Worry Wart!

…and I’ll tell you a story. I remember the sound of the old Volvo station wagon my mother used to drive…the smell of the seats, the rusty red color it was. It was a hot summer day and my mom, myself, and my three sisters were going to get some groceries. I remember sitting there thinking and wondering what we could possibly get with the amount of money we had. All the money my family had to their name was some dimes, nickels, pennies, and quarters that filled up a jar the size of a coke can. I remember worrying, and feeling sad, and wondering what we would do…….

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus talks about worrying. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”….”O you of little faith, so do not worry wondering what shall we eat, what shall we drink, or what shall we wear.” “ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” “For do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.”

So next time you catch yourself worrying about things (and we all worry), stop what your doing for a minute, take a couple of deep breaths, and pray out to God!

Doubt...

….a lot has been going on in my life the last couple of months. Primarily with the many pressures that come with the profession I’m currently involved in. Last week, I ran across an interview my late grandmother did for MDA ALS research several months ago. For those who don’t know, my grandma battled ALS for several years, and just recently it finally ended up taking her life.
In this interview, my grandma talks about one of her favorite verses.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Reading this definitely put me in my place….how a lot of problems and stresses which now seem so small and menial caused me to worry and doubt, but yet a wonderful lady like my grandma with the terminal condition she was faced with, had faith that said “Lord your will is my will”.

Romans 8:38 – For I am convinced that neither life nor death, not angels nor demons, not the present nor the future, nor any other powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Hope you have a blessed week!

OH.

A shout out to Aggie Crew

The Simplicity to Life.....

When I think of the simple things in life, I think of family…..a great book…..music…..a picnic….the beach….tubing down the river…..flip flops….dancing….cooking….great company…..great conversation….and Sunday morning church……..

It’s so easy to forget the simplicity that life can have. With most of us trying to climb the “ladder”, and get higher and higher, and better and better, bigger and bigger, with the different stresses and pressures of life we lose focus and a lot of times forget why we’re here and what we live for. We forget what’s important and why God gave us this life to live.

In Luke 10:38-42, the story of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha, if we remember Martha opened her home to Jesus, and while Jesus was there, she was worried about the preparations, the meal, the environment, and everything else she could worry about. While Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening…patiently waiting….remembering what was important.

“Martha, Martha Jesus answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Remember to listen, to wait, to be still and know God is in control…remember the simple things of life.

Just got out of the surf.......

Risky Business

One summer, my two friends Dustin , Will, and I went on a surfing trip down to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. If you're familiar with Escondido, you know it's known for a surfing break called "Mex Pipe" or the Mexican Pipeline, a rather large, hollow wave. Even though I'd been surfing for several years, even though I had surfed decent size waves before, I could put this one down as the largest I had attempted. I remember paddling out....being so unsure how things were going to play out....being so nervous and scared....the further I paddled into the surf the more vulnerable and susceptible I became....would I be successful or would I fall in defeat.......right then and there I new I had taken a risk..............................

I've been reading through a book by Charles R. Swindoll called The Strength of Character. In his book, Swindoll writes about having courage:

"All who live risk something.

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To hope is to risk despair.

To try is to risk failure."

Don't be afraid to take a risk. We need to have that risk taking faith for Christ! So many times we just need to let go and just turn it all over to God....because that's when great things happen....Goliaths are conquered, lives are changed, the storm is calmed, the blind see, the lepers are healed.

Pretty Righteous

Check it out

Into the Deep

During hard times I've had in my life, I've read through Jonahs Prayer. It's amazing to see Jonah just pour himself out! Check it out!

Jonah 2: 1-10

"In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all of your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you o Lord brought my life up from the pit............

Brave Heart

1Corinth. 16:13 - 14 Stand firm in the faith; Be men of courage; Be strong. Do everything in love.

Many times we find ourselves a little afraid to do certain things, perhaps things that are new, that make us different and unique, because we worry about what the rest of the world thinks, says, or does. We worry we'll be mocked and criticized...we worry about failure. As Christians, we cannot be afraid to fall, to be hurt, to be humiliated.....we cannot be afraid of rejection of being shut down. We cannot be afraid to take a stand and to love!!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - T. Roosevelt

A warm bowl of...........

Recently, a very special person in my life introduced me to something that is now very near and dear to my heart......something that can warm you up when it's cold outside.....that can be both bitter and sweet......a special something that can be eaten with bacon and chedder, with butter or even shrimp. That something is GRITS (and Yes, I am eating some as I write this). If you've never tried grits before, check out your local grocery store. Who knew that something so simple could be so great................

A Brand New Session

Many times in life we go down so many roads.......go around many curves.......and take so many turns that we may often look around and wonder how we ended up where we're at. As for me, I know I do that a lot. Not once did I think I'd be sitting in front of a computer screen writing down my thoughts for the world to read....and not once did I think I'd enjoy it so much. I guess everything happens for a reason. So basically....long story short....I'm a blogger........I think!!