Have you ever felt life was spinning out of control or flying by at the speed of light? You know, the feeling like it's all a whirlwind, and you are caught in the middle. It's the time when you don't quite know where to start or when to stop, so instead you just freeze, or freak out, or even run away from it all. This feeling is so stressful and even frightening at times.
I've found myself feeling caught up in life more often than I care to admit - it's ups and downs, to do lists that never end, and even a few curveballs I'm not expecting. And lately, this whirlwind really began wearing me down. Too often I take all that life dishes out on my own shoulders, and no matter how strong I think I am, I eventually begin to crumble under the pressure.
Recently, I did crumble. A simple text message I received was the thing that put me over the edge. It wasn't what the text said, but rather it was just one more thing I didn't have time to do. The tears started to fall and then they just wouldn't stop. All that I had been carrying lately, felt like it was going to swallow me whole as I sat and just cried and cried.
After a while, my husband, who, I should tell you, does NOT do well with teary, emotional anything EVER, came and started asking what I was so worked up about. My list went on and on in between more sobs until finally he looked at me and said, "Stop it! All you are doing is worrying! These are all things you can't control." As I attempted the beginnings of a pitiful rebuttal, he stopped me cold with these words: "I hear you preach and counsel others all the time about worry! What does the bible say about worry? You have to stop."
After recovering from the shock at what he said (my husband just doesn't say things like this), I slowly began to calm down. I began really thinking about his words. God knew I needed this reminder right in this moment and he definitely got my attention using my husband to deliver it. I know what God's word says about worry. In Matthew 6, Jesus himself tells us:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" He goes on to say, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34
I am human and definitely imperfect to say the least. I tend to be a bit of a control freak and I try do things on my own. After taking some time to let these words from Matthew really sink in, I am reminded of God's grace and mercy, his endless love, and how He always meets me when I am at the end of myself, in the most perfect way. I'm grateful that no matter how stubborn I am, He finds a way, or in this case, a person, to remind me of His truth. I don't need to carry life's burdens on my shoulders. He carries me through it, walks by my side, and is the ever present help I need all the time! What a relief that truth is, especially when fear, pain, and a never-ending to do list begin to creep in on me and I find myself caught in a whirlwind.
It easy to get wrapped up in the day to day things of this world and the worries this life brings. My hope is that reading about this reminder God gave me a few days ago, you may also be encouraged to let go of your worry. Give it to God. He's got it all under control. Seriously, He created the universe - nothing is impossible when you think about it from that perspective. Just PRAY my friends. He hears each and every one of our prayers. Choose to be worry free today!
Until next time....
Lori
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Buttons and Stories
Have you ever given any thought to buttons? You know, just plain old everyday buttons that are found on clothing and more. Well, I recently inherited a whole lot of buttons. This evening I sat down and began looking through all the hundreds of buttons brainstorming ideas of crafty things I could do. Many of these looked like just plain old commons buttons, but as I as I dug deeper into the jars full, I found some interesting and very unique ones as well.
This got me wondering about the history behind each button. Many of them had some thread still attached and a few even had tiny bits of fabric still attached. Some of these buttons are likely over fifty years old. While I will likely never know the details, these old buttons have a story - a story that tells the places they've been, who wore them, and so much more.
These buttons are a lot like people. We all have a story too! While the buttons can't tell us their story, as humans, we are blessed with the gift of communication abilities. Not only are we able to speak to others in person, we have phones, email, text, Facebook, Twitter and more at our disposal anytime of the day. We are capable of asking others about their stories in a variety of ways, checking both and friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I've noticed both in myself and others close to me, that we tend to get wrapped up in our daily lives, the busy balancing act that working and parenting brings, and we miss so many opportunities to see others around us that are hurting an broken, who have stories to share.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us that we are the light others:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
When we get so wrapped up in our own to do lists and daily life, we lose out on the chance to be a light to someone else - maybe a friend who is going through a hard time, or a coworker who is struggling, or maybe even that homeless guy begging on the corner. They all have a story to share and as Christ followers, we have an opportunity to share God's love by just taking a few minutes to listen to them, pray with them, or maybe just let them know that someone notices them and cares.
While I won't ever know the story behind all those buttons I now have, I think those buttons are a great reminder that we all come in contact with different people throughout each day whose stories we can take a moment to listen to. By taking that moment to be the light of Jesus to others, there's a good chance we could play a part in the story of their future AND better yet - we get to play a part in a bigger story, God's story!
Friends, I want to challenge you this week to stop and listen to someone else's story. Sometime this week, take the time to notice some one you don't normally pay attention to and strike up a conversation. It may be a coworker, or an old friend you need to catch up with, or maybe even stop and talk with that homeless guy on the corner. Just be the light shining into someone else's darkness and see what God does with it. I know you will not regret it!
If you decide to accept this challenge, I would love to here about it! Share how this challenge has changed you, or just how God used you to be a light for someone else in the comment section below.
God Bless.
~Lori
 |
| Some of the interesting buttons |
This got me wondering about the history behind each button. Many of them had some thread still attached and a few even had tiny bits of fabric still attached. Some of these buttons are likely over fifty years old. While I will likely never know the details, these old buttons have a story - a story that tells the places they've been, who wore them, and so much more.
These buttons are a lot like people. We all have a story too! While the buttons can't tell us their story, as humans, we are blessed with the gift of communication abilities. Not only are we able to speak to others in person, we have phones, email, text, Facebook, Twitter and more at our disposal anytime of the day. We are capable of asking others about their stories in a variety of ways, checking both and friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I've noticed both in myself and others close to me, that we tend to get wrapped up in our daily lives, the busy balancing act that working and parenting brings, and we miss so many opportunities to see others around us that are hurting an broken, who have stories to share.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us that we are the light others:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
When we get so wrapped up in our own to do lists and daily life, we lose out on the chance to be a light to someone else - maybe a friend who is going through a hard time, or a coworker who is struggling, or maybe even that homeless guy begging on the corner. They all have a story to share and as Christ followers, we have an opportunity to share God's love by just taking a few minutes to listen to them, pray with them, or maybe just let them know that someone notices them and cares.
While I won't ever know the story behind all those buttons I now have, I think those buttons are a great reminder that we all come in contact with different people throughout each day whose stories we can take a moment to listen to. By taking that moment to be the light of Jesus to others, there's a good chance we could play a part in the story of their future AND better yet - we get to play a part in a bigger story, God's story!
Friends, I want to challenge you this week to stop and listen to someone else's story. Sometime this week, take the time to notice some one you don't normally pay attention to and strike up a conversation. It may be a coworker, or an old friend you need to catch up with, or maybe even stop and talk with that homeless guy on the corner. Just be the light shining into someone else's darkness and see what God does with it. I know you will not regret it!
If you decide to accept this challenge, I would love to here about it! Share how this challenge has changed you, or just how God used you to be a light for someone else in the comment section below.
God Bless.
~Lori
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