Worry – Deep Thoughts & Little Happenings

January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

Finding A Stormy New Perspective as I Enter 2022

The last time we were at our favorite beach spot, was in 2019. We arrived just before the tropical storm off the coast released a deluge of wind and rain. The ocean was not the friendly face of years past, but a raging tempest of angry, surging surf. We stood on our nineteenth-floor balcony awed by the power unleashed before us. The waters crashed and frothed, covering every bit of beach, and threatening the edges of the building below. This storm was more than 200 miles out at sea!

I’ve been thinking a lot about that experience since writing my last post. I must confess, I was being taught even as I wrote. I kept trying to make it about the battle to stay with my stuff on the beach and the LORD kept pushing me away. It was a struggle to turn my eyes away from the place I was “supposed” to be so I could see His message for me (and you).

Which brings me to what I want to share today. I love being in the ocean; swimming, floating, playing. But when the storms are raging, I prefer to watch from the balcony.

The storm I described earlier was what is called a Red Flag Day in Panama City Beach. A red flag means to stay out of the water; it doesn’t even allow wading. We are to stay completely out of the water!

We had to stay out of the water for two days!

But in the context of Jesus being the Living Water, I’m called to relax into Him and where He wants to take me. I’m called to enter the stormy waters and not just the gently lapping waters of a typical Gulf beach day.

Picture taken by George from our balcony the morning after the storm – July 2019 – Panama City Beach, Florida

Please don’t take this literally and go jumping into the ocean during a tropical storm! This is about living life out in the deep with Jesus as our security. Being confident in Him. Trusting Him when what He asks of us goes against our feelings, our wants, our culture, and sometimes even friends and family.

Speaking of, there is a word of caution here too…

We were all created to be IN Christ Jesus, but we were NOT all created to do the same good works in Him. Following Jesus doesn’t look exactly the same. We are NEVER called to do anything contrary to God’s written word, but our lives are meant to be lived as uniquely as we are created.

LORD, I want to relax into You as You lead me. Give me a desire to go wherever You want me to go. Teach me to let go of the familiar and cling to You alone. Give me confidence in You. Teach me to trust Your plan is good and perfect even when it creates struggle for me. Protect me from fear. Create in me a willingness to encourage others to choose You and live for You. Do not let me foster a critical spirit; I do not want to grieve or quench Your Holy Spirit in me. I love You. May my thoughts, words, and deeds bring You all the glory, honor, and praise You are due! Amen.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

June 17, 2021June 16, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Be Alert to the Second D

Key Verse:

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

Today I’m going to share a thought I had about running the bases. We often see runners get tagged or forced out because they’re watching the ball while running. Runners do not need to watch the ball. The batter is supposed to run as hard and fast as he can toward first base, and as soon as he hits the ball. There’s no need to watch the ball. Why?

Right next to the first base is a First Base Coach. He’s there to make sure the batter knows whether to round the bag toward second or run through the base and stay on first (first base is the only base you can run past without getting tagged out). First Base Coach also gives the homerun signal which allows the batter to slow it down while running all the bases home.

There’s a Third Base Coach too. He’s there to make sure the base runners know whether to round second or third or hold up.

Watching the ball can mean the difference between reaching base, taking an additional base, making a run, or being out.

Watching the ball will distract and slow down even the fastest base runners.

Jesus-followers also have two coaches.

One is God’s written word, the Bible.

The other is Holy Spirit. Our spiritual life begins when the Spirit comes into our lives and seals us in Jesus. But our new life doesn’t just begin with Holy Spirit, following His guidance enables us to live fruitful lives.

There are many things in this life that can distract Jesus-followers, but I think the most insidious for me are the worries and cares of this world. Those little everyday worries that clog my mind with the “what-ifs” I can’t control (and may never even happen). Or those things I “need” to do, “should” do, or “have” to do.

Yes, those are the things I find myself struggling to turn my mind’s eye away from so I can just look for and follow Holy Spirit’s lead.

My worries reveal the places where I’m distracted by my own understanding.

Why do I get distracted? Although I would never say, “I don’t trust God’s word,” or “I don’t trust Holy Spirit,” I’m learning many of my distractions reveal a lack of trust.

My struggle to live in obedience to God’s word reveals where I don’t trust what He says is right. Times when I’m tempted to trust my perspective instead of His.

I want to be alert instead of distracted.

Alert to places where I’m in danger of trusting my own understanding.

Alert to times when I’m in danger of not trusting Holy Spirit’s lead.

Distracted is not who I want to be!

Take A Moment…

1 Pray. Ask Holy Spirit to help you be alert to what distracts you and hinders your ability to see and follow His lead.

2 While reading your Bible this week, be alert to verses you can claim, memorize, and remember when you find yourself distracted by the things of this world.

3 Be intentional. Be alert. Watch for Holy Spirit’s signals and don’t hesitate to follow His lead.

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 25:15, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33-34, Mark 4:18-20, Luke 12:24-26, John 3:5-8, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:6-8, Philippians 6:8, Hebrews 12:2 & 1 Peter 5:7

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

One more thing: Holy Spirit can be trusted. He will never signal us to do anything contrary to God’s written word. So, if you’re not sure, you can always do like the Bereans and check the Scriptures for confirmation. Acts 17:11

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021

Weary? Want to Drop It All and Run?

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Last week we looked at Jesus’ invitation, but who was He talking to when He said “Come to Me”?

“ALL of you who are weary.”

weary adjective
1: exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or freshness
Miriam Webster online dictionary

Does weary describe you?

If so, Jesus is speaking to you!

“ALL of you who carry heavy burdens.”

carry verb
1: to support and take from one place to another
Miriam Webter online thesaurus

What are you carrying?

burden noun
1a: something that is carried : LOAD
b: DUTY,
RESPONSIBILITY
Miriam Webster online dictionary

Are your burdens heavy?

If so, Jesus is speaking to you!

Next week we’re going to look at Jesus’ promise to all who accept His invitation to come to Him.

Between Now and Then…

1 Take time to make a list of the things you are currently carrying. These should include physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens.

2 Take Jesus up on His invitation. Go to Him. Take your list of burdens with you. Ask Him to show you which things on your list are ones He has given you to carry and which ones He did not.

3 Listen and be alert for His answer.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 34:1-3 & 1 Peter 5:7

December 3, 2020January 8, 2021

The Joy Challenge: Casting Off

Today’s Scripture Passage:

I Peter 5:6-11

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8 (NLT)

Last week we looked at Step One of The Joy Challenge: Thanksgiving and Praise.

Today we’re going to dig deeper into Step Two of the Joy Challenge: Cast all your cares on Jesus.

God’s word is filled with warnings about worry, anxiety, fretting, burdens, troubles, and the cares of this world. Why?

He knows those things not only weigh us down, but they will gradually consume our every thought. They grow bigger and bigger, and heavier and heavier, until they conceal His presence and goodness in our lives.

In today’s Scripture, Peter reminds us to

(1) be humble,

(2) give God all our worries and cares, and

(3) stay alert.

The order of these verses is important!

We may tell God about our troubles, but we won’t give them to Him unless we’re humble. My Grandma used to say, “Take it to the LORD and leave it there.” It takes humility to leave our worries and care with Jesus. It takes trust.

We have to believe God cares about us before we’ll give our worries and cares to Him.

Worries and cares endanger us because they distract us. We have an enemy. He wants to destroy our lives. He wants to rob us of anything good God has for us. We need to get rid of the distractions and stay alert!

Our enemy cannot take our salvation, but we can lose the joy of our salvation. We lose our joy when we allow the cares of this world to consume our lives. I’ve experienced that loss of joy, and like King David in Psalm 51, I had to ask the LORD to restore to me the joy of His salvation. He retored my joy; He’ll restore yours too! All you have to do is ask.

Digging Deeper:

Nahum 1:7, Matthew 6:31-34, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 13:18-23, Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 4:6-7

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 (NLT)