"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!!

PROXIMI-TEA!

My morning cuppa! Proximi-TEA! 

First, I had to throw my cuppa anxiety-TEA down the drain.

Then, I picked up God's Word to move-in closer.......and

On the small table beside my prayer chair, was a calling card from one of our church elders of Care Ministries. He has been in a whirlwind of health problems for many weeks now. Yet here was his card encouraging me---with this verse clearly at my side.

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Closer proximity to Him is essential, especially in the "whirlwind" of physical 

unknowns/fears of self and others. 

A cuppa with the Lord in His word and a cuppa proximi-TEA shared with a friend can wash away the fears and dreads of the unknown. 

JOY!

A great day for a walk in the neighborhood! Walk & nice Weather to calm

my anxiety. Anxiety over checking-in for tomorrow's flight.

But God.....had me turn the corner. Looking up, I saw JOY!

Literally. Bright, colorful JOY!

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:2. NLT)
 

ALL IS CALM!

Calm!

These days is "calm" used much any more in our multi tasking society?

Do we know how to be still?

Be still before the Lord?? (Psalm 46:10)

In today's terms, is this God's way of encouraging us in our time of worry, busyness and anxious thoughts? "Relax. I got this." (Psalm 94:19)

His consolations certainly can bring "bright" to our lives and delight to our souls.!

FUNCTIONAL AGING (A.M.A.P.)

At our church, the LLL or Triple Ls are the ones whose class members would all check the last box on the age information-----above 65! Chronologically aging.

Functional aging is physical and out of our control. Attitudinal aging is a choice.

I'm wondering if checking that last box for some years now should have been an alliterative reminder for me---one who, too often, languishes in lethargy or lapse into anxiety.

Lethargy looms.  Lethargy lingers. Lethargy lessens.
Anxiety accelerates. Anxiety agitates. Anxiety adds angst.

Lethargy and anxiety are on opposite ends of a dysfunctional spectrum, but both are disturbances in a healthy relational life. Think sluggish vs wired!

Attitudinal lethargy and anxiety have their root in our thought life.
It's a mind battle. It's our "thoughts" which need positive intervention.
A.M.A.P. ---As Much As Possible.

I need A.M.A.P. of God's word in my thought life to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind." (Romans 12:2) I need to apply Philippians 4:8 as I capture thoughts at the entry level. and "think on these things."
True. Honest. Just. Pure. Lovely. Admirable.
Meditating on these truths will "please my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Functionally.....A relaxed (not sluggish) attitude lengthens a man’s life.  (Proverbs 14:30, TLB) and a cheerful heart is good medicine.  (Proverbs 17:22).....
......RX = daily dose ASAP of a cheerful heart. A.M.A.P.

CHOOSE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANXIETY

If anxiety is often synonymous with stress, How does one rid herself from stress, the bad kind that is?

What is an effective, appropriate alternative to anxiety?

The answer is simple. The application is harder. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Friend Drenda, who knows me oh so-o-o well after working with me for years, has given me a tangible reminder. A pocket prayer shawl---how original and perfect.

Some choices are easier to make with encouragement from friends.

CHOOSE: LESS FRET, MORE FAITH

Less Fret, More Faith is the 1st chapter in Max Lucado's new book, anxious for nothing FINDING CALM in a CHAOTIC WORLD based on Philippians 4:4-6.

Sometimes I feel like a could write these anti-anxiety books my self. I just don't always live it.

I certainly know about fretting and remind myself often, "Fret not, Dots!"

I've memorized the Philippians passage but..........I couldn't resist the implication of "are you anxious about being anxious" and other revealing phrases in the intro, which seemed to describe me. 

...a low grade fear. A edginess, a dread.....not so much a storm as the certainty that one is coming.....so you don't sleep well. (p. 3)

Hm-m-m-m! 

Other gems included: 

• Anxiety is a meteor shower of "what ifs." (I'm already working on changing the "what if" fears in my life to "even if" faith.)
• Anxiety and fear are cousins but NOT twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines it. (emphasis mine)
• The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.

I pulled out these pithy grabbers to give an overview but these are not mere platitudes---there's much good info when you read them within the text. 

I choose to continue to read this book---maybe I will be able to "turn a page in this book that will help me turn over a new leaf in my life."

Will I be able to quench the anxiety with unquenchable faith? I'll let you know.

CHOOSE: LITTLE PINK PAD

Cancer Center.

Choose the little pink pad. Sounds simple enough.

But.....how do you choose the Pink Pad without also choosing anxiety, dread for the procedure without fear of the outcome?

So....how does one choose reality of a hard place moment without exacerbating the situation with negative emotions? Here's my list.

• Battle those fearful thoughts with the Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)
• Know that the spirit of fear is not from God. (2 Timothy 1:7)
• Remember God’s goodness in a past cancer journey or difficulty and tell others. (Psalm 145:4)
• Recall God’s omnipresent promise. (Isaiah 41:10)

Give up the “what if it’s cancer” tremors and exchange it for “even if it’s cancer,” I know God can use it for good. (Move from “what if” to “even if” thinking---a tip I learned from Carol Kent)

Choosing the little Pink Pad was something to lead me to results I had no control over so........"when I am afraid," it's wise to put my trust in the hands of the One who is truly in control. (Psalm 56:3)

CHOOSE: C.A.L.M.

Stress is rampant in lives of so-o-o-o many folks.
ANXIETY in all caps is often the result! At least at our house. Even good stress can put me on edge.

Anxiety comes in all our lives. But God....says, "Be anxious for nothing..." (Philippians 4:6)

How hard is that!! Does that mean absolutely nothing? Zilch? Or does it mean not taking our anxiety/worry too far or continuing in it? The answer to that question is still on my "pondering" list.

Prior to that verse, Paul reminds us to "Rejoice in the Lord."

Is that the RX needed?

According to Max Lucado, it's a good start for calm. Rejoicing in the Lord is a way of celebrating who He is and can help "jumpstart" calm. (My words, not his)
I only heard part of Lucado's list on K-Love so I added parts of my own.

C--Celebrate the Lord. (Lucado)

A--Ask the lord in prayer (petition) for help (a paraphrase of Lucado)

L--Load that request with lots of thanksgiving (mine)

M--Meditate on other things, Philippians 4:8 gives us the list. (Lucado)

Prayer is needed to replace worry in a Christian's life, at least this Christian's life.
May I "choose to choose" C.A.L.M. to aid my way to worry-free thinking. 

Maybe a cuppa traquili-TEA to start my day followed by sereni-TEA at noon and a night cap of believabili-TEA in God's truth---The RX for calm in Philippians 4:6, is prayer. The result  = "...peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

CHOOSE: CORRECT MULTIPLICAND

In calculation, one gets a "product" (answer ) when one chooses the multiplicand that is to be multiplied. Multiplicand x Multiplier = Product

To me, in my spiritual life, this is somewhat of a warning. Those mathematical terms might be a stretch for all the thoughts that multiply in my head but God is showing me that anxious thoughts multiplied indicate I need more of Him or I will get a quantity obtained by multiplication, which I don't want. (Psalm 94:19)

As Chuck Swindoll states in the "anxiety" chapter 3, Christ at the Crossroads, (my) problems,  "multiply" when I insert "my" solutions, try to work them out by "myself "or allow "my" own "fear" of inadequacy to creep in. The product from the multiplication of those problems is an answer I don't like. I become "afraid."

Clearly the answer for the multiplying of anxious thoughts is fear.  "Fear with inadequacy." 

Multiplying anxious thoughts becomes a deep-seeded fear much too heavy for me to carry around----so I choose thought multiplicands of love & truth, given by God. For He has not given us "fear but power, love and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) I'll take those "products" any day. 

CHOOSE: PEACE

Choosing peace is not always as easy as it sounds. It's a "mind thing!" Aren't all choices!

When anxious thoughts seem to multiply within me, (Psalm 94:19) like knots in my stomach, I need to seek the "fruit of peace!" Allow His peace to come forth, grow within, and ease those knots.

Choose to "Seek Peace and pursue it"---thats the right choice!! (Psalm 34:14)

ANXIETY--RX

So much one could say but....

...sometimes a Lockhart, Alabama "pithy grabbing" church sign can say it BEST....

along with God's word!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Visual road reminders and God's word, (Psalm 34:4) a great RX for anxiety.

PANIC PRAYERS

Anxiety can be a real "panic prayer" inducer,

Earlier blog entries show that I have been sipping from this cuppa of anxiety far too often through the years.

11/22/10 and 6/16/13. Yet, I omitted a cuppa anxie-TEA in 2014 when I wrote 366 "tea" entries. Maybe it's because that year was a "call" to blog daily and I had to trust the One who called me! He was my "focus" and the blog entries were an overflow of that relationship. Even if anxiety was mentioned in an entry, the cuppa chosen for "focus" was NOT anxie-TEA!

So why am I seemingly back to square one---my humanity, filled too often with worry and fear.

Sadly, once again, I am one of those "fretful folks" Pastor Cole alluded to a few weeks ago, as he described living in a catastrophe culture. Daily we "panicky people" tend to live in a state of emergency. Even our news describes emergency alerts as though each viewer can do something about each event. As if there was an element of control for which we are responsible.

Globally, I am disturbed but realize my limitations. On the other hand, personally, anxious thoughts can still consume me---holding me captive, over people and health and events which I cannot control.

So what's one to do with these consuming fears and apprehensions?

REFOCUS!
PRAY---Don't panic!!

Shrink that cuppa! Lay it all at His feet.

Claim victory. (Romans 8:37)

Chance or Condfidence

"Human pride loathes the suggestion that God orders everything, controls everything, rules over everything." (John MacArthur) Fate or chance defines the theology of the prideful.

I, along with many others, find confidence in God's sovereignty/

"passivi-TEA"

Their strength is to sit still. (Isaiah 30:7, KJV)

A cuppa "passivi-TEA." Sounds negative, doesn't it? Not necessarily.

"Inner stillness is an absolute necessity to truly knowing God," as was noted in yesterday's Streams in the Desert entry. (4/7) I understand those times when one's "entire being seems to throb with anxiety." Often, like the writer of Streams recounts, I, too, have to be aware of my helplessness in the midst of a crisis before I sit and listen for direction from that "still small voice." (1 Kings 19:12) For there in lies strength. His strength that comes as one is still before HIm. It's not just squelching or compressing the anxiety of the present overwhelming circumstance. A temporary quieting of tension might occur....but, that just represses it for eruption at a later time. An eruption that can "hurt" innocent by-standers. Believe me, I have experienced that more often than I want to admit. 

Therefore, passivity has a positive result. It's not laziness or apathy but a "living stillness born of trust." (Streams, 4/7) It might not involve the action of prayer or praise. Just being still before the throne of grace. Quieting one's spirit with an open heart. "Utter quietude of soul." 

'O rest in utter quietude of soul,
     Abandon words, leave prayer and praise awhile;
Let your whole being, hushed in His control,
     Learn the full meaning of His voice and smile.'
              (Mary Rowles Jarvis, Streams in the Desert, 4/7) 

A cuppa passivi-TEA is necessary before arising and going forth in one's day, thus assuring that the activi-TEA, that follows is God directed. 

A cuppa passivi-TEA leaves the "dregs of anxie-TEA at the bottom of the cup.

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.

anxie-TEA

 "Fret not.........Fret not.......Fret not.." (Psalm 37: 1, 7, & 8, ESV)

Anxie-TEA. Not a tea to recommend. Certainly not a tea to sip and savor. Bitterness is left with every swallow. Dregs of regret, self-pity, frustration and fear are left sticking to one's insides. Why does one keep swallowing it?

What happens when one pours herself an anxious cuppa? 

Tea with Thee indicates the need to turn to the one on the throne of one's life. Is it Me? Or Thee? Decide. Then, turn inward to self and more fretting or upward to the One who offers peace.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37: 4-5)

Time for a re-brew. Choose a new cup. Fresh water and new tea leaves. Discard the dregs and bitter "over-brewed" remnants. 

Sip afresh and "fret not."

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.

Sweet TEAs of life

6/8/13 Tea words have been whirring in my head as I've tried to squeeze in a few simplici-TEA thoughts while on my "Great Escape" weekend. Some teas just aren't sweet. Anxiety being one of the first that comes to my mind. I certainly don't need to brew up any of that. If it does start brewing in my mind I become crotche-TEA---and the irritabili-TEA that flows forth is bitter and that's hard to swallow especially for those closest to me.

My morning quiet time, on the terrace of the Alluvian, with the hotel's Gideon Bible open to Psalm 16 had me meditating on verse 8---a great antidote for anxie-TEA.  Ringing of the nearby Episcopal church bells turned my thoughts away from negativi-TEAs to one of the sweet teas in my life.

Securi-TEA.

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)

That's real security......and that's sweet!!!

Questions and Answers: Fear & Insecurity

2/7/13 Friends and blog readers, concerned about our home break-in/burglary have inquired, "How are you doing?' One that I loved was, "Are you back to sharpening pencils? 

Yes, is the answer. I returned to pencil sharpening.
Hubby provided me with a "handy-dandy" hand held pencil sharpener to use on the go. No electricity needed. Though I do LOVE my oft-used electric one (I'm surprised it still works), it's not always convenient.

During this go-round of battling anxiety, I even included tidying up my tea cabinet---a helpful mindless activity. Like alphabetizing Claudia's pasta. 

Funny how one wants to "do" or "fix" something when life situations are so "disturbing" and totally out of one's control. Mind-numbing activities like pencil sharpening and tea tidying can work for me.....when I am "haunted by apprehension"....until God gets me back in His grip. Why do I ever pull away?

As Oswald Chambers states (My Utmost for His Highest, 11/13) "fear comes from not nourishing ourselves in our faith."

So...after days of anxious thoughts and nights of not night sleeping well:

• Faith nourishing began.....I'm grateful for time at His feet to read and reflect on His Word. (Jeremiah 15:16)
• I'm grateful also to remember that God is not sleeping so I can rest well. (Psalm 121:3)

Thanks for asking.

Dalton Ghetti has taken pencil sharpening to a new level.