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<\/a>Today is also my wedding anniversary. We\u2019ve been married 12 years and if you do the math, you realize that we were married four days after 9\/11. Today I feel some of the same emotions that I did all those years ago. Lives have been lost this week. Homes and families have been torn apart. Many are still stranded. Many are still missing. I don\u2019t feel much like celebrating.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What I can do today is cling to Jesus, for it\u2019s only through Him that I can make it through yet another storm. I\u2019ve chosen a post that may help with anxiety that comes when we face storms. I pray that these words will be of help if you face a storm today.<\/p>\n
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Please keep my family and my Colorado friends in your prayers today. It\u2019s raining again.<\/p>\n
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Do Not Be Anxious<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t happen very often, but I received three phone calls from our city telling us that we were under a tornado warning. I guess it\u2019s just natural to feel a bit anxious under these circumstances. But there were several reasons last night that sent me that direction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First of all, Mason was working a night shift. Then there was the fact that Candace was still out working. And last but not least, Joy, our granddaughter was spending the night. I stayed by the television as long as I possibly could to see where these storms were headed and if, in fact, we were in any danger.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several years ago, we were placed under a tornado warning and spent some time in the basement. Driving through the area where the tornado touched down was disturbing. The path was pretty defined. The damage was more severe in some areas than others. Destruction was evident.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I don\u2019t like feeling anxious. I tend to become very warm, sweat much more than normal, and my heart races. After the anxiousness has subsided, I feel depleted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Obviously in the situation of immediate danger, being anxious is normal and natural. Anxiousness can be a difficult issue for some. But for most people of our world, we do tend to overdo the anxiousness. Sometimes we are anxious for reasons that do not merit these feelings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proverbs reminds us that \u201can anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.\u201d<\/em> (Proverbs 12:25 \u2013 NIV) Anxiety can cause us to feel unnecessarily burdened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Philippians 4:6 (NIV) tells us, \u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\u201d <\/em>It may be difficult to act in this way, but we are told to face difficulty in this manner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what are we to do with our anxieties? 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) says to, \u201cCast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.\u201d Give<\/em> it to God. Give it completely, totally, without any hesitation, to God.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We are to trust God with all of our cares. Nahum shares these words, \u201cThe Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.\u201d<\/em> (Nahum 1:7 – NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And if we jump back to Philippians 4:7 (NIV), Paul tells us what we will receive when we trust and give God our anxiety. \u201cAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/em> God\u2019s peace will cover us and we won\u2019t even be able to understand why we are at peace in tough situations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The storms passed. We were unharmed. There was no reason to be nervous or anxious. For that I am thankful. I guess the real lesson in all of this is to listen to the experts. Understand what they are saying and then take appropriate action. It\u2019s better to be safe than sorry in this situation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n <\/p>\n