So.much.Fear.

Everywhere. In every conversation. On every news channel and social media site.

 

Viruses. Violence. Economy. Environment. Government.

Oh my, this wide world.

And my gut reaction is to run, isolate, and eat Cheetos.

As if.

That’s helpful. Or empowering. Or adult.

Let’s be honest. It’s easy to hide but that’s where we get in trouble. That’s where care and concern become fret and worry or we numb out and disengage. Either way, we give the “What ifs” all our power.

What if the Coronavirus …  What if my child … What if my job… What if the earth … What if the elections … WhatifWhatifWhatif …

And we spin and spiral and lose perspective. I read that 85% of what we worry about never happens.* That’s time we’ll never get back, wasted on worry.

So, what do we do? We look up. Because God’s there holding our What ifs. We release the need for control and let go:

➡ God, if  I get sick … I’ll be okay.

➡ God forbid, but if  my child gets hurt … we’ll be all right.

➡ God, if  I lose money … we’re gonna make it.

➡ God, if the earth crumbles … it’s gonna work out.

➡ God, if they’re elected again … we really will survive.

The next time we worry, let’s change our What ifs to God, if. This isn’t just positive thinking. It’s powerful thinking. It’s faith that says “No matter what, my hope—my confident trust— is in You.”

We remember Jesus is “… far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.”

Elevating our thoughts, elevates Jesus, and Jesus elevates us.

“For God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

Wow. Now that’s power.

~ Sweet Jesus, Savior and Redeemer, it seems the world’s on fire. Thank you, we are never alone. We sit, stand, and walk into our power with you. We surrender fear and worry so we are free to love and encourage. We are grateful for peace and strength.  For this day and for the days to come ~ Amen ☮❤🙌🏼

 

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you with hope and confident expectation. Trust in the Lord forever ~ for the Lord is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4 

 

Ephesians 1:21-22, Ephesians 2:6

*Barbara Roose, Winning the Worry Battle

Photo from: www.Pixabay.com

 

 

I have a knack for complicating things.

Like last week, when I had three writing deadlines and I spilled water on my computer’s keyboard. Or that time I grabbed a bag of dry beans from the top shelf and didn’t see the gaping hole. Beans bounced off my head, skittered across the kitchen tile, and cascaded all the way through the dining room and into the hallway.

Four months later, I’m still finding beans. Sometimes, I think it’s my super power. To take something simple and make it messy.

I believe we do the same thing in our relationship with God. We complicate it. We feel like there’s always something more we should be doing. Like it’s never enough.

This restlessness can come from a good place. Our hearts simply want to serve him and help people and be faithful with the days he gives us. So with these good motives, why does our faith get so frustrating?

Because we think we have to do something big, shiny, and epic. We think we have to sound Christian-y and have all the right answers and do all the right things. There’s all these religious rules and traditions and expectations. And all those darn boxes to check. They suck the joy right out of our faith, don’t they?

When all God wants is a relationship. Simple. Uncomplicated. Un-boxed.

What if he’s saying, “Be still. Stop striving. See Me. Then see your people. Reconnect with your passions. Be content in those places I put you. Your everyday doing and being is your purpose.”

In Jesus’ ministry, we see this holy noticing. In his everyday interactions and conversations with God and with people. Regular people like us. Who don’t want a set of rules, but who want a Savior. And we know he delights in our serving and giving, but what’s most important is what he wants to do for us. He is the Giver of Life, real abundant life.

And he shows us what is big, shiny, and epic.

To love God and love people. The best we know how. It’s not always that easy but it is that simple.

^“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously- take God seriously.” ~ Micah 6:8 ❤✌🏼😎🙏🏼

 

🎶 Enjoy one of my favorite songs. And dance. Dancing is good  💃🏼🕺🏼

 

 

                                                     “Be still and know I am God.” ~ Pslam 46:10

 

Oh my. The sunrise. Did you see the sky God painted for us today?

Some mornings, I do. Might even snap a picture for my blog or text my husband. Then move on. But today, I stopped.

Like really stopped.

I resisted the urge to pick up my phone and rush toward the next thing.

That next thing always seems so darn urgent, doesn’t it?

I told myself to slow down … to stay in the moment. To quiet my jumping-ahead thoughts and get off the hamster wheel.

Not just on the outside but on the inside.

I stopped to soak in the silent power spreading from east to west.

Pinks and purples, blues and  grays.

This ancient rhythm is a gift. It meets us every morning. It invites us to start our day by stopping.

To enter rest and delight.

Because all around us the world spins and speeds and it’s easy to get ramped up with it. Acquiring more, accomplishing more, our society applauds exhaustion and multi-tasking. Like somehow busyness makes us better. Stress and burn-out and worry are accepted as a part of life.

Chaos and anxiety are sneaky.  Because it’s easy to see how they mess with our minds. But what about our bodies? We hold on to tension. And dis-ease creates a whole host of ailments.

Because we forget to stop. Breathe. And … just … be… still.

To notice something beautiful.

To talk less. Think less. Worry less.

Then we get to take rest into our work. So we won’t be tossed about by deadlines. We get to carry rest into our relationships and conversations so people won’t tick us off and messy situations won’t stress us out.

The Creator of sunrises and sunsets is truly in control. So we can rest and begin our day by letting go of it. 

Let go of the weight of feeling responsible for everyone and everything .

Say, “Nope. Not this day.”

And pray.

God, we are grateful. That day after day after day, You are here to restore our rest. Remind us to protect it. We want to be a non-anxious presence, reflecting your peace to this busy, busy, wonderful world.

☮🙏🏽😎❤

 

 

Photo from Pixabay.com

 

 

It’s not your fault you meow at zero-dark:30, B.C. (before coffee.) You’re a cat. It’s what you do.

It’s not your fault I let them talk me into rescuing you. And that I believed them when they said I wouldn’t have to do a thing to keep you happy and healthy or clean fur balls and upchucks from the carpet.

It’s not your fault you walk in on your little stealth feet and your meeeooowww slices through the quiet and alarms me there’s always one more thing to-do. When I just wanna do my own thing.

Like ease into my day. With no interruptions.

It’s not your fault that I don’t have an automatic, jump-up-on-my-lap affection for ya’ll. Not that I don’t have the capacity.

You’ve probably heard the stories of Cocoa. Another rescue. Only she was a dog. I was with her on the floor of the vet clinic crying like a baby. I stroked her fur and whispered, “You’re a good girl,” as her breath slowed and stopped.

So, I do have the potential.

Though we might not ever be besties, we can at least be civil. I can’t make you learn from me, so maybe I’ll learn from you.

About life’s interruptions and how to roll with them and not wish it was different. To trust that when I meet challenges with courage and prayer, I’ll grow from them. And when I choose to be grateful for my blessings, I won’t focus on the burdens.

Yes, I choose Peace.

The most important thing I’m learning is to let cats be cats and let people be people. Including myself. We’re human. We fail. It’s what we do.

We are imperfect works-in-progress. And even in those moments when I get it right, some will misunderstand and I will disappoint them.

That’s okay. Jesus was misunderstood and disappointed many.

Yes, I choose Grace.

Okay Chloe, I’ve probably lost you, but I need to wrap this up. Now that we’ve established we can learn as we go, how about a truce? I’ll stop stressing when you howl and you stop hurling on the carpet?

This morning you didn’t make a peep at zero-dark:30. What’s up with that? Maybe we’re making progress. Or maybe it’s a trick.

It was kinda eerie. You sat in the shadows of the dining room table watching me make coffee. Actually, thank you for that.

Oh dear. Am I really talking to a cat?

This is a weird way to begin a new year. Oh well, such is life.

As long as I keep learning to live large and love well, I’m cool with that. 

Peace Out 😎