A lesson I’m still learning, but understand more clearly with each decade of life, is that fixing my circumstances is rarely the answer to reducing stress.
Thanks I needed to read this today. I never thought of this that “my heart wants heaven on earth”. So true sometimes! I am grateful for your encouragement today! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you again for sharing your heart, Barbara! This is exactly where I am right now. The holidays at the end of the year have always been like an exciting, event-planning season for my family and many of our friends! Decorating our home, planning menus and baking, sending cards, and shopping for gifts…some of my passions in life! But somehow in this time of retired life…that doesn’t even interest me. I might have even said to my husband “Do we even need to put up a tree this year?” But the passions that have grown are the desires that the people I talk to, family or friends or chance encounters, see Jesus in me and hear of all He has done for us in His death and resurrection…and celebrating why He came to earth not just how. Thank you for encouraging us to pare back the stress and just rest in the joy of the love He showed us by humbling Himself so! Instead of being stressful…that is energizing! Thank you for always pointing us to the Lord!
My goodness, Barbara! Your words and what God is teaching you are EXACTLY what has been going through my mind and life the past two weeks! This is the second time that God has brought the Philippians 4 verse to me and the need to apply it to every thing and every day. God has also put before me THREE times Mathew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I ask myself why am I dreading the holidays when I haven't before and when it is such a good time to be with my beloved family.
Through it all, I am thankful that God is showing that He cares about me and my sanctification by bringing these verses to my attention. I'll be praying for you. Thank you for your words. It is strangely comforting to know that someone of my own age (or near it) is having the same experience.
Thank u for the great reminder that stresses in life point us to Christ in our life, making us ever more dependent on Him. I’ve wanted to ask you, how do you do Christmas w/ so many children & grandchildren? Do you buy gifts for all or none? I have 6 kids & 10 grandchildren. It stresses me out every yr, so that I dread & don’t enjoy Christmas anymore. Can’t come up w/ the right solution. Thank you
Thanks I needed to read this today. I never thought of this that “my heart wants heaven on earth”. So true sometimes! I am grateful for your encouragement today! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you again for sharing your heart, Barbara! This is exactly where I am right now. The holidays at the end of the year have always been like an exciting, event-planning season for my family and many of our friends! Decorating our home, planning menus and baking, sending cards, and shopping for gifts…some of my passions in life! But somehow in this time of retired life…that doesn’t even interest me. I might have even said to my husband “Do we even need to put up a tree this year?” But the passions that have grown are the desires that the people I talk to, family or friends or chance encounters, see Jesus in me and hear of all He has done for us in His death and resurrection…and celebrating why He came to earth not just how. Thank you for encouraging us to pare back the stress and just rest in the joy of the love He showed us by humbling Himself so! Instead of being stressful…that is energizing! Thank you for always pointing us to the Lord!
Wanda it's great to hear from you. Thank you for sharing and encouraging us back!
My goodness, Barbara! Your words and what God is teaching you are EXACTLY what has been going through my mind and life the past two weeks! This is the second time that God has brought the Philippians 4 verse to me and the need to apply it to every thing and every day. God has also put before me THREE times Mathew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I ask myself why am I dreading the holidays when I haven't before and when it is such a good time to be with my beloved family.
Through it all, I am thankful that God is showing that He cares about me and my sanctification by bringing these verses to my attention. I'll be praying for you. Thank you for your words. It is strangely comforting to know that someone of my own age (or near it) is having the same experience.
Thanks for sharing with us! And you are so right, when the Spirit brings passages to mind they seem to be in every message I hear or book I'm reading.
Thank u for the great reminder that stresses in life point us to Christ in our life, making us ever more dependent on Him. I’ve wanted to ask you, how do you do Christmas w/ so many children & grandchildren? Do you buy gifts for all or none? I have 6 kids & 10 grandchildren. It stresses me out every yr, so that I dread & don’t enjoy Christmas anymore. Can’t come up w/ the right solution. Thank you