Category: Peace of mind

The first word stops us, doesn't it? Everyday struggles.

Life is full of things (and people) that get in the way of easy days and a trouble-free life. What matters most is how we label our experiences–in the moment or years later–and that's up to us.

Take hardship, for example. At any age or stage of life, hardship is real–and it's hard. Some who experienced it seem unable to move past an inability to cope with the ordinary ups and downs of living. Others, endowed with a different temperament, take their hardship and grow stronger. For them, being stretched to the max again and again worked the ability to persevere, whatever the circumstance.

Privilege is real, too. Some build on it and use it as the starter for what they later accomplish as individuals. Others who were born into privilege–or got there by their own efforts–morph into adults who lack ambition and see themselves as always-blameless in a blaming world.

Any time spent watching daytime TV makes it obvious that one's status and position can impair one's vision. This is old news. Poet Robert Burns who lived in the 1700s makes that clear:

"Oh would some power the giftie gie us, To see ourselves as others see us."

The question is, how will we view our lives?

Many individuals acclaimed as heroes and people of strength grew up in humble circumstances. President Abraham Lincoln always leads my list. He came from a poor family and lacked the advantages so often considered essential to success.

Rather than lean on that as an excuse, Lincoln learned from it. Later he summed up a foundational truth of mental health using his customary simple words:

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

It's humbling to think of it that way, isn't it? His words imply that each of us wields at least some power over our happiness, even if we lack resources and haven't had a break in forever.

What's more, we alone pronounce ourselves either happy and content or miserable and hopeless.

That last truth hit me with new force when I read this line from Author Paul David Tripp:

"No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do." —New Morning Mercies.

The root issue: What are we aiming for?

Often it is not what first appears obvious.

Think of news reports that feature individuals whom we might think were born into or in some way came to be endowed with many advantages in their life. That would inspire gratitude in them, right?

Not necessarily. Sometimes these folks tell another story. They judge people around them–even those who showed love and care for them–to be unsupportive–and they won't let it go. They lash out with words and actions that reveal their mindset to be, "Get even" and "Hurt them more than they hurt me."

Few among us would consider this a good way to restore relationships or make a fresh start. Before we get to feeling superior we need to ask ourselves, "What about us? How do we handle our wounds and our woes?"

The late Viktor Frankl lost everything and everyone he loved in the Holocaust, yet he forged an enduring response to that question while imprisoned. He credited this mindset with enabling him to survive that Nazi hell-hole:

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

Frankl's strength came from realizing that whoever we are and whatever our life may be, we still retain absolute power over how we view it.

Timothy Keller, a Christian pastor, recently stated the same truth:

"What determines whether you enjoy your life is not a particular set of circumstances–though you should change evil circumstances if you can–but ultimately it is how the heart responds with them."

The point is …

We're not meant to live our lives governed by what has happened to us or what is happening in our lives or even what may come in the future. Struggles of one kind or another pop up and recur in everyone's life. It's how we deal with them that makes the difference.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.   –Author Carl Bard

We're not the first and we will not be the last to face everyday struggles. That makes it wise to get our minds in gear and be ready to counter discouragement with lasting truth.

For starters, here are some Bible promises I keep going back to. I pray they will speak to your heart, too.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you through it.   1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 ESV

[Jesus said] "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Dear Reader, may you know His peace in whatever comes,

Lenore

Everyday struggles: Millstone or stepping stone?

January 26, 2023
How do you see yourself?

Do you often think or say," Well, I've never done anything special. Probably never will. Makes me wonder sometimes what's the point of going on?"

Just in case nobody's told you this lately, letting that mood hang on is like trying to camp out on quicksand.

Still, dealing with difficult family situations or health problems or simply growing older can feel like too much to bear at times.

Or maybe your daily grind is grinding you down and you can't see a way out.

What's a person to do?

Why not try on a new perspective?

Some years ago Andy Andrews wrote a book, The Noticer, that became meaningful to masses of readers. Here's a brief summary of what the main character, Jones, tells a hopeless individual about the reasons why they are still living:

1. God has a purpose for every single person.

2. You won't die until that purpose is fulfilled.

3. If you are still alive, then you haven't completed what you were put on earth to do.

4. If you haven't completed what you were put on earth to do, then your very purpose hasn't been fulfilled.

5. If your purpose hasn't been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life is still ahead.

6. You have yet to make your most important contribution.

(Chapter 6, pp. 83-85.)

You already meet this author's most important criteria

As long as you and I are still breathing we have not yet fulfilled our purpose, at least, not all of our purpose. This makes every day vitally important, doesn't it?

It doesn't matter if we look back on the past with yearning. It doesn't matter if we feel unsure about today or tomorrow. Our moods do not determine the value of our lives. Our down times do not cancel out the good we have done–and are doing.

Those of us who are Christians see a larger purpose in what we're able to accomplish during our lifetimes, even when we're just being faithful to do what's expected of us and see no fine, lofty and lasting purpose in our days. It puts meaning into our days–and our deeds–when we remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Let's take it a bit further

As Christians we're meant to look at life differently. Take worry, for example:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7

How do we get through those days (and sometimes weeks, months, even years) when life seems more than we can handle?

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. –Isaiah 41:10

We believers can safely trust that we will have the strength to meet whatever challenges may come up. God says so, in Deuteronomy 33:25:

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

What will tomorrow bring? None of us can say

So if today is "one of those days" and we're at a low point, it's time to look up from the pits and look past our problems.

You are alive and so am I. We cannot know how God already is using us in someone's life. We cannot predict how He will use us tomorrow, but we can trust that He will.

Dear reader, I pray you may know the truth of Romans 15:3:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Lenore

Take another look at your life

January 16, 2023
What do you need to give you a brighter outlook on life?

That's not a trick question, just something to consider. The answer may be closer than you think.

Sometimes we need eyes to see, said she who often failed to do that.

What did that lead to? Mostly a feeling of powerlessness. I let anything from a gray day to someone else's bad mood "make" me feel angry or turn my day sour.

Or when my sweet husband and I were on different tracks I might say, "You just don't understand me."

When our lovely but noisy children were being themselves too often I thought and sometimes said (yelled?) to them, "You're driving me crazy!"

Oh sure, I apologized. Profusely. Love covered over the moment and peace reigned again.

All the while I wished I had clamped my lips shut tight because my words caused pain in those I loved.

A random two-line quote opened my eyes

I don't know the source, but these simple words startled my thinking and spoke to my heart:

Two men looked out through prison bars. One saw the mud. The other saw stars.

At first I read that as a writer and thought, What eloquent writing! So much wisdom in so few words.

Before long the deeper meaning hit me in the gut. Every one of us, whatever our age or life situation, constantly makes choices. We–and we alone–decide that something or someone lifts us up or drags us down.

Turning that truth over in my mind made me cringe–and then pray. At long last (and about time!) I faced the fact: No one else makes me feel anything. Then and now my words and my moods are a do-it-yourself job.

What's more, whenever I tell myself that a situation or the words of another person "make" me mad, sad or depressed I surrender control over my emotions.

You might say that I put myself behind bars.

Can it be that simple?

Certainly it varies from person to person, but one thing is true for all of us:

Where we look and what we think colors every facet of our lives

Whether we see the best in life or the worst in life–and people–stems from where we fasten our attention and how we frame our thoughts. For example, do we believe (and say) that our marriage relationship is strong? Do we think (and say) that we have "good kids?" Do we customarily think that others treat us kindly?

Everything hinges on what we choose to see and how we choose to think. Will it be stars or mud?

Don't forget the sound track in your mind

We all have one and it plays continuously. Pay attention and be on the alert for echoes like these:

Why doesn't he … ?

Why won't she … ?

Why must he always … ?

Will she ever get it through her head that …

Take it from me, if that plays in our mind for long it spawns thoughts like these:

If he loved me he would …

If she cared she wouldn't …

He knows that drives me crazy!

She did that on purpose, like she always does …

This attitude spreads to how we view our jobs, our bosses and co-workers, our neighbors, our child's teachers and everyone else.

My grandmother would have said,

"You're thinking yourself into a tizzy. Thoughts like that never lead to anything good."

Fine, but how do we make a new start?

Just resolving to do so won't change us because our usual ways of thinking are as comfortable as an old pair of slippers.

In effect, we need to "rewrite our software," that is, lay down new habits and hardest of all, stick with them.

The place to start is with the Manufacturer's Handbook, the Bible. (If it's new to you, start with one of the Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament.) Reading the Bible and talking to God in prayer helps us grow strong from within and implants new background music in our minds.

Any time is a good time to open up with God in prayer, no special script required. It's just being honest with him about what's in your heart. Some people prefer a set time of day while many of us carry on a running conversation throughout the day.

Always, God hears us. Why? Because Jesus came to earth and set us right with God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he [or she] is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Day to day

When we're changed from the inside out the way we talk and relate to the people in our lives changes, too. We naturally start looking for strengths instead of reasons to complain and our outlook on life gets sunnier.

Here's a Bible verse that lays it out plainly:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

One thing we know for sure: We find what we look for.

Let's make this the time in our lives when we latch onto more reasons to smile and be thankful for the life we are living.

I'm praying for you–and for myself, as well,

Lenore
How do you see your life?

January 5, 2023
I've loved Christmas since I was a little girl singing and "saying my piece" for the Christmas programs at church and school.

No matter how much styles and times change, Christmas still brings with it beautiful trees and wreaths and lights of every color. People smile for no obvious reason and there's a happy frenzy that makes us feel more alive, whatever our age.

One of the joys of Christmas is touching hearts across the miles, whether by phone, texts or Emails and Christmas letters. Time and distance melt away and it's as if we had seen each other just last week.

What's your favorite Christmas decoration?

Mine would be the Christmas star because it shone its light on the stable in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph found shelter, then laid the Christ Child in the manger.

We put a star up for many years, on our house, wherever we were. It was nothing fancy, just a long string of lights threaded through screw eyes on our back deck pillars and on the upright cross beam. All anyone saw from a distance was our twinkling star, rather like this photo.

The story behind our star traces back to another time, another place, another star. We were in a new town and knew we'd be moving on, but had no clue where my husband's job would take us next. Or when. To me it felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

(Did I mention I'm not so good at waiting?)

That first December in our "home-for-awhile" someone erected a huge Christmas star on a distant hillside. I could see it shining clearly in the darkness every time I turned off the freeway. As I drove the mile or so to reach our home it seemed I headed straight toward that star.

Often I drove those streets in tears. Tears of gladness that despite all the commercial hoopla someone, somewhere, still cared about the Christ Child and the star that brought the shepherds running to Bethlehem. I confess to tears of self-pity, too, wishing we knew what would come next and asking God (again) to fill me with patience.

That far-away star calmed my heart. It was as if "somebody" placed that star there just to remind me that Jesus Christ was born to bring me peace, too!

Peace that lasts, whatever the circumstance. Every day of the year. Whatever comes – or doesn't.

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Experience teaches us it's impossible to know what will come next in our lives

A letter, a phone call, an unexpected, unwanted diagnosis can turn our lives upside down in an instant. Most of us have lived at least one of those circumstances at some time.

Over the years I've gained a new appreciation for that familiar phrase, "Life is fragile. Handle with care."

That maxim stops too soon for us Christians. I think a better motto would be, "Life is fragile, but whatever comes, I can be at peace because God loves me and He has the last word."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

We can count on the One who knows the future

Here are some much-loved verses to post on our mental bulletin boards. They fit every day of our lives.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:9

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

The Christmas gifts we cannot buy

All these are the gifts of God because of that Baby born in Bethlehem so long ago and laid in a humble manger.

The fully human child who also was fully God. I like the way John, the writer of the Gospel of John, lays it out for us:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5

Beautiful words but to our human minds, a mystery we cannot ever understand. How could we? This is God, not just another human being like us. Our call is not to explain, but to believe.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Keep your focus on the star

The star that led the shepherds and later the Wise Men to Jesus, the One who is the light in our dark world. The One who points us to God, the Father, even now.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Because He came on that starry night, when we have Jesus in our hearts you and I can live in peace, even while not knowing what comes next in our lives.

It is enough.

My friend, may you know the JOY of Christmas every hour of every day – and night – all year long!

With love,

Lenore

Take a broader view of the Christmas star

December 16, 2022
After all, it dates back over centuries. How could the Bible still be relevant today?

This may sound like a logical question to many. I got a lesson in the "how" of it when my husband got a job promotion that kept the man I loved smiling from morning to night. Why wouldn't he? For years he had studied and taken extra training to move him toward that goal.

I rejoiced for him, truly I did, but I loved the place we were living. The place where I had established an identity and enjoyed interacting with other writers in the area.

We talked but managed to skirt around this touchy subject. I asked myself what would it accomplish to complain and rob him of his joy? I knew the answer: Nothing good.

Somehow, some way I would learn to love this new place.

Once we moved into our new digs my husband settled into his position as if it were tailored just for him. Morning to evening he was engrossed and energized.

Each day I watched his car fade from sight, then asked myself, Now what?

No answers came, but I clung to what I knew: Our loving God would not bless my husband and leave me, his wife, abandoned. I would wait.

"Be still and know that I am God …" Psalm 46:10 NIV

Finding my place

A month or two later I learned of the local chapter of the same Bible study a friend "back home" had often praised. Because I always wished I had her excitement about the Bible I decided to give it a try.

The next week I went to orientation and signed up. The teaching leader addressed the large audience of class members and us newbies, explaining the day's lesson based on Exodus, including Chapters 13 to 16.

She began with how God delivered the children of Israel from slavery

He parted the Red Sea and brought them across on dry land, a miracle for sure. Freedom! Yet soon they grumbled and complained against God's provision for them as they wandered in the wilderness.

Then she looked out at us and it seemed she looked directly at me. "Are you wandering around in a dry, dusty wilderness of your own making?"

At once I knew that I was! I was!

Then she moved on to how the children of Israel yearned for the abundant meats and fresh produce back in Egypt–where they had been slaves. Our merciful God provided fresh, bountiful supplies of Manna and quail for each day, yet in no time they started griping about being tired of the same old, same old.

With her next question once again it seemed the leader fixed her gaze on me. "Are you murmuring against God's provision for you because it doesn't live up to your specifications?"

My heart started pounding. Immediately I knew the Holy Spirit had just spoken truth to my heart and mind through that stranger. I saw clearly that God moved us to that place for my husband, yes, but also for me.

Don't ask me how I knew. I just did.

I drove home asking God to forgive me for my weeks of self-centeredness. When my husband came home I asked his forgiveness, too, but that darling man shushed me and folded me into his love. Finally, he had his wife back.

From then on I read the Bible with new eyes

Now I knew firsthand the truth of Hebrews 4:12: "The word of God is living and active …" God's living Word spoke to me and changed me. For life.

Since then whenever I read the Bible I look for:

What do these verses say? What do they say to me?

What can I learn from this account, from these individuals, on ways to live–or not live?

What principles can I use in my life? Right now?

What's my takeaway?

Often these truths pop out at me. Other times I need to be quiet and ponder awhile, waiting for what comes to mind.

Or I think I know what a verse means and then find some new facet that's useful for my life.

One thing is sure. I never come away empty. God's Holy Spirit makes sure of that.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.   Romans 8:26 ESV

No worries about "doing it right"

It's no more complicated than this: Relax and be still.

All it takes is that we make the time and ask God the Holy Spirit to give us teachable hearts, to open the Word to our understanding and to reveal his Truth. Take a few notes–or don't. Then chew on what you've read throughout the day.

As for being in a Bible study group what's good is that we all learn from each other as we share how the Lord works in our lives. It can be the setting for sharing prayer needs and growing friendships, as well.

All Scripture is inspired by God is and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

Always, always, always, it helps to remind ourselves that as God's children through faith in Jesus, HE is with us and guiding us.

The surprise at the end

God did have a purpose for me in that move. I stayed in the Bible study and became a group leader, where I found new meaning and made friends. Two and one-half years later my husband received another promotion. Once again I knew it fit him exactly right and once again, I regretted leaving behind what I had grown to love.

This time I knew from experience that whatever God provided for my husband would also turn out to be right for me.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

Still learning,

Lenore
Does the Bible still matter in our time?

October 25, 2022
We seldom think about the messages we send the world, but we should.

I got a shocking reminder of that truth one day when I was out shopping. A smiling white-haired lady who looked a bit like my late grandmother put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Aw, Honey, it can't be that bad."

I stared at her in confusion and said, "Excuse me? I don't know what you mean."

Eyes twinkling, she smiled and said, "Well, I noticed you look like you lost your last friend. I just want you to know whatever the trouble is, you'll get through it and it helps to smile. That's all.

"Now you take care of yourself, Sweetie. Whatever's going on with you, it's just life. Sometimes life is hard, but you can do hard, I know you can. You'll be okay."

I thanked her for caring, still mystified.

Then I passed a mirror–and stopped short. She was right. I did look grim.

Do you ever do that?

That day I realized I probably wore that face more often than I knew. Whether I label it "concentration" or "preoccupied," that face was not a good idea.

First, because pinching up one's face leads to (gasp!) wrinkles.

Second, because what people read on our faces affects their moods.

Third, because if we say we have the joy and peace of Jesus, we'd better look as if we do. Otherwise our words of faith sound empty.

Fourth–and just as important–it's not fair to the people in our world.

As someone said, we owe the world a happy face

Why? Because you and I affect the people around us. Our families. Our co-workers. Strangers in stores.

Each of them is walking around and dealing with their lives and their problems, which may be all they can manage at the moment. Why should they have to dredge up strength to keep from "catching" our bad moods?

If you're a mom or dad you probably know that when we parents crackle with tension our kids walk on tiptoe around us.

And if we live in Tension City our children pattern the behavior as the way to live. Our uptight way of coping with life becomes their "normal."

Yes, but "Nobody knows the trouble I seen . . . "

That old spiritual speaks truth, doesn't it? No one can know or feel exactly what another person is living with. As the song says, nobody knows our hurt and pain but Jesus, who says:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 ESV

"Heavy laden." Don't we feel that way sometimes?

The NIV translates that verse:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Whether we're feeling overworked and over-stressed, weighed down by cares or stuck in a situation we cannot change, He can give us rest.

It's the only rest that lasts.

Eight hours of sleep or a nap refreshes temporarily, but deep-down rest for our hearts can be found only one place. In Jesus.

Life. It will wear us down, but Jesus lifts us up. Always.

The key is to turn our thoughts and our hearts to Him instead of getting mired in the problem-of-the-moment.

He's the One who carries us through each day on His shoulders, who turns our mourning into dancing.

(Jesus said) "I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 ESV

If we keep our eyes on Him we can be at peace, even during the hard times–and our faces will show it.

As that kindly lady in the store put it, "Whatever's going on with you, it's just life. Sometimes life is hard, but you can do hard, I know you can."

My friend, you can do hard, I know you can.

I wish you peace and joy in Jesus, today and every day,

Lenore
Be careful what your facial expression broadcasts

October 17, 2022
WATCH OUT! DISASTER IS COMING YOUR WAY!

Variations on that theme run through every talk show and every news report. Whether it's the latest COVID variant or inflation or the weather, it sounds like everything is bad and getting worse.

Many of us might nod in agreement.

This keeps us running scared and feeling unsettled. We're living out the old cliché, "Waiting for the other shoe to drop," because no one knows what comes next.

Or perhaps what troubles you and wakes you with a racing heart has nothing to do with any headline news. It's way deeper, down to your core. Maybe you can't even remember when the haunting started.

This brings the question: Is it possible to maintain a calm center, no matter what comes?

That's our job as grownups, isn't it? Especially if we're Christians.

Sure, but how?

How do we ditch living in fear? Whatever our challenge, it's always wise to begin with the basics: principles that are true, no matter who we are or what the situation.

Be watchful, yes, but fearful, no

Focus our attention on facts, not rumors, nor on the endless "what ifs"

Do our best to live healthy by eating right and getting plenty of sleep

"Think health" instead of "thinking sick"

Speak peace instead of fear, knowing each time we do we reinforce the peace within us

These simple things make sense 365 days of any year and we have power to carry them out right where we are.

Yes, but … that doesn't sound like enough

I know. When we're feeling shaky inside and can't get to sleep at night we want something tangible. Authoritative. Something we can hold onto.

The truth is, calm that won't quit never comes from "out there." A government official or an "expert" with a string of degrees or even our trusted long-time doctor saying, "Don't worry," only quiets fear for a few hours.

That's because we know the truth: Like us, they're only human and they only know what they know … so far.

We want more. We need more.

So where does that leave us?

How do we shed this deep-down fear that weighs us down?

The "more" we seek comes from within. Each of us constantly fills our minds and hearts with something–and we get to choose what it is. This dictates our day-by-day question:

Will we feed the fear or feed the peace?

It takes no effort to stoke uneasiness. All we have to do is look and listen.

To nurture inner peace costs us something. I'm not talking yoga or meditation or any of those self-help relaxation practices. As useful as they may be, they don't fear-proof our hearts for long.

(How do I know? Over the years I've tried several of those methods.)

Here's what I learned from dealing with my own "hard stuff"

First I had to gather up all the tormenting "what ifs" and stuff them into a box in the attic of my mind. (Yes, they kept creeping out but if I persisted, gradually they stayed put. At least most of the time.)

All day, every day I need to remember who I am. I am loved by God, simply because I believe in Jesus as my Savior. Period. That's what the Bible calls "grace."

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Did I pray? Of course, and God always, always, always gave me strength and courage to face whatever came.

I drew courage from the Bible, too

For years I have underlined verses that touched my heart and spoke to my spirit. I also jotted down brief references on the blank pages at the back, in case I forget where they are. (These days I also have the Bible on my smartphone and often list my notes there.)

Bible verses like these:

The Lord will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7 NIV

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. …   Psalm 56:3-4 NIV

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

(The Lord said to Joshua)  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV

As time goes by you will discover verses to add to that list

Look for verses that touch your heart because they speak faith and reassurance. Keep them at the ready for whenever you feel fainthearted about your life or about the future.

Let's be clear about one thing. We Christians do not remember and speak Bible verses as some sort of magic charm. Rather, those times when we quake in fear–whatever the reason(s)–such verses remind us who is really in charge and has the power to help us:

"For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 NIV

He is speaking to you, my friend, and to me. In every occasion or dark corner of fear that comes upon us, now or in the future. We are not alone.

What more could we ask?

Thanking God with you,

Lenore
How to shed the fear that keeps crowding in

October 1, 2022
It's the time of year when flags and fireworks and patriotic songs remind us we live in a free country.

It's a good time to ask: How about you and me? Are we living free?

Each of us will answer that question differently.

And real freedom has very little to do with the circumstances of our lives. Keep that in mind as you read these words from a man diagnosed with cancer:

    "I'm a forward-looking person but also a living-in-the-moment     person So I wake up every day expecting to have a good day. It     may sound trite … but life as you get older is about 20 percent of     what happens to you and about 80 percent how you react to it." –Nick Charles

You've probably heard that sort of thing said before. I have, too, but never with more power.

Nick Charles said it when he was close to death–and knew it

Whether he was a Christian I don't know, but he spoke truth that applies to every one of us:

How we react to what happens to us determines our lives.

It's like that old advertising slogan: "It's what inside that counts." How we react and respond flows out of what's inside us, in the core of our being.

I confess it took me way too long to really grasp this truth, but I gained a new understanding when I read an old book, Man's Search for Meaning, by the late Viktor Frankl, M.D., Ph.D.

Before World War II, Frankl, his wife and his parents lived the good life in Vienna, Austria. Then the Nazis invaded and like almost six million other Jews, they were sent to a Nazi concentration camp and immediately separated.

Viktor Frankl never saw any of them again

Right away the Nazis took away everyone he loved and all Frankl's possessions, even his wedding ring. At losing that precious reminder of his "before" life, he thought for awhile he could not go on.

Then as if a light bulb went on in his mind (a gift he later felt came from God) a great truth became clear to him and from that moment on, Viktor Frankl knew he would survive Auschwitz.

Although he remained a prisoner, Frankl realized that no matter how the cruel guards mistreated him, only he possessed–and would possess as long as he breathed–the power to control his thoughts.

He summed it up in this statement

"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Viktor Frankl in a death camp. Nick Charles close to death from cancer. Both of them very much in crisis mode, yet both expressed the same point:

We cannot control everything in our lives, but we do control what we think about it.

What we think about the circumstances of our lives dictates how we respond to what comes our way and to the people in our lives.

Knowing that gave them new courage to face what came next.

As usual, the Bible said it first

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he …. Proverbs 23:7 KJV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.   Isaiah 26:3 ESV

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Reread those verses and think what God gives to each believer to empower them to live fully and live free.

It's a bit sobering to realize what that means

It takes just three words to sum up this principle: It's our choice.

WE hang the labels on what happens to us.

WE choose to park our minds in a lousy place or in a good place.

WE decide how we will respond to what comes into our lives and to the people in our lives.

It doesn't matter whether we are young or old, rich or poor, in or out of crisis. Once we know this and really believe it is true, it can change our life.

As Viktor Frankl put it, it's the one freedom no one can take from us. It's the way each of us can "live free," unhampered by the idea that we are prisoners of circumstance.

And for those of us blessed to be living in the Land of the Free it's like the icing on the cake.

May God bless America, our beloved Country, now and in the future!

Praying, always,

Lenore

You can find real freedom in any situation

July 3, 2022
Perhaps the better question is, "How are you treating life?"

That is, what label do we paste on our days?

We seldom realize that's what we're doing, but it's true–and it becomes a habit.

A bad habit, because it gets easier and easier to fixate on what's "wrong" and subsequently miss what's right. (Or am I the only one who ever does that?)

This colors how we look at everything, maybe most of all, the people in our lives.

Finding fault and complaining starts early. Think how siblings squabble and wail, "It's my turn."

Nobody has to teach kids that annoying practice. Isn't it odd how that kind of attitude seems to lurk within each of us?

The angst of the younger generation ramps up in the teenage years, with endless complaints to parents: "You always …" or "You never … "

During those years children and teens could not fathom the internal struggles a mother or father feels. All along they live with uncertainty, nobody ever certain they are "doing it right."

Labeling saves time

Think about it. Once we label a person we don't have to think. We just plug in what we always "knew" about them–or thought we did.

Those old impressions lodge in our minds and too often we won't let go. It's more comfortable to hang onto old thinking than to take a fresh look. At ourselves.

This same pitfall dogs married couples. The person we fell in love with and married turns out to have a few faults. Yet that's the one who stays and keeps on loving us through all the highs and lows, the good times and the hard times–which happen to everyone, by the way.

Even those we judge to "have it all together."

Cause for celebration

If we're honest, at times any one of us is not that easy to live with–even in a strong marriage. True?

But do we celebrate? Nope. More often we nag and nit-pick about small habits that bug us. We whine that we don't feel appreciated for who we are and how much we give and we are the ones who deserve to be celebrated.

(How do I know this? Do you need to ask?)

We may exhibit selective sight with our adult children, as well. We focus on all the ways they need to change but remain blind to their strengths and good points. As for praise, forget about it, because we know they could do better.

Often our Inner Critic carries that over into all of life

We pick out things we wish were different and easily ignore what's good. We look "over there" for happiness and forget to look at what and who is right there in front of us.

Most of all we forget to look within ourselves.

Too often I would have to plead guilty. How about you?

But hey, old habits are hard to break. Right?

Time for a change

I've never forgotten one sermon that jolted me out of that rut.

Our pastor had the ushers hand out index cards and told us that he had found a short formula to be helpful in his life because it opened the eyes of his heart. That Sunday he decided to pass it on to us.

He suggested an experiment. Starting that day each of us was to promise ourselves to make this our personal practice. No questions would be asked. No reports of progress or lack thereof. This was to be personal.

His "formula" stuck in my memory because it's uncomplicated and short. I wrote it on an index card and taped it to my bathroom mirror as a reminder.

Did it bless my life? Yes it did, although I confess sometimes I slipped up often and some days didn't remember to try.

Here's the simple formula:

1. Leave the past at the cross of Jesus Christ, once and for all.

2. See the good.

3. Speak the good.

4. Ask God to develop this attitude within me.

U-turn required

Whatever the date and time or stage of life we're in right now, it's worth giving it a fair trial, don't you think?

According to the news and the "experts" it sounds as if everything is up for grabs. Some of us feel we're floundering and just hanging on from day to day.

This simple formula sorts out what matters most in making a good life. It reveals the emptiness of the flotsam we're flooded with every day, on every side. It reminds us to stay on track by fixing our attention on what we as individuals can control.

This list serves us in the same way a level serves a carpenter: It helps us stay balanced, today and in the future.

You and I cannot change the world, but we change our world

Living by that pastor's formula takes us a long way toward that goal.

For specifics, many people hold up the Proverbs 31 woman as an example of how we should live. I believe most of those principles apply to both sexes in a general way.

If the criteria in that chapter sound too daunting, focus on verse 26 for starters.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Doesn't that make a worthy checklist for both women and men?

It's not hard to see how speaking kindness and appreciation would add life and light to our lives–and the lives of our spouse, our children and the people around us. This is doable for any of us.

Whatever our age or life situation, one truth applies to every one of us:

God gives us life. It's up to us how we live it.

Here's to being good learners,

Lenore

A question only you can answer: How is Life Treating You?

May 17, 2022
How do we keep from giving in to fear as our hearts ache for those who live in terror and anguish? Or when we do?

Right now news broadcasts make our hearts drop–and we live thousands of miles away. Sometimes it seems the whole world is in danger of falling apart.

Does anybody care? Does God care?

Anytime it seems this world is careening toward destruction a quick glance at this photo quiets my heart. I copied it from the Internet and framed it where I can see it any time.

It comes from the Hubble Telescope gallery of stunning photos. As with many of those photos, the colors have been enhanced, but the shape of an eye is unmistakable.

NASA itself labeled this nebula "The Eye of God."

I find that fact almost as amazing as the photo.

Of course it's not really a photo of God's eye

Still, this photo reminds me of what many of us already know: God is watching over me. And you. And our world, even the most remote region of it.

No matter how alarming or dismal the news, whether it's world news or happenings within our own lives or those of people we love, God never takes a break and gets preoccupied with something else.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3 ESV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. … 1 Peter 3:12 ESV

Remember what makes any of us "righteous" is that Jesus died for us and canceled out all our sin.

Breathe deep and be at peace

Yes, God's eye is on us, but he looks at us with eyes of love. Remember this verse?

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8 ESV

The best antidote to fears that nag at us is to go back to basics and spend some time reading the Bible, God's written word to us.

I've found it makes a big difference if I read with a "How does this apply to me?" attitude.

God's creation all around us speaks to us and quiets us, too. Sometimes I just need to look out the window with eyes that see.

When I do, when I take a moment to focus on the trees or distant hills or look up into the endless sky, I hear this verse in my mind:

Be still and know that I am God … Psalm 46:10 NIV

David, writer of Psalms, never doubted God's loving, watchful eye

For many years he lived in danger and counted on God's protection. He wrote these beautiful words:

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.   Psalm 17:8 NIV

He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber … The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; The LORD will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:3, 5a, 7-8 NIV

God speaks to us through the Word. Reading the Bible is a bit like resetting our internal compass to true north and we get back a right perspective on life.

It reminds us it's not our goodness that's a ticket to Heaven, but Jesus' death and resurrection alone. Knowing that turns our anxiety to peace.

We remember again how small we are in the scheme of things and who God is

So why do we let the TV newscasts and talking heads raise our blood pressure?

History is full of strife and struggles–and wars, whether "declared" or not. Elections come and elections go, always to the accompaniment of boos and cheers. Economies rise and fall, over and over. Medical problems inevitably come with being human. That's life.

Yet this little planet we live on keeps spinning. Every morning the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

The One who was there before the beginning and will be there after the end remains in charge.

For you and me, if we trust in him it is safe to let go of fear. God's got it all covered, so we can live in peace and calm.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!  Psalm 118:1 ESV

He never takes his eye off us, so let us relax and rejoice!

Blessings,

Lenore

Find calm in the midst of fear and chaos

February 25, 2022