Why worry when you can pray?
Trust Jesus, He’ll be your stay;
Don’t be a “doubting Thomas.”
Trust fully in His promise.
Why worry, worry, worry, worry,
When you can pray?

Alfred B. Smith, John W. Peterson

© 1949 Singspiration Music

 

My Dad used to sing this song all the time when I was a kid...and I find that it comes to mind more and more often.  In fact, my Dad's focus on living a life free from worry and full of prayer is the inspiration for Worry Free Mom.  Lately I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be worry free.  We all know that the Bible says to "cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you!"  And yet, most of us tend to continue to worry about things.   We don't give them to God because we want to hang on to them, maybe believing that we can take care of it ourselves.  

In order for me to cast my cares to Jesus, I have to truly believe that He is who He says He is.  (Another old song comes to mind here..."I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day!")  I have to believe that He will take those cares.  I have to believe that He can do something about them.  Imagine that you are in a burning building and you have to toss your child out the window to a firefighter waiting below.  You would not throw your baby to just anyone--but to someone you trust is going to catch that baby!  Can you picture this scenario?  I know that I would be looking for any OTHER way...any way I could do something else, rather than toss my child to someone I didn't believe would and could catch my baby. 

Being worry free begins with a true faith in Christ--and a confidence that He is who He says He is.  Because if we don't have that faith and that confidence, we won't cast our cares on Him.  Why would we?   The first step in a life that's worry free is to go back to the beginning--to your faith in Christ.  Know who He is and be persuaded that He is willing and able to catch anything you throw at Him.  We were not meant to live a live slogged down in worry, but to live life full of confidence in God's power and His ability to provide for us.

Karen

My Foolish Heart

My Foolish Heart, by Susan May Warren, is a cute book set in the town of Deep Haven.  A woman confined to her home by her extreme fear leads a secret life as a syndicated talk show host who gives advice on love to her listeners.  Despite her faith, the tragic accident that took her mother's life and paralyzed her father has left Isadora Presley wounded and fearful--and unable even to visit her father. 

Then, Caleb Knight moves in next door.  A veteran with a missing leg, Caleb is a candidate for the high school coaching position, and he has troubles of his own.  Though he has overcome his fear, he has not overcome his pride.  Wanting the position on his own merits, not because he has a disability, Caleb comes close to missing an opportunity to really connect with the team and with the people in the town he is growing to love--and almost loses the one job he really wants.

Caleb and Isadora find that they understand each other, and even like each other.  But their romance is interrupted by the crush that Isadora has on one of her radio callers--who turns out to be none other than Caleb.  The misunderstandings and mishaps that come from this unlikely connection make for some interesting moments in the story and ultimately bring both characters to healing and a deeper understanding of their relationship with God. 

My Foolish Heart is a fun read that leaves you with a smile, but, due to some adult issues faced by some of the side characters, it may be one best left for adult readers.   

HOME!

Well, I made it back!  I had trouble sleeping Tuesday night, so, with three hours of sleep, I left AZ at 3am, arriving home around 9:00 last night.  16 hour drives are NOT fun with no other adult, but I can't imagine trying it with no one else in the car--Ryan's done it twice.  WOW!

Thankfully, I have super awesome kids and lots of people praying for me.  So many times yesterday, I just said, "God...I need help.  I can't keep going!"  And then I would get a rush of energy and my head would clear--I knew that my friends were praying for me.  :-)  So, my best advice for long road trips?  Make sure your friends are praying!!!

Have a great weekend!

Karen

I made it!

Well, I am officially a super mom now!  I made it to AZ from TX in 16 hours--with just a few stops.  It's just a little thing, but after being without a car for almost a year and not driving more than once or twice in that time, driving 16 hours straight through feels like quite the accomplishment!  Of course, my wonderful cousin, Mary, was sitting in the passenger seat to help with the kiddos, so I may not have quite the same experience on my way home Wednesday!  lol

Visiting my home town has been bittersweet--I have loved catching up with old friends and spending time with my family.  Watching my kids play with their cousins as if no time had passed was priceless.  Hugging my grandparents--and looking in my Grandma's eyes to reassure her that I truly am Happy!--that's something I have really missed!  I also took some time to visit "my" trees at our old house.  Walking around our forlorn ex-property was a little bit rough--so many memories there.   I love looking out at the mountains and smelling the smells of spring here in AZ, where I have spent pretty much every spring of my life.  It's comfortable here, familiar and safe.  It's going to be hard to leave...

And yet, I can't wait to get back home...to my new home.  To my hubby. To my new friends and my fun new town and my new church family.  Just as driving all by myself gave me a new sense of independence and confidence in my abilities...so has living in Texas so far away from all of the comfort of my childhood--the mountains surrounding me, my family, even knowing that my Dad's grave is close by--given me a sense of who I am.  In this past year, I have been able to really see what my purpose is and get a clearer picture of who I am--and that is a very good thing.  :-)

Karen