My Monogrammed Bag of Worry

The more I learn about the Lord, the more I wonder how anyone lives without him. I'm not sure I could do it. So here's the nugget of truth I'm claiming today...

"Casting the WHOLE of your care, ALL your anxieties, ALL your worries, ALL your concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." 1 Peter 5:7

I am a visual person, meaning, I have to see it to understand it. My visual as I read this verse about five times this morning is this...

I get up in the morning, get dressed, and grab my super cute teal and coral monogrammed backpack that I've stuffed with worry and anxiety. It might be nasty on the inside, but at least my bag's cute, right? I'm walking along life's road and I meet with the Lord. I unzip my bag and let all of the worries and cares escape, ALL of them. I don't store one here or there in a special secret compartment (or maybe I do sometimes, but that's not what I'm called to do according to 1 Peter). Jesus seriously says to leave them ALL, and my favorite part of that verse - "once and for all." Just to be sure I don't take any back with me, I leave the cute bag too.

Can you imagine that kind of care? Literally unloading what burdens you and giving it to someone else to carry? Think about hiking and being able to unload your gear onto someone else, or handing someone else your children, purse and diaper bag. It's freeing! And so very humbling that someone is willing to do this for us all. It's real though, folks. We don't have to just imagine it. We can claim it; we can rely upon the Lord because he does "care for [us] affectionately and ... watchfully."

I'm runnin'

Recently I've experienced some real, grip-you-by-the-throat, type fear about going to Bangladesh next February. The devil, that sly guy, knows how to get to me by making me ponder my children crying for me while I'm gone, or by making me think I'm somehow being selfish by expecting my husband to keep everything running without me. He knows just where to punch. And I know just who to call in for backup. Tonight the Lord used something small, yet personal and impactful to remind me He is always near and in control. Interestingly, this reminder came through my youngest son.

Just this week Salinger started proclaiming, "I runnin', I runnin'" when he's let loose to run full speed outside. It's wreckless abandon in the cutest form. He's so free and happy and wants the world to know that he's running.

Tonight at church, we sang several worship songs, and I did my normal sing along, tap one foot, and bounce, because I do love worship. So I'm happily singing along, when this chorus happens:

Oh, I'm running to Your arms,
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

I was immediately reminded of my sweet Salinger's "I'm running" proclamation, and peace like no other washed over me. I imagine that there will be more times when I feel afraid about Bangladesh and many other things in life. By the way, the verse before that chorus says "You are peace. You are peace when my fear is crippling." What I know is that the Lord Jesus will never, ever, not one time leave me or lead me down the wrong path. That is the ultimate comfort and the "get ye behind me Satan" that I've needed.

So like my toddler, I exclaim, "I'm runnin'! I'm runnin'!"

 

Easy like Sunday Morning

This morning all around our town, our county, our state, our country, our world, people are gathering. They are gathering in big beautiful church buildings, small rural churches, homes, schools, movie theaters, inside and outside to worship You. I pray the collective voices and measures of our hearts are pleasing to you, Lord. What a beautiful day when we consider Sunday morning from your perspective. It's not just my pew, my congregation, it's Christians everywhere taking time to worship and honor You. I wonder if Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday -- if they sound just as loud and sweet as Sunday morning. How I hope they do. How I hope that we worship, we honor, we love, we serve you, Lord. Every day.

I am a mother

I am a mother.

I am the push, push
I am awake, asleep, awake
I am a voice in the night
I am a mother.
I am a manicurist, pedicurist
I am Ken, kin
I am the clothes, the clothes, the clothes
The swish of my skirt
The flow of my hair
I am a mother.
I am inspired, uninspired, tired, awake
I am a smile
I am No
I am the quiet, the chaos
I am a mother.
I am professional
I am the drive
I am the click, tick, tock
I am away
Always here
In Joy. I am a mother.