““Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27 convicts me more than I’d like to admit. While I know that worrying about something will not affect its outcome, I still struggle with this. In reading this passage (Matthew 6:25-34), Jesus reminds us of several key points. Here are the two that stick out to me most this morning: 1) We are valued. 2) Stay in the moment. In my typical day, I really don’t think about birds… Sure, I see them flying overhead often, but I don’t ever stop to think about a bird’s life. When I read Matthew 6:26, I am reminded that they live in the moment. Birds don’t have a savings account or storage facility. They don’t worry about climbing a corporate ladder. They are “free” and “careless in the care of God.” The NIV states, “your heavenly Father feeds them.” For those of us that struggle with worry, God wants to give us freedom from worry. He wants to remind us that He takes care of feeding the birds and giving them shelter, and He wants to do so much more for us. I needed this guest blog. I …Read more
This last weekend I was BOLD… Unafraid I drove to Nashville to attend a Pickn’ Party with some friends… I was fine when I arrived at my friend Anna’s house…four of us went to dinner and it was a blast…The trouble came when we arrived at the event and met up with 15 other friends…in the midst of over a 1000 people we were a small group laughing, talking, and learning about each other…as should happen, small groups were formed and people stood in circles talking about life, and work…anxiety/insecurity welled up inside threatening to drown…the first thought was to gain control of the situation…right? this is my first and most honed coping skill, control…I wanted everyone to set their chairs up in a circle and sit down…this would be so much less threatening (TO ME)…thankfully I did not act on my first instinct, I would have looked stupid, and controlling…I knew it was irrational…so I acted on my second instinct…to withdraw…I sat in my lawn chair, practiced breathing techniques…enjoying watching everyone connect, and have fun…when I was ready to try again, I got up and joined in the conversations…I did this several times throughout the night..did I come off nervous? …Read more
This week I am postponing writing about ‘boundaries’…I am struggling, and I think I would like to just be honest with you…this journey to freedom from anxiety and depression is one that is never over… Yesterday, in a Facebook group I am a part of we were challenged… “I believe in you.” We all like notes of encouragement – a few words from someone who believes in us can make our day when the journey gets tough. Today, be that someone – but this time, write a note of encouragement TO YOU.” This was surprisingly difficult to write…I just stared at the screen, and when I began to type it was slow, deliberate, and tears were involved… You guys, I felt like a fraud…trying so hard to work on my ‘dream’ to help others find freedom from anxiety while I am still dealing with it on a regular basis seems really disingenuous and the last thing I want to do is pretend like once you have learned some coping skills, and decided if you could benefit from medication it is all rainbows and unicorns, because it isn’t…and this week I am going to speak more to that… Here is the letter I …Read more
“Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?” Matthew 6:26 On March 9th of this year, the most incredible thing happened to me; I became a father. My baby girl was born into this world both healthy and ready to learn, and my wife and I were in for a new adventure. The last 7 months of my life have presented me with many challenges. There have been late nights, bumps and bruises, and very little time to do anything, but work and be a parent. Those 7 months have been the greatest 7 months of my life because I have been able to see the world through the eyes of my girl. Seeing the world through an infant’s eyes is an amazing thing. I get to see the joy our dog, brings her when she sees him playing. I also get to see the safety she feels when her mom holds her tight after bumping her head. Being able to see these things through her eyes has given me a new perspective on life. It has …Read more
