Don’t Worry (Really?)

“Consider the lilies [daisies] of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin. Yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-29

During these days of following the “stay at home” guidelines that are especially important for those of us who fall into the category of “older,” amidst all the scary (okay, alarming) news, I have been reviewing some of the notes I have made in recent years about worry. Oh, wait, that’s an admission that worry has been a challenge for me, even before this most recent stress-inducer called a “global pandemic?” Well, yes, it is. Yes, it has.

I have my list of Bible verses about fear and worry. I love all of them. My favorite is still: “Do not worry about anything. But, in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7-8

Yes, I know it is not good to worry. Of course I know I can’t change anything by worrying. I know that worry is evidence of a lack of faith. I know that trust and worry cannot live in the same heart. I know all that. Still, it’s difficult for me to put into practice the things that I know.

Hope in the Darkness

Today, in the midst of this horrible global pandemic, I was looking for positive signs of hope around me. First, I found some evidences that spring is coming. For me, evidence of winter turning to spring has always been symbolic of new life, fresh starts, and reasons to look forward and not back.

I found some signs of green on Peaceful Acres.

The day lilies are popping up in the flower beds.

The magnolia tree and the forsythia are blooming!

But perhaps the most touching sign of hope I saw today was a Facebook post. It was made by someone I do not know, posted publicly and shared by a friend. 

Public Facebook Post

This is what happened: As a result of a spontaneous idea posted on that person’s Facebook page, many people in a community (it appears to have been in Fayette County?) in Georgia, gathered last night in a parking lot of a local hospital. In their vehicles, they flashed their lights, played and sang “Waymaker” as they prayed for the hospital, the workers, the first responders, the patients, etc. Above, I have put the link to the Facebook post so the video can be viewed. The post also contains these words, which I am pasting here:

Even when I don't see it, You're working

Even when I can't feel it, You're working

You never stop, You never stop working

You never stop, You never stop working

Waymaker

Miracle Worker

Promise Keeper

Light in the darkness

My God

That is who You are

This is our community tonight gathering in our cars, at our hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital to pray over every single person in the building, every single worker, every window seal and every door post of this building from the front to the back, the top to the bottom  ! Healing in JESUS NAME!!! Restoration!!! Comfort!!! Protection!!!! Wisdom!! Strength!!! Peace!!!  FAITH!!!!!! LIFE!!!!!!!!! 

Thank you to every healthcare worker, first responder, and every individual fighting this crisis- whether behind the scenes or on the front line here in our community and all over the nation who are tirelessly and faithfully fighting on our behalf. 

We are behind you. We are covering you!!! 

We THANK YOU!!! 

2 Chronicles 7:14 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

JOHN 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” 

PSALM 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

#SocialDistancingWasRespectedANDPracticed #WeCanMakeADifference  #FaithToMoveAMountain #FlattenTheCurve #ThankYou

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, hope. I love it when I see God’s people exhibiting their strong faith and doing what we can do—praying and supporting.

#SignsofHope #SignsofSpring #Waymaker #WeWillGetThrough #Endurance #GodisStillinControl

Some Transitions

In early February we returned to our MO home, having been in our WA home since Christmas. We finally pulled the trigger on something we have talked about for some years and listed our property (we call it Peaceful Acres, our 4,600 square foot home on five acres). We designed this house ourselves and selected every tiny thing in it. We have loved living here for a season of our lives, but we look forward to what comes next. The great thing is, it’s our choice.

We spent a lot of time de-stashing and getting the house ready to show. We are now in a holding pattern and not expecting a lot of activity right now, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Everything is slowed down. So, we will continue to enjoy this place until it sells. We will be looking for a smaller place, on one level. The two of us are sort of rolling around in this big house!

One of the things we have loved about this place is seeing all the wildlife. This robin nearly killed himself flying repeatedly into the glass door on our deck. But I liked seeing him, a harbinger of spring.

Now that the world has sort of shut down until the pandemic passes through, we are spending a lot of time inside.

 I caught up with my scrapbooking. I kept putting off getting back into painting, because it has been weeks and I wasn’t sure I could still produce a decent piece of art!

Today I actually completed a watercolor project. 

So, now that I realize I can still come up with a product, the fear is gone, and I’ll get back in the groove of regular painting, while keeping up with the other routines of life.

#watercolor #peacefulacres #transitions