Corona

7 Rules of Life

/ kstrick7 / Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but I am always up for some encouragement. Paul, with Total Safety Services, sent a email, to all his subscribers, with the 7 Rules of Life lessons. I am in that group. Thanks Paul, for this great list of rules, to remind us to take inventory of how we are handling life.

Here are the list of rules, that I have added scriptures to (and maybe a few other words):

  1. Let it go. Never ruin a good day by thinking about a bad day in the past. Brethren, I do not count myself to have [d]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV)
  2. Ignore them. Don’t listen to negative people. Live a life that’s empowering to you. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
  3. Give it time. Time heals everything. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (I Peter 5:6 NKJV)
  4. Don’t compare. The only person you should try to beat is the person you were yesterday. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12 NKJV)
  5. Stay calm. It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Know that in time, you will get there. I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. (Psalms 40:1 NKJV)
  6. It’s on you. Only you are in charge of your happiness. You are president & CEO of your life. If things aren’t working out, look inward, then upward. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
  7. Smile. Life is short. Enjoy it while you have it. whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  (James 4:14 NKJV)

Y’all. That thing you have been so worried about & stressed about? God is working on it. The Lord works behind the scenes for us all the time. Ain’t you glad we serve a Savior like that? I know I am.

Thank you for stopping by to visit. We have certainly been hunkered down since the mean, stupid Covid continues to hang around. I hope you & your loved ones are staying safe as possible. And by the way, Covid, if you are reading this, you are not welcome here. Go away & take all your drama with you. I have been praying for you. But you better count yourself lucky, let me just tell you, if my Mama Boyce were here, she’d get a switch to you.  Until next time, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: wishesmsg.com, jengkie.tumblr.com, bibleversestag.com

Prayer & the Corona

/ kstrick7 / Leave a comment

The other day, one of my co-workers asked me,

“Have you been praying more here lately?”

It took me a minute to think of what they meant.

HELLO! The Corona virus, Covid-19, the 2020 Pandemic, the only thing you hear anything about these days…. I answered them with, “Not really. I pray a lot anyways.” Then, I got to thinking, I wonder why I’m not praying more than usual? Because, here are the facts:

We have a disease that’s hit our country, that there is no cure.
It has no partiality, when it comes to who gets it.
Some people are dying.
We are encouraged to stay home & not be around anyone.
The governor, of our blessed state of Mississippi, is slowly but surely opening back up our state. (not that it really matters, because people haven’t stayed out of the local Walmarts AT. ALL.)

So, I guess there’s some things, needing our attention, when talking to God. It’s not that I’m not concerned about where our communities & nation are going. Because here are some facts, as well:

We have a mighty, mighty God.

God is faithful

God will provide a way.

God will take care of us. He always has. 

At the end of the day, God is in control.

Since we aren’t having church services at our church building, me and my house have Bible study at home. Here are some verses that we have found very comforting.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

Romans 5:1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.(NKJV)

John 14:1-6
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

 

Anyone that was ever in my Daddy’s Bible class, was required to memorize John 14:1-6. I am so glad he had us do that. It is so comforting to be able to lay in bed at night, in the moments before I go to sleep, and have those words go through my head. Just one of the umpteen things my Daddy did right in this ‘ol world. He instilled the Word of God in our minds and hearts. I am so thankful for a preaching Daddy & a praying Mama. He knew committing scripture to mind was just one of the ways to find peace in this uncertain world.

I hope you are having a blessed week. Even through the nonsense, sickness, & crazy, the Lord is still there for us. The weather is finally warming up & low & behold, we have even turned the air conditioner on.  Then, we had to turn it back off because it was 41 degrees. (Help us, O Lord) We are going through phases, in opening up our state, but, I can’t say I will ever step foot back in a grocery store again. Grocery delivery has found me & I just may not let it go. Because, well, it makes me feel delighted. And couldn’t we all use a little more delightfulness in our lives? Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: Pinterest, www.challies.com

Can the world get any crazier

/ kstrick7 / Leave a comment

What a crazy world we are living in right now. Never in my wildest imagination would I believe in 2020, I would be running around with gray hair, BECAUSE I HAD TO. Or that toilet paper, of all things, would be such a hot commodity. I mean, y’all, why are people not cleaning the grocery store shelves off down the FOOD aisles? I mean if I had my rathers, I would rather eat than anything else. But y’all, I can’t say I have been that upset with all of this. I mean, I am having my groceries delivered, to my house, & going to church in my pajamas. Miss Neenee is home from school. We are not having to run here & yon. And let me tell you, she is cooking for me & her daddy, just like she was our own personal chef. This is what dreams are made of. When our sweet governor took us off of “Shelter In Place”, I made the announcement at home, “That don’t mean us. We are staying right here.” I am delighted to say there were no hissy fits pitched because, let’s face it. We are homebodies.

However, there may be some that are seriously having lots of stress & anxiety from all of the changes the Corona virus has brought about. I read an article that said, “We are all going through the same storm, but not all of us are in the same boat.” How true this is. Some people may have fret, worry, and anxious feelings in their boat. Some people may have the actual sickness in their boat. You just never know. So, how do you deal with these feelings during this uncertain times? Jesus has the answer.

 

Matthew 11:28-29

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NKJV)

The apostle Paul said in

Philippians 4:7-8

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

I know this all can be easier said than done, but hear me out. This is a process. You don’t just arrive at feeling peace in your soul. It is something you have to work on

Each. And. Every. Day.

With everywhere you turn, being unsettling & disturbing news, it can be hard to keep your mind in a state of peace. However, this is something you have to practice. You have to live a life according to God, pray, be faithful, have faith, & trust God to sort it all out. The problems we are facing today, are much too big for me & you to handle. But with the Lord, we can keep some sense of sanity. He promises us He will not lead us out so far & leave us.

I Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

He didn’t say He wouldn’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we wanted, but what we are able to bear. Daddy used to say if God gave you a lot of troubles, that means He thinks a lot of you. I would say,

“Well, sometimes I wish God didn’t think so much of me.”

We would laugh about whatever I was going to him for advice on. He would say something like,

“Worrying about it ain’t gonna do a frazzlin’ thing, but put you in such a shape to where you can’t do nothing for nobody. So, trust God.”

I always thought, “Trust God.” It’s just that simple, huh? But you know, once I started praying, studying my Bible & put my faith in the Lord, it all came about. The peace, the comfort, the calm. It takes humility (which I need a lot more of) & the realization that you can’t control it all, no matter what. The other day, I read on my Bible app., that during the past 6 weeks, the people who run the app, saw God moving in amazing ways. They saw the largest increase, ever, of people searching the scriptures for hope & peace. They saw more than 1.6 million prayers added to the site. People are reaching out & searching. And they are finding it. You can find it, too. All you have to do is open your Bible. Then, you can find that peace that passes all understanding. And man, let me tell you. There’s nothing like it.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. It’s been a minute, since I’ve been here. Things have really changed in my life, the last year. My Daddy passed away last April. It’s been a long year, to say the least. And too, Miss Neenee turned 16 & started driving. I have a lot more gray hair & now have 7 grandbabies.. That about sums it up. I hope you will decide to come back sometime. As for me, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Photo credits: Pinterest