Heart Choices: In Other Words Tuesday -->

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In Other Words Tuesday





Today, I'm participating in the meme In Other Words Tuesday. Patricia is hosting this week on her blog Typing One-Handed. You can link there to find other participating blogs.


Here's this week's quote:


"What would happen if we stopped lamenting about the fifty things we can't control and focused our attention on the fifty thousand things we can control? What would happen if we stopped whining about things we have the power to change and finally took charge of our lives and changed them? What would happen if we stopped borrowing sorrow from tomorrow? If we got in the habit of asking ourselves, "What's on my plate today?"
...From Chocolatherapy: Satisfying the Deepest Cravings of Your Inner Chick by Karen Scalf Linamen



This is a good quote for me to ponder. You see, I have a habit of worrying about tomorrow. I hate to admit this and I'm working on it. My mom was a worrier. Now, I'm not blaming her because I know I'm responsible for how I choose to respond to situations. But my first instinct is to worry.


One of my good friends always reminds me that most of the things we worry about ...never happen. And then you've wasted worry time on something that never even happens.


In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus goes into detail about how we are not to worry. After all, He provides food for the birds. And how much more valuable are we? Worrying doesn't add a day to my life.


Verse 34 ends with "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own."

That's a good lesson for me. I know this in my head. It's just a long way from my head to my heart. And that's where it needs to go for me to apply it.


As I think about the quote from Chocolatherapy, I realize that there's much in the world that I want to see changed. I can get upset about issues but do nothing to change them.


I'm not in control of other people's actions but I am in control of my own. And that's a start.


What can I do?


I may not be able to end world hunger ...but I can sponsor a World Vision child.

I may not be able to stop abortion ...but I can vote for candidates who are pro-life.

I may not be able to stop the increasing violence and sex on television ...but I can choose to turn these shows off in my home.


I may not be able to end heart disease ...but I can eat healthy and exercise to prevent my family history from continuing with me.

I may not be able to change another person's heart to love Jesus ...but I can pray for my friends who don't know Him and share His love with them.

I guess there are many ways I can make a difference. And when I make the choice to focus on something I can do to change my life, I'm less inclined to worry about tomorrow.

How about you? Are you a worrier? Are there issues in your life that you could stop whining about and ...start changing?

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Debbie Petras
17 Comments
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17 comments:

  1. Oh, good words! That worry is a nasty thing isn't it? I Liked your list of things you CAN do.
    Thanks for visiting my blog today too..

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm a worrier at heart too so I can never hear enough of this kind of encouragement. However, I would say the numbers in the quote you used are reversed in real life. I think there is more we can't control than what we can but when we take charge of those few things we can control it can have a positive impact in our lives and others.

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  3. Debbie, I love this! Your practical suggestions are so important. We can't just tell someone not to worry. We must share positive steps to live in faith!

    I'm sorry about the linking issues. I put the following at the top of my post for today. Please go back and link up.

    Note for participants: Mr. Linky is a funny little guy this week! If you are unable to see where to add your blog, click on the comments section at the end: There are 2 links that say comments...use the first one. At the bottom of the other comments is the form.

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  4. Hello fellow worrier,

    Isn't it great that we have each other to encourage to a better way of living.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Debbie,

    Your post is beautiful and I appreciate your honesty. Because most people are natural born worriers. Its not just you. God has 365 fear nots in the bible. He knew we would worry and so does the enemy. The enemy wants our minds focused on the things we can't control - past/future. Two biggest prescription drugs...no coincidence.

    God wants us right where we are - trusting that HE will provide the good in our lives and fulfill His promises - as we patiently wait with faith we will inherit it all.

    Thank you for all the encouraging comments and love you have shown to our family! We appreciate you and truly hope to meet you IN PERSON this side of heaven!

    Love,
    Jill

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  6. Great post! I loved how you wrote what we can do about the issues so close to our hearts.

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  7. Debbie,

    What a great way to turn your worry into Kingdom glory. Loved your post, my friend.

    Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yep, and amen! We're worriers, 'cause that's what sinners do. There's a reason Jesus was always saying "Fear not". So we take the faith (little or big) God gives and trust Him and invest the "talents" He's given us - our time, money, energy, abilities, whatever the faith He gives us enables us to do and do them, and entrust the outcome to Him. Blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have that habit. I think of something terrible that could happen in the future, then I dread it for on and on and on. When in reality, there is a small chance it will happen, and an even smaller chance that it will turn out badly. Probably once we can let go of those kinds of worries, our lives will be much easier, and we can focus our energy on things we can do something about.

    ~ Kristi

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  10. "...Each day has enough trouble of its own."

    So true. Let the day worry about itself; you have more important things to do. I like that.

    Jackie

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  11. I am so glad you shared today. I appreciate your insights and honesty. I so loved your suggestions! :)

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  12. As a former extreme worrier, I am SO much more at peace and joy filled when I focus on living today. Loving those around me. Looking at nature. Listening to His still small voice. Resting. Playing. Just being. Not striving. Enjoying the gift of the "present."

    Loved your thought provoking post about ways to do something small instead of worrying.

    :)
    Love in Christ,

    Tiffany

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  13. The power of one. I think sometimes in our daily routines we forget how much power we have. Thanks for reminding us ;)

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  14. Debbie, this is an excellent post, God is teaching me to live one day at a time and depend on Him for all that I need and to be patient for my timing is not His. Thank you for that encouraging post my friend.
    I have started something new. please check it out
    http://lisap.lifemax.net

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  15. What a great reminder to avoid WORRY. I don't think I'm much of a worrier though I do the "what if's" a lot. Is cautious a sin? LOL If so, I'm nailed.

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  16. those are really wonderful solutions:) I'm not a worrier person and I never even recognize it until I met a friend whose a worrier. She considers herself overbearing. I can understand her frustrations but I didn't realize I don't worry much about the things I've no control of...guess, it was so natural for me but I had a hard time breaking the pattern of too much in control of everything(that I can control), I can't keep up rules and I will do most things my own way and if it doesn't happen as what I hoped it would be... that's where I'm lost... somehow along my journey God taught me to be pliant and it was so tough... and still learning:)

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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