Don't worry, be happy...

Sounds easy enough.

My husband has a pretty dry sense of humor, but he can be extremely funny in an annoying sort of way at times. When the girls were growing up he used to sing funny songs to them. It irritated them and made them laugh at the same time. It would help them forget their problems. His favorite tune was "Well, it's a good day from morning to night..." Anyone remember that little diddy? It is forever burned in my memory!

In the course of our lives we worry and fret. We worry over our children, our families, our spouses, our finances (especially now), our health, our relationships. The list can go on and on. We are worriers, especially us gals. We're moms "in charge of the family" and because of that we get in a place of misunderstanding concern and care for our children, loved ones, and circumstances with "worry". I know. I've been one of those people.


Version: NAS

Matthew 6:25-33

25. "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, [as to] what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, [as to] what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26. "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27. "And which of you by being anxious can add a [single] cubit to his life's span? 28. "And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29. yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 30. "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is [alive] today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, [will He] not much more [do so for] you, O men of little faith? 31. "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' 32. "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
 
 
This last verse is the key here. Seek God first and then He can give us the things we need.
 
 
Version: NAS
Philippians 4:4-7

4. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5. Let your forbearing [spirit] be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
 
The following is our foundation scripture.

NAS version
John 15:9-17

9. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. 11. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full. 12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14. "You are My friends, if you do what I command you. 15. "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. 17. "This I command you, that you love one another.
 
Wonderful scriptures, but how many of us are still worrying? We look at the scripture and read it and say. Well yes, that SOUNDS good, but how do we actually do it?
 
Version: NAS

1 Peter 5:7
7."...casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you."
 
Here's where the answer lies.  Let's see what the dictionary says about the word "cast".
 
"to throw, deliberately and forcefully, toss, pitch, fling and hurl."
 
Remember when Jesus met the disciples they were fishing. They used nets back then to gather the fish, I guess much like today. But they did it by hand. Now we all know that if you are going to throw out a net, that you better have some force behind it otherwise it won't get where it needs to go. Use this visual. Take all your worries and anxieties and literally "throw" them to Jesus. He will catch them for you.
 
I once heard the analogy of "worry" to the thought of having car problems. You can have a car problem all day, but it won't get fixed until you take it to the mechanic. Get the correlation? As long as we are hanging onto our problems and clutching our worries, frustrations and fears, they will never get into Jesus capable hands. After all He promises to take care of our needs.
 
This following scripture is for me today. Anyone else need it?
 
Version: NAS

Matthew 4:23-25

23. And [Jesus] was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 24. And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25. And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and [from] beyond the Jordan.
 
Jesus is willing and waiting. He's right there asking you to let Him take your burdens. Remember, He loves you and He's your best friend. He wants you to cast your troubles on Him. He's ready. How about you?
 

Ready...set...GO!

 

Debra

I have an update and it concerns Melanie and Andrew, found on the side bar. Many of you have read and prayed for them and kept track of Andrew and his illness. I just read today in Melanie's latest post that he is now with Jesus. My heart is breaking for them as I have communicated with Melanie many times via email. I am deeply grieving over this, but I am still trusting God, as is Melanie.

I know God had me post my last post, without this knowledge. But now in light of this situation I want to say that it is not meant to be light or without great love for those who are suffering right now. My love and prayers are with Melanie for her and her family.