Testimony Tuesday -

Once, I was a joyful little girl, surrounded by love and laughter, but my mother’s anxious nature cast a shadow over my young life. Whenever my dad was late, I’d find her in distress, tears streaming down her cheeks as she feared the worst. Though my dad worked hard to provide for us, her relentless worry overshadowed her stability, a constant reminder of her fear of losing everything. 

My mom grew up in poverty with an unstable, depressed mother and no father. Their lives were marked by frequent moves and evictions due to Grandma's unpredictability. Each paycheck felt like a small celebration, but joy quickly faded as Grandma spent it on little luxuries, leaving them with empty cupboards by the end of the week. For my mom, this cycle of fleeting happiness and deep disappointment shaped her understanding of scarcity and want.

My beloved dad dedicated himself to bringing joy to my mom, succeeding in many ways. Yet, beneath her smiles, shadows of childhood worries lingered. It’s not surprising that I inherited a tendency to worry and feel anxious about everything. I once found myself caught in the relentless grip of compulsive worry, where my mind danced frantically between endless scenarios and uncertainties. Each thought spiraled out of control, filling my days with an overwhelming sense of dread and anxiety.

So, NOW, when I say I no longer worry or get upset, it may seem disingenuous. I’m a fellow struggler, too! It may even lead to some eye rolls, 👀, and I get it.  We've been led to believe that worrying is just part of who we are. We can't possibly stop. While everyone worries, to some degree, scripture encourages us to trust God and not to be anxious. 

Who honestly likes to worry and fret and be anxious over everything? 

The remedy is beautifully simple: 

Trust in and wholeheartedly obey God. He yearns for our love and unwavering devotion—not just on Sundays, but every day of the week and in every moment we breathe. God desires a deep, personal relationship with each of us. He longs to know us intimately, so that in our hearts, we become so attuned to His presence that when we are faced with challenges or temptations that do not align with His will, we instinctively recognize them as unpleasing to Him. No more compromising. 

I was hopeless, and I knew I couldn't do this on my own. The closer I get to Jesus, the more I can be the person He wants me to be. 

No doubt about it - Compulsive worrying and anxiety can be tough, but understanding our identity in Christ and relying on His promises can offer peace. 

1. Acknowledge God's Sovereignty and Care: Remember that God is in control and cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to cast our anxieties on Him. Trusting in His sovereignty helps relieve the burden of trying to control everything.
2. Embrace the Peace of Christ: Jesus provides a peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to avoid anxiety by presenting our requests to God through prayer and thanksgiving, allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds.
3. Renew Your Mind: Focus on the truth of God's Word to combat anxiety. Romans 12:2 speaks of renewing the mind by setting thoughts on things above, embracing your identity in Christ (Colossians 3:2).
4. Rely on the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is your comforter and guide, as described in Galatians 5:22-23. Rely on the Spirit to cultivate peace and self-control, aiding you in managing anxiety.
5. Live in the Present: Jesus reminds us not to worry about tomorrow, as each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). Focus on the present and trust God with the future.

Most sincerely, I extend my heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you who are often burdened by worry or anxiety about the complexities of life, the state of our nation, our children/grandchildren,  the uncertainty of our future, the inevitable process of aging, and the challenges surrounding our finances. May you find God's perfect peace and solace in the midst of these concerns!

In Christ,

Debby

My Election Day Thoughts

 

Source: Artist William Blake 1794

As I was reading the powerful words in Daniel while preparing for my study of Revelation, I was encouraged.

The Ancient of Days stands as the ultimate source of all creation, possessing sovereign authority that is inherent to Him alone. Throughout history, kings and kingdoms may rise to prominence—achieving great heights and wielding immense power—but they are fleeting, appearing like shadows that vanish into thin air. It is God who orchestrates their ascent and determines their downfall. While the vivid and sometimes daunting imagery present in these visions can evoke a sense of apprehension, the overarching message resonates with hope and assurance. In the end, God's people will emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, pursue maturity.

"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

 That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold.  Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Ephesians 4;17-32

This and that on a Tuesday

This morning, as I stood by the kitchen window, I gazed out at the bird feeder and noticed two long tails poking out from inside. Suddenly, a small rat scurried up the wooden stand supporting the feeder.

Argh! I discovered that we were dealing with three rodents – two large and a smaller one. Despite living here for 16 years, I had never encountered them before. Although my husband is usually diligent about keeping the area free of rats, it seems like he was too busy the last couple of months and now we have rats. In response, he set traps and located the hole where they were tunneling in from. After identifying the entry point near the feeder, he placed a smoke bomb inside the hole and sealed it with rocks.  I then spotted another rodent scurrying down the pomegranate tree.

The decision has been made to replace all of the wooden stands with metal poles. Although the metal poles may not be as visually appealing, it is hoped that they will prevent the rodents from being able to grip them.

He also spent some time this afternoon, making traps...

I have a strong aversion to rats. Every now and then, we catch sight of them scurrying across the fence. When I used to let my cats roam outside, I never had any issues with mice or rats. However, with the trend of keeping cats indoors, it seems like the rats are becoming more bold and active.

Lately, Susie has been leaping onto my bed, getting right up in my face, and letting out a series of urgent meows. Afterward, she would dash off to the bedroom window sill, leap off, and then scamper down the hallway. This behavior has been repeated on several nights. At first, I thought she was reacting to a frog or some other creature outside. It never crossed my mind that she might be trying to alert us to the presence of rats.

Today looks like the last day for the H90s/low 100s. Tomorrow, we are expecting a cooling trend, and hopefully, we can finally start enjoying some pleasant Fall temperatures. I am really tired of the hot weather, and I don't even feel like going outside in it.

Yesterday, as we were cleaning up my husband noticed that the outer cloth bag of the vacuum cleaner was torn. This was all thanks to Laydee, our playful pet who always tries to "attack" the vacuum cleaner.

 Unfortunately, we couldn't find a replacement cloth bag in any local stores, so I had to order one from Amazon. It cost almost $100! The replacement bag is scheduled to arrive on Friday, which means we won't be able to vacuum the living room until then. With a black lab and a cat in the house, vacuuming is absolutely essential. We also have to keep up with mopping the floors and sweeping due to having real wood floors throughout, including in our kitchen. 

Perhaps I could have found a new vacuum cleaner, but that takes research and work. My folks bought me a Kirby years ago, and it still works great. 

Nervous Energy

I don't even live in Florida, yet; I am experiencing nervous energy. I plan (doesn't mean I will be able to stay up)  to keep track of it since we are three hours behind. 

Just know there are many who are praying for your safety. 

Take Care,

Debby

The Bigger Picture

A few days ago, I wrote a blog post titled "It's Only Money." Upon further consideration, I realized that I may not have explained it well.  

The phrase "It's Only Money" holds a deep meaning for me as it underscores the idea that, although money is necessary, it should not overshadow life's greater priorities. While money certainly has its place, becoming overly fixated on it may cause us to overlook the more significant and meaningful aspects of life - the things that are part of the bigger picture.

Once Upon a Time I was a young wife, I struggled to make ends meet, trying to pay the gas bill and put food on the table while dealing with the challenges of having an alcoholic husband. During those difficult times, I often turned to my husband's mother for support, sharing my fears and frustrations with her. However, her response always struck a nerve. She would simply say, "It's Only Money." This lack of empathy and understanding left me feeling even more upset and alone. I longed for her to acknowledge the hardship my three little ones and I were enduring because of her son's actions and offer some financial assistance. When I think back on that, it was selfish of me to think I was entitled to be rescued by his mother. 

After that, I started going to Al-Anon meetings, and it didn't take me long to understand that my attempt to maintain a "controlled" life filled with worry and anxiety was futile. I realized that I had no ability to change him, but I could definitely change myself. A year later, we ended up getting divorced. By that time, I had already launched my own home daycare, showing that I was taking proactive steps to alter my circumstances. All the anxiety and worry from the past had only served to paralyze me, preventing me from taking any constructive action.

Years later, I remarried, and then tragedy struck when my eldest son passed away unexpectedly. This heart-wrenching experience made me realize the true significance of that particular saying and brought me back to a time when I believed, "If I only had more money..."

The loss of a loved one and poor health are things we are powerless over, while earning more money is something within our control. 

Whenever I face a difficulty, I assess it based on my personal principles and beliefs before deciding on a course of action. It's just the way I process things - so that I won't jump to conclusions and start to worry about things that I have absolutely no control over. 

 No one's dead 

 No one is dying

 It's not the end of the world

The certainty of these events cannot be prevented, regardless of the vast wealth one may possess. Whether we like it or not, these circumstances will eventually touch every one of us. 

Money won't bail us out of life's struggles. But there is One who can lead us out of worry and anxiety over things that are not in our realm of control. Some say, "It's too hard," "I just can't," or "it's the way I am." 

You can change it if you want to. If you already have a close personal relationship with Jesus, then you should turn it over to Him. He tells us not to worry, so why worry? Worrying shortens your life. That's how important this is. 

I feel heartbroken when I learn someone is paralyzed with worry and anxiety. I understand because that was me at one time. We have the perfect fix if we choose to surrender it all to God (like we're supposed to). It is not our job to worry. 

I wish that for all of you. 

Just Trying to Help, 

Debby

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Psalm 94:19

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 

 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 

 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   Matthew 6:34

 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 

 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

It's Only Money

 

Yesterday, I took the proactive step of finding a highly recommended local electrician to avoid having my poor husband struggle with crawling up into the attic. I made sure to schedule the electrician promptly, as I've heard about others waiting weeks for home repairs to be completed. At first, he didn't want the help, but I convinced him. It's hard for men to allow the younger men to do what they used to do. He did spend all day troubleshooting for the electrician and I'm sure that kept the cost low. 

It's all fixed now and only came to $125. 

Now we can plug in our car! 

As mentioned earlier, I tend to default to worrying. One of my areas I would worry about till I made myself sick was always over money and finances. I used to excel at this, but I've learned to control and redirect those negative thoughts related to potential financial hardships.

I wanted to share with you all, who might have the same default settings of anxiety and worry in your programming. From my Alanon daily reader, Courage to Change - 

"I suspect that if I reclaimed all the minutes, hours, and days I've sacrificed to worry and fear, I'd add years to my life. When I succumb to worry, I open up Pandora's box of terrifying pictures, paranoid voices and relentless self-criticism. The more attention I pay to this mental static, the more I lose my mental foothold in reality. Then nothing useful can be accomplished.

"To break the cycle of worry and fear, I'm learning to focus all my attention on this very moment. I can turn away from destructive thoughts and concentrate instead on the sights and sounds around me: light and shadows, the earth beneath my feet, the pulse of everyday living - all pieces of the here and now. These bits of reality help rescue me from the "what if's" and "should have's" by anchoring me to the present. Prayer and meditation, the slogans and phone calls to Al-Anon friends are other sources of serenity that bring me back to the moment. As I shut out the noise, I am more receptive to my Higher Power's will  (who I call Jesus) and therefore much more able to work my way out of difficult times."

I understand. Many people have told me that they've tried to stop worrying and it hasn't worked. or its too hard and they just can't. But I want to tell you, it is possible. Sure I still have my moments but not like I used to. Overcoming the challenging habits of worry and anxiety isn't easy, but with the help of God and our willingness to follow His guidance (Read Matthew 6:25-34), it can elevate all the suffering that anxiety and worry cause. It requires effort on our part to be able to recognize what we are doing to ourselves. It's not healthy to worry.

My mother-in-law used to say, "It's only money," and back in my younger days, that made me mad - as if she wasn't hearing me. Now, and even my sons, have come to understand that little platitude she always would say. I now can run through a mental list in my head:

No one's dead

No one is dying 

It's not the end of the world 

Todays Reminder:

This day is all I have to work with and its all I need. If I am tempted to worry about tomorrow's concerns, I will gently bring my mind back to today.

In my journey of personal growth, I've come to understand that we all have our strengths and weaknesses. One of my personal challenges has been grappling with obsessive anxiety and worry. Although I haven't completely overcome these struggles, I've made a conscious decision to practice letting go and putting my trust in God. This has been an important step for me in finding peace and balance in my life.

Debby