Hey, Darling Siestas!
It’s 4:00 or so on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Keith has gone to play a round of golf with his buddy, Roger Parker, and Beanie and I are sitting out on the back porch. It’s hot but beautiful and I have a ceiling fan on the porch wearing itself out on my humble behalf. I’m having a cup of coffee and Beanie’s trying to have a squirrel. She’s had the hardest time since Sunny died. She’d been really lethargic before she and Keith left town for a few days but when she got back and still no Sunny, she decided to wage a hunger strike. It’s not like she doesn’t know where Sunny is because Keith purposely let her see that he was burying her. The sweet girl’s just never been alone before. Curtis and Amanda let us borrow Beckham (the Golden Retriever version of Clifford the Big Red Dog) last weekend and that helped. Maybe they’ll let him spend some time over here again this week. Until then, we’re throwing out a few handfuls of dried corn to attract squirrels in the yard to fire up some enthusiasm in our depressed birddog. And it’s working. She wants squirrel meat for supper in the worst way. Keith might be a redneck with a spade in the Bluebell but he’s not liable deep fry a squirrel and stir up some brown gravy in the skillet with it. We’re just giving Beanie something to dream about.
This morning in my quiet time before church, I read something that spoke to me and I thought I’d share it with you. Pastor Gregg has our whole congregation go through the same devotional book every year and this year he chose the classic “Streams in the Desert.” (L.B. Cowman) Like many of you, I’ve done it before but not in five or so years and it’s well worth doing again and again. You can tell from the title that it’s geared particularly to people going through very difficult trials and sufferings. If that’s you right now (and I’m so sorry if it is and love you so much), you really ought to look into getting ahold of a copy. Restoration after a deep hurt or loss can take longer than our flesh and blood encouragers can stand sometimes. They can wear out in the length and breadth of our need and, to be honest, rightly so. They were never meant to be saviors for us. A book like this can be used of God to encourage you through a painful time every single day for a solid year. And, oh, what a difference a year makes!
The lead verse for this morning’s entry was Isaiah 28:12. Of God the prophet Isaiah wrote, “He said, ‘This is a resting place, let the weary rest’; and, ‘This is a place of repose’ – but they would not listen.” Here’s a little of what followed (originally written by Charles Spurgeon):
“Why do you worry? What possible use does your worrying serve? You are aboard such a large ship that you would be unable to steer even if your Captain placed you at the helm. You would not even be able to adjust the sails, yet you worry as if you were the captain or the helmsman of the vessel. Be quiet, dear soul – God is the Master! Do you think all the commotion and the uproar of this life is evidence that God has left His throne? He has not! His mighty steeds rush furiously ahead, and His chariots are the storms themselves. (Pause, Siestas, and hear the sound of those mighty steeds in your spirit. Feel their hoof-beats pound in your chest. He’s on His mighty way!) But the horses have bridles, and it is God who holds the reins, guiding the chariots as He wills! Our God Jehovah is still the Master! Believe this and you will have peace. ‘Don’t be afraid’ (Matt. 14:27).”
My favorite line: “You are aboard such a large ship that you would be unable to steer even if your Captain placed you at the helm.” So, we might as well stop trying. Anyway, with the best intentions we’d steer that Titanic smack into the next iceberg with all our loved ones on board. You don’t let your two-year old steer the car no matter how she might kick and scream from the backseat. God’s too wise to let our control issues work out for us. If we keep insisting, He might let us give it a hand for a while but, sooner or later, we’ll hit the iceberg. And the iceberg is He.
Regardless of how convinced we are, God has not placed us in control of our environments nor are we responsible for how everyone is behaving or how things will turn out. He is still God and, yes, even over “this,” whatever your “this” may be. His, Beloved Siestas, is a LARGE SHIP. Something much bigger than we can picture is going on from a God’s-eye view. Our trials are allowed so that Christ may be formed in us and then, through us, serve that greater purpose. Worry always and only forms thicker flesh in us and weights us down until we cannot walk where the Spirit would take us.
I’ve come to learn from God that worry is a waving red flag to the enemy. It is a dead giveaway that the person owning it does not trust God. The shield of faith is down. So fire when ready. Every time we’re tempted to take it all on and worry something to death, let’s say aloud from the depths of our souls, “I choose to trust You, Lord. I choose trust. I choose You.”
Be quiet, Dear Soul! God is the Master! Don’t be afraid.
With dearest love,
beth
PS. Melissa just called me and said, “Mom, be sure and tell the Siestas how proud we are of the ones who tried making the tarts!” So, because I love her and love you, here’s a huge “hats off!” to each of you and especially to Katie and His Treasured Possession for posting links to their pictures! I’m floored at this multi-talented group! And hungry. I think I’ll get off here and go check the fridg for a can of whipped cream.
“Worry always and only forms thicker flesh in us and weights us down until we cannot walk where the Spirit would take us.”
This is so true, Beth. I have been a worryer for as long as I can remember. I have been earnestly praying through it lately, that God would allow my FAITH to be so much bigger than my anxieties and fears.
Yes, Lord, help us to choose TRUST.
Thanks for the encouragement! Have a wonderful week 🙂
Thank you so much for this Word today! God just continues to crack me up with how He uses you over and over to speak to me – like a true BFF – and we’ve never even met! (Just wait til heaven girl, I’m gonna be squeezin’ that neck of yours!)
Divine SFX’s!!!! I still remember and that lesson from Columbia (well from God but taught IN Columbia haha) changed my life!!
Love you sweet Siesta and how I love Jesus!!
Val
NC
Ahhh Beth !! you’re timing is perfect yet again.I battle this alot and have my good times and bad times.Thanks for the reminder that worry is a weapon of the enemy.It really is a sign of distrust.My God is good ALL THE TIME and i know this.So,why is it so hard to trust that at times? especially when He’s proven Himself faithful time and time again !!! Pray especially for those of us who struggle with this.It’s my personal belief that worry is one of the BIGGEST hinderences in our journey with Christ.I know it’s tempting to let my prayer time and quiet time fall to the wayside when I’m in a state of worry.Because I’m not trusting God it’s hard to come before Him.Oh,but how sooo very important it is to at this crucial time.God NEVER leaves nor forsakes !!!!!
Amen and Amen! You cannot possibly know how I needed to hear that TODAY! I will be printing a portion of it and putting it up in my office for the week. Thank you for living such a transparent life that God can work through you for this humble siesta on the opposite coast.
Thanks,
Kim Feth in Apex, NC
Thank you! Please pray for my son, Hunter, my baby (18, turns 19 while he’s there )as he leaves for Thailand tomorrow for 2 months. He feels called by God to missions and Im thankful he chooses to follow Gods call on his life. Pray for me and my family as we miss him already!
Dearest Beth,
I’m so excited to have discovered this blog!! I, along with a close friend of mine, have many earthy reasons to worry right now. My faith is being tested and sometimes I’m so tired of being patient (just keepin’ it real). 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement. I will forward this to my friend. Got to see you in Noisy Boise!! What an amazing experience. Thanks so much for coming!!! Love you!
Beth, I needed this so much today, and this week. I’ve been trying so hard not to worry. I’m one of the lucky Siestas from Boise who was lucky enough to spend a day or two with you. I’m 39 and had a mammogram this week because my mom is a nearly 9-year survivor of breast cancer. They found a lump this week, and although everyone keeps telling me it’s probably nothing, they keep bumping me up the proverbial ladder. I had my mammogram on Tuesday, on Wednesday I had an ultrasound, on Thursday I saw another doctor for another opinion, and on Tuesday this week I see a surgeon. I have three little boys, ages 3, 6, and 8 and I keep saying, “I just don’t want to worry about this anymore!!” I know God is supreme and He’s in control, and that even if this turns out to be something, He’s still on the throne. But gosh, sometimes it’s so hard NOT to worry. Thanks. For this message, and for your prayers.
Nice…..
Great post, I think I will have to print this one out. My worry gauge is in desperate need of a break.
Thank-you for sharing these words! I might have to dig out that book that I know I have on my bookshelf somewhere. We are in one of those trials right now. You made such a moving point about our flesh and blood encouragers. We so often forget that they are not meant to be our saviors and we don’t understand those lonely moments that we have and yet we are surrounded by people. That is that “God shaped hole” in us….to cling to HIM and nothing else. Bless you for passing on what God has shared with you!
WOW! Thank you so much Beth for this insight. My husband and I are 16 weeks pregnant and got some very bad test results on our baby. There is a slight possibility it my die in the first year of life. We will be having more tests tomorrow to confirm the diagnosis but we are so afraid. I was so paralyzed I couldn’t even attend church this morning. I praise God for your wisdom, it was just what I needed as my stream through this desert. God Bless.
The Journey Continues ~
You are in Texas and I am in California enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon and kicking back ~
We BBQ’d for our youngest college son who surprised us for the day. I just made some homemade chocolate chip cookies and my husband made us espresso! Sunday’s are wonderful to enjoy life! check out the photos I put on my blogspot of you, Priscilla, Kay and us!
With “Heaven bound” Blessings,
Kim Safina
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
Thank you sweet Siesta. I have just spent so much time in that place of hopelessness and dispair over circumstances I just can’t seem to get control over. Really I know that these circumstances are too big for any human being. All of my fretting and worry have brought me back to the place of having to say – “Yes, I trust You, Lord.” This time I want to be wise enough to not try to grab hold of the helm again.
Thank you for sharing exactly what I needed to hear.
I don’t want thicker flesh! It’s time I pick the sword back up and raise it high! Thank you so much… it’s almost like you read my mind today! I’m choosing to trust Him!
Much love,
Angie xoxo
Why is it that I struggle so much with letting God be God? I know in my heart that I don’t want to be in charge. Someone commented recently that she is always trying to change her circumstances rather than accepting that these circumstances are exactly where God wants her to be right now. So why are we always trying to fix things? Is it the mom in us? or the woman in us?
Thank you, Beth. This went so beautifully with our pastor’s message this morning! I do get so exciting seeing and hearing the same messages, in somewhat different deliveries, being spoken near and far throughout the body! I love that ship analogy! What peace is there in that!
Thank you, again, for sharing this. And honestly just… thanks!
Every now and then I get a shiver of worry about one thing or another. And if I stop to dwell on it, soon I’m overwhelmed about it all…the price of gas, tornados, earthquakes, the economy, our next president, the death of our parents, making the mortagage payment, it goes on and on and just keeps building. To shake me out of it and break it back down, I have to keep reminding myself that God is the same no matter what happens. All of those things that threaten my security could never really keep me safe anyway; not like He can. I might get a little seasick, but I’m hanging on!
This was a good reminder for me today, Beth! I can tend to be a worrier. I want this quote to stick with me: “Worry always and only forms thicker flesh in us and weights us down until we cannot walk where the Spirit would take us.” Thanks!
I hope your dear dog perks up soon. The poor thing must be really grieving.
Dear Beth, Thank you..I really appreciate what you shared today.
Thanks for remiding us that God cares about every single thing in our lives!
My husband needs a second part time job when he starts school and we really need to get on our knees tonight and pray about it instead of scouring the employment section every day!
The Journey Continues ~
Dearest Beth, Keith & Beanie,
If you are interested, you can check out my blogspot and see the TEN new precious ones that were born on May 14th.
(my birthday)
Please feel free to contact me via email if you are interested in a FREE precious one! lots of chubby ones and 3 little runt golden retrievers with their Proud mommy and daddy on site.
My daily prayers are with you, Keith, and Beanie as you heal from the loss of Sunny!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
I can’t fully put voice to all that is stirring within me these days. There’s a fullness and a depletion all within the same breath…fleshing itself out within my journey of faith. Indeed, the ship is large, and the waters boast larger. It all seems so vast.
Still and yet, I find him within the big. He walks upon the big, and just when all seems too consuming and expansive, he whispers to me that he IS the big.
Creator of everything. Creator of me.
That’s the expanse that grips my thoughts these days and forces my faith journey into a deeper place of abiding.
May we all so abide…in peace and in rest…until he harbors our now into our forever. Safely home at last.
peace for the journey~elaine
Poor Beanie 🙁
I am sure she is just confused b/c one of her best friends is not there
That book sounds great
Thanks for that message
I love the idea of the big ship and that God will not let us steer it b/c He knows better – love that and truly relieved!
Oh and I am going to make that tart but forgot the dern dough at the grocery store stay tuned – hehe
Enjoy the whipped cream 🙂
Kim
Beth- Thank you. Through tears I say thank you for sharing that. The words you shared met me just where I am. Isn’t God cool like that!
Today, I choose to trust you, Lord. I choose trust. I choose you. No more worrying over things I truly have no control over. You alone are in control.
Cara
Beth, I am SO excited about the summer bible study. I am letting God show me who to invite! He is AMAZING! The ladies I have talked to are really exctied to do a summer study. Thank you so much for putting it together and encouraging the rest of us to join in. What fun!
Love ya,
Cindy Cruse
I’m with you Beth…streams in the desert can often lead to a good can of whipped cream! And let’s be honest, sometimes we just need the real deal vs the skinny cow (as good as those little delights are too!).
Seriously, thank you for the ever-awesome reminder that God has NOT left his throne and the reins are being held back for His good and perfect purposes! Amen…come Lord Jesus! (do you think there will be whipped cream in Heaven?) 😉
Praise the LORD! What a great word! No matter the situation, I am not in control. What a relief!
Hi Beth. Thank you SO MUCH for once again sharing such timely words. I am in a “desert” right now and needed to hear that encouragement. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”–thanks again for that reminder that our Captain has this ship under perfect control!!! You are a blessing. Love, SJM 😉
What a timely message Beth. This may not make sense but I felt God warning me yesterday about the enemy and I knew the enemy was trying to attack our family. We prayed together and I feel peace in my heart but if I am not careful I can worry about it and I don’t really know what I am worrying about. I thank God that He gives us warnings and prompts us to pray.
I am looking forward to making the tarts. I do think it might be easier to open a can of whip cream. :o)
Have a great week.
Love,
Patty
Oh Wow, did I need that. I am having surgery on Tuesday! Outpatient and have had it before but still nervous-and yes, worried…. Well, not anymore 🙂 Thank you for a timely word!! (I’ll get out my white flag and surrender to Him!) I choose to trust, I choose Him! Thank you! You are such a blessing to us!
What a nice message! I loved the part about the red flag. That stuck with me, and I intend to remember it when I start to worry or obsess about things.
Thank you for the encouraging word, Beth!
Love ya!
Thanks so much for this entry on worry. After a great day in God’s house, I find myself grieving over the way my adult children repeatedly say “no” to God. Then I check out the LP blog and of course, your message is on worry. (I just took down the red flag!) I will get my hands on a copy of Streams in the Desert as well.
I should know better. Just this morning our ladies S.S. class discussed the week from Mary Kassian’s study Vertically Inclined. It was on affliction. Jesus…endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.I can do the same by His empowering grace. So I release my dear children to Him…once again. And continue to do what I know He wants me to do…love them and intercede for them. Thanks for holding up God’s perspective on this problem. I will fix my eyes on Jesus…once again.
JoAnn D
What a great reminder!! I struggle with worrying….so the reminder was convicting! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing. I needed to read this today. My husband is working midnights and I have the worst time falling asleep when he isn’t home. I worry something will happen to me or the kids. I usually stay up the entire night worrying and afraid.
Thank you for the reminder that God is in control. I think I will rest easier tonight because of what you shared. You are such a blessing!
Amy
What a great entry! Recently my job has slowed considerably- to a turtles crawl in fact and for what reason I have absolutely no idea. I have occasionally 😉 been tempted to worry about what God has planned and I know the enemy wants me to take control and try to fix this slump in my schedule. This last week, while experiencing an unexpected and unpaid break in my schedule, one of these such sessions with my enemy hit. I was even being tempted to question my worth in subtle ways as a result!! Although I journal regularly and did on this particular morning, I also had a most unusual and glorious experience! As if to remind me that the Lord ALWAYS redeems our days for Himself, the Lord gave me a beautiful poem/ song to write down. You must understand that I have never even been so bold as to TRY to sit down and write something like this and the only reason I thought to was because the phrases came so fast and so shocked me because they rhymed that I grabbed a pen and started writing. It wasn’t until it ended that I even had a chance to grasp the beauty, encouragement and wildness of it!! Anyway, I’m including it here as it so goes along with that tendency to want to control.
My pasture’s in the promised land,
but the enemy blocks the way
The Jordan’s high and swift to cross,
will I step out or will I stay?
By grace through faith you make a way
Cross enemy lines in darkness or day
It’s my choice to respond and obey
or to stay and make my own way
In dependence on your Spirit today
I choose to believe you’ll make a way
By rest in you I turn my face
from my troubles to your grace
My Shepherd and Creator King
to your glory may I bring
My life surrendered, an offering
I hide in Christ my God, my King
Beth- thank you so much for allowing the Lord to give us Believing God and Woman’s Heart studies through you. As I read this, I knew that may of the concepts were things God wanted to remind me of from my days of doing those two studies!
Becky in MI
Beth, thank you so much for this word. I need to be reminded daily not to worry about our daughter and her medical needs. We brought our 2nd daughter home from China in September only to find out the medical report was not accurate. Now we are struggling with what is going on in her little body. We know God blessed us with her. And he has a plan for our family, but the uncertain future can be so hard to accept and so we worry about what life will be like. I need to constantly remind myself that God is in control and I must not worry. Also, I just want you to know how encouraged I have been by all your studies. God has richly blessed me each time. Lots of Love!
Ceci
Great message – thanks! I need this reminder when becoming impatient for my 19 year-old son to travel the path I think God wants him on. We told him as he was growing up that our job as parents was to gradually take his hand out of ours and place it into God’s. A while back he reminded me that God was suppose to be holding his hand now. Also, Beth, have you tried the chocolate whipped cream in a can?
Dearest Beth,
This post could not have come at a better time. Right now, there are 70 nuns here in our monastery meeting to discern and pray together about our future. We will be elected new leadership next week and there are many fears about what may lie ahead for us. Thank you for this reminder that none of us can steer this large boat. God is FOR US and He will see us safely through.
Blessings dear friend,
Sister Lynn
Sweet Beth,
I love how you said that in the uproar of our lives God has not left his throne. In the last 18 months I have miscarried 3 times. When I had to have surgery for one of them last August, even though I was sad, that is the very thought I had: “God is STILL on His throne” and I had such peace people were amazed. I know that the idea was never a thought of MINE but without a doubt from our Glorious Father in Heaven! This last time, when I miscarried right before LPL Boise, I still had that assurance, but now I’ve asked Him the question, “What do I do with this? How will this hurt be used for Your glory?!” I believe with all I’ve been reading lately in the Scriptures and from the message I believe I heard God reveal to me at LPL Boise, that He is leading me into Women’s Ministry. If this is truly from Him, then I eagerly look forward to the Captain of my ship taking the helm.
And I will not worry.
Thanks for such a great thought today…always love to hear what God has placed on your heart. Thank you so much for sharing!
In Christ,
tulip in Idaho
P.S. Tell Melissa that I will be making that delicious apple tart to take to a lady at church who just came home from the hospital. Might have to make another one for my four kids….they would LOVE it! Might also have to replace the apples with pears! YUM!!
Beth, Oh my gracious – that is SO the word God has been dealing with me about – and this morning in my time with Him, He led me to verses in Psalm 37 that talked about “fretting” – and it’s not even your “typical female fret” stuff that I’m dealing with (not that there’s too much typical about any of us – but you know, subjects like safety, or health concerns, finances, etc.) The verses in Psalm 37 are much more to the point about fretting over the actions and consequences of those who have chosen to act out in wickedness. “…do not fret,” the Lord says in verse 8, “it leads only to evil.”
Evil – or icebergs. Darn.
Anyway, I hauled out my Strong’s Concordance (I know I can look it up on line, but I love the musty smell of my Strong’s!) and looked up the word “fret.”
Big Shocker Here: the Hebrew, “charah” literally means “to burn or be kindled with anger.” (the big shocker here line was supposed to be sarcastic – I sometimes have to remind myself we’re all cyber friends and you don’t know my penchant for sarcasm – the good kind of sarcasm that is!)
So, dear Siestas, here’s to a week of living Fret Free and choosing to be consumed with the zeal for God and His people that consumes Jesus, and not consumed with the fire that is a sure sign of “charah” in our lives.
(Too much charach and we get charred!)
(I’m sorry – I’ve had WAY too much caffeine today) ~ I will now bid you all adieu!
Warm in Alaska.
Was your post today God inspired or what?! It was perfect timing, God’s timing, for so many of us.
Thank you for letting God use you once again, over and over, in my life.
My love,
Kelli
I have a bad beagle that is a year old and kind of fat that would love the company of a bird dog. She funny she lets my poodles bully her cause she’s the last one.
We’ll just got out of church , I guess this was another confirmation to the sermon that was taught in church tonight and not letting others opionions of you bother you! That the real enemy is Satan and He uses people that are ignorant to His devices to hurt us and make us feel bad about ourselves.
With Much Love to ya’ll and my blog sisters
Thanks, Beth. My husband and I are having to let go of our 19 year old daughter. She’s walked away from the Lord and now involved in an inappropriate relationship with another girl. God is showing Himself faithful, and we are are learning to stand before Him with empty hands.
My goodness how you have spoken to me today. Our house is for sale (I trust God) and I begin a new job in August (I trust God). From time to time I catch myself fretting, worrying, anticipating and trying to fit all the related concerns and what-ifs in a cute little box. God quickly reminds me the details of each are far too big for me. I would love to worry about each–believe me! Plus, because of my new job to begin in August I can’t plan to come to the Siesta Fiesta (*tear*).
I’m about to share your post with a dear friend who is in the midst of a tragic divorce. She will be blessed too.
Thank you, Beth. Love to you and Beanie! Jill
Beth,
Thanks so much for sharing this post. My family just made a HUGE move. We were renting a place and the owner of that property lost it to foreclosure. About two weeks ago, we were given 5 days to move. A LOT of prayer had gone up over that situation. We received the notice on a Friday and packed up and moved to a totally different state to where my parents live. On Wednesday we loaded the Uhaul and pulled out with my hubby having no employment and we had no home to move to. We traveled all day on Thursday. We stayed with my parents a few nights and then went to a hotel. That following Tuesday my hubby went to a job fair. By Thursday he had a job and by Saturday we had an apartment. That, my sister, was God’s hand working in our situation. Where we lived at before we moved, my hubby had looked and looked and looked for employment for almost a year. He was working a part-time job that wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Yet we saw God take care of our needs. We always had food to eat and the bills got paid! We felt we were to make the big move to where my parent’s live and within a little over a week of being here, my hubby got a wonderful job that he is totally excited about and we moved into the apartment and are getting settled. God is amazing! I tell you all this to say that I have found myself a little nervous in the last couple of days wondering how our needs will get taken care of these next several weeks. You see, my hubby’s first regular paycheck won’t come until the end of the month and it will be enough to cover our rent. I’m puzzled as to how we will have enough for gas this month. I am being very frugal as to our meal planning. What I have to remember when I begin to get nervous is that God is in control and I have seen Him mightily take care of us. I know that He will continue to take care of our needs. Why do I get nervous so? There’s no need for it. Then I read your post and wow – talk about timing! I have learned how to live day by day, thanking the Lord that we have all we need for each day. I am not about to give in to the worry now!
May God bless you!
Karen
Hi All. Streams in the Desert is also online at http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/devotions/classics/charles_cowman.html
Thanks for sharing that today, dear Beth. I feel for your dog, Beanie. When our dog died, our cat was so miserable, we had to get another dog just so the cat would quit crying 🙁
Beth,
You have no idea how much I needed to read your message, especially since I just wasted my entire Sunday worrying. I so felt that extra weight of the flesh you mentioned.
I grew up spending lots of time in hospitals due to my mom going through several reoccurances of cancer. Now, each time I have a doctor’s appointment (just normal check-ups), I worry myself to death that I am going to get bad news. That fear is definitely my stronghold, but I am working on it and choosing to trust! Thanks for the encouraging words.
I have loved Streams in the Desert since I was introduced to it in 2000 by a dear friend. She gave it to me to help me through a particularly difficult time, and I was amazed by how each day was just what I needed to make it through that day! Isn’t God awesome to use a devotional book like Streams that was written so many years ago and is still relevant today (that’s one of my favorite things about His Word!). 🙂
Thank-you Beth. I was in Omaha last May for the LPL and you spoke on worry. I’m so thankful you made us memorize T N R P L A – E P. (For those who were not there, read Phil 4:6-8.)
Finally “sisters”, whatever is True, whatever is Noble, whatever is Right, whatever is Pure, whatever is Lovely, whatever is Admirable—if anything is Excellent or Praiseworthy—think about such things.
You are so dear to me.
Melana in Wyoming
My husband and I are in Miami with our 4 month old son, preparing him for heart surgery. What a great word you gave this desperate siesta. Haven’t slept in days, begging God. So afraid. Can’t even see out of my swollen eyes. Thank you for facilitating Christ lifting me. I am praying for you over the loss of your beloved dog, when my dog died, I mourned his passing more than some relatives. I am not kidding. Thank you, please pray for my baby James.
“Worry always and only forms thicker flesh in us and weights us down until we cannot walk where the Spirit would take us.”
I have not heard worry described that way before and it hit me right where I needed it. Thanks so much for your post. It is addressing a huge problem my husband and I were just discussing two minutes ago, right before God sent me to check your blog 🙂