Family photos...

2009
Washington State
my family

How to stay calm...

I am not freaking out, or am I?
I am not sitting in the middle of the war zone, or am I?
I am not watching my children fight for their lives, or am I?
I am not staring at a blade as I am standing for my faith in Christ, or am I?
I am not aware of the pernicious lie creeping into our borders, or am I?
I am not distracted by petty issues, or am I?

I am not afraid.
I am not afraid.
I am not afraid.
I am not afraid.

The action of typing 'I am not afraid' was the beginning of calming the storm.

Prayer
Trust
Hope

Prayer to God
Trust in God
Hope in God

He IS in control.
If I die, and no one reads my words, He is STILL in control.
If I watch my family suffer, and I cannot stop it from happening, He still IS in control.
If I am taken from my home, to jail, locked in a box, He IS in control.

Suffering happens.
Jesus suffered before us.
Jesus suffers with us.
Jesus will comfort us in our suffering.

They cannot take away what I believe.
They cannot remove from me that which is a part of me.

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.'" 1 Peter 3:14

Attend to your own oxygen 1st

I often contemplate how I spend my thoughts and time. Today my first note was to study scripture, my second to pray, and my third to read scripture. Then, of course, as is the way of the enemy [via sin's snare], I thought, "I am missing my opportunity; I am self-absorbed and self-seeking." As I pondered these personal chastising statements, I realized that those thoughts are not taught by Jesus at all. He stated in Matthew 22:37&38 that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind... then in verse 39 we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Loving the Lord starts exclusively by knowing Him, and knowing Him by reading-praying-studying His Word. 

My thoughts of 'missing my opportunity' are a distraction drawing me away from knowing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. After I know God I can serve Him by loving others as I love myself. When my first reaction is to jump in to help, I may be jumping over God's plan and into my own agenda. 

I guess the closest modern day analogy is what the flight attendants teach about putting on your own oxygen mask FIRST then you will be able to assist the person next to you. We cannot help others if we ourselves are incapacitated. 

[possibly a topic for an additional post, but while I am here; I question whether the enemy, satan or his minions, is/are truly able to plant doubt-firing thoughts, or if by the fact that we are humans with a sinful human nature until we die, we just have the propensity for evil thoughts based on this nature. Just a thought.]

Giving up StepxStep

I guess it really isn't giving up if you really never shared... I tried, but it's too difficult to maintain both. I have StepxStepxStep.blogspot.com and will keep it for the goodness it holds, but I have decided to add and maintain this particular blog exclusively. Check it out, if you like.

Good Friday

Just another day in paradise.... As I sit inside looking out, I embrace the sun that casts long shadows. The day looks beautiful, but we all know that sun in Nebraska does not guarantee warmth. I just checked and the thermometer reads 49°F. This is nicer than a blizzard, but not nice enough to plan too much for outdoor fun and activities. Ok, I admit, I am a wimp. I like warmer warm (if there is such a thing). I have opted to 'just be' today. I know when the day is done I will mourn the time wasted... But in the wasting, I am not provoked. I just want to embrace the rest and feel the laziness in my bones. Tomorrow I will clean, or grade papers, or wash the laundry, or do any number of other neglected chores... But today, I'm resting. I'm taking mine off the top.