The Chronicles of Biscuit - Worry, Worry, Worry

The Chronicles of Biscuit: Stories about our younger son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

Biscuit is a worrier.  In fact, he's a worrier DE-LUX!  He worries about the weather....storms that could turn back, he worries about his safety in our house and hotels, he worries about a lot of things.  And he'll admit it.

This week Biscuit has been playing in a three-day golf tournament. Because he has won several day tournaments and has had lots of compliments about his golf game, Biscuit went into this bigger tournament with high expectations.  When we got to the tournament and saw the pretty glass golf trophies, Biscuit was confident he would walk away with one on the last day.  But very quickly, on the first day, Biscuit realized that the tournament was a lot tougher than he thought it would be.

The 10-11 year olds were playing from further back tees than Biscuit typically had to play from, and he was having to walk 18 holes, where the other tournaments he only had to play 9 holes.  He also usually practices only 9 holes on our 9-hole course nearby. But also, and an even bigger issue, was the mentality of a 3-day tournament - especially for a worrier!

Biscuit's worry over a bad golf swing or the shot's landing, caused even more worry, resulting in an even bigger score at the end of the day.  Biscuit's worry turned to disappointment, and even some anger that showed at some points (something he's having to face punishment for the rest of the week, unfortunately).  Worry, worry, worry.

Biscuit's problem isn't new.  There have been worriers since the beginning.  Remember Moses?  When God asked Moses to go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt he answered, "Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"  Or Jonah.  His worry caused him to try to run away from the Lord, then he ended up getting swallowed by a big fish!

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” ³ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 1:1-3

As Christians, worry is not trusting in God. It is saying that we don't trust that God will do what He says He will do.  It's been said that worry is temporary atheism.  Ouch! That's a pretty harsh term, isn't it?  But Jesus had lots to say about being a worrier.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

So, what is the solution to having no worries?  Well, there could be many formulas, but here is what I told Tyler:

#1.  Pray

Most things we tend to worry about never happen, but to help our minds be clearer and help us learn to trust in God more during these times, we must pray.  Our lifeline to our Heavenly Father is always available.  He's always listening.  We should turn our worries over to Him.

#2.  Change Our Mindset

I didn't think of it as being anything profound when I said it to Tyler, but it seemed to help him a lot.  I would say, "No stress....it's just a challenge."  When we change our mind from worrying to thinking of something as a challenge, most of us are going to think, "Okay! I can do this!".  It's when our mind says, "I can't."....."I'll fail."...."It's too difficult".....that we will worry and most likely fail.

Maybe you have other ways to alleviate stress in your life.  I have a friend who likes to sing songs of praise to get her mind off of her worries.  Whatever helps you, do it! (Unless it is something harmful for your body, of course.)  But never neglect #1.  It's the best solution to worry.

All Bark, No Plight

Several times a day our little outside dog, Tiger, goes into a barking frenzy.  It drives me crazy (not a far drive, mind you :)! 

I wouldn't mind if Tiger was barking at the goats that live in the field behind the house.  I wouldn't mind if he was barking at the squirrels that frequently run along the trees and top of the fence.  I wouldn't mind if he barked at thing that made sense, but he doesn't.  No, he barks at weird things.  Things that can't do anything to him. 

Tiger barks at a newspaper that has somehow gotten in the backyard.  He barks at a little kiddie basketball goal that is laying down on its side.  The other day he was barking at the door, looking into the French door windows.  Maybe he was barking at his reflection?  Anyway, he's barking at things that aren't bothering him.

Tiger barks at things day after day and night after night  that can't cause him any harm at all.  It's like he is afraid of everything....even the wind....and that's not a good thing to be afraid of the wind when you're living in Oklahoma!

He's kind of like us some times, isn't he?  Some of us worry about the same things day after day - things that either are not going to happen or will most likely not happen.  It doesn't make any sense, does it?  It seems crazy! 

Tiger needs to learn that he doesn't have anything to bark at most of the time.  He needs to learn that he doesn't have to be afraid of everything.  He needs to realize that he is protected by most of the dangerous things that he could find outside of the big backyard.  Maybe he needs a friend?  I wonder...

We don't have to worry or be afraid. God will take care of us.  We have a friend - someone we can count on.  Jesus is that friend.  He wants to be our friend.

Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

This whole passage tells us not to worry:  Matthew 6:25-34

You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. John 15: 14

I found a few quotes about worry that I would like to share:

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.  

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. Mahatma Gandhi

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

(Okay, all of you Okies that are still out of school, work, the house, etc.....

from last weeks blizzard, please forgive me for this post :).

Photography Graphics

I just looked at the forecast for Tipton, Oklahoma, tomorrow night.  It's 100% chance for "wintry mix" tomorrow night and 60% chance for snow on Wednesday.  I am so, so excited!  In fact, I say, "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Last week we received quite a bit of snow, the kids missed a few days of school, and we had heat, water, and electricity.....oh, and Paula Deen's recipe for Snow Ice Cream.  It was great!  We had a lot of fun!  But now, we're expecting even more snow in the next few days - something that is soooo rare for this part of Oklahoma.

Now, about my excitement.  Several years ago, it was predicted for our area to get 10 - 12 inches of snow.  I haven't seen that much snow (except in Colorado) since I was a kid.  In fact, I'm not sure I really ever did as a kid - maybe I was just little and it seemed like that much.  Well, anyway, I watched the radars online for DAYS waiting for that system to move in.  The night it was coming I stayed up into the wee hours of the night/next morning watching and waiting....so excited like a child the day before his/her birthday or Christmas!  Finally I made myself go to bed - knowing that when I woke up I would see 10 - 12 inches of beautiful white snow.  I couldn't wait to wake up the kids and let them see the blanket of white.

The next morning I woke up, put on my glasses and rushed to the window.  Guess what I saw?  Just a slight dusting of white all over our dead grass yard.  I was sooooo disappointed!  The snow had missed us!  It had gone north of us and we missed all but a tiny bit of that system.

Last week, when all of the weather predictions were coming in, I made myself stay calm.  If I would start to get all anxious and excited, I would think back to that disappointing time from a few years before.  But, to my surprise and great satisfaction, when we awoke last Tuesday morning, there was snow - and quite a bit of snow!  The first time I was anxious and it didn't happen.  The next time I wasn't anxious and it did happen. 

Is God trying to teach me a lesson????? 

Can I learn anything from these two extremes????

When I look at the radars and weather sites right now, it's really, really hard for me to not get overly excited and anxious about the possibility of lots of snow.  It's really hard for me to not be excited for the kids to maybe miss school Wednesday and we get to cook and play games and play in the snow all day.

But, when I think of God and His promises and His plan and His will for my life, I MUST remain calm. 

I MUSTN'T be anxious or worried about this possible snow, or no snow, or anything else for that matter.  When we're anxious, we're not putting our trust in God.  A harsh, but true fact.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

So, I say, "Let it snow!" but should add to that, "if it is your will, God."

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful to God for calming my anxious thoughts, for leading me in the way, if I'll submit to Him, and for His patience with me in all of these things.  To see what others are grateful for, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Calm My Anxious Heart

Do you ever have one of those days when everything seems to be caving in on you?  Do you ever get the feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control?  I do.....and I did.....this morning.

After the kiddos were off to school and my husband went to work, I began working on several things that are needing to be done this week:  Planning an elementary Christmas party, which includes baking cookies for all of the students, making ornament craft kits and hot chocolate kits, getting games and other supplies ready for the party, elementary Christmas program, packing for a trip, finishing up Christmas gifts, ordering some things online, wrapping gifts, and Christmas parties and a family Christmas get-together.  In addition, my dad (who I wrote about in yesterday's post) was supposed to get to go home from the hospital, didn't get the okay to go home (later on he did, thankfully).  And, on top of that, something I had ordered and was looking forward to giving as a gift was broken and I didn't have the time to get a replacement.  I was feeling way, way, way out of control.

Quickly, I decided to do something that's out of character for me.  It's something I try to work on, but something that doesn't come naturally for my personality.  I asked for help.  (Aren't you proud of me???  Me, too!!)  Facebook is a great way to request help on projects.  I quickly had a few volunteers to help me with some of the elementary party needs.  I called another friend and begged asked her to help me make the cookies for the event. My anxious heart calmed a little bit, but only a little bit.  I still felt overwhelmed.

A little while later, as I was getting ready, the overwhelming feeling continued and worsenedd a little bit.  I don't get stressed often and I don't like the feeling at all.  At that moment I did what I should have done in the very beginning....a few hours earlier.  I prayed for God's spirit to calm my spirit.  I prayed for Him to calm my anxious heart.  And you know what?  He did.  Yes, He did!!  And then I wonder, "Why wasn't that the first thing I did?"  When I was feeling out of control, it was because I was actually trying to control everything.  When I asked for help from God, I was giving Him control.  That's what I should have done in the beginning!

Just as it's hard for me to ask for help from others, it's often hard for me to think to pray for God's help in times like these.  I naturally think to pray when someone is sick or for those in need, but I have to admit that I don't always think to pray for myself and my emotions.  It's that independent, self-reliant streak I have that gets in the way of relying on Him.

Today God showed me (yet again) that He will do just what He promised He will do. He will give us the strength we need when we ask Him.  He will give us the help we need when we ask Him.  He will calm our anxious hearts when we ask Him.....if we'll just ask Him and then let Him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful to God for calming my anxious heart! To find out what others are grateful for, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

The Chronicles of Biscuit - "I Think I've Got the Weasels"

It sounds pretty serious.  Maybe I should call the doctor in the morning.  Biscuit is very concerned because he thinks he's got the "weasels".   He informed me of his problem right before bedtime tonight.  He first said his tummy hurt, then said, "I think I've got the weasels".  I asked him why he thought that and he said it was because he wasn't breathing very good.

Never mind the fact that Biscuit's got asthma and is on three different medications for that breathing problem.  The weasels are serious business!  Biscuit informed me that his teacher talked to the students today about the weasels and how it can make you not breath good.  So, naturally, that's what he assumes he has now.  (I'm assuming she talked to them about the measels.  I think there has been an outbreak in New York maybe??)

As human beings we get ourselves all worked up and worried over many different things.  Some of those things may really be important, but many are not.  Statitistics show that 40% of the things we worry about never happen (like Biscuit with his "weasels" - not going to happen, I'm certain.)  90% of the things we worry about we have no control over anyway. So, we're not doing any good by worrying, are we?  No.  Not at all.  In fact, in the Bible we are commanded to NOT worry.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34a

So, what are you worried about?  Are you worried about something that may never happen?  Are you worried about the future?  The past?  Or about what is going on in your life right now?  (Or are you, like Biscuit, are you worried you have the "weasels"?????)

Give your worries to God.  Let them go.  God can handle everything.  He'll take care of you.

Read Matthew 6:28-37.