Yesterday, I took a mile long walk in the woods from a campsite to the lodge at Diamond Lake, Oregon...it wound in and out of the woods, near the sparkling lake...a slight breeze kept the air pleasant...but the smell of the woods, the pines, the tiny wild strawberry plants blooming in profusion, the multitude of other wild flowers was so refreshing....it brought back so many memorable times we had camped as a family, both when i was child and later pre-children. and with children....such fun times...
It also brought back those bucket list items that my husband and I talked about of "when we retire... Let's do this"....another expectation dashed with the death of a spouse....or is it? When one spouse passes away, we who are left have the chance to re-evaluate those bucket lists again and again..what do we who are left really want to do? What are we capable of doing? Do we want to do it on our own? Take a grandchild? Take a friend? Whatever ....
Then I opened this devotional this morning...and that was exactly how I felt walking in the woods-cocooned by God...I wasn't worrying, I just felt comforted by the smells, the experience, the memories...by Him...and all that He has for me and those around me...
Thank YOU for the walks in the woods, in life, the places You take me...the bucket lists of expectations that You allow or not...
Jesus Calling---June 7
I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend to accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it. In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it… But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
—Luke 12:22–31
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend to accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it. In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it… But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
—Luke 12:22–31
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
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