Worked Up In a Tizzy!

Yesterday I could feel it coming on.  It was a big, full blown, TIZZY!  Do you know what a tizzy is?  It's a self-inflicted state of mass irritability and overwhelming state of mind.  And then it begins to turn to worry and stress.  The muscles in my neck begin to tighten. My head feels like it's going to explode.  And I get all spastic!

I don't often have tizzies, but when I do, I don't like them one bit!  I feel out of control, and I am.  In fact, though, it's because I'm trying to have all control, that I get into this tizzy!  So yesterday, while it seemed that everything that was on the calendar for the next few weeks had to be done THEN, I felt that overwhelming sense of doom, really!

Finally, I sat down, and wrote out this post for our "Parents After God's Own Heart" page.  I figured it was best to just confess the problem to God, but also thought I should say it to others...first, for their prayers, but also, just in case other mom's felt the same way.  Some said they did. Others just "liked" it in either agreement or support. And I made a prayer picture that said exactly how I felt.  I told God exactly what I was doing, knowing He was the One that should be in control.  Not me.

Here is the status.  The photo is below.

"This is straight from Lori to you moms. I don't do this often, but I have today. I've worked myself into a "tizzy", and I'm working on getting stressed. Too many up-coming things that I get excited about, but then start to worry about. There's uncertainty with plans, there's orders to place, and things to remember to do....and those things turn to worry and stress! And I don't like feeling stressed! And I know I shouldn't stress...and THAT brings stress! So, I need to calm down! I need to give it to God. He'll help me. He always does! So, why do I allow myself to get to this point?! This is my prayer. Maybe you need it today, too...and maybe you'll say one for me."

I felt much better after writing that and making the photo.  But then I turned on my music to Hallal and The Zoe Group.  This is my FAVORITE song.  I've probably posted it before, but will again. Click HERE for the link, but it probably plays on the playlist at the bottom of my blog homepage.  

Today, I am starting out with the prayer above and the worship songs.  He will calm and still me - even with many things to accomplish. HE will direct my paths, not me.  

Thank you, God, for giving me what I need.  YOU.  

In Jesus' name, 

Amen

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Take a Deep Breath!

Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

Last Wednesday, we were in a hurry getting ready for our 5:30 p.m. devotional, cookout, and "Trunk or Treat" night.  One of my boys had a dentist appointment right after school, so he and I rushed over there for that, getting home just in time to quickly decorate the vehicle and pick up the others do go to worship. As we rushed and rushed, the youngest and I hopped into the car to head to worship and get the car ready.  He sensed my flustered attitude, I'm sure, by my tone of voice and my actions.  He said, "Mom, I think we just all need to take a deep breath!".  I smiled and said, "Yes, Biscuit, I think you're right!".

Sometimes a little child's simple words can make you think.  He's nine years old, so he was looking forward to dressing up after worship and having fun at the festivities for the night and here I was, running around like a chicken with its head cut off!!  A crazed chicken, I'm sure!

Oh, I don't want to be a crazed chicken with no head!  Do you?  Most of the time I stay pretty calm and cool, but occasionally, that calm and cool becomes crazed.  What should I do?  Take a deep breath?  Yes, that can certainly help, and it does.  But ultimately, I must do more than just take a breath deep.  I must come to grips with the fact that much that happens is out of my control.  I must relinquish all control to God.  It is He that can control what I can't - and all of what I think I can!  He can direct me in my steps when I get crazed.  He can guide me in the direction that I really need to go.

This week is one of my busiest weeks of the year.  When I woke up this morning, I could feel a sense of urgency to get everything done - TODAY.  But I can't get it all done today.  I have to take deep breaths.  I have to pray.  I have to put my trust in God that it will all get done.  It always does.  It always works out.

So, today I'll let God work out the details.  I'll let Him show me what is MOST important just for today.  And tomorrow I'll do the same thing.  Hopefully if you see a crazed, headless chicken out and about, it's not me.  It's someone else who needs to take a deep breath and who needs to let God direct their path for the day.

Thank you, God, for your willingness to take over the crazy days of life. Help each of us to give you those days and, in fact, help us to give you each of our days.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,  and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Feeling a Little Unraveled?

This WAS a cute little gingerbread man rug that went in my kitchen.  Unfortunately, I threw it into the washing machine without reading the tag first, which said, "Spot Clean Only"!  So, this is what it looked like when it came out.  I had to laugh because it looked like I felt at the time - a little unraveled!

It's really hard to believe it's already December 1st.  Where has this school year gone???  The days go by so quickly that a whole month has gone by before we even realize it.  It's easy to get stressed out and unraveled in our fast-paced world.

Usually I'm not easily stressed, but on occassion I am.  I can tell it when I am because I get a headache at the back of my head towards the neck.  However, since I've turned 40 I have noticed that things don't get to me as much - even times that typically might have caused me stress.

I've thought about that lately and wondered why turning 40 made a difference?  I think that maybe it's because I've (finally) matured enough to realized so many things I might have gotten stressed about before, really don't matter at all.  If everything is not just "so-so", what does it matter?  Things do not have to be perfect.  I can do my best and that's all.  If I've got a list of things to do one day and at the end of the day one or two of those things aren't done - it's okay.  There is always tomorrow unless Jesus comes back and if He does - then those "things" won't matter anyway!

Christmas time brings stress to people in many ways, but often times it's self-imposed stress.  I was going to give you some wise tips on how to make it less stressful, but everything I began to write, I realized I do myself.  SO, I just decided there was one thing we all should do and that one thing will make everything else easier during this time:  PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! 

Ask God to help you as you plan your day.  Ask for His guidance as you buy gifts for family and friends.  Ask for wisdom to make good decisions on managing your time wisely during this time. Ask for Him to bless you with the strength to not get so caught up in the "things" of Christmas you forget about Him and His Son, Jesus.

Just as being "unraveled" is not becoming on my gingerbread rug, an "unraveled" Christian is not becoming, either.  Give your stresses to God.  He can handle everything!  Trust in Him to do what He says He will do!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7