“When everything seems to be against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
“A quiet conscience makes one strong.” – Anne Frank
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” – Isaiah 26:3
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10
What will happen? How will things turn out? Can I fix it? What can I do?
This morning, Christ is impressing on my mind one thought. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Pray, pray, and pray more. Let Him work out the outcome according to His perfect will. Let it be on earth as it is in Heaven, Lord, I pray.
Love, Lisa
Worries. Anxiety. Circular thoughts that go nowhere. When these things hit me, I head outside to the garden. Pick the beans, discard the bad leaves, plant fall spinach, kale and carrot seeds. Water. Just doing the work in God’s good earth quiets my mind every time.
As I dig my hands into the dirt, I am thinking of some of my favorite quotes about work.
“You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.” – Irish proverb
“Castles were built a stone at a time.” – Irish proverb
“Pick the potatoes yourself, Joseph; you ambitious boy.” – Far and Away, film 1992, directed by Ron Howard
So now, instead of snapping and freezing the green beans, which I was going to do, I am writing this. But that’s ok. Work is work, no matter what kind of work it is. It keeps the hands busy, the mind active on positive things.
Which reminds me of another good quote I heard a lot growing up: “Idle hands are the Devil’s playthings.”
The Enemy likes nothing better than for me to be idle, to be aimless, to worry, to fret. It breeds fear and anxiety. It is not good.
So now I will snap the beans. I am grateful. I am feeling productive. God will take care of the rest.
Love to you, Lisa
Blessings to you for your weekend ahead. Love, Lisa
How many of you can relate?
Scene 1: Early Morning. Lisa arises, feels new, refreshed, ready to tackle the day. She blogs about rising above the storm clouds, about dealing well with the “it is” in her life. Feeling good.
Scene 2: Late afternoon. Lisa is half crying and half mad. Things have gone from bad to worse with little and big irritations, changes, stresses, people being people. Husband laughingly, lovingly, asks where the “it is” girl has gone. She feels a headache beginning.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
We are human. Life happens. People keep on being people, and none of us are perfect for sure.
Is the real me the one who blogs in the morning? Or the frustrated headachy one in the afternoon? The real me is both of these creatures. God has created us with a myriad of colorful, wonderful and sometimes exhausting emotions.
Verses like the one above bring me great joy and peace. He knows me. He loves me. He gives me new compassion every morning. He will remain faithful to me no matter what.
Thank goodness.
Love, Lisa
Think About These Things 