Rats!
Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (The Daily Life Bible)
What makes you anxious? Try to concentrate on the thing that’s eating you up over which you have some degree of control. Forget the world condition; as angst-ridden as it may be, you probably can’t do anything to affect decisions made outside your direct influence.
Think instead about the thing, person or situation that has your heart racing or your head pounding. Right now, today – for me – it’s a dead rat just outside the garage. My husband killed it and tried to convince me the droppings I’d found in the garage were lizard leavings, but I knew better.
I have a rat and mouse phobia. It nearly renders me catatonic. I want and need to scour the garage and make sure no taint of that rat is still there, but I’m afraid I’ll stir up a rat cousin.
This is the anxiety I’m having a tough time overcoming right this minute. It helps me breathe to write about it, but it’s still there, a vise at the back on my head squeezing out rational thought.
So, I call on the God of all things, large and small, to relieve my anxiety and help me put this in perspective. I have two choices: believe this rat was the only one and go on with my day, or think there may be others but somehow overcome my fears and get on with my day. The washer and dryer are in the garage and its laundry day. I have no choice but to suck it up.
Thank you, Lord of all, for courage to overcome something that in the greater scheme of life is nothing. And, please, keep the critters in the great outdoors where they belong!
- Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
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Peace like a river
God made the earth by his might, it is said,
he shaped the world by his wisdom,
crafted the skies by his knowledge.
God made all there is, was, or ever will be.
Be sure of his love and presence, guidance and mercy.
He knew, and knows us.
A confusing concept to our way of thinking,
God knowing the outcome of our lives before they’ve begun.
Am I – are you – predestined to be good or bad?
Does it matter?
We are given this day.
What will we do with it?
How will we treat others?
Those are the questions we answer
by the choices we make every day.
Lord, help me make good and right choices.
Whatever you do, whether in speech or action,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus;
give thanks to God the Father through him.
Will this thing I’m doing please God?
Will my life choices make God smile?
Anger, fear, frustration, greed–
none of these emotions serve God or human kind.
Are we held captive by the actions
of ego-driven manipulators?
God is in charge, our great hope, believe it;
out of madness God brings courage.
Posing and posturing will not bring resolution;
banding together for peace will turn the tide.
Pray for our world and its leaders.
And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings.
To be forgiven, you must first forgive.
God is a loving God. He is ready to forgive.
Am I?
Can I drop the bag of rocks that is resentment, discontent, and anger
by forgiving my enemy?
Can I untether myself from yesterday?
I can.
I must.
Forgiveness is the gift of grace.
Thank God for His amazing grace and forgiveness.
NOTE: Reflections on Jeremiah 10:12, Colossians 3:17, and Mark 11:25 from (The Daily Life Bible
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Generosity
Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (The Daily Life Bible)
The world is a complex place and the demands are many. What can I do today, that will make life better for someone else today? A minister we had several years ago said that it wasn’t up to him to decide how a beggar would use the money he gave him; his calling was to recognize a need, and fill it. That’s the gift, not the money or food or clothes or any other material contribution; the gift is a spirit of compassion and generosity. What am I doing – what have I done – what will I do, to make life better for someone else, not just in the family, but in the community and in the world? The teacher who knew she was dying of cancer, asked that instead of flowers at her funeral, mourners donate backpacks full of supplies to be given to students. That act of compassion and generosity will make a difference for many students in ways she could never have imagined. Thank you, Tammy Waddell, for your powerful gifts of teaching and compassion.
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The right words
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)
Simple and direct, that’s the best way. When you say thank you, I love you, good job, keep the faith, you’re beautiful, you’re smarter than you think you are, I’m sorry, I forgive you… these are simple phrases that go a long way toward healing, restoration, joy, laughter and smiles. It doesn’t take a tome to express heartfelt words; it merely takes the right words at the right time.
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Finding Family
My name is Lilly Irish. “Finding Family” is my story. Now I don’t want to get into detail, you need to buy the book for that, but I can tell you there was no bigger surprise to me than having my dead sister’s daughter call me up out of the blue. Like I needed that complication in my life, right? I mean, I’m a widow. What am I supposed to do with this girl I haven’t seen in years and years? And – get this – she’s bringing her three little ones with her. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I lead a quiet life, and that’s the way I like it. Still I can’t say no to her. I guess I’ll take it one day at a time. What else can I do?
Lilly Irish’s quiet life is interrupted when her estranged niece arrives on her doorstep with three children and a dog of questionable breeding in tow. From the moment they blow into her life on a windy fall night and Krank the dog pees on her carpet, Lilly Irish begins a life-changing journey. Available in paperback and as an e-book.
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Books
Purchase Blind Curve
Available in soft cover and as an e-book
She left home to get away from betrayal. She returns to escape failure. Can she move forward and leave the past behind?
Officer Ada Blake is desperate to regain her confidence after an on-the-job incident left her doubting and despondent. When she returns home after a long absence seeking peace and quiet, she finds her mother on the brink of bankruptcy, a brother creating long distance havoc and a disapproving sister. Can she overcome the sense of failure that follows her from her job in the city to her small hometown where she is haunted by past betrayals, inexplicable threats to her life, and appeals from the woman who took away the one thing she wanted most? Can the handsome nerd-turned-hunk from next door help her find the way past failure and guilt? Can she reconcile the past with the present and find peace?
Lines, Poetry in Notion ($7.50 plus tax and shipping)
Think of how you feel about getting up in the morning to splashes of glorious color in the sky, or how you feel about your faith, your partner sleeping beside you, or the quirks of life that make you smile… or cry. That is the essence of Lines, Poetry in Notion. Poetry is for everyone. Yes, even you. It tells a story from beginning to end, in many verses or in one. It speaks to the heart and stirs the mind to contemplation or tears, or anger, or love, or any one of a dozen other reactions that invite you to explore something about yourself. Click here to see one of the poems from the book.
25 Days of Christmas, An Advent Journey ($7.50 plus tax and shipping)
25 Days of Christmas, An Advent Journey rejoices in the birth of Christ through poetry. Words and phrases that evoke Advent, a time of expectant waiting for the Child of Wonder, inspired each poem. The accompanying scripture reflects on the promises of old, when prophets spoke of a Son, a King, a birthplace, a promise. These brief verses will bring joy to readers who want to take a moment out of busy holiday preparations to remember who we claim as our Redeemer King, and why we celebrate His birth. Add your thoughts and prayers, perhaps your own poems, in the white space entitled “Your Thoughts.” 25 Days of Christmas, An Advent Journey contains poems in the acrostic style with the first letter of each line based on the title. The poems were shared on One Roof Publishing in December 2015. A friend asked if the poems would be available in printed format. The seed was planted and has grown to be this small offering of celebration. Merry Christmas, Christ is born! Click here to read one of the poems from the book.
Both books are also available through online retailers in digital format or as a print book.
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The best dad
My dad was wonderful. There were times growing up when I didn’t think so. He embarrassed me more than once, and his groaner jokes were the worst, but he loved our mother and he loved us. He would do anything for us, and when times were tough, he did. When we were little, he worked in the oil fields all week and in the cotton fields on the weekend. Yes, in Hobbs, NM, there were both.
Dad was deeply spiritual, like a kid at Christmas when he was happy, and lived for most of his life with bouts of depression. He was a complex man who seemed like a good old boy with nothing on his mind but getting through the day. He was an artist who never explored his talent. He loved to sing, and was better than I ever gave him credit for. He never wanted to hurt anyone in thought, word or deed. He served his country with pride as a seaman who saw the aftermath of war on beaches where nothing was left behind but the honored dead. I loved him with all my heart and miss him every day.
Remember this, when it comes to showing love for Dads and Moms in this life, no gesture is too small or too large. You will never regret the things you did to let your parents know you love them.
For those of you who didn’t have the gift of a great father think on this: you learned from all the men you’ve respected over the years who have come to mean more to you than someone who donated sperm and was never there. And, in ways you can never know, I imagine you’ve been a role model – a dad – to others.
Happy Father’s Day
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Gerbera
yellow gerbera
daisy basking in warm sun
beaming happy light.
Photo: aryan tyagi on Pexels.com
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Everything in its time
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1
I await Your timing, Lord,
but in the waiting, let me share,
gift by gift, day by day
so others know Your love and care.
In the labyrinth of my days
this moment is all I know,
Everything in its time
shapes my life’s ebb and flow.
Must I wait for You
to plant the garden now?
Must I wait for You
to show me how?
Everything will come to be
in Your time and by Your will
as I live each moment
my purpose to fulfill.
Lord, grant that every day,
I let You define the pace
for how I use my gifts
to make this world a better place.
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Sharon Vander Meer 