Worry

A week or so ago I heard a quote on the Christian station here. I caught the meaning but not all of the words. I relayed them to a bloggy friend, Joy. She hunted them down for me. I thought I would share them with you.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. -- Corrie ten Boom

Worry does not get us anywhere. I am a worrier at heart. So, it is sobering to think of my worry actually draining away the strength I have today. Worry never gets me anywhere but worked up. It's not that I shouldn't think about things and problem solve. That is proactive. Rather, worry is stagnant pool of water. Nothing flows in or out of it. And it just plain stinks. And Corrie is right. Worry does not change tomorrow. But not worrying can change today!

When you start to worry, what do you do to turn it around?

Zane's Trace and Hope -- Hope Chronicles 65

When I was in the fourth grade, I took Ohio history. At some point, I was sharing with my grandfather about Zane's Trace. Zane's Trace was reportedly the first road through the wilderness. But my grandfather had a surprise for me. Zane's Trace was the country road right out front. He took all of the grandchildren down a mile or two to a marker noting this historic fact. Zane's trace came into being because a few walked or rode a path through the wilderness. Others followed. Now, there is a highway.

We live in a world of tragedy and despair. It's all around us: school shootings, 9/11, the need for "Homeland Security," the economy, the worry about tomorrow. Okay, I worry about tomorrow. There are bills to pay and relationships to try to build and maintain. I even worry about the cats. Both of my cats are healthy and likely to live long lives -- possibly another 12-14 years because they are indoor cats. But still, occasionally, I catch myself with the thought, "What if something happened to one of them." Given their health, it's a worry without need.

Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. In Matthew 6:13 He says "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Sound advice. Take care of today and leave tomorrow for itself.

But this takes discipline and walking out hope. For hope for a brighter tomorrow (heaven and being in the presence of God's glory) is what eventually awaits all who believe.

Hope is like Zane's Trace. Lin Yutang said the following about hope:

"Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence."

How will you walk in hope today? Can you put off the worry about tomorrow and live in the moment? Or if you do look ahead, can you see God's promised glory? If you walk in hope your attitude will change and those around you might just follow.




PS: Click here to go to the contest I'm running!

God's Glory in Sunflowers

My words still feel cumbersome, but even in the midst of that I thought I'd share with you a couple pictures as evidence of God's continued glory. I took these today after work.





I do know these aren't lilies but I was reminded of Luke 12:22-30:

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."