Reflections on the Book Winning the War on Worry

Do you work out? Well, congratulations! I admire you! Because I do not. I try to walk. I've been pretty good at keeping up with my daily walks, but, often, the weekend comes or something disrupts my routine so a few days go by without walking, and when I try to get back on the treadmill, it  feels as if I have to start all over again from zero. I mean, really? Why is that? I guess the name of the game when it comes to staying active is consistency. I have a hard time staying consistent with anything. I'm lazy and I quickly go back to my default: inactivity. 

I notice this tendency not only in my "workout" routine or lack of thereof, but also in other areas of my life. For instance, finishing a book on helping me get my worry under control. I have left the book behind instead of finishing it, and instead of being consistently applying the principles in the book...I have forgotten and gone back to what I always do: worry.

Today, for instance, has been a day of worry.  I'm worrying about medical test results. I'm worrying about my sons. I'm worrying about work. I'm worrying about the future. Worry, worry, worry...I worry I'm forgetting the lessons of this book and how I spent a good amount of time reflecting on the 4 lies of the enemy which fuel our worry...and that I'm falling back into my default: worry.

Well, I decided to take the book and read a few more pages, and this quote called my attention: "fighting back against worry is like any other training regime or discipline." There is the problem! Like with any other training regime, I lack consistency and I forget. My lazy nature gets me back to what I'm used to, so when I attempt to get back on the treadmill of training to fight worry, I feel like I have to start from the beginning again...and it is exhausting. But I have to do it. I don't want to spend my entire life worrying about what could happen. I want to feel reassured that no matter what happens, God IS GOOD! I want to rest in the knowledge that God takes care of me in every situation, and that Heaven is the goal...eternity with Jesus is my victory!

"God is Loving, Kind, Mighty in Power, Holy, Healer.  He is, and because of that truth, I can have assurance no matter what comes against me." (page 12)

So tonight, I drop my worries at the foot of the cross and I pray for consistently trusting that God is who He says He is! And that I am His Child...His Daughter...and that He is going to deliver me from worry and carry me to a place of peace, where I can consistently trust Him and put my Hope in Him who is HOPE! In Christ Name I pray.  Amen!

Praying for Autumn

My favorite stories are those that involve characters who survive the greatest of challenges against all odds.  I especially love survival stories based on real life events when actual people have endured natural or political disasters, war, violence, corruption, and all kinds of destruction, obtaining deliverance ultimately through God's grace.  Edge of my seat movies where the hero is a little David archetype facing a Goliath of a challenge are my absolute favorite!  I often imagine myself as that small person, completely defenseless, making a run for it despite the high waters, the stormy winds, the raging fires, a blanket of bullets, a tall mountain or a dark valley...making it through, guided by the Light of the Holy Spirit and protected by the cover of Heaven's Angels.  The thrill of the adventures, experienced all from the safety of my living room at home, of course, leave me with a heart full of hope on the power of good over evil.

Have any of these types of stories come to life for you? Have you experienced these events in real life? Did you ever actually need to escape danger?  Do you know anyone, personally, who has ever been that real life character trapped in a dangerous place/situation from which the alternatives were to make a break for it or perish? Do you know people who have lived through the stuff of movies, and survived to talk about it afterwards?  

Have you or anyone you know encountered those moments when the Word of God that speaks about passing through deep waters and fires goes from being a powerful image to becoming painfully real...the times when finding the hiding place where He will protect us from trouble points to a literal need for God to surround us with His deliverance?

I cannot say I have experienced anything of that magnitude. Have you?

Today, there is someone I know who is living through one of these stories. The dire circumstances of the place where God called her so many years ago, and where her heart resides, have made it impossible for her to stay and the decision to flee was the only alternative to live.  She is a daughter of our church for whom seeking the will of God and obeying His call has taken her to a most forgotten country that is currently in shambles, where chaos, utter disorder and confusion reign. She took a leap of faith and trusted He who brought her there, to deliver her back into safety.  For days, we have prayed for her safety, and will continue to do so without ceasing until she is home again, securely, out of harms way.  We hang on to His promises and claim them for we trust that all His promises are true!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46: 1

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. Psalm 138: 7

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1: 7

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3: 3

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. Isaiah 41: 10

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrew 13: 6

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 22: 3

May the Divine Shepherd lead this young woman and her companions back to safety...may His army of angels keep watch over them and bring them home soon.  We Praise the Lord that the most dangerous portion of her journey is completed, and we continue praying for a happy ending to this most compelling, real life story.

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.


I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c]
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.


I am in the midst of lions;
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.


Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.


They spread a net for my feet—
I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.


My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.


I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.


Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

Reflections on the Book Winning the War on Worry. Lie #4

 "I have to worry.  OF COURSE I have to worry!!! If I don't worry, who will??"

This is my stance every single time that something slightly problematic may seem to be spotted in the distant future.  I worry and panic as if by worrying I could stop it from happening or control how things would turn out.  Reading the book, Winning the War on Worry is teaching me, however, that this attitude is not just a part of my dysfunctional mindset when facing problems.  This posture is actually the result of me believing a lie from the enemy that is designed to distance me from my Heavenly Father.  This position stems from lie #4: I can control the outcome by worrying.

Author Louie Giglio says that this lie from the devil tries to convince us that if we think about the situation long enough, we can control how it turns out.  Therefore, we obsess!  We think, and we concoct, and we mull over, and we visualize, and we machinate, and we ruminate until we believe we have covered all the angles and chewed it all over into a swallowable, sweet compote that goes down easily and to our satisfaction.  In reality, however, nothing is further from the truth.  By God's grace, says Pastor Giglio, the only thing we can control is how we react to things.  That's it!

Remember what Jesus asks us in Luke 12: 25-26

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

All outcomes are up to God's plan.  Worrying, on the other hand, does not accomplish anything other than the devil's plans.  Is that what we want to be doing? Helping the enemy accomplish his evil plans for our lives? Of course not! So why do we worry? We worry because we have fallen into the trap of believing that worry is useful.  And if you are like me, that mindset has been sculpted into your brain on granite!  It's our default mode.  We do it without even thinking about it.  And now, we are left with the hard work of changing our reaction to problems...which is the only thing we can control.  We have to replace worry with something else...but what?  What is strong enough to sledge hammer that granite and pulverize it? 

Pastor Giglio says, the first step is to recognize that WE. ARE. NOT. GOD!

Once we go into the worry mode and we smell the first stench of the obsession bottle opening up (remember that cologne by Calvin Klein in the 80s...sorry, I digress), we need to recognize it and pause...and say: I am not God.  I am not in charge.  I am not in control.  I don't run the show. I am simply a part of God's plan.  Yet, I know He loves me.  So I will pray, trust and obey...and release...

We pause, pray, trust and release.  OVER and OVER and OVER again.  Yes, this is not a one time deal, my friends.  You know it.  We do this once, and then we go back to our default.  So it requires us to be very intentional and to pay a lot of attention to our reactions.  Remember, we have built a granite statue to worry, like the ancient Israelites who built those Asherah Poles and statues of Baal we see in Kings 1 and 2, which they could not, for the life of everything beautiful in the world, get rid of!  No matter how many prophets God sent and how many times He spoke to them...Kings, after Kings, after Kings just could not bring themselves to destroy such idols...that is basically what we go through when trying to destroy the idol of worry that we have safely built in the high places of our inner being.

The labor is arduous and it requires constancy but most of all, it requires prayer and surrender.  Prayer that the Holy Spirit would direct our path towards a life in which worry is not our first instinct.  Prayer that Christ will give us His strength to surrender to God's plan, which, though inscrutable, it is, indeed, perfect!  Prayer that we forgive ourselves when we fall back on our worry routine, and not experience that guilt that separates, but enjoy the mercy that draws us back to the Heart of Jesus that is ALL MERCYFUL!  Prayer that we can continue to try to attempt this over and over an over again.  This is how we can open the door to the peace that Jesus promised, so it can enter into our hearts, souls and minds like a hurricane, or a gushing current, cleaning up all the gunk we've built up over the years, destroying our idol of worry...to finally allow us to breathe...and let go...and be free.  

"Of course I have to worry!"  No I do not.  Nobody has to.  It's in God's hands, whatever "it" is...He already has it worked out.  I am NOT God.  So I'm going to step down and let Him do His thing! In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Would we say no to love because it hurts?

 Would you willingly choose to do something that you KNOW is going to cause you hurt, pain, and heartache? 

Well, the answer is yes and no.

Often, when we are absolutely certain that a decision, or an action is going to give us a most piercing affliction or unsurmountable hardship, the answer is no way! Our self-preservation instincts kick in...or should kick in, ideally, right? Sometimes I wonder, though... However, there is one thing...one decision...one action...one decision to commit to an action which we willingly embrace fully knowing it will, at some point, shatter our hearts...and that is, the decision to commit to loving someone.

The reason for this seemingly irrational determination is that otherwise, choosing to say no to love would make us part of a different species...more like a piece of furniture or a kitchen appliance...an amoeba, at best.

We choose love over and over and over again regardless of how much it may hurt, because we are humans and we need love like we need air.  Love is what sustains us and gives us well-being because He who made us is Love Himself, and when He selected us to be His, that was an act of unsurpassed love that demonstrates He loved us first and at that moment, He instilled His love in us rendering us incapable of not loving despite our "better/worldly/rational" judgment and knowledge. Easy! Not mind-twisting at all, right?!

Anyway...but seriously, how else would we ever know we even have a heart if we never get it broken?

The pain we feel when our heart aches or when it is deeply pierced due to love is what reminds us that we are alive...the deeper the hurt...the stronger the love.  Losing someone who we consider only a passing acquaintance, for example, does not destroy us the way that losing a most beloved person does.  Hearing the news that something bad happened to a kid at some distant school many miles away from us, doesn't disturb us anywhere near to the way it certainly annihilates us when that kid is ours.  The distress we experience when we are aware of the hardship of people we know of through second-hand connections is not even close to the excruciating agony we feel when the hardship falls onto a dear, dear friend.

Deep in our hearts we know, the day we decide to love someone, that it will crush us if we ever lose them.  We know with absolute certainty that the instant something horrible happens to our children (even a papercut counts here) we are going to feel it worst than if it'd happened to ourselves.  We know when our dear friends go through seriously rough patches, we travel with them and experience their pain.  We know it...we feel it...we fear it.  

When we say the vows, it is for better or for worse, until DEATH due us apart.  We walk into that union knowing death will be a part of it.  When we hold our children in our arms, we know our hearts will break, just like the heart of Jesus' Mother Mary broke, because we realize our hearts don't belong to us anymore, they are in possession of the children God blessed us with.  When we first meet our best friends whether it be at a school yard during recess when we were in Kindergarten or at a small group in college either because we were paired together to do a project or we were randomly thrown together as roommates, or met at a crazy party (not that college students ever go to parties, let alone crazy ones), or at a Bible study group at the home of a Pastor on Sunday evenings when we were starting out our Christian walk...we know that someday we will journey through the valleys of the shadows of tears with our loved ones...still...does knowing all this would ever make us turn our backs and say: no...I cannot commit to loving you because I know it will one day break my heart and I cannot have that kind of pain in my life?  

Would we say "no" to love because it hurts?  

No second thoughts. No second guessing. No regrets.  Tears and all, we willingly dive into the adventure that it is to love someone because choosing otherwise would mean traversing through life empty and barely alive.  After physiological needs, the need to belong... to love and be loved, is the most basic need of humankind! So, a life devoid of love, is not much of a life at all.  And like the song says: love hurts.  It hurts, indeed.  But that's how we know we're alive. That's the human perspective.

From a Christian perspective, it works too.  Suffering is the evidence we are walking with Jesus!  Sharing the road with Christ means sharing in His sacrifice...sharing His Cross (Galatians 2: 20 and Matthew 10: 17-20). To be a part of His Glory we must be also part of His agony...that's just the way it works. Love hurts, but without love, there is no joy...there is no glory.  Therefore, we offer our suffering back to Him to participate in His Glory at the appointed time.  

The Cross is not the goal...the goal is Christ's Glory.  Heartache and agony are not the goal...the goal is joy.  May the One Who is LOVE guide us in our necessary walks through calvary so, when the time is full, we can also partake in the joy and glory of true Love.

Have you ever met such a human?

 Have you ever met someone universally liked?

I mean...there are some people, I guess, who because of their achievements can potentially claim the title of being universally admired...maybe...I know I'm going to say something controversial here, but it is only an illustration (please try not to dislike me too much): I could, perhaps say I sort of admire Taylor Swift...but I do not like her.  However, finding people who are liked by everyone they meet along the path of their lives...that is very rare.  Not even Jesus was liked by everyone He ever met.  On the contrary, right? He was put to death because some people didn't like what He said, what He did...who He was...and He is Perfect!  Imagine us...imperfect, wretched, sinners...of course we are NOT going to be liked by every single person we meet (trust me, I know what I'm talking about here).  Once in a while, however, there comes a person...a human, flesh and bone person, who can honestly (and usually humbly) walk around knowing that most of those who meet him or her are not going to hate their guts.

This kind of individual is typically characterized by a few traits.  Among those traits or virtues, rather, we notice first a big heart so full of love that it overflows. Their hugs are tight and abundant.  Their approach is genuine and caring.  Then we see a cheerful personality as another commonly present feature among this person's virtues, meaning, others can most certainly count on a smile, a belly laugh, a funny comment usually self-deprecating and/or sarcastic, and a silver-lining type of attitude.  They are, therefore, fun-loving, but also fun and loving.  This person is empathetic, feels deeply about others and exudes generosity.  They are generous with their time, money, talents, efforts, laughter and tears.  In a world where so many of us feel invisible, this person makes people feel seen.  The universally liked human is also smart.  Behind a seemingly goofy exterior there lies a thinker whose insight always would leave you pondering...their musings always would bring about a perspective that makes those listening, pause, reconsider and wonder.  They get it and they help you get it too.  This combination of qualities (plus others that you may add as you think of them) make it impossible for anyone to truly dislike this individual.

Have you ever met such a person?  

Does anyone's face or name come to mind to illustrate this beloved character?

Yes.  Without fearing oversimplifications or false idolization, I believe that I can honestly answer yes to these questions. I had the honor, privilege and blessing of meeting someone who was not terribly disliked by anyone within the universe in which he lived.  That does not mean that sometimes we might have not rolled our eyes at his comments or might have occasionally wanted to punch him on the face once in a while...but always in good fun!  Not only he wasn't universally hated, he was actually deeply loved...so much so...that Jesus called him home way too soon because he couldn't spare him any longer. And now, though we rejoice he is enjoying his rewards as he has already heard, "well done good and faithful servant," we are left wandering in this valley of shadows and tears with one less shining light in our world to guide us.  The voice, words and laughter are silenced, the jokes have ceased, the hands are idle.  The memories, however, remain.  The legacy of faith, love, integrity, joy and selflessness lives in the hearts and souls of his family and in all who knew him on this side of eternity.

Our loss is great, but his gain is bigger.  We just pray in confidence that the same Jesus who saved him, redeemed him, inspired him, guided him and loved him has already welcomed him into His glory as He gives us acceptance, peace, strength and hope to continue on in this life without our friend and brother in Christ until we too, are also called home.

In memory of our beloved Sam Jones...lifting his dear wife, children, grandchildren and the rest of the Jones Clan in prayer as we mourn together the passing of someone who represented the spirit of our church.  In Christ we wait.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Reflections on the Book Winning the War on Worry - Lie #3

 My Mother and Father were both major-league-worriers.  They spent all of their lives while I was around, worrying about something.  My Mom was afraid of everything, which caused her to worry constantly.  My Dad never really made much of a distinction between a big problem and a little problem.  To him, all problems were equally bad and required an equally extreme reaction.  Worry framed his face.  Neither of them really knew how to relax.  Every single afternoon after dinner, they would both sit on a swing on the front porch of our house and ponder the day's issues.  To the regular passerby, they looked as if they were chillaxing.  We knew, though, that they were quietly mulling over problems and worries.  I don't think either of them ever heard anyone say to them anything like:  give it to God.  He is in control.  Let it go.  Trust Him.  Worrying won't solve anything.

Sigh...

I grew up in that environment.  It never occurred to me to think that there was some choice involved in worrying.  I never thought about the fact that there are levels to problems: some are big and some are little...what? no way...a problem is a problem, is a problem and I need to worry no matter what.  I can't choose not to worry!  That's crazy?  Who could possibly control their emotions in such a way? NOBODY! Once a worrier, always a worrier, especially if you were born that way and into a family of worriers.

Well, apparently, that way of thinking was forged by a tradition of believing a big lie the enemy wants to spread on unsuspecting people like me.  As stated by Pastor Giglio, the devil's #3 lie is precisely, "I have no choice-I'm born a worrier."

OK...I guess my lifetime of blaming genetics for my inability to exercise self-control in the arena of worrying is coming to a very abrupt end...because if Pastor Giglio is right...I've just been duped into believing that I was born this way and there isn't anything that I can do about it.  In reality, even though we might have a genetic tendency toward worry...we are born again into a family whose Father does not worry or has ever worried or will never worry EVER!  Like Pastor Giglio says, "there's no doubting the fact that He is concerned for us..." but He does not worry in the same sense we do.  We belong to a new family where worry is a sign of mistrust.  

The truth is that God's got us and all our problems.  He is in control and our job is to surrender and to trust His plan and His will.  HE IS ENOUGH!

When we indulge in worrying, we fall for the enemy's trap that tells us we are the ones in control.  He knows we are NOT enough...so he deceives us and manipulates us into believing we are in charge because he knows we will fail and be even more miserable than when we first started worrying.  The enemy knows we will forget we are not enough and will dupe us into buying the idea that we can take care of things on our own...and the vicious cycle starts and never ends...or it ends with us defeated.

Pastor Francis Chan said something similar:  "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is Big Enough, Powerful Enough, or Loving Enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." Therefore, instead of wasting our time worrying and circling around our fears over and over and over again in a most inefficient way...let's make sure that at the first sign of worry we start moving closer to the Word so we can be under the protection of the Most High as we focus our energy and efforts on surrendering and trusting on the Center of Life, Power and Love that is Our Great God.

No matter how long we have been believing this lie, we can change our mind frame by the Power of The One Who Makes All Things New! Let's put our faith in Him and start believe the truth!

Reflections on the Book Winning the War on Worry: Lie #2

I have been watching many crime-style-movies lately.  The "who-done-it" hooks me, and before I know it, I'm playing homicide detective.  In these shows, "motive" is always an important key.  The detectives are always looking for it. Until they find it, they can't build a solid case around a suspect.  In many of these shows, we find out at the end, the motivation to commit the crime stems from a lie.  The culprit ends up usually not being a serial killer, but a misguided individual who told a lie and has to cover it up or was told a lie and believed it...which caused him/her to an extreme reaction...usually a murder.  Even serial killers' motivation and M.O. are often linked to some sort of lie in their past.  

At any rate, as I continue my careful reading of Louie Giglio's book Winning the War on Worry, chapter 1 tells us "worry is a liar."  And the second lie the enemy uses on us is: "the more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."  So, "the motive" for worrying is to avoid or keep "it" (whatever "it" might be) from actually happening.  At first glance, this statement didn't seem to apply to me all that much.  But then, as I started to look at worry in terms of a "crime" I started to look at what my motivation for worrying might be.  And the funny thing is, many, many times, I just worry for the sake of worrying.  It's my M.O.  I don't even know why I do.  I just worry because if I'm not worried, I start worrying that there's something I need to be worried about, but I'm not sure what it is, so I start digging around until I find something I need to worry about and then I'm like, "see? I knew it!"

However, what if my incessant need to worry emerges from the fact that long ago, longer than I can remember, I believed a lie from the enemy who made me think that the more I worry, the less likely it is for that worst case scenario to happen.  Therefore, I began to worry motivated by this lie I had believed in, and worry became my M.O. and it has been my habitual way of acting ever since.

How diabolical...

The truth is, worry doesn't keep anything from happening.  In fact, worrying only makes things worst.  It makes us panicky and when we panic, we can't think rationally.  Fear makes us act erratically, and mistakes are made because we go on "survival" mode.  And I don't know about you, but my survival mode is terrifying, especially to those around me.  I become hysterical and destructive.  I can't think and I often hurt everyone I cross paths with.  The enemy knows that about me.  Hence, the lie.  Making me believe this lie will ensure that I am in a constant state of fret and disarray, unable to calm down and think...and pray...

What to do?

First step, like Pastor Giglio says, "become adept at spotting the lies worry tells you" so you and I can become experts at dismantling them, rendering them ineffective. Then, "lean in and trust God." Pastor Giglio continues on page 6, "one of the greatest tools to help counter the temptation to worry is recalling the faithfulness of God"...the faithfulness of God tells you, "today I will do for you what I did yesterday, and the day before, and the days before that.  Faithfulness is the fuel of peace for today."  Remembering God's Faithfulness and recounting all the instances in which He has delivered us and blessed us is the antidote against worry and the key to regaining His peace.  

I know it is hard for someone for whom worrying is the default reaction to life's hurdles.  That's why we need back up.  Just like in the crime-style-movies, detectives who have the presence of mind to call for back up before engaging in something that is potentially going to end in harm, usually survive violent encounters...we worriers need to make sure we reach out to our back up at the first tingle of fear.  And the first one to call, the one on your #1 spot in your speed dial is:  The Holy Spirit.  A quick 911 to the Holy Spirit to make His presence manifested in the situation will make the difference between succumbing to the weapons of the enemy or staying firm on solid ground.  Then, reach out to your prayer warriors.  Establish a small circle of sisters in Christ to whom you can always place emergency calls or texts and recruit them to lift you up in prayer and serve as a sounding boards on your struggle.  And of course, go to Jesus in Scripture.  Stay in the Word always.  The same way the enemy does not rest or get distracted on his mission to disrupt our lives, we must stay in the Word every day, making it part of who we are, memorizing and praying without ceasing.

Well, I guess it's time to go find out who's done it this time in my current movie I have on pause :) but before that, I pray that we can stay connected to His promises of peace like a river, beyond our understanding, trusting He is the Faithful One who walks with us and tells us, fear not.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, The One Who Has Overcome Every Trial for me.  Amen!

   

Reflections on the Book Winning the War on Worry: Part 2 - Lie #1

 "You always have to go to the worst possible case scenario!"

Boy, have I heard that often in my life...sigh...I always attributed that nasty quality of mine to my negative nature.  I never thought it was something I could control.  I mean, how much can you force yourself to be a positive thinker, really? To me that would be like me forcing myself to be 4 inches taller than I am.  I mean, how do I do that? I guess I could fake it by wearing 4-inch-heel shoes and pretending to be able to walk on those.  At the end of the day, though...I'm still not 6-foot tall.

Pastor Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry tells us how worry is not from God.  Worry is a tool of the enemy and he uses it to manipulate us and to make us drift away from The Almighty.  When the enemy uses worry to enslave us, he employs 4 lies, and the first one is:  "something really bad is going to happen."  It's not that bad things don't happen.  They do.  We have experienced that reality.  We live in a fallen world and of course bad scenarios are often unavoidable.  However, the trick is to remember that not because we are facing something seemingly terrible, the worst possible thing is actually going to be the outcome.  Sometimes it will be and what we fear most will come to pass.  But, more often than not, the horrible thing we fear might happen, does not happen.  

The point is, why worry? I remember one of my first bosses a thousand years ago, used to say, "keep calm and do your job.  There's plenty of time to panic later."  And if we think about it, it's true!  We don't know what the future holds.  We may have a sense...a feeling...but we don't really know for sure.  God's plan is perfect, and He has a way to make everything work out in the end.  We might have to go through some tribulations for a while, but we know how the story ends: we running to the arms of Jesus...so, come what may!

There is a supernatural peace that comes to us when we surrender our fears to our Lord...and as such, precisely because it is supernatural, it doesn't come naturally.  It comes by allowing the Holy Spirit to take over our thoughts and by filling our minds with Scripture.  So when the hard times do come, we are prepared and we trust that Jesus will equip us to face it, and above all, that He will be going through the fire and high waters with us.

I don't know how effective I will be at modifying my perspective from worst-case-scenario to "I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength." But I am glad to hear that by being aware this is a lie from the devil, I can recognize it when it threatens to overtake me with its darkness.  Once I recognize it is the enemy trying to defeat me, I can invoke the Holy Spirit to guard me and lead me back to His Light.

In the meantime, I cling to the hope that is Jesus.  And as I learn to immerse myself into His Word and trust it more and more each day, I know He will rescue me.  In the Precious Name of My Lord and Savior Who is Truth.  Amen!

Reflections on Book Winning the War on Worry

 "You worry too much.  Just enjoy the ride!" 

Someone told me that many years ago.  To tell you the truth, I had no idea what that meant.  I still don't think I'm 100% sure I understand the idea of seeing life as a "ride" which I should enjoy and not as a valley of darkness and fears that I must constantly fret about.  How does one even begin to approach life like that?  I have no idea.  I guess, maybe, looking more closely to the analogy of a "ride" could bring some light into this matter...let's see...a ride...a ride...

Well, I don't ride horses or motorcycles or skateboards. I have not been on a bicycle in decades.  I do, however, ride in cars...but better yet, my mind just went to rides at amusement parks.  I do enjoy those very much!  We didn't have amusement parks in Panama when I was growing up down there so I never really experienced the thrill of a good ride until I was in my early twenties.  I still remember the first time I rode in the Steel Phantom at Kennywood!  WOW!

I think I passed down my love for amusement park rides to my sons.  They practically grew up riding them.  I remember pushing Grant and then later Dylan on our little umbrella stroller around many parks, and as soon as they were tall enough, they began to ride.  One of my favorite memories was of the first time we took them to Disney.  Dylan was only 5 years old.  We were in line to ride the Tower of Terror and Dylan asked Dan:  "Daddy, are we going to die?"  Poor child...it was terrifying, indeed, but he did it and we all survived.  It was exhilarating! We still continue to go to amusement parks as much as we can.  Last year we went to Universal and we stood in line for 2 hours to ride the new Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.  It was probably the best ride I've ever been in.  It was surprising and unique.  Not much like any other.  Of course, now I have to take something like Dramamine or Bonine to keep my lunch steady inside my tummy...but I enjoyed every bit of that ride...hmmm...

Why am I able to enjoy these crazy rides without worrying one bit about anything?

Let's see...I don't worry about a thing because I trust that the amusement park has taken every precaution to make sure the rides, while scary, are totally safe.  I trust that even though the climbing is steep, the turns are crazy, and there are many bumps along the way, at the end, I will land without harm.  Well...I wonder...if I can trust the corporations that own the amusement parks (which only care about profit) to keep me safe...why can't I trust My Amazing God, who wonderfully and carefully made me and loves me so much that He sent His Only Son to save me?  

Perhaps the reason I can blindly trust Kennywood, Disney, and Universal but have a hard time fully trusting the God of All Creation is because I'm believing the lies the enemy feeds me about God and His Goodness.  

Louie Giglio in the book, Winning the War on Worry points out something in chapter 1 that really got to me.  He says:  "We've already established that the root of worry is fear.  And fear doesn't come from God.  Thus, at the heart of worry is the devil.  And Scripture is clear - the devil is a liar." (page 1)

He adds:  "worry isn't just a bad habit.  Worry is an enemy tactic - a strategy built on lies that are designed to rob you of peace and tear your mind to pieces." (page 1)

There you have it.  I don't think I ever heard this message any clearer.  Worry is NOT from God.  On the contrary.  He wants us to trust Him completely to the point that we worry about nothing because He is in charge...our lives are in His Hands...the most capable and trustworthy hands ever.  But we do worry.  We worry because the enemy is skillful and he knows how to infiltrate our defenses in ways that are often imperceptible to us.  And if we are not aware of this truth, or we allow ourselves to forget it, we begin to believe all the lies he feeds us and worry takes over.  

Well, I am deeply grateful to the Holy Spirit for guiding authors like Pastor Giglio to write about this topic.  And I'm deeply grateful to my dear friend for bringing this book to my attention.  And, above all, I'm most gratefully delighted for the love of My Lord and Savior, whose patience is inexhaustible and whose care is unending.  I pray that as I read this little book I can finally understand that it is possible to worry less and enjoy the crazy ride of this life more.  In Jesus' Precious Name, the Name that deserves all of our trust.  Amen! 

Struggle with Worry? Maybe the Next Series of Posts Can Help

 Struggles with worry? Me? 

Nah!!!

HA!  I don't struggle with worry.  I embrace it...I look for it.  I worry even when there's nothing to worry about thinking, why...thinking, maybe I should be worried about something.  Yep, worry is me, alright...deep sigh...

When my dear friend brought up the book Winning the War on Worry by Louie Giglio, my first thought was..."yeah right? like that's a war I can win...sure..."

I'm ashamed of my inability to trust God's power completely.

But, I bought the book.  I've read the introduction. And I'm ready to put on the Armor of God to fight in this war, because I'm sick of being oppressed by fear and worry.  It's about time I stop my defeating attitude and dive into the arms of Jesus, the One Who Has Defeated evil and exposed all his tricks.  It's about time I surrender to Christ, trust His promises, and let Him scoop me out of the pit I've dug for myself.

As I read this little book, I'm going to try to use this space to process my reflections and sort my thoughts.  I hope it is useful to whoever is reading my musings and maybe we can walk together on this road to freedom, guided by the Light of His Presence.  In the Precious Name of Jesus we pray.  Amen!

Fellowship: 2024 Word of the Year

 I'm not sure what happened, but I blinked and 2023 was over.  The last few months went by so fast that my head is still spinning.  In the whirlwind of things, I have not had very many moments to sit down and write...and I'm not sure as to why...but there's no time for regrets, right? So here I am...on the second day of 2024 talking about my word for the year.  And the word is:  fellowship.

My word for last year was "genuine."

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I was not able to keep to it 100% of the time.  However, I can honestly say that I did have very special moments of genuine fellowship which made me realize the importance of this practice.  The moments that stand out the most revolved around book chats.  I was blessed with being a part of two book chats, one over the summer and one in the fall, which gave me plenty of opportunities to fellowship with dear sisters in Christ and see friendships blossom as we grew closer to one another and to Christ.  I also had chances to fellowship with my own family as we shared super special moments driving through Arizona, surrounded by a beauty so intense that moved us to worship.  

But, what is fellowship, and why is it important?

Well, briefly, the word fellowship is derived from the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia can be defined as “holding something in common” and is specifically used 20 times in the New Testament (e.g. Phil. 2:1-2, Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:6-7). Koinonia describes the unity of the Spirit that comes from Christians’ shared beliefs, convictions, and behaviors. When those shared values are in place, genuine koinonia (biblical fellowship) occurs. This fellowship produces our mutual cooperation in God’s worship, God’s work, and God’s will being done in the world. (Grace Theological Seminary)

Fellowship is an integral part of Christianity and it is a tool that the Holy Spirit uses to help us grow in our faith.  Through that unity that emerges when Christians gather together and share their beliefs, convictions and way of living, the body of Christ, the church becomes stronger and so do individuals.  Think about it.  Has it happened to you that sometimes you are at a Bible study or maybe even just casually having a conversation with some sisters in Christ and there is a discussion of a topic or a passage of Scripture that you thought you were very familiar with, and all of a sudden, you hear insights on that topic or particular passage that you never thought about before, making the whole thing completely fresh and new?  That is the gift of fellowship.  

There is a reason the Bible calls us to fellowship with other believers.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1: 9, "you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  We are invited to partake in the divine fellowship of the Trinity between Jesus, The Father and The Holy Spirit, our most perfect example of perfect Koinonia.  It is in this unity that we experience a glimpse of paradise here on Earth.  

Well, 2024 is here, and it is my prayer that I can be intentional about participating more intensely in Christian fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  May we all walk in the Light together, as 1 John 1: 7 says,

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

And as we walk in the Light, may we encourage one another, bear each other's burdens, and make each other better, as iron sharpens iron.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.  

Happy New Year!!!