Dealing with anxiety

Hello Friends ~ This past year and a half has been one filled with stress and anxiety. The world is filled with it. The media puts out mostly negative ideas which feeds fear. I do not watch normal TV so don't see a lot of what is out there. But I do watch a lot of you-tube, so see their thumbnails, and those with my yahoo account and pass by what I call negative input as much as possible. I don't want to live a fearful life, but one filled with faith in God. 

 As a believer in Jesus, who is God, I want to keep focused on him and his promises. There are so many in the Bible and those are what I want to fill my mind with. I've also read & re-read some good books that have been a help. 

Here are just a few: 

'The Shepherd Trilogy' by Phillip Keller. This is so wonderful and comforting.

 

 

Another book by Phillip Keller is 'Strength of Soul ~ The Sacred Use of Time'.

 

'Anxious for Nothing ~ 'Finding Calm in a Chaotic World' by Max Lucado

 

'Be Still My Soul ~ Reflections on Living the Christian Life' by Elisabeth Elliot

 

There are others. I also get daily devotionals that have blessed and encouraged me.

I've gotten three from John Piper's Desiring God website, these devotionals are called 

'Solid Joys'.

These came in the last week. They are all short and you can also listen to him give each of these devotionals. His voice is soothing, encouraging.

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 1

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 2 

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 3

God Will Supply All Your Needs 

Anxiety is something I've been dealing with for as long as I can remember. (My mother was fearful of so many things, it was how I was raised, no excuse though.)  I hate it and it is a sin. Dear Jesus be merciful to me a sinner. Since Jesus called my dear husband to be with him in Dec 2012, and I'm having to handle things by myself, I've been more anxious. But, I've also seen Jesus working in my life, meeting needs, comforting me, drawing me closer to him. Closer to him is where I want to be each and every day that I am blessed with.

Last week I went to Walmart for the first time since March of last year. I needed to buy a cheap watch and some baby yarn. I wore my mask, found what I wanted and was thankful to have taken a step of faith and walk into that store. I don't want to live in fear!!! I just go to the grocery, get gas and church on Sunday. I have been out to eat a few times with friends and family. Basically I'm a homebody, always have been and I always am thankful when I pull into my driveway.

I watch positive videos on you-tube, gardening, young families homesteading, needleworking, cooking/baking, some movies, documentaries, sermons, prayers and devotionals also. I work in my gardens, do different needlework, I listen to soothing music, a lot of instrumentals. Being out in the fresh air among flowers, (weeds and overgrowth also), seeing fluttering butterflies, hear singing birds, and seeing visiting felines are so good for my soul.

The other morning I looked out the living room window and the sky had a glow, that made me decide to go out and see if there might be a rainbow. I grabbed my phone and headed out. I didn't see a rainbow, but I did see three beautiful night blooming cactus blooms. I took a couple of pictures, then came inside for my old Canon PowerShot for better close-up shots. I took more pictures with it. As I was heading back inside, I thought to myself, well I didn't see a rainbow but I saw these beautiful flowers that would be soon closing up. I then looked up at the sky again and lo and behold, there was a partial rainbow. I laughed right out loud and thanked Jesus for two lovely gifts, flowers and a rainbow.

 

 

 

 

Oh to see, enjoy and be thankful for God's goodness in my life. To be thankful in all circumstances, like being without my dear husband, and whatever else might come my way.

Started this post yesterday, had to turn off computer as a thunderstorm was moving in. Close T&L lots of heavy rain. My back gutter needs cleaning so it overflowed and splashed on back door which caused a bit of water to come in. T-storms are something that cause me to be anxious. When winds start to pick up I become anxious. Not to mention threats of hurricanes. Adrenalin pumps into my stomach, heart pounds. Sheesh! I am learning daily to truly believe and trust God to take care of me regardless of what is going on. He is sovereign. He has not promised me a life without thorns, hassles, disasters, illness, death, but he has promised to always be right with me through everything. Lately I've noticed that most t-storms pass over rather quickly, some have even been skirting around me and that is always a relief.

Anyway, today is a new day. May I rejoice and be glad in it. May I be full of faith and fear less.  When anxiety rears it's ugly head I want to refuse to worry and call to mind the verse that my dear husband called out to me when I came home from work one day when he way bedridden.

"Cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you".

1 Peter 5:7

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Love, hugs and prayers, 

FlowerLady

Strength for the Day

Good morning Friends ~ I have been sort of 'burned out' the past week, so haven't posted here, and haven't done much here on the cottage grounds either. Nothing really picture worthy, no outdoor projects. The picture above is one from earlier in the year. I did get a 'hint' of autumn the other morning when working in my gardens, but a hint is all it was as ever since then it has been horribly hot and humid. I am so ready for cooler weather, and we have at least another month of heat and humidity to go yet.

This 'burned out' feeling will pass. We all have valleys and mountains, stretches of straight paths, some crooked ones too, but each day is new and we have opportunities galore to trust in God to work all things out, to carry us through.

I received the following from Grace Gems in my email box the other day and it was just what I needed. I need God's strength each and every day. Even when my faith is weak, my hope is in Him.

Wishing you all a day filled with God's love, peace and strength.





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Strength for the Day

James Smith, 1859


"As your days—so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25

The future—who can tell what will be in the future? Our days are numbered—but we know not their number. Our days are appointed—but we know not their character. Nor would it be good for us to know. We know something better—for we know that our heavenly Father has made full, suitable, and sufficient provision for us; to enable us to meet, endure, and honorably pass through all the days of our appointed time.

Let me never look into the future—but through God's Word; and then, I shall not be unduly elated by the prospect of prosperity, nor unduly depressed by the prospect of adversity. Every day I shall have God with me. Every day I shall have the throne of grace near me. Every day the promise will belong to me, "As your days—so shall your strength be."


The future is here ANTICIPATED. "As your days," your future days. What will be the character of those days, or how many of them there will be—I know not. Whether they will be dark or light—wet or dry—foggy or clear—hot or cold—long or short—I am not informed; but I am assured of sufficient strength.

In the future—

I shall meet with days of conflict—when the enemy will thrust sorely at me.

I shall meet with days of disappointment—when lover and friend will stand far from me.

I shall meet with days of pain—when much patience will be required.

I shall meet with days of depression—when I shall be filled with heaviness, through manifold temptations.

I shall meet with days of bereavement—when the Lord will take away the desire of my eyes with a stroke.

But for every day—the strength promised me will be sufficient.

My working days may be many—and my resting days but few; my days of pain may be long—and my days of pleasure may be short; but long or short, working or resting—as my days—so will my strength be.


The future is here PROVIDED for. "As your days—so shall your strength be." It shall be sufficient for the day—be the day what it may. It is wisely apportioned, each will have enough, with none to spare. It is to be daily given, we shall not have tomorrow's strength either to use or squander today. As we must wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow's troubles; so must we wait also for tomorrow's strength.

The promise that ensures us suitable and sufficient strength for all future days, is made by one who knows all that will happen, he cannot be taken by surprise, nor can anything occur which he has not known long before. Not only so—but the promise is made by one who loves us dearly. Loves us—but who shall describe, who can suitably represent his love!

It is infinite love—and cannot be comprehended!

It is eternal love—and cannot be measured!

It is unchangeable love—and cannot be diverted from its objects!

It is sovereign love—and was fixed on them without anything in them to attract or draw it toward them!

It is Divine love—
deeper than a father's love;
more tender than a mother's love;
stronger than a husband's love.

This Divine love is . . .
a fire that cannot be quenched,
an ocean that cannot be exhausted,
a sun that will never set!

It is also the promise of one who will never leave us, nor forsake us.

O precious promise, of an omnipotent, infinitely wise, loving, and present God!

It is divine, therefore both true and certain. It is tried, and was never known to fail. As, therefore, it is divine and well tried, let us receive it as from God's hand, believe it with all our hearts, and trust it with all the strength of our souls.

Let us then look forward into the future without fear, care, or foreboding. What should we fear—if we have strength given us for anything, for everything? Why should we be anxious or worried—if all is anticipated and provided for by our heavenly Father. Let us rather exercise faith in God, consecrate ourselves to God, and manifest a growing love to the cause of God. And as God is so good, so faithful, and so true—let us direct others to him, encourage them to exercise faith in him, and expect sufficient strength from him.

My soul, I charge you never to forget, or doubt, or disbelieve this precious promise. But as in all times past you have proved it true, go forward expecting to find it true even to the end!