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Cross a Bridge When We Come to It

Cross a Bridge When We Come to It

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Cross a Bridge When We Come to It-covered bridge Everyone knows we cross a bridge when we come to it.

  • Not before we come to it.
  • Not after we come to it.

We cross only when we come to it.

We understand that about physical bridges. We often forget that truth in our personal lives.

We cross a bridge when we come to it by dealing with life as it happens.

We don’t worry about something before it happens.

  • If it never happens, we worried for nothing.
  • If it does happen, worry did not stop it.

 Instead, we handle each moment as it comes. We plan and prepare, but we don’t worry. We don’t borrow trouble or tie ourselves in knots.

Cross a Bridge When We Come to It-church framed by bridgePrayer prepares us to cross a bridge when we come to it.

Rather than becoming a worry wart, we ask God to lead us. The Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County, Kentucky, shows that well. When we look beside the bridge or through it, we see a small country church. That church, like so many others, reminds us to trust God.

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27 NIV)

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Worry Wart

Worry Wart

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Worry Wart-fallen tree covered in weedsI don’t want warts on my skin. Neither do I want to be a worry wart. Both can annoy us.

Worry warts worry all the time.

Sometimes they worry about what has happened or is happening. Often they borrow trouble  – they worry about problems that could happen.

Their worries include:

  • Health
  • Personal relationships
  • The weather
  • Money
  • Death

Worry warts worry about everything.

We have trees behind our house.

  • I can enjoy their shade and beauty. Or I can worry that a tree may fall on my house.
  • I can enjoy the animals that live among those trees. Or I can worry that one will bite me or give me a disease.
  • I can enjoy the leaves as they change colors. Or I can worry about having to rake all those leaves when they fall.

The tree in this photo did fall. However, it was old and rotten inside. It was far from the house, so the fall was no problem. We cut our trees when we think they may cause problems. The other trees we choose to enjoy.

Why worry?

Marian Woosley lived and taught a good plan for life. One of her favorite expressions was, “Why worry when we can pray?” That’s a good question, don’t you think?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion.

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Buck Up

Buck Up

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Buck Up--sun shining above dark cloudsCheer up! Perk up! Get over it! Life is not that bad. All these mean the same thing: buck up.

Life is not usually as bad as we think.

Everything looks dark down in the dumps. We see no way out. That often results when we look the wrong way.

  • When we walk down a cave’s dark path, we see no escape.
  • When we move toward the entrance, we see the light.

We must choose to move.

The light remains there for us. We decide which way to go.

We do the same in daily life. Will we remain down in the dumps or focus on the light at the end of the tunnel?

Our circumstances may remain the same. We all go through hard times. However, we choose our mood.

  • What we tell ourselves changes our mood.
  • Our mood changes our actions.

For physical depression, we may need medical help. For a bad attitude, we need to buck up.

Remember: Every cloud has a silver lining.

“My God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28 NIV).

Thanks to Joy Taylor for the suggestion.

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Down in the Dumps

Down in the Dumps

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Down in the Dumps--looking up through dark rocks No one enjoys being down in the dumps.

We don’t like to feel depressed or unhappy. Yet, we all get down in the dumps sometimes.

Darkness covers us, much like entering a cave with no lights. We wonder if life will ever get better.

A few people suffer depression because of a physical problem. Most of us simply have days we don’t enjoy as much as others.

  • Our car won’t start.
  • We argue with someone we love.
  • We have to work long hours.

Problems keep growing, and so does our bad mood.

Like an old dog, we growl at others.

  • We frown.
  • We fuss.
  • Nothing pleases us.

Because we feel down in the dumps, we often make others feel bad too.

We want them to share our misery. Yet, most of us have a choice.

Will we focus on our bad moments?

Or will we be thankful for all the good we still enjoy? We’ll talk more about that choice next week.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Get Our Feet Wet

Get Our Feet Wet

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Get Our Feet Wet: ocean washing against a beachIf we want to learn to swim, we have to get our feet wet.

A friend’s grandmother taught her to fear water. Therefore, my friend never learned to swim.

My parents had me playing in water when I was a baby. I never feared water, but I did obey safety rules.

My sister, brother, and I enjoyed water games for hours. We:

  • Stood on our hands
  • Floated on our backs
  • Jumped and splashed
  • Looked for fish

I wanted my friend to know the freedom of such a day. First, she had to get her feet wet.

When we try anything new, we must get our feet wet.

We have to take those first steps. Once we get our feet wet, we can move on to deeper water. We can add new skills.

Yet, fear often keeps us from trying.

  • What if I fail?
  • Will I look silly?
  • What will people think?

The truth is:

  • We all fail sometimes.
  • We all look silly sometimes.
  • People don’t notice us as much as we think they do.
  • If we make mistakes, we can always go back to the drawing board.

As an old song says, step into the water.

Get your feet wet. Then, one step at a time, experience the fun of learning something new.

“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said” (Matthew 14:28-29 NIV).

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Tie Ourselves in Knots

Tie Ourselves in Knots

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Tie Ourselves in KnotsWe can easily tie ourselves in knots. I don’t mean with ropes, but with how we react to circumstances. We cause ourselves to suffer with:

  • Worry
  • Nervousness
  • Confusion

We can make ourselves sick. When our stomach ties in knots, we experience pain or cramping. The cause may be physical. Often it is emotional.

  • Fear
  • Impatience
  • Uncertainty
  • Anxiety

 Other people can tie us in knots when they:

  • Expect too much
  • Hurt us or try to hurt us
  • Ignore us
  • Lie or gossip about us

So, how do we stop tying ourselves in knots or letting others tie us in knots? Don’t borrow trouble. Remember worry does no good. It changes nothing except how we feel. Instead, let go and let God. As we learn from The Serenity Prayer:

  • Change what we can change.
  • Accept what we can’t change.
  • Learn the difference.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Luke 12:25 NIV).

How do you keep from tying yourself in knots? Please comment.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Don’t Borrow Trouble

Don’t Borrow Trouble

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Don't Borrow Trouble 1Are you a worrier?

Do you think nothing will get done unless you worry about it? If so, my friend, stop it! Don’t borrow trouble. You are causing yourself needless anxiety.

Several years ago, a baseball player offered a better approach. He declared, “Ain’t no need to worry!” (English teachers everywhere, please forgive the grammar. Pay attention instead to his philosophy.)

Worry neither prevents nor causes anything, except perhaps physical and emotional health problems.

  • If something’s going to happen, worry won’t stop it.
  • If it doesn’t happen, think of all the time you wasted.
  • Concentrate instead on what you can do.

We can make a difference if we:

  • Complete today’s work to the best of our ability.
  • Show love and kindness in all we do.
  • Thank God for each day’s opportunities.
  • Then, rest in the knowledge that our day was well lived.

I have to admit that worry still creeps into my life sometimes. Therefore, I have to continually tell myself not to borrow trouble. As is true of all my life, I remain a work in progress.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:34, MSG).

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