anxious...anxious...anxious....worried...scared....anxious...PEACE

I awoke this morning at 3am filled with fear, worry and on the edge of panic.

Yesterday afternoon was amazing. Dan's family blessed us with an Outback gift card and we went to celebrate five years of sobriety and enjoy a great meal. It was fantastic and what made it even better is Penny had a great time. Our server was amazing and we tipped him more than 20% because he was truly great. We came home and started working on cleaning out the office which will become the new baby's room.

I woke up this morning in the grips of panic...how are we going to do this? How can we afford this child? It was overwhelming. I crawled out of bed and got on my knees and prayed every fear and worry scripture I could think of....Cast your anxieties on Him because he cares for you...Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in this world....Look at the lilies of the field...
And I found myself counteracting their power.
'Well, the lilies of field didn't have to put diapers and feed their kids.' I thought. Ugh. I was stuck. Stuck in my worry. My anxiety. Stuck.
I started to remind myself of how God has provided for us. How I was worried about Penny and how God provided. I began to pray for peace and wisdom and reminding myself that God will bless me with these if I allow them in my heart. I need to "Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart...(since I was)...called to peace"
So, I got up, came in the office and brought my Bible and remembered my pregnancy verse.

Mark 5:36   "Don't be afraid; Just believe."

I need to just believe. Remember the miracles that my family has been blessed with. Remember who's I am and He has provided for our needs. This child is His, we are His. He will make a way.

Eat the burrito and be encouraged...

This will be a wild ride so please stick with me...

This week, I was reminded of the importance of communion. What it means. Why its important. I was asked the question, "What does communion mean?" My mind is literal and feeling the pressure to give the perfect answer I thought of what the dictionary might say. My answer was something like, "Fellowship. Breaking bread. Coming together" Needless to say, I was embarrassed because I missed the question. I was so wrapped up into not looking dumb I my pride clogged my ears. "What does communion mean to you?" However, the discussion that happened was amazing. The importance of remembering the sacrifice our Lord made for us which led to another eye and mind opening discussion. Needless to say, my struggles with perfection got the best of me and I felt dumb and disappointed. (I harbor these feelings often...I am working on it :) )

Then God encouraged me...

I was reading through Acts and I got to my favorite part...The Shipwreck! I love this part of Acts because it has a bunch of amazing miracles in it but it also precedes even more amazing miracles!

So let me recap this for ya...

Paul is arrested and on his way to Rome after appealing to Cesar, (which he could have been free if he hadn't appealed, but did and God told him he was going to Rome which is even cooler but this is a whole 'nother story that is awesome) and while on the ship they hit a storm (which Paul warned them about). This storm is crazy scary because it says they couldn't see the stars and I am sure people were freaking out. It was so bad they could not secure the lifeboats. They are chucking things over the side dropping anchors and as I read it, I feel mass panic. Paul shares that God sent him and angel who tells them that because he must stand before Cesar, their lives will be spared. But they still must have been scared. After 14 days they are trying to abandon ship and Paul tells them they need to stay on. Yet, in the midst of this crazy storm, Paul says and does this...

...“For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 

Acts 27:33-36

They were encouraged. 

This morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks. 

Mercy is a little girl who is very sick. Scary sick. And her family is going through a storm with her sickness. A friend of theirs set up a fundraiser for their medical bills through Chipotle (the one by St. Rose in Henderson ) this Tuesday. In my prayer time this morning, God reminded me of this story. "...he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves."

I think that is what the fundraiser is really about. Us coming together, giving thanks and breaking bread (or burritos) together to eat and encourage. Encourage a family who does so much for God's kingdom. Who may have encouraged us in a hard time or two. Who love God with all their hearts and are praying for a healing. But also to encourage us. Us who have been praying for them and with them. Who love Mercy. Who want to see a miracle in a huge way.

So you  may not know them. That's ok. Come. Meet them.  Encourage. You might find encouragement as well. Print out the picture and bring it with you between 3pm and 8pm on Tuesday, August 9th. Enjoy a burrito and bless a family.