Sweet to the Soul

May encouraging words flow from our lips,
the aftertaste sweet to the soul,
not bitter words, that sour and spoil,
their destruction taking its toll.
So what shall we choose, sour or sweet?
Each day brings a new opportunity,
choosing the sweet will always be wise,
bringing life, peacefulness, and unity.

                                                                                 ~ Doris Swift

May we always choose words sweet to the soul.

Peace Beyond a Biscuit

What thoughts deluge your mind in the quiet of night and stillness of morning?

For years, my daily routine brought stress and anxiety. I’d stay up late, hoping exhaustion would override the to-do, didn’t-do, should’ve done lists waiting to flood my thoughts as my head hit the pillow.

Upon waking, another rush. It wasn’t necessarily unpleasant occurrences or circumstances, just everyday challenges of a working wife and mom, with bills and responsibilities too numerous to count.

You know that silly Jimmy Dean sausage commercial with the guy dressed as the sun? The familiar tune plays (dum, dadum, dadumdum) as he scolds listless planets for skipping a good breakfast. The planets eat a sausage biscuit, and suddenly revival takes place; a rotation dance ensues around the sun, and all is as it should be.

I thought, gee, I wish that was my job; rise in the morning, bring warmth and light, feed ’em all sausage and life is good.

Of course, although quite yummy, we know sausage biscuits won’t rid us of pesky, troublesome, and at times overwhelming thoughts.

It seems every negative and glass-half-empty circumstance in our life hits us hardest in the quiet of night, and the first light of morning.

These critical times of day and night can be gravely effected by these thoughts. When they come at night, sleep is robbed. When they come in the morning, joy of the day is robbed.

Would we allow someone to rob our home by intentionally leaving the door unlocked?

Too often, we allow the enemy of our soul free-reign of our thoughts. He can read our thoughts, but he doesn’t have to since we practically tell him. We leave the door unlocked, or worse yet, wide-open and vulnerable to his cunning attacks upon our mind.

As difficult as it is to ward off thoughts of troublesome circumstances in our lives, we can choose to replace them with blessing-thoughts. Surrendering our concerns and circumstances to God frees us from the impossible task of trying to fix everything we were never meant to fix in the first place.

This takes practice and discipline, but most of all, it takes a God-focused life. It takes God.

Before bed, when those thoughts come to rob our much-needed sleep, remember what is true. Remember what is lovely. Remember what is just and good. When we wake, we remember them again.                       

Pray with the power He has given us in the Name of Jesus.

Allow worship songs to wash over thoughts, meditating on words of truth.

Recite favorite verses that renew our minds and remind us of who God is; that He is faithful; that He is good; that He has plans for us; that He knows our name and sees us, always.

Name every blessing, every good thing by name. Seen and unseen. What is good in your life? Resist the lie there is no good, and even if you can only think of one good thing, think of one good thing.

I once asked a group of women what threatened to steal their joy. One woman wrote “LIFE” all in caps. That spoke volumes.

When LIFE threatens to steal our joy and zap our strength, we must seek the Giver of LIFE whose joy is our strength.

Here are a few encouraging verses to write on your heart:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   Romans 12:2

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

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.  Philippians 4:8

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.    Isaiah 26:3

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.  Proverbs 3:24

…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? … Matthew 6:25-27

Breathe deeper. Love deeper. Seek deeper. Walk deeper.

A sausage biscuit can’t solve our problems, and the sun can’t fix our failures; but I know a Son who can. His warmth and light brings hope and life. Jesus.

What scriptures have you found particularly comforting in this season of your life? What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you through His words today?

Blessings and Peace In Him,

Doris

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Opposites Distract

Are you easily distracted?

I admit at times I am, and cringe in saying so. Why? The opposite of distracted is focused, and there’s a myth we buy into concerning focused people; they have it all together.

Here are a few common characteristics of the distracted. You might be distracted if you say things like: Now where was I? What did I walk in this room for? Sorry, what did you say? We have a cat?

Diversion;  distraction;  off-course; off-track; side-tracked. No matter what we call it, we allow it to  pull us away from our focus.

Scrolling for a pic I uploaded last week, I ran across this needle and thread in my repertoire of images. It diverted me and completely changed my direction.

I forgot all about the pic I was looking for.

I was distracted; or so I thought.

We could talk about avoiding distractions, or we could consider this:

What if these distractions are meant to pull us from our focus? Perhaps our focus is the distraction.

Scarlet thread embroiders a Name on my thoughts. A distraction transforms into divine focus; narrow as the needle’s eye:

Every moment, past, present, and future is part of the Master’s plan, hand-stitched together by One continuous, common thread. Jesus.

When distractions have you leaving cell phones in the fridge, mixing up the sugar and salt, and piling groceries into the wrong car, stop. Breathe. Focus. You have the mind of Christ. Allow His words to seep into your spirit, and quiet your soul.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:16

He is the thread that holds us together, not because we are focused, but because our focus is on Him.

Love Well and Be Blessed,

Doris

New King James Version (NKJV)                                                                                      The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.