FRIDAY FOCUS WITH TRUST!

Worry is the problem!  (Philippians 4:6)

What's the two-fold answer?
1)    Go to God through His Word!

2)    PRAY!

TRUST---HAVE IT---THRUST IT!*

*ODK had a birthday thrust of joy as all the patrons of Haywood 209 Cafe sang "Happy Birthday" to him and the stage sent him off with a slice of coconut cake "on the house" to honor his 19th!

"W" = WISE WORTHY WORDS!

My emotions are a mess! From hyper-sensitivity, jumble & a library, in my grief to total numbness, I'm an emotional assemblage that defies reason. 

W (s) flood my mental library. Whines need to turn to Worship. Wrap Weeping in Hope. More worship than worry needed! Worry is waste. Wise words come from His Word!

This morning I awakened remembering my disconcerting medical news.

May medical diagnosis not fuel fears. I know the Great physician and my times are in His hands. 

Whether he takes me sooner rather than later, I need His transendent "peace to guard my heart and mind." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Wise & Worthy Words! Amen!!

CALM THE QUALM

Don't panic; I'm with you. (5 words or less) (Isaiah 41:10a, MSG)

No such button available in my life. 

But God in His love and mercy has given us His word and His Son, who is the word. (Ephesians 2:4, John 1:1)

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; (Psalm 37:7, NKJV)

Fret not, Dots.....to calm the qualm!

WORRY FREE WEEKEND!

Worry is such an emotional damper.

One worry can lead to another. Result = giant worry-web!

Cast all your anxiety, burdens, business and worries  on God.

Give it. Leave it. Cast it. Let Him have it.Throw it. Turn it over. 

No matter which nouns or verbs you use from Scripture, just do it!

Then allow Freedom Friday to lead into a Worry Free Weekend.

Enjoy!

LANGUAGE OF HOPE!

Worries have you sleepless?

Fear have you tossing and turning?

What's does one do when she hopes for a good night's sleep, "safe and secure from all alarms"?

The LORD is my Shepherd.....He leads me beside still waters...He restores my soul....He is with me.......He comforts me.......I will dwell with Him forever. 

LET IT GO!

12/31/23

Lay aside every encumbrance. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Let go of the unnecessary. The heavy. The bulk. 

Let go of worry. 

Let go of digital distractions.

Let go of expectations of pleasing others over the Lord.

Travel light. Do less. 

Get rid of unhealthy habits.

Run with endurance. 

Fellowship with God's people fuels endurance.

Daily allow God's word to energize you.

Make most of your time. (Ephesians 5:15)

Fix eyes on Jesus! 

Make Jesus your daily FOCUS!

Don't let Him go.

TROUNCE TEMPTATION!

For worry-warts of the world their besetting temptation is often WORRY! "What if's" invade their minds in subtle ways and not so subtle ways. The recent Collierville shootings not so subtle. Prayer ensued immediately!

"Stewing" over things with outcomes beyond one's control can seep in and catch him off guard. Fear ensues.

Such thoughts require immediate action. 

A battle of the mind....a temptation that must be dealt with before it can reach the heart and begin to permeate every action. 

Thoughts reflecting worry are stepping stones to temptation & need to be taken captive to destroy those worldly arguments. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Focus is needed! Remember Who is sovereign in this world!

Remain............................

F IXED

O N

C HRIST'S

U LTIMATE

S OVEREIGNITY

Thoughts are okay when when brought into obedience of Christ. He's the only One who can trounce our temptations. 

Morgan says, "Our ability to trounce temptation is in direct proportion to our fellowship with Christ. (All To Jesus, Day 269, emphasis mine) 

So when the devil knocks, let Christ open the door!

WORRYWART!

Worrywart is a moniker I wear all too well. Often is a better adverb choice than well, I think. 

As a youngster, in Hoptown I was aware that Mother was seen as a fuss-budget. It sounds like the worry malady is hereditary.

What worry really is---is sin! A besetting sin for some.

For a believer, this "distrust" can begin with our thoughts......which too often can be more emotion-based than truth-based. Distrust = not taking God at His word.

A mind game! Mine, can run from one extreme emotion to to the other. Hot to cold. Fluctuations that override and overule the truth from God's word. 

What's the antidote for worry? Take every thought captive. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Remember Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:8)

Others need to see you as a testimony to His truth not as a slave to your emotions.

For me, it's not as easy as the picture might suggest. In my life, it's a real struggle that I have to submit daily to the Lord as I choose to disregard my own power and cling to His Presence, never discounting His omnipresence in my life.

Farewell worrywart......until the next time! In His time, no worries.

FRISSON OF FEAR

Frisson of fear is what happened to me as I waited for the latest biopsy results. 
Fear the antithesis of trust.

I  didn't scream out to others for prayer but I turned inward somewhat, though not exactly in a spiritual way. 

It was like a pall hanging over me---a dark pall of worry. 

Worry the antithesis of contentment & peace. (Philippians 4:6-7)*
Source of fear is NOT from the Lord. (2 Timothy 1:7)**
Discouragement can follow fear and dismay is close behind. (Isaiah 41:10)***

A bedside reminder from a dear friend and MAC mentor.

But God....in His love, mercy and great love reminded me of those truths from His Word. (Ephesians 2:4)

The biopsy was benign......but the diagnosis requires ongoing observation and treatment. Recently I had "bragged" to a friend that I now no longer had to go to doc every 6 months.
Lesson learned. No more bragging assumptions from me---I am not in control! 
"I am not in control" is a praise because I know the One who is sovereign.

Frisson of Fear be gone.

*For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

**So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

***Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with   thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

CHOOSE: WISE INVESTMENTS

For me to even type those words feels like a foreign language. To invest wisely is not usually in my vocabulary because financial investing is the first thing that comes to my mind---and I couldn't tell you anything about "the Market!" Bull? Bear?
But God...these last few weeks has reminded me to take stock of the worries that are pretty bullish in my life lately. Not Wall Street stocks as I don't have any of those, but I do have that level of panic that is often reflected on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. It's time to cash in and divest myself of the fears that bring worry, which can become a growing sense of panic.
When our nation worries, the markets plunge. The Dow even fell today. (Whatever the DOW is.) When I worry, my spirit plummets.

As Chuck Swindoll  puts it,  (in my notes from, Christ at the Crossroads) I need to dump my useless panic and  worries and regain a solid share of God's peace. (Philippians 4:6)

Obviously I've been unsuccessful in disinvesting my self of worry & panic for many years now. My 2009 blog about patience listed ridiculous circumstances that would throw me into a panic. Sadly, the same things hold true today in my panic-driven life.  How slow am I?

Today, I choose wise investments. Ironically, one an appointment with a financial advisor, but the wise investments were ones I made with my time and other people. I chose to spend time in prayer, send some texts and emails to hopefully encourage family and friends and most importantly to visit with a widow friend face to face.

CHOOSE: TO HEED

Pray and Obey. Pithy with a punch. It even rhymes!  A great reminder to heed.

The Lord has been revealing much to me in His word this week as I have chosen to "pray" scripture.

Now....it's up to me. Will I obey the truth I have been shown? 

Some obedience is much easier than others. But God.....wants it all.

Taking every thought captive seems to me a besetting sin. (2 Corinthians 10:5,) i.e. worry. (Philippians 4:6)

Marginalia to the rescue. Chuck Swindoll notes, from the anxiety chapter 3 of Christ at the Crossroads, reminded me:

I worry when...

ADD--- something else to my already FULL agenda

          ---my reputation/pride to a situation

          ---someone else's expectation of  me ..........& then I become angry.

I worry when I calculate without God....considering consequences of "addition without him" seems a good beginning point for lots of needed heeding.

Now, I need to choose to heed, but I think I'll just focus on inappropriate addition---that seems doable today. I certainly don't need to add frustration or anger to my life, which Swindoll sees as a result of too much addition.

Name it! Nail it!!

Cole said it. Sin needs to be named and nailed.
I named it---WORRY. I confessed "it." I "laid" it at the cross.

I had a sleepless night.  I must have picked "it" up---that propensity to worry.
Lists of "what if's" about self, family, friends and others whirred throughout the night.

At Benny's funeral the Baptist Hospice singer reminded me to take "it" back to the cross, as he crooned verse 3 from "It is Well with My Soul."

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

This time, I must have nailed "it" there.....

I slept like a baby last night.

"mul-TEA-ply"

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19, NASB)

Insomnia seems to "reign" lately---at least on my side of the bed. So....whether I am awakened by an extreme warmth (aka a flash) or an "urge" which has me trekking to the loo. (aka the toilet) It's during these early am awake times that worry seems to reset my metabolism from the calm I desire in sleep to the racing of whirring thoughts. If our minds have a metabolism, anxious thoughts upstart mine toward mach speed during the night watches. Obviously, the Psalm 94:19 verse is a "go-to" verse for me as I have embedded it in 4 previous blogs.* But today, it's front and center!

The question asked by hubby prior to bedtime came to the forefront of my mind.....and sleep eluded me for another couple of hours.
"Why do you have to blog every day? Maybe when you go on your girls' trip you could blog that you're taking off for a few days."
In recent years, I have never sensed such a "daily" compulsion. Would it be acceptable to no longer adhere to this semblance of a commitment? But God.....Isn't my love for Him the compelling factor? If not, then why am I doing it?

Struggling to crawl out of bed to be on time for an 8:30 appointment, I had doubts. No middle of the night blog ideas came. No "tea" words on the edges of my mind. No energy for the day seemed evident and that was even without factoring in a blog entry. But God............

Leaving point A at 9:25 am to get to point B by 9:30 am, I passed a table, with a "tented" brown leather book. As a librarian, dog-earing a page, or "tenting a book" to hold one's place is a no-no! So, I backtracked. I picked up the book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young which was holding a place for today's date. There was my "tea" word and that one word was an affirmation for me-----today I was to blog......"mul-TEA-ply."

The Pharisees chose to "multiply" regulations to create their own form of godliness and lost sight of God. (Jesus Calling, 6/2) Even today man-made rules can enslave each of us when one's focus is on performance and not on knowing God.

For Christian bloggers, a worthy goal is to "shed the love of God abroad in our hearts " (Romans 5:5) that His word might spread and his disciples multiply and become obedient in the faith. (Acts 6:7) and For God's sake. His glory, not our own.

Several cuppas of mul-TEA-ply are available:

• A pharisaical form of multiplying that focuses on "self." 
• A God focused multiplying that brings Him glory.

I hope to choose the right brew so that "whatever I do in word or deed will be done in His name and to His glory." (Colossians 3:17) Today I chose to focus on Him and He led me to blog.

* Older Psalm 94:19 blog entires
Night Noises 3/9/11 http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2011_03_09_archive.html
Peaceful Meditation 4/2/12 http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2012/04/peaceful-meditation.html
Don't Doubt 6/19/12 http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2012/06/dont-doubt.html
"tenaci-TEA" 2/24/14 http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2014/02/tenaci-tea_24.html

at-TEA-tude

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the WILDERNESS and streams in the wasteland.  (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

Do you not see it? One can "altitude their attitude" by looking up. Seeing the Lord afresh by refocusing on Him. Reclaiming one's faith, by taking God at His word is an action of an upward attitude.

A fresh brew left the dregs of yesterday's anxi-TEA behind as I opened, Streams in the Desert (1/4) and read a quote from George Mueller. 

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."


Regret looks back.
Worry looks here, there and yon.
Faith looks up.

A new at-TEA-tude as I savored time with Thee.

Sufficient unto the day….

10/29/13 Study Notes & Marginalia

Worry = unnecessary anxiety----Worry happens when we lose sight of our loving Father’s care. Worry is lack of trust in God’s care. (Cathy Crowe)

Anxiety=afraid of what might happen. (Wayne Smith)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; worry empties today of its strength. (C. Crowe)

So don't waste your moments or your hours. Trust God!

Sufficient unto the day----our troubles and worries.   

But God….is the all Sufficient One.

3 Ws

10/2/13  3 Ws  were blog thoughts that wandered away after I headed to bed last night. Regrettably, I think the first one was worry----thus the headache that had me to "take to the bed." Possibly the second W was wait. Certainly waiting is a more spiritual activity than worry. Worry is a lack of trust. Worry is sin.
Waiting on God for direction can sometimes be difficult, especially for "doers"......for those who prefer answers sooner rather than later. Yet, today as I tried to recapture the Ws from the recesses of my memory, I realized that God was waiting on me. Waiting for me to give up the worry and trust Him in the situation that loomed with unknowns.

Once that happened, wisdom arrived all the way from France. Words of wisdom via God's child. So timely....but then His timing would be, wouldn't it?

An email arrived from Aggie to ask about the absence of the 3 Ws blog text, AND to share truths she gleaned from from her Lydia prayer cell's meditation of Psalm 67, especially the first 2 verses. To her it was just a way of sharing today's meeting, which is similar to our prayer for revival group. To me it was God-speak. (Even the cross ref to the Numbers verse was one used by me in  9/16 & 9/18 blog entry)

1 May God have pity on us and bless us!

 May he smile on us. Selah  (Numbers 6:24-26)

2 Then your ways will be known on earth,

your salvation throughout all nations.

She added: What stood out to me was the fact that when we are in trouble or testing, we - I - tend to ask God for the way out, "O God, help me!  Send your light and blessing and grace."  But vs 2 makes it clear that the purpose of God's intervention and blessing is (also) for the purpose of making Him and his ways known to those around us, and to the ends of the earth.

Aggie didn't have a clue what I was facing but God knew.

When I replied to her with my situation concern, she sent more wisdom gleaned from others along her life path.

"WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today's PEACE."

She also wrote:  I wish that a lesson learned once is permanently acquired.  Not necessarily.  One time I said to a retired pastor, "I get discouraged because I get the impression that I'm always going through the same things, same lessons and spinning my wheels.  He replied, "No, Agnes.  It's a spiral and each time we go through a lesson we move on, and upward.  If we come to what seems like the same thing again, it is on a different level, because we are moving on in the Lord, growing in grace." That was SUCH an encouragement to me!  God is good, He is faithful. 

That's it---the 3rd W---came to mind.

WORSHIP---He is worthy.

He, who is good and faithful and waits patiently on me to give my burden of worry to Him, is worthy of worship. 

HURRIED FORGETFULNESS: A Meditation

7/8/13 Recent post had me pondering some questions about worrying and hurrying. Pondering those resulted in some guided meditation. (Allen Bible Church, 7/5/10) Pondering brought focus!

Listen to His will: Focus. Pray. Rejoice. Give thanks.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Lord gives His will but also gives His warning so that hurry & worry won't result in low-grade joylessness---aka as a life more filled with "blahs" than "ahs."

In David's Psalms (his journal, of sorts) he reminds us to remember all that God has done for us. 

Remember His warning:

Bless the Lord, O my soul and FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS. (Psalm 103:2)

It might take a little time to recall God's benefits and to say thank you. But....as author Timothy Jones states, "As I take time to enjoy God, I find myself lifted out of life's littleness."

Hurried people become forgetful & ungrateful, which can lead to lives of irritation & "demandedness." One demands more from God & others in order to serve self.

Grateful people don't forget to say thank-you. 

Our forget-filled lives: Hurried.Worried. Ho-Hum.

His will: Be Thankful

His warning: BEWARE OF HURRIED FORGETFULNESS!

Hurried Forgetfulness

7/6/13 With more than "our normal number" of  upcoming summer trips, excessive planning has been creeping in to my mindset. Forgetfulness has been rampant. But God....showed me a 7/5/10 Allen Bible Church post that I had printed off 3 year ago. Is there a "July" pattern here?

Hurry, Worry and Ho-Humness too often mark the lives of Christians. Notes that followed indicated that, too often, we describe ourselves by how busy, frenzied and time-squeezed we are. It's as if busyness is a badge of honor. Worry means our lives are significant. In truth, as one man said, "When I listen to myself, I'm coming to realize, I'm too much laced with discontent?"

Questions popped out at me:

Despicable Me 2, a family treat

• Are you worried and hurried? 
• What would God say to you? 
• God has spoken, without stutter, concerning His will for life. Am you listening?

As I pondered these questions, I began to heed those underlying warnings.

Then, I got an offer I couldn't refuse.

I decided not to hurry but to forget all the to-do list items and enjoy the moment.

 I went to a "kiddie" movie.

DO YOU TRUST ME???

6/14/12 “Do you trust me?” was the question “Unky” (aka Bill Gurner) would ask my kids as he held them at arms length off the ledge on the deep end of the pool. Of course, he would always let go---that was part of the fun of the game.

But this past year that question has taken on a more significant meaning. It all started when my friend, JoLynn related a tough situation and sensed that the Lord was asking her, Do you trust me in this, JoLynn? 

After that, for me, the word trust began “jumping off the pages” in devotional books, especially Jesus Calling. I began to mark each with a † in the middle of the u---as my reminder of the Lord asking, Do you trust me, Dotsy?

Yesterday, my “last minute call” to join the women’s mission team and leave in 6 days for central Ukraine moved from being willing to trusting. Not long after the wobbly knee-excitement and the unbelievable provision of a cleared calendar, needed RX and funds for a pricey airline ticket began to settle, the need for more trust surfaced. Even after all the clear indicators that my participation was God’s will, I needed more assurance.

Some folks asked hard questions---things I needed to consider, but not as fun as the thought of just going and serving. Even the ticker tape rolling across under the news was foreboding. Strains between Russia and US as military assistance was provided by Russia for Syria. Problems of violence at the Euro Soccer championship esp. between Russians and Poland---right near where we will be.

But God….in His mercy used prayers and provision of others to bring me back. God-centered. Daughter reminded me of how God knows me inside and out and this “last minute” (to me) decision was His way of alleviating weeks of worry (not spiritual, I know) because I have no time to worry----I just need to start packing.

Lots to do. Yes, but today I’m trusting* Him to work out the details.

*Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Morning Visitor inspires Meditation

1/9/12 Morning visitor was an eye opener in several ways. A reminder to fear not. A sign that God is in control. A grateful heart hint. A fret not, Dots memo!
Morning visitor was a red bellied woodpecker---not a red headed. God knows the difference so I figured I should too!
25Therefore 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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27)