Worry

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)


"Cast all your anxieties upon Jesus, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7


I love this quote by Spurgeon, and this scripture in James, which is most likely what inspired Spurgeon in the first place. I find it interesting that, for those who worry, worry turns into weary; it is exhausting. However, given time, trust in Jesus is physically and mentally empowering. I also find it interesting that for us, to worry or to trust is totally within our control. It is a decision we make.

Bitterness

“…we treat our wounds and grievances like pets. Whenever we can, we pull them out, pet them, show them off, caress them, and carry them with us. Our pets are never far away, always ready to sit on our laps, roll over and do tricks, and entertain our friends. Yes, we do all that with wounds and grievances over which we have long been angry. It’s an odd picture, but a true one.”

Bill Denton in Pulpit Helps, August 2006
"The Skeleton at the Feast."


The difference between a good pet and an old wound or grievance however, is the pet loves us and adds to our well being. An old wound or grievance is poison on the devil's serving tray. Maybe it's time we pass on that drink. It's true. When we hold on to a hurt, who exactly is it that we're hurting?

Worry

One is given strength to bear what happens to one, but not the 100 and 1 different things that might happen.

C. S. Lewis

Contentment

It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we are.

James Mackintosh

Joy

I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness, or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries, I am beholden to Jesus.

Malcolm Muggeridge

Truth

God, who prepares His work for the ages, accomplishes it by the feeblest instruments. It is the method of His providence to produce great results from inconsiderable means. The law which pervades the kingdom of nature is discerned in the history of mankind. Truth makes silent progress, like the water that trickles behind the rocks, and loosens them from the mountain on which they rest. Suddenly the hidden operation is revealed, and a single day suffices to lay bare the work of years, if not of ages.

John Lanahan

Parenting/Prayer

When I was a child we had a "five minute rule" in ourhouse. What it meant was that we were all to be readyfor school five minutes before we actually had toleave. We were a large family and that extra fiveminutes was prayer time for Mother and us children. The place was wherever Mother happened to be when wewere all ready to leave. Sometimes it was thekitchen, other times the living room or bedroom, oreven out on the porch. But we all kneeled whileMother asked a blessing on each of us individually andthanked the Lord for His provision for us. Often allof our names were spoken and some special blessingasked for each. If a neighborhood child dropped in towalk to school with us (and neighbors often did), theywere included in our prayer circle too. When theprayer was finished, there came a kiss for each, andwe were off. Those were Five Important Minutes toeach of us.

Adelaida Blanton

My mom used to have a similar practice. It wasn't all the time, but these memories are vivid in my mind. It would do any parent well to count such a habit ofprayer over their children a dear privilege.