Tag Archives: fear

Post-Election Blues

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I’m wearing my favorite fall shirt today. I need it as a reminder.

This week I have felt deep disappointment. I’ve felt let down by my country, my fellow Americans, some relatives and friends, and even some fellow Christians. Things didn’t go the way I’d hoped, and there is a measure of fear and uncertainty about the future. These are scary times we live in.

But today I got up and decided I’d better get back to counting my blessings.

The past few days I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Then I got to thinking about that saying-what if you woke up tomorrow with only what you were grateful for today?

I’d be in trouble!

My next thought was that this is not my permanent home. I’m just passing through.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

While I’m disappointed in what’s been happening, I can’t change it. The only way to go is forward, being thankful and continuing to look for ways to serve my God and neighbor.

Those are my thoughts for today. We do have so much to be thankful for. I’m going to do my best to keep everything in perspective, and I hope you will too.

Love, Carolyn

 

My Christmas Prayer

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Good morning, friends, and Merry Christmas! I woke up with these thoughts on my heart today and decided to write them down as a prayer.

Working in healthcare has been difficult. This whole year has been difficult for me. As we enter another phase of the pandemic, the future that once seemed clear has fogged over. Since circumstances aren’t likely to get better anytime soon, the only thing I can change is my mindset, and to remind myself I am not the one in control. It’s up to me to behave sensibly and with kindness. The rest is up to God.

Anyway, here is my prayer for today.

 My Christmas Prayer

Lord, forgive me for yet again losing focus of what Christmas is all about.
Thank you for coming to us as a baby, even being so humble as to be born in a stable.
Forgive me for caring too much about things that don’t last and fretting over giving the perfect gift.
Thank you for being the most perfect gift we could have ever received.
Forgive me where I’ve failed and help me to be a better reflection of you.
Thank you for being the true light of the world, worthy for the star of Bethlehem to shine upon.
Forgive me for being so fearful of death and allowing that fear to steal the joy of the life I have now.
Thank you for dying for me, for the suffering and agony, for being human so that you understand my fears.
Forgive me for not looking forward with more anticipation to the next life with you and clinging so tightly to that which I know.
Thank you for the promise of preparing a place for me, one far better than anything I have seen or heard.
Help me Lord, for I desperately need you, this Christmas day and always. I lift up my heart and soul to you.
Amen

Make it a wonderful day of worship and celebration!

Love,
Carolyn

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 143:8 (NKJV)
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

Thankfulness and Fear

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Today I feel thankful. Nothing unusual about that, as it’s Thanksgiving, leading most of us to reflect on our blessings.

But this year is different than any we have lived through. 2020 has been nothing short of bizarre.  With the pandemic of the coronavirus ever lurking around and the fear and uncertainty that surrounds it, it may be difficult to find that gratitude right now. Continue reading Thankfulness and Fear →

Am I Going To Die?

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“The good news is, you don’t have a kidney stone. The bad news is, the tumor on your left kidney has grown since your last cat scan three years ago. It looks like renal cell carcinoma.” Those words were spoken by the emergency room physician after I had testing for severe left-sided pain.

Wait. What? Nobody told me I had a tumor three years ago. “Doc, are you sure that report has my name on it and isn’t for someone else?” He assured me it was mine. Continue reading Am I Going To Die? →