Category: Peace of mind

If Messiah fills the air waves and our arms are getting sore

    From the Christmas cards we've written, but we've still a whole lot more,

    Yet we're feeling jolly, hanging lights and holly on the door,

    The secret's out, there is no doubt, it's Christmas time once more.

If the family's acting funny and we're fuming just a bit

    While we're hunting for the bunting that will surely be a hit,

    Christmas shopping has us hopping, we're about to lose our wits,

    And the object that's a project has turned out to be the pits.

If we have no whammy bunting, only clammy hands and sighs

    'Cause we're sick of spending money. Isn't funny, isn't wise.

    So we go into a huddle, still we muddle, agonize,

    While our dreams of finding "perfect" self-destruct before our eyes.

If we'll pitch the lists and flowcharts, let our hearts start thinking small,

    No more reading. What we're needing won't be found within a Mall.

    All the best stuff is the real stuff. Nothing changes, after all,

    It's still love that makes gifts matter, 'spite of chattter in the hall.

So at Christmas time and all the time, this wish comes from my heart:

    May great joy reign, May all your pain and all your stress depart,

    And may every day be one you say, "I cannot wait to start!"

   Then at day's end, let Christ, our friend, speak peace deep in your heart:

(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; For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –Isaiah 9:6

So . . . Merry Christ-mas to you and yours! May your heart be filled with JOY because you know the Babe in the Manger came for you–to be your Friend and to set you right with God.

Lovingly,

Lenore



It’s Christmas time once more! (with apologies to all you poets)

December 20, 2017
Life is fragile.

Every breath we take is a gift.

That's the refrain that drummed in my mind when I saw the photos and heard the story of US Airways Flight 1549, the one that ended up in the Hudson River January 15, 2009.

Did you hear it, too?

But for the grace of God … you or I could have been one of the people standing on a wing of that sinking US Airways jet. Or it could have been someone we love, icy water swirling around their legs and their lips turning blue.

A couple members of our family fly often in connection with their work and all of us fly now and then. That day I knew every one of our family members was on the ground. I breathed a silent Thank You, Lord!, feeling a bit guilty for being so self-involved.

But for the grace of God … that plane, bound from New York to Charlotte, N.C., would have been flying over mountainous terrain or a less-inhabited area, with rescue equipment miles away.

Instead … they hit that huge flock of Canadian geese while they were still close to New York, which, since 9/11 has in place elaborate rescue plans and trained public employees for every type of emergency.

But for the grace of God … a less-experienced pilot would have been flying that plane.

Instead … it was Capt. Chesley Sullenberger. "Sully" graduated from the Air Force Academy and flew eight years for the USAF as a combat pilot. He had studied how cockpit crews react in a crisis and is a certified glider pilot.

By the grace of God … Sullenberger made the right split-second decision. He turned the engineless plane around, gliding safely down over the Hudson River. Volunteers from boats that "happened" to be close by worked together with rescue personnel.

Instead … of drowning, passengers and crew were rescued within minutes. They're alive and, as one said when interviewed, "I will never take life for granted again."

By the grace of God …

Every passenger and crew member on US Airways Flight 1549 survived.

I can't tell you what was in cartoonist Rex Babin's mind when he drew this cartoon. Could it have been this verse?

The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms. –Deuteronomy 33:27

By the grace of God …

You and I woke up this morning.

    And the morning before this one.

        And the morning before that.

Not one of us possesses a guarantee we'll be here tomorrow, or even at the end of this day.

So why waste our time focusing on the "if onlys" of life?

Or get hung up on the woulda/shoulda/couldas?

Why bother to nurse hurt feelings or grudges?

Rather, let's appreciate the people in our lives and the good things all around us. Let's make the most of who we are and of every day we're given.

By the grace of God … you and I live and move and have our being.

    Life is a gift.

    Every breath we take is a gift.

    The eternal God is our refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms.

For more, anytime you find yourself feeling fearful or all alone, turn to Psalm 139 and read the first eighteen verses. Let those beautiful words wash into your heart and your spirit.

Peace to you, my friend,

Lenore
Lessons from the “miracle on the Hudson”

September 14, 2016
Even though I live in California, winter's dark mornings and short afternoons drag me down.

Forgive me, all you Midwesterners and Easterners who deal with REAL winter. I admit it, I'm a wimp.

When the days start getting shorter my energy levels drop and I gradually notice that I feel less cheery. I hear hot cocoa and a crackling fire calling my name.

Once people called it "the winter blues."

Now it's known as "SAD."

How about you?

If your days feel gray, too, the experts tell us we might have SAD. – Seasonal Affective Disorder. The farther we live from the Equator, the shorter our daylight hours and the more likely it is that we have S.A.D.

That may sound like a fake condition, but here's what the Mayo Clinic website says about how shorter daylight hours affect our bodies:

The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include:

Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.

Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

If you want to read more about SAD go to http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/causes/con-20021047

Avoiding the downward slide

The problem is when we feel down, our thoughts are, well, less positive.

And have you noticed how one dark thought begets another? I like the way that brilliant poet, "Anonymous," puts it.

Your mind is a garden,

your thoughts are the seeds.

You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

All day long, with no conscious effort we drop "seeds"–random thoughts that come and go–into our minds.

Those fleeting thoughts become the background noise of our lives

We tell ourselves we pay no attention to street noise, for example, except we do. We can't help but register it at some level.

I've found it takes a lot of discipline and prayer to overcome letting my mood go dark.

It helps to keep telling myself what I know is true:

Whether we think we're happy or not depends on what we ask ourselves. And tell ourselves.

Whatever our situation–and whatever the season–our thoughts determine how we live and relate to the people around us.

Dealing with down days

Let's face it, some days we're in the pits–even in the midst of summer.

It helps me to write Bible verses that lift my heart on sticky notes and post them around the house. Storing verses in smartphones and tablets allow instant access, too, as do index cards tucked in a pocket or purse.

For starters, here are verses that speak to me:

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" –Jeremiah 32:27

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

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak . . . those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. –Isaiah 40:29, 31

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

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. –Ephesians 3:20-21

I know of no better way to drive out the dark than to focus on the Son and bask in God's love for us.

Why not share some of your favorite verses in the Comments section below?

Still growing,

Lenore

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January 8, 2015
Maybe you never thought about Maya Angelou until now, after her recent death, when everyone's talking about her.

Maybe you wonder what's the big deal?

I sometimes disagreed with her views , but I admire how she came through a harsh childhood and grew into a calm, balanced woman of accomplishment.

How did she do it?

I think it traces back to her stable, loving grandmother, who spoke faith and hope into this hurting little girl. When Maya was three her dysfunctional father plunked her down to live with his mother-in-law, then four years later snatched her backto live with her mother.

When Maya was eight, her mother's boyfriend raped her. She confided in her older brother, who told the family. The rapist was tried, convicted and jailed.

For one day.

Shortly thereafter, someone murdered him. Blaming herself for the man's death, Maya stopped talking . . . for five years.

The two siblings were sent to live with Grandma, who provided a solid home, frequently reassuring them of Christ's love for them.

How does one survive such experiences?

We can learn a lot from Maya about overcoming pain. Her writings and interviews reveal what kept her from bitterness.

Faith in God:
"I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was God but that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I comprehended that, more than that, when I internalized that, ingested that, I became courageous."

Take the long view:
"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

Choose to take a positive view of life:
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

Forgive:
"You can't forgive without loving. And I don't mean sentimentality. I don't mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, 'I forgive. I'm finished with it.'

Be authentic:
"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.”

Be kind:
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Recognize your impact on others:
"Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't, we should behave as though we are — cheerful, kind, loving, courteous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes.”

Remember that life is a gift:
Maya's prayer: "I want to thank you, Lord, for life and all that's in it. Thank you for the day and for the hour, and the minute.”

This kind of transformation can't be accomplished on our own

Maya's story reminded me of this verse, which reveals her secret.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. –2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Maya Angelou was far from perfect, yet she was forgiven. In Christ, she was a new creation, freed from bitterness and hate.

That's what enabled her to be able to say, "I forgive. I'm finished with it"–and mean it.

You and I can have the same newness of mind and spirit. It's the gift that comes with believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (John 3:16-17.)

Trusting, too,

Lenore

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June 2, 2014
Peel away the tinsel and take a fresh look at Christmas

December 18, 2013
Tornado roars through Moore, Oklahoma. How would we cope if this was where we used to live?

Imagine coming back to this.

Some residents returned to piles of rubble they couldn't see over.

Some found flat, empty spaces littered with debris. They could only trace in their minds where walls once stood.

All cried and hugged each other. Who wouldn't?

In memory their individual homes looked sweet and flawless, filled with precious possessions. The ordinary, boring routines of daily life transformed into cherished rituals.

Tragedy makes our vision clearer

How many interviews have you watched where Moore residents said something like, "Oh, it's all gone, but that doesn't matter. My family is okay. That's all that counts."

We forget that too easily, don't we?

Is it possible to possess that perspective without first suffering a tragedy?

I think we can. I think we must.

That's especially important for moms. In Moore, ten children died. Yes, the school children were with their teachers.

Even so, they faced their fears on their own.

That's life. Even young children spend most weekdays away from home. Older kids and teens, too. We moms can give them something indestructible to hang onto, whatever comes.

Something like this

First we teach our children they can talk to Jesus themselves. We stress that Jesus is with them, right here. Right now.

Songs are good, too. For generations godly moms and grandmas have been teaching, "Jesus Loves Me," to their little ones. Every Sunday School kid learns it, too. It goes like this:

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong.

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me–He who died

Heaven's gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

–Anna B. Warner, in 1860, set to music by William Bradbury in 1862.

Picture one of those young children huddled down listening to the tornado roar down on them. Wouldn't repeating words like these over and over help them get through it?

We can't give away what we don't have

If we're to speak faith and confidence to our families and those around us we need to be equipped ourselves. We can store up verses like these so we'll have them ready to call up when we need them.

Here are some personal favorites:

*(God says) "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." –Psalm 59:15 (ESV)

*(Jesus says) "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." –John 3:16

*(The Lord says) "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine . . . Do not be afraid, for I am with you . . . " –Isaiah 43:1, 5 (NIV)

Make verses like these part of our emergency kit

School kids in Moore had regular tornado drills. Let's take it one step further and aim to be emotionally and spiritually prepared for whatever comes–and our families, too.

Let's equip minds and spirits with what will carry us through.

Lovingly,

Lenore

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May 22, 2013
Twenty-four hour news sounds good, but there seems to be no escape.

The bad always outweighs the good, because every journalist knows that bad news sells.
It becomes the background noise of our life and fear seeps into our subconscious.

Think of the past few months. We can tune out faraway places, but what of the terror that comes closer to home?

Movie-goers get mowed down in a Colorado theatre. School children in Newtown. Every school and college is on high alert, because some lone shooter may be ready to open fire.

Then comes another Boston Marathon and what promised to be life returning to normal, even if just for a day. Then comes more horror. Bombs, killings and a major American City locked down in fear until the remaining shooter is found.

Next a solid, unexciting fertilizer plant suddenly explodes in a quiet town in Texas. The blast kills at least 14 people and injures 200 or more, devastating a large section of West, population 2,500.

That's Life in Twenty-first Century America

Parents fear for their children. Schools are on high alert.

Experts say to proect kids from viewing the violence. Parents ask how to do that when there's nothing else on television and every break carries a "teaser" for the news.

How do we reassure our children when we're quaking inside? Where do we dredge up confidence when we have none left to give?

The real question is, How do we live with this?

I have no answers on my own, but I know where to look.

In the Bible, of course. Hope and comfort thread through it from beginning to end. Take Psalm 121 for example, here from the New American Standard Bible:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord willprotect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this day forward.

Let's take our cues from the Word instead of the news

Imagine if we read or spoke those words every morning instead of turning on the news to see what's happening now.

Suppose every night at bedtime we quietly repeated these beautiful words to our children. Before long they'll be speaking them with us. Instead of saying, "Have a good day," we could let this blessing echo in the minds of our families.

The point is if we regularly take in fear, we live out fear. Some of us have internalized this constant low-level anxiety for so long we think it's normal.

It's even worse for children, because they don't understand it and feel even more powerless than adults.

That's not the way we're meant to live.

In case you wonder, yes, I struggle with this, too. I can build a whole scenario on "What if . . . ?"

(I'm a writer, remember?)

Events of the past week remind us again that life holds risks and earthly protection sometimes fails. Our security rests in the One who watches over us and neither slumbers nor sleeps.

So we can live–and sleep–in peace.

Growing along with you and trusting the One who keeps us,

Lenore

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April 23, 2013
Sometimes problems crowd in on us, don't they? That makes it a good time to remind ourselves about a few of the individuals who actually faced the big hurdles.

You probably know of Joni Eareckson Tada, who as a teenager was paralyzed from the neck down in 1967 when she dove into a too-shallow lake and broke her neck. During her initial bout with depression she found a deeper faith in God and also a new calling. She speaks to groups, does television interviews, has authored fourteen books and is a fine artist. God has used her to bless countless people with or without physical challenges. (Google her name to learn about the organization she founded, Joni & Friends, a resource and advocacy organization in the disability community.)

History is full of overcomers who chose to keep going instead of giving up. One man, raised in extremely humble circumstances, became a storekeeper and went broke. After that he ran for office and lost election after election. We know that "failure" as Abraham Lincoln.

How about the student labeled "mediocre" in chemistry, whom we know as Louis Pasteur, the scientist?

Or a boy called "too stupid to learn," who went on to develop the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. Albert Einstein became known as the father of modern physics and was one of the most prolific minds in human history.

Then there's the boy called dull and hopeless, who flunked the sixth grade, the one we know as Winston Churchill.

Tell a youngster who loves to sketch and draw that he has no talent. He surprises everyone by growing up to become famous as Walt Disney.

Take a couple who survived a Nazi concentration camp and feel their pain when he is paralyzed from the waist down at age four. They could not know their boy would grow up to become internationally acclaimed concert violinist, Itzhak Perlman, who consistently plays to sellout crowds.

Could a person born with cerebral palsy who never managed to speak clearly ecome a minister and a much-in-demand public speaker? Ask David Ring, who speaks to over 100,000 people every year at conventions, in churches and at gatherings. His recurrent line is, "What's your problem?" (Google his name if you want to know more about him and hear the details of his story.)

I read a list like this and ask myself, "What's your problem?"

Suddenly everyday frustrations shrink to their proper place.

After all, peace does not come from problem-free living. Once again the Apostle Paul says it best, in Philippians 4:7:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here's to joy-in-the-midst,

Lenore

Here’s proof that labels and diagnoses need not define a life

July 26, 2011
Are you troubled, convinced the world is a mess and there is no hope, no beauty?

Feast your eyes on God's handiwork one recent spring in a California canyon somewhere near San Luis Obispo.

(Sorry, photographer unknown.)

I've loved this photo since I first saw it. I can't imagine a better visual for what Jesus said in Luke 12, starting at verse 22.

"Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes . . . Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."

Maybe you suffer from the same malady as I. Worry. Oh, I can call it something nicer, but really, it's worry.

When I look at wildflowers, as in this photo, I feel the tightness in my shoulders ease up. The One who splashes these remote hills with extravagant beauty tenderly cares for all His creation.

That includes you and me.

Whatever we are dealing with today, we are not alone. The weight of the world does not rest on our shoulders. Count on it. His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:21-16)

Every day mercies and blessings surround us.

Are we looking for them?

Here's to having eyes to see,

Lenore

Find peace of mind despite the scarcity of hope

May 14, 2011