I have NO idea......

Being a person who likes to solve problems, I have a difficult time admitting I don't know the answer. I am relatively good at framing Google searches to find an answer if I don't know. I like to share information I discover (probably sometimes TOO much). In the age of technology, there is SO much to discover. Add to that my procrastination problem, and I can end up in a real mess.

When problems (opportunities) arise, I am quicker than I would like to worry. Even though I have watched and experienced God work in my life and the lives of those I love, sometimes worry is my first line of defense. Worry does not solve the problem. Often it makes finding an answer take longer.

So today, the phrase "I have no idea" started rolling around in my brain. I think this is more than "I don't know". An I don't know indicates that there is an answer to be found....if not today, in the near future.

"I have no idea" indicates there may not be an answer. However, sometimes my heart can overrule my logical mind. When I acknowledge that I have no idea how to handle an issue, I give God the opportunity to give me ideas. Usually those solutions, are ones that pop in my head after I feel I've tried everything else.

Now to only remember to 'fess up earlier. I might be able to save some time by just realizing I may have NO idea, but God does.

 Job 36: 22-25 (MSSG) 

 “Do you have any idea how powerful God is? Have you ever heard of a teacher like him?
Has anyone ever had to tell him what to do, or correct him, saying, ‘You did that all wrong!’?
Remember, then, to praise his workmanship, which is so often celebrated in song.
Everybody sees it; nobody is too far away to see it.

1 John 3:1 (MSSG)
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Worrier......to Warrior

Luke 21:13-15 (NIV) 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

<sup>The Bible mentions many times that we are not to worry. I hate to admit it, but I still do. Maybe not as much as I used to, but still more than I'd like. It is a constant struggle as negative thoughts try to crowd in. I have wasted LOTS of time and energy on worries that usually have not happened. The media is set up to help us worry so I have tried to limit my exposure. I'm aware of where the world is eventually heading.

I had a thought recently. It is time to fight back against the worries. Become a warrior using prayer as our weapon. There have been times I have felt like giving up. I always remind other people to keep fighting the good fight. Time to take my own advice!
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV) 11</sup> But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Pray....don't worry

Philippians 4:6-7 ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

I have been thinking about how much time I spend worrying....usually about things that don't/won't happen OR not the way I imagine anyway. SO why am I wasting my time? I usually try everything I can think of....and when that doesn't work, I pray. The verses above remind me to not worry about anything, but pray about everything.

Switching it around a little.... Pray about everything and don't worry about anything.

Now to put it into practice. The next time the worry monster shows up, I'm scaring it away by praying. How many days does it take to start a new habit? Worrying is a bad habit that can be broken.

I will pray instead of worry today. Say it with me.....

God is there....and He cares about even the little details!

“The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”- Psalm 25:14-15 (NIV)

Wow, did I need that today (it was the Biblegateway.com verse of the day). I SO love God's timing. It is so much better than mine.

One of my struggles with keeping busy is because I feel like if I get quiet, God starts to deal with my mind and heart....which is truly a good thing, but it's still kind of scary. The first part of this verse deals with that. He WANTS to confide in us during those times. So instead of pushing away, we should pull closer. It's during those times of quiet that we're able to seek and find God.

Lately, I've felt myself slipping back toward not feeling like myself. I hate the feeling of falling back into that hole where it's hard to see the light. However, during those times I realize I have not been keeping my eyes on God so he can release "my feet from the snare".

When I do something I consider dumb, I replay it in my head over and over....what a waste of precious time. God forgives me, why am I so hard on myself? I suppose if I keep my eyes on God, I wouldn't have to replay it. My lesson learned for today.

Give yourself a break. God's up all night anyway and he is MORE THAN capable of handling our worries and concerns...and there will be more things tomorrow to worry about anyway.

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So in shampoo terms: Let Go, Let God, repeat

OR in math terms: God > me

March on to Spring! Birds and do not worry....

Psalm 104:12 (NIV)
The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.

Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)
Do Not Worry
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 important than food, and the body more important 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 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Wow, it's March already! I am SO looking forward to Spring! I've been seeing and hearing glimpses of its approach. Some green grass is peeking through the melted back snow. Our sump pump is running approx. every 1 1/2 minutes! AND I heard birds the last couple of days.

I looked up some verses past Genesis (where birds of the air are mentioned a lot) and found the above verses. I like Psalm 104, but Matthew 6 goes beyond the birds and tells us not to worry. I figured that's a good reminder too. If God keeps the birds safe, we are even more valuable. So why do I worry so much when God's got it covered? No need to answer...I'm sure I'm not the only one who worries about stuff that never ends up happening. What a waste of time and energy! Now to remember that in the midst of crisis and chaos. (How's that for the name of a blog...or a book...Crisis and Chaos) :)

One quote I have always liked goes something like: Worry is like a rocking chair, it keeps you busy but it doesn't get you anywhere.

I tried to look up who said the above and found it credited to a couple of different people...and worded slightly different each time. The following site had some other great quotes about worry.

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/worry_is_like_a_rocking_chair-it_gives_you/8795.html

I looked up worry at webster.com and found: to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort similar words were: torment and struggle. That certainly puts worry more in perspective!

So a prayer when feeling overwhelmed or struggling:
God,
You know me better than I know myself. Help me to put my attention and effort toward things that can make a difference in my life and for others. When worry starts to make me frustrated, remind me that you have the situation handled even when it is not in the time I wish or the answer I expect. Help me to not feel like I need to do everything on my own or perfectly. Thank you for caring about all the little details in my life.
Amen