace can come from Him in every circumstance and in every season of life. Here are a few of my favorites: 

• "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.In quietness & confidence, you will find your strength." Isaiah 30:15a 
• "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 4:7
• "Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea." Isaiah 48:18
• "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Do you have any favorite scriptures that bring you peace? So often we just need to calm down & be still in the presence of the Lord. What brings you peace when life is in turmoil?

Wasting Precious Time

Tick Tock! Tick Tock!

There aren't enough minutes in the day. Do you ever feel this way? Are there things that you are convicted to do on any given day that don't happen? 

I struggled with those regretful feelings for years & years. I still have to remind myself that God doesn't intend my sincere service to Him to be a struggle. 

When walking early in the morning a few years ago, I was talking to God about not having enough time. I "heard" a voice in my heart say, "You have just as many minutes in your day as everyone else on the planet. I've given you enough time to do what I need you to do TODAY!" Since that time I've tried not to rake myself over the coals for what might have felt like missed opportunities AND to trust that God's timing will cover my service for Him.

Even for those who don't claim Christ as their Lord, I think this is a great thought:  

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And, if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?"

Luke 12:25-26 

Don't waste precious time second guessing things that are in the past OR how God will use what you offer up to Him in the moment of genuine love & service!

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Attitude... I'm Working On It!

It's been a great week -- not so much a great day. I learned today that there's no visible healing (although no further injury) in my foot. I had a second x-ray done & have to wear the boot until the next x-ray in three weeks. 

I can't drive a car. I can't do step aerobics anymore. I can't even walk for exercise. I'm not thrilled but, I'm not devastated either. It could be SO MUCH worse. It's just gonna be a pain for a little longer than I had hoped. 

Several scriptures come to mind & I'm reminded that this life on earth is going to be a challenge. 

Christ spoke in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." 

So, what do we DO about those trials & sorrows? I look further into the Bible. 

We're told in Matthew 6:34, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

That second verse might seem to have a negative connotation to it. But, the way I look at it is that there's no need to fret about tomorrow, worrying will NOT change things. Sometimes we need all our energy for just what's thrown at us today! So, I attempt to deal with today's challenges with God's help and claim His help for whatever tomorrow throws at me! It's all I can do. 

Okay "stuckinindiana"... breathe in & out; ask God for a positive attitude about the foot & a few others things! I'm standing on the promises -- and leaning heavily upon His Word!

My attitude... I'm working on it!

A human being can alter their life
by altering their attitude.
~ William James