Posts Tagged ‘anxiety’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

A Riddle About Time

June 15th, 2011

Well, let me first apologize for no email yesterday.  There was a post, but as you can see from the post, I was in an awkward spot when I was composing that one, plus I was posting later in the day.  As things were turn out  I was unable to change the email delivery time remotely.  But I am connected again today.

And today my time started on the wrong side of the day, or I should say my clock thought it was the evening when I needed it to it to think it was the morning – all of that riddle to say I am rushing just a bit this morning, as I head off for a remarkable day of discussing the merits of process modeling.

Anyway, I think if you subscribe by email you will get a double dose today, so make sure you check out both.  And if on this ides of June you are rushing around as I am take a moment and consider this verse.

19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 New International Version (NIV)

No comments »

Posted in Daily Post

Tags:

Mobile Liberation

June 7th, 2011

Yesterday I traded in my old Windows Mobile Phone for an iPhone, and immediately I felt like I have been released from the throws of mobile phone captivity.  This iPhone is so easy to use, so nice to read, and just so, well,  so freeing.  Gone are the days of a user interface that was odd, a misbehaving ‘touchscreen’, and the limits of only having access to limited applications.  I want to shout from the mountaintops, or maybe just tweet it and post it to Facebook!

Yes, freedom.  When bonds are released and new limits are opened it is such a fantastic feeling.  The feeling of freedom and the joys of freedom are something I write about quite often - because it is so nice.  However, when it comes to spiritual freedom, sometimes, we want to stay in our bondage.  But look at this, the creator of the world says, give me your bondage:

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 New International Version (NIV)

This spiritual liberation, that comes oddly enough though a complete surrender is a really good thing. It makes the joy of the iPhone look like the joy you can get from a lead balloon.

Cast you anxiety on him and enjoy freedom. (oh , and then tweet about it!)

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11 New International Version (NIV)

No comments »

Posted in Daily Post

Tags:

The Ever Changing Schedule

April 26th, 2011

Well, I thought today was a work from home focus on work sort of day, but with a quick 15 minute phone call, an examination of my calendar and a sleepy teenager, my day has completely taken a new direction. I even had a great idea for a post today which the changing direction of the day pushed off to later.

It’s days like this when I can tell my patience and ability to listen to God are tested. I start thinking about me and “all the stuff I have to do” and how inconvenient these changes are etc. It’s so easy to get into a position where the world revolves around you and then “boom” the hammer drops and you are in a the place that you didn’t want to be. Maybe its a little road rage, maybe it’s a quick hurtful word to a co worker, maybe it’s just not thinking about others correctly.

It’s days like this I go back to an old favorite in my mind.

    25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

   28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34, New International Version, ©2011)

No comments »

Posted in Daily Post

Tags:

one of THOSE days

April 11th, 2011

It’s not even 9 in the morning, I already feel like quitting for the day.

You ever have a day like that? From the moment the alarm goes off things just are not “on frame” – as they say in soccer. You can’t find stuff, teenagers are doing their best at being, well, teenagers. Then there are schedules, pressure, etc etc etc etc.

Today’s one of those days. So I am trying to slip in a little bit of motivation for myself ( and you) before I get whisked away in the land of endless emails.

So, a few verses I am trying to consider today, to reduce the anxiety and refocus my brain:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV

and then there is this one below.  This is a verse that most of the time we may not attribute to encouragement on a difficult day.  However I find it both humbling and full of purpose. It seems to emphasis the only task for the day that really matters and provides a little bit of clarity about the things that are causing stress.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 ESV

If your day has started like mine, spend a moment to recenter on the one mission and goal for the day – “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

1 comment »

Posted in Daily Post

Tags:

So Much To Do, So Little Time

September 16th, 2010

There’s a children book called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This book has been made into a cartoon, that my guys used to watch when they were little.  I am sure Amy still shows it in the classroom.  Anyway, in the beginning of the story, the parents are going around the house singing a song that goes something like “Some much to do, so little time in the morning…”  Amy and I still sing that a lot as we bustle around in the morning trying to get “stuff” done.

And that’s especially me this morning.  Between coaxing a teenager to get ready for school, watering the garden, running, picking tomatoes, showering, ironing clothes, reading email, paying bills, and talking Fantasy football with Andrew I am plum give out and its not even 9 am! Phew.

I am sure y’all have days like this as well, and these are days when this stuff can crush our spirit.  I have already caught myself this morning, feeling this self induced anxiety coming over me, and knowing that whoever crosses my path better watch out.  That’s not good. It’s day’s like this we need to remember things like this:

10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)

He’s in control, and he’s the one that we can can find peace in.  So if you find yourselves like me today – just a little frazzled.  Be still for a few moments, focus on Him and see what a difference it makes.

I know, I feel better and ready to head off for a day of cubical warfare!

No comments »

Posted in Daily Post

Tags: