Dealing with Anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7)

INTRODUCTION The passage in Philippians 4 which tells us not to worry has been heavy on my heart this past year as our family has followed God’s leading to make multiple changes.

 Two summers ago, our church received a new pastor. After several sermons, I realized that the theology that my family believed and the theology of this new pastor were very different. It took us a while to decide how to handle the situation, but we eventually left the church in search of one with a solid Biblical foundation.

 Also, in the fall of this past year, I began trying to figure out how I could change jobs and which direction to go. While there were things in my previous district that I did indeed loved, I could also see changes happening which were telling me to dust off my feet and move on. I knew that my kids would also be coming with me and that my husband was supportive. He understood my stress. Together, we both wanted something different for our girls. I wrote out the Philippians passage on a notecard and set it on my bathroom counter for almost a year.

 Philippians 4:6-7 - “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.”

 Over that year, God brought me signs and confirmations that everything would work out just fine. I couldn’t tell exactly how things would work, and I didn’t have definite answers until almost April about my job. My family wouldn’t land on a decision about a church until later in the summer either. Yet I could see it coming. The Word from the Scripture kept ringing in my head, “Don’t worry. Just pray and find peace.” This summer, I made time finally to dig deeper into this verse. I wanted to unpack it. I wanted to find all the hidden treasures in it.

 I wanted to completely own this verse. I wanted to make it mine. I wanted to claim it wholeheartedly. 

Here is what I found.

 DEFINITION

 Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines it like this, “concern or solicitude respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. It expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude. It usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.”

 Proverbs 12:25 tells us that, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Is that not the truth? Anxiety can turn into more than just an emotional response to a stressful situation. Medical News Today lists common physical and psychological symptoms to include: panic attacks, rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, dizziness, sleep problems, nausea, chest pain, and others.

 VERSE 6: BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

 If anxiety is so terrible, how are we supposed to “be anxious for nothing”? The Apostle Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” There are two ways to battle anxiety according to Philippians 4:6: pray and be thankful. By doing those two things, we are then able to hand our anxiety over to God. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16- 18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.” We are to be in constant communication with God. Philippians 4:6 says, “in everything by prayer . . .” Handing over our anxiety is a daily maintenance type of issue, not just a one time deal, which mandates that we talk to God about it as often as we need.

 Being thankful in conjunction with prayer is a God designed way to battle anxiety. 2 Chronicles 20:21 and Psalm 118:1 both tell us to, “Give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness is everlasting.” We have instructions to be thankful. God tells us to be thankful and science can explain why. MelbourneChildPsychology.com says that, “there is also scientific evidence that expressing genuine gratitude on a daily basis can improve physical health as well by improving quality of sleep, cardiovascular (heart) health and immune function.”

 Therefore, in order to be anxious about nothing, we must be praying to God, giving thanks to God, and letting our requests be made known to Him. He already knows what we need, and there is an amazing peace in agreeing with Him so that we can see and watch Him work.

 VERSE 7: THE RESULT

 The result of following verse 6 is astounding and very rewarding! Verse 7 is tied to verse 6 with the conjunction “and.” When we do verse 6, then verse 7 happens. Watch out because this second verse is loaded. Verse 7 talks about peace of God which stands in contrast and opposition to anxiety. In poetry, and literature in general, this is a shift or a climactic point. If we have a full understanding of what can be ours, then we might be more motivated to do what it takes to get that peace.

 Our culture, and probably those of all times, seeks after safety, contentment, and tranquility. The best type of peace is the kind that comes from God. Paul says that God’s peace, “surpasses all comprehension,” because in John 14:27, Jesus tells us that His peace is different from the world’s peace. His peace rises above. His peace is superior. Scripture tells us that this peace is beyond our comprehension in a spiritual truth type of way.

 I just love when someone speaks comfort to another person by encouraging him to have God’s peace. There is wealth and extreme value in God’s peace. However, there is so much more to it than a sweet sentiment. It is more than a sympathy card can handle. The card would need heavy armor and not just pretty flowers. The Apostle Paul says that the peace of God will guard us. The word “guard” in the Greek means to protect with a military style force from a hostile invasion and to preserve one for the attainment of something. God is strongly protecting us and saving us for a purpose! We know He has a plan for us because Jeremiah 29:11 says He does.

 With this great peace, God is specifically guarding our hearts and minds. First of all, Jesus instructed us to love God with our hearts and minds and souls according to Matthew 22:37. Our hearts and minds are valuable tools and important to God. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Romans 10:10 says, “with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness.”

 Finally, all of this is wrapped up “in Christ Jesus.” Allow me to just play a little word connection game for a moment. Jesus is the Word of God. John 1:1 says that the Word was in the beginning with God. Verse 14 says that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Ephesians 6:17 says that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Jesus is the Word. The Word is the Sword. God wants to guard our hearts in a strong military way. I think we better spend time in the Word so that we can be well defended. We need to know it so well that world cannot shake us and cause anxiety. When we know the Word that is Scripture, then we also know Christ Jesus who wants to guard us and give us peace.

 My friend, do you see the intense nature of these two verses? God wants us to have this amazing peace which is such a wonderful treasure. When we have it, we will be heavily guarded when we have it. Will you invest in the treasure? Will you do what it takes to receive this? God loves you and wants to give it to you. Talk to Him about it.

In the quiet of the evening

In the quiet of the evening
my soul cries out in pain
I hear
the crickets
of all the people
not willing
to speak up
I feel
the gentle breeze
of those slowly moving
not willing to ruffle a feather
But in the distance
I see lightning
in the coming clouds
a storm
on the horizon
of an angry God

The Love of God

“Defining love is easier than doing love,” said Pastor.  Yes.  Giving an academic answer to something is usually easier than getting your hands dirty. 

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines love secondly as, “An affection of the mind excited by beauty and worth of any kind, or by the qualities of an object which communicate pleasure, sensual or intellectual.”  I love that this is the second definition.  This is a noun.  A thing.  Something you can possess. 

However, love is first defined as a transitive verb meaning, “to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. . . . The Christian loves his Bible . . . and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the Christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received.”  Webster’s 1828 goes on to give the example of Matthew 22:37 which says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Additionally, the dictionary references John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son.”

Shakespeare had 150 sonnets about love.  Some of them are very famous, but I would never look to him for examples of love.  Romeo and Juliet died.  And the love sonnets written by Shakespeare were not all for his wife, Anne Hathaway, who stayed at home most of the year while he was in the cities trying to make a living as a playwright.  Sadly, some of those sonnets may have been written to a lover, the Earl of South Hampton, who financially supported Shakespeare’s plays. 

How do we know what love is?  John 13:34 tells us to love one another as Christ loved us.  How exactly did Christ love us?  John 15:13 tells us, “There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  Christ did this for us as the ultimate act of love.  Praise God that He is not asking all of us to that same thing. 

Christ also showed living examples of His love. 

John 15:9 recorded Jesus declaring that He loves us.  He spoke words of love to us.

Matthew 9 is the story of Jesus doing acts of service by walking around from place to place healing people.  He showed God’s love by taking care of their illness. 

In John 2, Jesus turned water into wine for a family wedding.  He gave the gift of wine at His mother's request.  In Matthew 14, Jesus fed the 5,000.  He gave everyone lunch.  Jesus gave gifts of love to meet physical needs.  In Romans 6:23, Paul tells us that Jesus also gave us the gift of eternal life if we will accept it. 

John 1 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus gave us 33 years on earth of quality time so that we could get to know God with skin on. He spent 3 concentrated years showing God's love to us on earth. 

In Luke 5:12-13, Jesus touches a leper to heal him.  Dr. Luke shares this story with us which is significant because of his profession. Jesus did not have to touch the leper to heal him, yet the leper needed a physical touch of affirmation because no one would dare to touch a leper.  Jesus knew his needs were deeper than healing.  He showed the man God's love with a healing touch. 

Do these strategies sound familiar?  They are the 5 Love Languages that Chapman talks about in his book by the same name.  Jesus did all of them so that He could demonstrate them to us as He was reaching people with different needs. 

So how then do we respond to the command? How do we love as Christ loved and make ourselves a fragrant sacrifice offering to the Lord as commanded in Ephesians 5?  “What measure of love are we willing to show to one another?” Pastor asked.  We have the examples of Christ.  How can we use words or affirmation, acts of service, gifts, time, and touch to show others the love of Christ?

Grass Burrs

The weather is finally cooling off.  Fall didn't really happen, but winter blew down the door!

I'm always amazed at my closet.  I got through this season last year just fine.  However,  with each new year, I'm perplexed at how I managed before because there is obviously nothing in my closet, and I absolutely need something new.  Do I?  Or is that just the American mentality?  I'm sure it is.  

Getting dressed yesterday, I pulled out a sweater from my closet to wear over my school t-shirt because the temperature had dropped drastically.  I think I've only worn it a few times recently.  I wash it about every other time because it is a top layer, and I don't deal with the pigs or go deer hunting in this sweater.  

Here's the problem.  You knew this silly first world story had to go somewhere.  In my rush out the door in the morning, I failed to notice that I had a grass burr in the fringe of my sweater until I had already dropped off three kids for school.  As I set my stuff down at my own school desk, my hand brushed up against the little irritating pokey pins of this problem that plagues my yard.  

This tiny problem is actually not tiny.  Yes, it is just one little sticker in my sweater.  Yes, I got it out easily.  Yes, my sweater is fine.  This is a problem because our yard is full of them.  We live on several acres in the country which is two-thirds covered in grass burrs.  My parents actually spray for them.  My mom goes out with a shovel and pulls them up to throw away.  They spend their time to maintain their yard and to protect it against these tiny little issues.  These tiny issues have multiplied like the Black Plague of death to a family lawn.  

Are there small things in your life that need attention?  Do you need to take care of small problems before they get out of control?  What are they?  

1 Kings 11:4-8 tells how Solomon took extra wives.  I know this is a big jump from grass burrs to taking extra wives.  Just follow me for a minute.  He did not do this early in his reign.  He did it when he got comfortable in life and had become lazy about his relationship with God.  Solomon didn't think taking an extra wife or two was a problem if it was maybe for political reasons.  He built temples for their various gods.  

Solomon also bought horses and chariots from Egypt. He had the money, so why was this a problem?  He was already a respected power in the known world at the time.  Why would he need to do these things?  His father David had established this kingdom and passed it on to him.  King David's name was well respected and feared.  

Solomon's sin with the chariots and maybe the second wife did not immediately have consequences.  However, God did grow angry with him as Solomon's wives took him away from his relationship with his Lord.  Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 explains that the king was not to multiply horses or wives.  Solomon knew this.  Eventually, the consequences of Solomon's actions would tear the kingdom apart.  Literally.  It was divided into two kingdoms.  

How could the purchase of a few horses from Egypt or an extra wife or more end up with the division of the kingdom?  The delayed consequences of one sin resulted in more sins.  Unfortunately, the sins that multiplied and grew ended up affecting more people than just the one.  Solomon, ignoring the Law, caused larger damage to everyone because of his position.  

John O. Reid in his article titled Little Compromises asks, "Has this society and spiritual confusion among some of the churches of God caused us to ignore the laws, principles, and statues that we see in God's Word?"  He goes on to explain the situation with Solomon.  Our American society is in a comfortable state of delayed consequences and spiritual confusion because we are ignoring the laws of God.  As a country and as individuals, we are not maintaining our relationship with God.  Like the grass burrs in my yard, the problem will continue to grow and get out of control if not checked and up rooted.  

2 Kings 23:10-11 tells us the story of King Josiah standing up to these wrong doings of Solomon.  Josiah defiled the temples, removed horses, and burned chariots!  We need to ask for the forgiveness that 1 John 1:9 promises is ours for the taking.  However, forgiveness should also be followed with an action to fix the problem.  Those grass burrs are not going away if I just say, "I'm sorry."  I should say that.  Then I should get out in the yard and kill them all, pull them up, and throw them away! 

10 Ways to FEEL GOOD Redone

It is really hard to blog, or wash dishes, or laundry, or study, or even love on my kids when they are throwing fits like they are right now.  One wants to wear what the other has on while the second wants to play a game that the first does not.  This list of 10 Ways to FEEL GOOD from Lynda Field just isn't cutting it with me.  It sounds good.  She may be a very nice lady.  However, her entire list is about you.  This life is not just about you.  Sorry, sweetie.  It isn't about me either.

Here is my list of 10 Ways to FEEL GOOD Redone: 

If someone wants to doodle and make this look cute like her list, have at it!  

1. Follow God.  

I Corinthians 11:1 says, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans for us.  His plans for us are better than our dreams unless our dreams are inline with His plans.  Whatever God has is way better than whatever I have in mind.  

2. Trust God (because my gut is usually full of gas.)

II Corinthians 3:4 - 6 says that we are not sufficient on our own but to trust God.  Psalm 91:2 tells us that God is our refuge and rest. 

3. Focus on God.  

I John 2:15 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  Additionally, Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."  Our focus and perspective must be on God before we view other things. 

4. Follow opportunities from God. 

Galations 6:10 says, "As we have opportunities, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."  Galations 5:13 tells us to serve one another humbly in love.  II Timothy 4:2 reminds us to always be prepared for the opportunity to share.  These are the opportunities that we must follow.  

5. You can do it!  

Of course you can do what God wills for you to do.  You can't just do anything.  Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Don't forget that the verses surrounding this talk about Paul's suffering.  Paul wasn't talking about the ability to just anything but the ability to endure trials for the sake of Christ. 

6. Give it to God. 

Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  I've heard stories from many parents about doing this very thing with tough kids.  I don't doubt that I will be going back to this verse in dealing with my own kids.  It isn't just about letting go and moving on.  It is about dealing with things in the right way. 

7. Be kind.  

Ephesians 4:32 gives us the command to, "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."  We are to be kind to others.  It is amazing how it makes us feel when we treat other people in the right way.  

8. God is the Creator. 

Colossians 1:16 tells that, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him."  Better yet, out of everything that God created, He said that we are His favorite!  Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece; He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  How does that make you feel now?  

9. Pay attention to how you act. 

This verse is always ringing in my ears: Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  It sounds simple, but after trying, I know it isn't.  Still, I can't give up.  I mess up and just have to try again.

10. Watch your attitude.

Philippians 2:3 - 8 says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality  with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearances as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  Wow.  So we need to be humble.  Scripture has mentioned that several times.  We need to be obedient.  Lots of that in Scripture.  Our attitude should be humble service.  

Pirate Princess Party - Part 3

And now for the finale!

 Let us take a moment and remember how we've come this far.  Two years ago, I asked my friends to bring with them to dinner an assortment of toiletries and gift items that could be assembled into bags for Redeemed Ministries.  I brought home a few shopping bags full of things.  Last year, I asked my friends to go shopping with me for items to put in similar gift bags for the same organization.  I'm glad I had help getting the trunk load of goodies home that night!  This year, I asked my friends to collect change to make a change.  Oh my goodness!  The result was amazing!

I have to share something, and I'm not just being all English teacher symbolic about this.  Maybe I am.  It is part of me.  As I was going through the change, I was amazed at the pieces.

First, the pennies were amazing!  My friends collected $30 in pennies!  A few pennies from a Sonic run for a happy hour cherry limeade doesn't seem like much until you add it together with everyone else's change.  Likewise, individually we can only do so much.  Together, we can do amazing and big things!  My friends amaze me every year that they indulge me in this adventure.

Next, the condition of the coins varied tremendously.  There was one coin that was so beat up that I'm not really sure it was a penny or even if it was from this country.  My hands were dirty from sifting through the coins because most of them had been through circulation a few times.  There were also some of the shiniest coins I've ever seen.  Did my friends just go to the bank and request a few rolls of coins just so they could fill up a bottle?  I have no idea.  Do you know people who are beat up?  Dirty?  Strangers to this country? Or still clean and brand new?  Redeemed Ministries takes care of those beat up and dirty women and some strangers too.  I'm working on the brand new people to let them know about human trafficking.  People need to know about it because it is often hidden.  People need to know so they can help stop it.  Young girls need to know so they don't get mixed up in it.

Finally, some of the coins were foreign.  I found one coin that is from the Philippines.  I will be honest and say that I kept that one because a dear friend just moved there with her husband to work at a seminary.  The problem of human trafficking is not just in the United States.  It is everywhere around the world.  I can't help them all, but I can help some.

When I asked the abolitionists at Redeemed Ministries what they need this year, I was told that they need help with their operating costs.  My friends came through with $800 for the ministry.  I couldn't have donated that much by myself.  I had the help of about 20 friends.  20 people more who are fighting against human trafficking than before.  $800 more than there was before to help the lives of women in the area
.

Those women are all valuable.  I am so thankful and amazed at the generosity of my friends.  Yes, I am claiming them with a zealous nature.  They are a powerful group of women!  I only wish we could have done more.  I can dream of next year and adding to the 20 to do more and be more!

Pirate Princess Party - Part 2

On the night of the Pirate Princess Party ATD, the crew assembled in small pizza establishment in a tiny, out of the way, small Texas town.  We probably doubled the business of the eatery that night.  I was just a little late on arrival as I was waiting for two crew members to meet at my own house before setting sail for the party. The costumes and the energy that these ladies have every year for the theme is fun!  Seeing them already invading this place was so exciting!  Let me tell you about these amazing ladies!


There are a few pictures of ladies who either jumped ship before the group picture or sent in a tiara picture later because they were not able to attend that night.  I could ramble on about each lady individually and how awesome they are.  Do you want to know each one?  Maybe some people reading this don't know all of my crazy friends.  Let me summarize this group if it is possible.

There are moms, ladies who want to be a mom, single moms, and just single.  Our kids range in ages from not here yet to college and grandkids too.  There are teachers, secretaries, office managers, a law enforcement officer, 31 sales rep, and leather worker, and more!  Don't let me leave out physical therapy and massage therapy.  Our education ranges from not out of high school to MA degrees.

 What is the point of all these distinctions?  The point is that we are regular, (sort of) normal women.  We work, study, live life big, and love strongly.  Together we can do something that will impact our world for good.  We do it every day in our normal lives as we speak Christ to others.  We come together one day a year to make a specific difference for ladies affected by trafficking.

This is who we are!

Stay tuned for Part 3 - Learn what we did!

Pirate Princess Party - Part 1

Before the ATD (annual tiara dinner), I had a serious fit of silliness in coming up with this year's theme: Pirate Princess!  Pirates of the Caribbean was on television several times recently.  Several people, including my mother, asked what I was thinking.  They all knew the answer.  I like to be silly and dress up and have fun.  It was going to be my 39th birthday party the way I wanted it.  Do I sound spoiled?  I am.  I am spoiled by my friends who indulge me in this every year.

I liked the idea of a treasure hunt.  "X" marks the spot of the treasure.  Each clue had an "X" with it.  You will see that some of the messages are about us as God's treasure.  To top that, the red "X" is the symbol for the End It Movement, which is an anti-human trafficking organization.  I borrowed that idea because it all fits together perfectly.

To start the pirate proceedings, I lined out specific clues to lead the princesses to the treasure.

My friends had to decode the date, time, and location.  I picked two history teachers to receive the coordinates.  Everyone posted their clues to Facebook so friends could help figure out the meaning.  Posting the clues in this way also helped a few people to be involved in the event who couldn't make it to the actual event that particular evening.  

Some messages were about getting together and just for fun.  I either included a scripture or wrote a quatrain for each person.  Then I put it in a bottle, labeled it and mailed it for $2.32.  Yes, I mailed a message in a bottle.  Each message was tied with a cord of three strands.  I also tossed in a dozen pearls, flower petals, and some red glitter!  

Again this year, my friends and I planned to make a donation to Redeemed Ministries.  Because we were doing a pirate theme and messages in a bottle, I asked them to collect change for change in a bottle.  Each person was to collect pocket change to help change the life of another lady.  

The last thing to do in preparation for the event was to create a tip jar.  Another friend had put together redneck wine glasses for her own birthday party and gave me an extra as a donation to the ATD.  She knew that we could use it for the tip jar.  Some restaurants add gratuity to the check for large groups, but we do a tip jar anyway.  The tip we give is a reflection of who we are and not necessarily the service we get.  Sometimes we have great service and sometimes not.  I include a card with some scriptures that tells about who we are and what we do.  Then we stuff that sucker with cash!  I'll show you the full jar in the next installment of this story.  Here is the jar I created just to bless the people who served us that night.  No matter what kind of service we might have, I trust that our waiter needs the blessing we are sharing.  

I wrapped the stem in the cord of three strands.  Flowers, sea shells, and gold glitter are hot glued to the top.  I think it fit the whole pirate theme with treasure included.  

Then I had to wait and see how many friends dared to join my silly crew and drop anchor at the given coordinates that night! 

{This is not actually me, but it is a cool picture!}

Gripe Session Prayer

I want to share some of a recent prayer experience that I had.  One of the interesting things is that the prayer was about not talking so much.  Blogging is a form of talking or communicating.  However, on this blog, I think I am more careful about what I write and post than I am in general conversation.  I really ought to be careful everywhere.  There is something to be said for really thinking before speaking.  I have said before that my Grandpa J never told all that he knew.  He always had us wondering what was going on with him.  I really want to be more like that except with a few close people.

On December 8, I prayed that God would help me to control my speech.  I really need to find more positive things to say, to find the good in situations.  Tuesday morning I woke up without a voice.  No joke.  No voice for several days.  Zilch.  Wednesday night turned into a sinus infection.  Thursday I went to the doctor who then told me to stay home on Friday too.  God allowed me to get laryngitis and a sinus infection. I don't believe that He causes bad things to happen, but He knew I was about to get sick and used the opportunity to convict me of some things that needed to be fixed.  God is so amazing! First, God allowed my voice to disappear and then He took me out of a context where my conversation sometimes turns negative.

God had been yelling at me for several days.  Yes, I said He was yelling at me.  God can do that without an audible voice, or He could audibly yell if He wants to.  This time, God was trying to tell me that He was indeed in control and to trust Him.  I heard it on the radio, read it on Facebook, and was told by a teacher at school.  Without a voice or the distraction of other people around, I had to face God and listen.

How does all this add up?  Two Scriptures continued to come to my mind.

Psalm 46:10 commands that we, "Cease striving, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Also, Matthew 6:26 - 34 gently reminds us to, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.  But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?  Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'  For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

God has spoken.  There is no denying what I heard.  Now I must respond by trusting Him with my struggles that He may be glorified and exalted in my town on this earth.

How do you remember someone? (updated)

Borrowed from Darlene.  

Aunt Pat on the left with some cousins.

 This is my Aunt Patricia Janell Avants.  I have to say her full name because I share that middle name.  Her name is special to me because my mom gave me her sister's name.

My mom has some interesting stories about growing up with Pat which I don't know that I have the right to share. Just imagine what a sister might say.  I have a sister.  Growing up, we didn't always like each other.  I love her to pieces now.  You know how siblings are: I can mess with my sister, but you better not!  At the end, Mom said she would miss her best friend.  That's ok to miss someone.  I hope Mom misses Pat for a long time because I'm not ready to miss my mom.  They can play catch up later.

I remember a few times visiting her as I was growing up.  She had two sons, my only first cousins.  I remember that she had a big peninsula in the kitchen. At least it seemed big to me when I was little.  She had a shower stall in the bathroom which I thought was cool because my parents' house was different.  She always told us that the secret to her cookies was that she mixed the dough with her feet while sitting on the kitchen counter.  I was never sure about whether or not I should believe that.  She also had a chow dog named Trouble.  And she loved my uncle.

More than these memories from childhood, I have my memories from my adult life.  I moved four hours away from home when I was about 26 so I could attend the seminary.  My aunt and uncle opened their home to me and my fiance every other weekend because I refused to allow Jason to stay in my apartment until we were married. Therefore, when Jason drove up to visit me, he slept on Pat and Marvin's futon in the office while I slept on the couch in the living room.  We did that for six months on weekends before we got married.

It is honestly difficult to think of Pat without thinking of Marvin.  In all their years of marriage, they maybe spent two nights apart.  I think they got married at 16 and 17, or maybe 17 and 18.  They were young and high school sweethearts.  About two years ago, my Uncle Marvin went to be with the Lord.  I told my kids that he moved to Heaven.  Last week, Aunt Pat's earthly body gave up, and her spirit moved to Heaven also.  Those two years were the longest that they have ever been apart.

Over the past week, I've been watching and participating in the facebook conversations about Pat.  I am overwhelmed with the need to clear up a few inaccuracies.

This facebook post is the first and most important thing I need to clear up.  This post was left on my cousin's facebook page by a very sweet, well-meaning person who was just trying to find something right to say in a difficult time for our family.  I really do appreciate sweet people.  However, the truth of the matter needs to be clear.  The only test Aunt Pat passed to get into Heaven was selecting the correct answer on a multiple choice test with two choices: A) Jesus or B)not Jesus.  She picked Jesus.  Otherwise, no one is good enough on his own to get into Heaven.  Romans 3:23 tells us that everyone has sin.  Romans 6:23 says the score for sin is death.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says our good works can't save us.  Nothing good in my aunt's life could get her into Heaven except the choice to have a relationship with Christ.

In order to pick Jesus, Romans 10:9 - 10 says that we must confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord.  Matthew 7:21 says we have to follow God's will.  Then, when we are following God's will, we will have abundant life according to John 10:10 and ever lasting life according to John 3:16 and Romans 6:23.  Hold on!  Here is the second thing that I need to clear up: Pat has ever lasting life.  That means that she is not a past tense person!  She still exists.  This means that we do not have to speak of her in the past tense.  I cannot say, "My aunt was a great person."  I can't say, "I loved my aunt."  No!  I can say, "My aunt is and she still is in Christ!"  This is a strange concept to consider because we are conditioned to speak of the earthly dead in the past tense.  Her body is past tense for sure.  Her spirit lives on in eternal life.

This is not good bye forever, but rather this is a, "See you later alligator."

At Grandpa J's house.

Suicide

Did that title get your attention?  I can't seem to get anything else done this morning until I get this out of my system.  Actually, it probably won't be out of my system for a while.  One of my former students committed suicide recently.  His memorial was this week.  You need to know about this because suicide affects everyone: the living and the dead.

This boy was odd but friendly.  I had seen him at church and had him in English class his freshman year.  He had friends who showed up and talked about their friendship at the memorial.  The pastor said that this boy had made a profession of faith in 2008 which brought comfort to many.  I don't know what motivated him to make such a drastic decision.  We may never know.  However, there are several things about suicide that you do need to know.

The first thing that many of my students say is that suicide will send you to hell.  I challenge them to find support for that statement.  Matthew 12:31 says that the only sin that cannot be forgiven is blasphemy against the Spirit of God.  The next argument is that when you commit suicide that you can't ask for forgiveness.  True, but who remembers to ask forgiveness for every sin ever committed?  I don't and I try.  John 5:24 says that whoever hears and believes will not be condemned.  The Bible never says that we have to have all of our sins confessed in order to get to Heaven.  Multiple times, we are told that we have to believe and accept what Christ did for us.  We don't have to be perfect.  We can't be perfect because we live in a sinful and fallen world.  The purpose of confessing sin is to bring us to a closer relationship with God.  Sin hurts our relationship with God, but it doesn't end the relationship.  It doesn't cause Him to turn his back on us.

I teach Romeo and Juliet every year and spend a ton of time talking about suicide.  We look at all the circumstances and play the "what if . . . " game with all of the decisions that the couple makes.  We talk about all the other options that they had.  We talk about options that students have today.  I can't share scripture with them, but I share everything else I can.  If they bring up the Bible, I run with it!  They always do.  We talk about the families and communities that are hurt by the selfish action of suicide.  I tell the story of my friend Peruna who committed suicide about 10 years ago.  The life lessons that I get to teach are equally if not more important than learning where to put a comma in a sentence or finding the author's purpose in a magazine article.

Here is what I want everyone to remember: I Corinthians 10:13 says that there is always a way to escape a sinful situation.  Philippians 1:6 says that God is still working on us.  Don't give up on your life.  God has more for you.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans of hope for us.

Don't give up.

If you feel like you want to give up, talk to a parent, a teacher, or a pastor.  They can help you to find your options to make it through the circumstances.

Here is the song that the family played at the memorial service.  If anyone is paying attention, this is what I would also like at my own funeral.

Special Edition: Pray for our Schools

The end of the school year is crazy.  Somehow this year seems worse than others.  See You at the Pole is a fantastic way to start the year and we need maintenance throughout the year.  I don't need to give specific details about what is happening in my own district because I'm sure similar things are happening everywhere.
Here is my prayer for my schools, my students, my kids, my friends, my neighbors, my people.  Please make it your prayer too and take ownership of this problem back to God.

Father God, I cry out!
Luke 5:12 - Lord, if you are willing, I know that you can do this.
James 4:7 - Help Your children to be subject to you God in everything so that the devil will resist and flee!
Deuteronomy 3:22 - Fight for us God!
Luke 10:19 - Overwhelm us with authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy!
Colossians 2:15 - God, You disarm the principalities and powers that range against us and make a bold display and public example of them in Your triumph over them in Jesus and the cross
AMEN!

Then, I shall speak Matthew 4:10 - Away from me Satan!

Be Christ-like.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  Be active.

Matthew 18:20 - Where two or three are gathered, I am in their midst. 

He is Risen!

Where to begin?  This week has been amazing!

On Tuesday, I ran into a parent of a former student.  It was fun for both of us to brag on that kid and what a nice young man he is growing up to be.  She showed me pictures.  I reminisced about what a polite student he was in my fifth period class about four years ago.  Yes, I do remember some students.  After having over 100 students for 14 years in a row, I do forget some.  However, some students stand out.  Of course, it helped me to remember this young man because his mom brought me cake balls twice that year.  Alright, I would have remembered him anyway, but those cake balls were good!  On Wednesday after lunch, I found a small container of cake balls in my box in the school office.  Absolutely nothing could ruin my day after that!  Seriously, the best part is knowing that there are caring parents out there who are raising responsible kids with a Christian foundation.  Cake balls are just icing on the cake, so to speak.

Thursday night, our church had a dramatic presentation of The Lord's Supper.  At the end of the drama, the men playing disciples came down to serve communion to everyone.  In several lines, disciples washed our hands, dried them, served the bread, and the grape juice.  The cool part about this is that I teach with one of those disciples at my school.  I am blessed to be in a church where there is community involvement.  I see my high school kids participating in church service and taking on leadership roles.  I see members of our Sunday School class working in my daughter's school.  Some of the church kids are in my class at school.  It reminds me that church isn't just on Sunday.  Church is the people.  This leads to the next idea that we are to be Church to one another all week instead of just for two hours on Sunday morning.

Friday night we stayed home to rest.  My sweet husband rounded the corner of another decade in life on Friday. I enjoyed finding birthday cards in the mail from my friends and our family to acknowledge the occasion.

Saturday, Model T and I did a local 5k race.  My goal was to jog part of it and not come in last.  Mission accomplished.  It was a fun race, and I can see that I have my work cut out for me.  Model T also did a great job, but we have lots of training to do yet.  Neither of us is in the shape we should be.  I don't know about her, but I can definitely feel the effects today of the race yesterday!











After the race, we went straight to church for the Easter Egg Hunt.  My parents even met us there.














There was a lot to do on Saturday.  We dashed home to get ready for my husband's not-so-surprise party.  I invited some friends over for hot dogs and cake.  It lasted from noon until almost 8.  I love friends who come over and hang out like they own the joint.  Really!  I do!  My friends come over and help themselves.  They don't wait to be served or for me to play hostess.  I am so thankful to have a home where people feel comfortable.  I just hope that doesn't mean that I'm not a good hostess.  I don't think it does.  People keep coming back.  The Mr.  had a good time and enjoyed the not-so-surprise party.  That was the point.

Isaiah 25:8-9 tells us, "He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.  And it will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.  This is the Lord from whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." 

Amen.  Praise God for an amazing week to celebrate my husband, community, and (most importantly) the Risen Lord!  

Life and Death

Obituaries seem to have become a regular this spring.  This past Monday, my family attended a funeral for a sweet neighbor.  She was 74, I think.  Grandma had been fighting cancer for only the past year.  We were fortunate to live next door to her for a few years when Model T was born.  Grandma had a very interesting history that she didn't talk about much.  She was a German born in Yugoslavia in WWII.  She had a rough start, but eventually made it to the United States.  Yes, I left a lot out just now.  Not long ago, another neighbor invited her to church, and Grandma became a faithful church goer until the very end.  We call her Grandma because she took us all in and treated us that way.  She nicknamed Model T as Goldilocks.  She hosted Christmas dinner at her house.  She joined us for Front Yard Fridays each week.  She quilted and baked.  She was a grandma by pure and living definition.  The week before she moved to Heaven, my girls insisted on going to see her in the nursing home.  I thought about putting it off but then realized how sweet it was that they wanted to go see her.  My husband took Model C back again the next day.  I am so relieved that we went because she was gone the very next week.  When I lost my Papa, I was on my way to see him.  I was only two hours away, and we weren't expecting him to go that night.  He didn't wait.  When I lost my Grandpa J, I told my mom, "If he is still around this weekend, I'll come and see him."  He died on a Friday.

What is the point?  Don't wait to spend time with people.  You don't know what kind of time you might have.

Forty and Fabulous

This is really tough!  I made Model T and C go jogging with me.  I thought I was going to have to carry Model T home!  She thinks she is so ready, but when I make her go out to practice, it is a fiasco!  Model C is in better shape right now.  I might let Model T ride her bike with me tonight just so I can go for myself.

This morning, my wedding ring was really tight.  That always makes me nervous.  One good reason to get rid of this extra weight is so my wedding ring will fit.  I'm just being honest.  It is very embarrassing to me to not be able to wear my engagement and wedding ring.  Lately, I can't wear both, and sometimes I can't wear either.  That will not be fabulous at all!

My sweetie will turn 40 this week.

Book Talk

I finally reached the turning point in The Scarlet Thread.  I can see things changing.  In poetry, we call it the shift.  In literature, it is the climax.  I can see the tension, the heart ache, the solution coming.

I also went to Goodwill and stocked up on several more books to replace lost ones on my shelves at school.  I should be upset about lost books, but I'm not.  Lost books means that students have books, and that is a good thing.




Scripture

This morning in Sunday School one of the verses we read was Romans 8:1 which tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  The beautiful part of this verse is the freedom it proclaims for the believer who dwells in fellowship with Christ!  Whatever sin from the past of the believer is not held against him because of the love in the relationship with Christ.  In Him, we are again clean and pure.  Amen!

Poetry 

"The Beginning of Sight"

Surrounded by blinding darkness
until the foreign light beckons.
Struggling, trudging, walking
toward the light
with a shadow
behind, our sin
behind us. Then,
we stand in full Sight
in the middle of the Light.

Psalm 112: 4 - Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
John 1:5 - The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.