Times are changing

March 30, 2020Blog, EncouragementAmerica, change, changing times, sailors, The Pilgrimdebio7 Leave a comment

Yesterday, in our area, we had a dearly beloved historical attraction and youth overnight field trip location SINK. Literally.

The tall ship – “The Pilgrim”, docked at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, began to keel starboard and take on water. By the next morning, it’s deck was totally below water, with only the masts and a part of the bow above water.

The Pilgrim is a replica of the 3-masted schooner that Richard Henry Dana sailed from Boston to California on in 1843 and upon which he wrote his diary, which became the book and movie “Two Years Before the Mast.

It was a popular overnight field trip site for over 400,000 fourth and fifth graders from throughout Southern California, as they “enjoyed” nights at sea, living the life of a sailor.

It was known to have a leak that was being “handled” and was scheduled for a full pull out, that had been postponed. It is considered a total loss now, and is being salvaged.

It’s been sad for our community, as we have now added the loss of the Pilgrim to everything else that’s going on these days.

Times are definitely changing.

It was Walt Whitman, who wrote the poem, “O Captain! My Captain!” in which he compared The United States to a ship. At the time of his writing, 1865, the US had just ended the Civil War and President Lincoln had just been assassinated.

During his days, times were also changing – drastically.

Through her long and rich history, the good ship – America, has weathered many storms. She has brought joy and fulfillment of dreams to millions of children and their families as she has carried them on their varied adventures.

She is worn but she is not weak. Her values are just, her purpose clear – life and liberty for all. She has taken hits, and may appear to keel, but her foundation is sure and secure. Her hull is not breached, her body resolute. She is not lost and is not sinking.

Her people, aboard her, within her lifelines and rails may be knocked by pounding waves and deadly tempests, yet they will sail through the squalls and they, aboard her will safely dock again in peaceful, quiet harbors.

Times are changing.

But America is strong and resilient because her people are, her foundations are. May we change as needed, where needed but not compromise who we are as Americans and the purpose for which we have been called – life and liberty for all.

Cheers to America!

Butterfly Effect

March 29, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspiration, Personal Growthchange, difficulties, fly free, grow, struggledebio7 2 Comments

Butterflies are such beautiful and delicate creatures that most of us have taken the time to enjoy their movement, colors and mannerisms. Their wings are massive compared to their bodies and don’t even need to be so big for them to fly. They can actually fly with a damaged or broken wing.

They don’t flap their wings either, like birds do. You know – up and down. Butterflies create a figure 8 pattern motion with their wings by constricting their bodies thus moving their wings and propelling them through the air.

Their large wings act like a rudder. The larger the rudder, the faster you can turn a ship. With butterflies, their large wings enable them to turn faster and thereby not become someone’s dinner.

But that’s not all, let’s not forget how butterflies start out… as catepillars, then cocoon, then butterfly!

As that caterpillar is in confinement in his cocoon, the time grows near for his emergence. But that will never happen without a struggle, without pain, without a difficult fight. Without that struggle his transformation is incomplete.

As he pushes through the small hole, his swollen body and small, shriveled wings rub and rub and rub on the cocoon, until his struggle is successful and he emerges, nearly at the point of exhaustion. His body has been resized and is no longer swollen and his wings are dried, strengthened and he is NOW ready to fly.

Without the struggle, he will never grow or fly! This whole process, by the way, takes 5-21 days. Hmmmm.

This struggle that we now face, is not unlike the butterfly’s story.

We have allowed ourselves to become “swollen”, filled with excesses, and accumulation of things. Our ability to spread our huge wings and fly over it all has not been sufficiently developed, partially because the difficulties and frictions of life have been few and manageable.

” As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.”

” Storms make trees take deeper roots.”

” All flowers grow through dirt.”

In this time of “struggle”/confinement – let’s embrace the rubbing, reduce the excess, enjoy the process, persevere, and emerge with gigantic wings to fly above all that is earthbound.

Resist the urge to flap up and down at the same old pattern of your life. Let your wings develop a new pattern of flight and find their strength in practicing this new way, while still in your seclusion. For soon, you will be free to fly and turn quickly in your new found life.

Who knows what “Butterfly Effect” you are destined to cause?

Cheers to you.

Advice from the Animal Kingdom

March 25, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspirationanimal advice, corona visus advice, humordebio7 2 Comments

(during the Coronavirus)

There are 7.77 million species of animals on the planet now and according to the Int’l Institute for Species Exploration 18,000 new species are discovered every year.

So I thought we could take a look at the Animal Kingdom and glean some advice from them and their “adaptations’.

Here’s some advice from:

The cow – with 4 stomachs and a special digestive system that allows it to chew things just enough to swallow, then bring it back up as cud, and chew it again. ADVICE: take time to digest all that’s happening these days but make something useful out of it. (milk)

Leeches – these segmented creatures have 32 brains and 102 segments. Within their internal structure of 32 sections, each section is controlled by a brain. ADVICE: Stupid leeches can’t do anything more than stick to something and suck the life out of it. Surely we can do better than they with our one brain!

Goblin shark – it’s mouth moves out of it’s body and moves independently ADVICE: Let’s not allow our mouth to be out of control and move independently of our brain.

Star nosed mole – looks like it has 3 sets of hands but its star shaped nose is 6x more sensitive than the human hand. ADVICE: Things aren’t always as they appear and sensitivity is required.

Tufted deer – it’s fangs are funny looking but this guy isn’t well studied because he lives at high altitudes of 4,500 meters/2.7 miles above sea level. ADVICE: live above it all. Keep your head up and feet on the rock.

Glass frog – green on the top but it’s belly is transparent, so it’s organs can be seen. ADVICE: staying transparent and revealing what’s inside us is vital among those we’re close to.

Japanese spider crab – grows to 40 lbs. and 13 ft. long at the bottom of the ocean. ADVICE: Although crab is yummy, let’s be careful what we allow to grow in our seclusion. Darkness breeds bad stuff sometimes.

Parrots – selflessly help each other out, regardless of previous relationship or friendship. ADVICE: Ummm… pretty clear. Be parrots. Help.

Slow lorises – the only venomous primates, they secrete a toxin from a gland in the creek of their arms. Their bite causes anaphylactic shock and can cause death in humans. ADVICE: Watch out for toxic people and deceiving hugs – they can do you harm.

Capuchin monkeys – wash their hands and feet with their urine, perhaps to attract the female. UCK!! ADVICE: Keep washing your hands.

Tasmanian devil – make friends for life and share their dens with friends ADVICE: be loyal and supportive in your relationships

the housefly – this pesty creature that annoys us so, actually flys around buzzing in the Key of F! For the non-musical, that means that they are actually buzzing music on pitch and in tune. ALWAYS! ADVICE: don’t let anything swat away your song. Keep singing!

We are all in this thing together. Let’s be wise, stay healthy, and take the advice from our fellow animalia.

Cheers to you.

It’s time for Spring cleaning

March 24, 2020Blog, Personal Growthclean, fresh start, repentdebio7 Leave a comment

Spring has arrived! Yay!

The weather is warming up, daylight is extended and energy has possibly increased.

Do you have your Spring cleaning hat on yet?

My husband just cleaned and reorganized under his bathroom sink. Does that count? I definately have areas that need attention. Our garage, although it fits both of our cars is packed. The drawer under my oven, which holds cookbooks, recipes, and placemats is crying for help.

I read several articles with lists, schedules and advice for Spring cleaning. Some were funny, others practical but all very serious about cleaning. They included where to start, why it’s important, and even a cheat sheet to clean like a pro. Cleaning is a serious business.

It really is the season to declutter, clean off excess, get into the hidden places and those places not routinely exposed.

I AM NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR HOUSEHOLD CLEANING. (Phew, right?!) But I would like to use it as a metaphor.

This is a season to declutter. What have we allowed to stack up, pile up in our minds? We don’t remove the stack, we just move it to another place and start a new pile of thoughts, worries, fears, woes. Then we go to another area in our life and allow things there to not be fully addressed, thus one more stack. It’s time to declutter our mind and thinking.

It’s time to think differently. Renew our mind. Pull down old beliefs. Dust off those cobwebs, and give our thinking a good cleaning. Get rid of those stacks of stale, old ideas, think differently about things.

It’s time to clean off excess. Not just the scuff marks from the walls, baseboards and doors, but those scuffs on our heart. Those marks that have been there a long time. Maybe over time they have faded, but they are still there. You know, those longtime grudges. Unforgiven conversations. Bitter memories. They are a black mark on our heart that need some scrubbing.

It’s time to get into the hidden places and those places not routinely exposed. What’s hidden in our closets, drawers and back shelves of our life that needs light, soap, polish, or to just be thrown out? What do we know we need to get rid of, stop doing, stop saying, stop watching, stop listening to – but don’t do it?

Where do we need to give ourselves a clean slate, fresh start, new beginning? Where do we need to open up, be real, expose the dirt, clean it, and move on?

See, if we consistently clean these areas in our thinking and lives one day at a time, we wouldn’t need Spring cleaning. Spring cleaning 365 days of the year is the best way to make that happen.

regarding where to start… “Start at the highest point in the room…”
Woman’sDay.com

Let’s start there… let’s look up. Let’s start at the highest point. With God. In whatever room, closet or drawer of our life we need to clean up, let’s start by asking for Higher help. Let’s allow His hands to wash us, clean us, heal us from all the scuff marks of life. Let him remove all the smudges, crustiness, dead things and dust us off real good, so we are sparkling inside and out and smelling oh, so fresh.

Declutter. Clean off excess. Get to those hidden places.

It’s time for Spring cleaning in our life.

Cheers to you.

PS – In the Bible, this is called “repentance”. For those that would like a Bible study on that subject, click on this link. It’s also on our Resources page.

repentance-1 Download

The importance of family

March 22, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Personal Growthdistancing, family, quarantine, stay closedebio7 Leave a comment

This week, these 2 concepts became a reality in our lives.

Right from the start, I had a real hard time accepting even the terms. My mind raced and emotions raged, “We are not meant to be isolated… we were not made to be at a distance from others…and God, you sent Jesus to close the distance between you and man and between man and his/her neighbor.” I was pretty outspoken about it to those close to me and God.

As it has played out in our life, our community, and our nation, two things have rung true in my heart and mind. I submit them to you.

#1 – There has never been a more important time in our nation for family connections. Family is the single most important influence in our life. Family connections contribute to happiness, mental wellness and physical health. It is well documented that when people feel better connected it leads to a greater degree of support and wholeness psychologically.

In a family, its members feel safe, protected and loved. In that family confidence develops. Emotions are given vent and accepted. Sharing is valued and needed. Love is modeled, shared, given and received. It is unconditional.

This is important for all families. No matter the makeup, structure, or members. No matter the ties that bind it together, ie: blood, marriage, ancestry, affiliation, beliefs, or house of residence.

NOW is the time for our families to be more connected than ever before. No matter how far apart we are spread, how isolated we must stay, or how strained those very family ties may be. Whether all of your family members are in one home, or strewn about the nation. You need them and they need you. Now more than ever.

#2 – Communication is key. I’m sure not one of us would argue the value of effective communication in our family. So not much needs to be said, except DO IT. Communicate with your family.

Be approachable when a loved one wants to talk( even tho’ you are busy.) Allow for all feelings, anger and frustration are delicate issues. Spontaneous or planned conversations, be ready and spearhead both. Remember, “small talk” leads to bigger, and deeper concerns of the heart.

Because your kids may be grown and living away does not change this important key. It is still vitally important, to you, to them. Be vigilant in texts, calls, emails, and all those other fun apps and ways of communicating. (My son just sent me a TikTok this week of he and his finace, it was so funny and uplifting.)

So let’s reinforce, strengthen, and in some cases, even renew those communication lines in our family. Now is the time. There’s nothing that’s more important than family.

In the midst of distancing and quarantine let’s reach out, close the gap, embrace those we love and reassure each one of our support, love and commitment to them, in whatever ways we can.

There’s nothing more important than family.

I would love it if you would send me a pic of your family. Email it to me at the link below. (Then I’d like to put them all on a page to share.)

mailto:underdebraspalm@gmail.com?subject=Website%20Enquiry

Let’s make our families even stronger in SPITE of social distancing!

Cheers to you (and your family).

The unexpected

March 19, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspirationaccidental, creativity, unexpecteddebio7 Leave a comment

The significance of surprises, coincidences and mistakes cannot be ignored or undervalued in our lives. They create opportunity to think creatively and solve problems. Fear and frustration constrict our brain from creating. So send those boogers on their way.

Today, I felt impressed to share with you some of my favorite, remarkable stories of things that didn’t go as expected but turned out pretty, darned good and even world changing. All are true stories and you will recognize the products and probably even use some of them.

A Russian chemist, who forgot to wash his hands upon returning home from work, picked up a dinner roll & took a bite. It was sweet. As was each item he ate. He realized what was happening chemically and SACCHARINE, the artificial-sweetener (Sweet N Low) was invented. (See, good things could come from not washing your hands)
A restaurant in Saratoga Springs had a very hard to please patron who 3 times sent back his thickly cut French style potatoes. The third time, the frustrated chef, George Crum, sliced the potatoes as thin as he could, over fried them and covered them in excessive salt. To his surprise, the patron loved them and ordered another round. The POTATOE CHIP was created. (Who knows what good can come of frustration)

Percy Spencer was testing a new vacuum tube when he noticed the chocolate bar in his pocket was melting….welcome to the world… the MICROWAVE.
Charles Goodyear, a struggling businessman had no commercially successful products and his family was starving. After throwing stuff in the air, he invented vulcanized rubber- RUBBER CAR TIRES.
Ruth Wakefied was baking cookies at her Inn on Toll House Road, when she ran out of bakers chocolate. She replaced it with pieces of a chocolate bar and hoped it would melt, but it did not. And boy are we glad they didn’t – Thanks to her, we have the #1 cookie, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES and Toll House Cookies. Yum!

QUININE, the malaria medicine was discovered by a sick Andean man drinking water at the foot of a Quina Quina tree.
Even VIAGRA was an unexpected discovery. It was intended to be a heart medication. It helped other things instead. 🙂
Finally, a walk in the mountains brings about unexpected events too. Enter George de Mestral and his dog, who upon returning home from a walk in the Alps noticed burrs stuck to his clothes and the dog. Looking closer, he saw seeds covered in small hooks. He didn’t realize it, but he was about to invent a revolutionary new fastening system called VELCRO.

“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that most heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but, “…that’s funny…”.
Sciencealert.com

Scientists have long said that “the best innovations come from the unexpected.“

Keep in mind that all of these inventions were unexpected and none of these accidental discoveries would have happened without the person realizing its value.

I believe, in this new day we are living, there is arising from the unexpected, opportunity. Opportunity for creative minds to think creative thoughts. Opportunity for needs that arise to be met with new and better solutions. Opportunity for long standing problems to be solved. Opportunity for old ways of education, shopping, selling, serving, to be improved.

Therefore, let us recognize the value of these unexpected times and allow our brains to be freed to create, discover and even fail.

Your experience just might lead to a wonderful new discovery. Really!

Cheers to you.

(Please drop me your thoughts, or comment below. I love reading them.)

On the lighter side

March 17, 2020Blog, Encouragementdo it, funny people, lighter side, new thingsdebio7 1 Comment

Now that we have some “time off”, to be “at home”, which is what we often complain about not having enough time for… now what?

I speak as one in the 65 and over group who is s’pose to stay inside and be isolated – I am being protected. And really, that is pretty much all of now, right?

I love the videos and posts from Mom’s who are pulling their hair out trying to manage their misbehaving kids and figure out what their teacher wants them to do while on “remote learning”. Or the businessman working from home with a newborn, and 3 other kids under the age of 8.

Each of us, whatever our situation or season of life are having to manage our days totally differently than we ever have. But hey, we are managing. Be honest.

But seriously, what do we do for 2 weeks? I offer these ideas:

Find those moments to JUST RELAX. You need it.
Maybe read that book you haven’t had time for
Go outside. Backyard, front porch, balcony. Observe closely what’s out there. Take it in. Enjoy it.
Go for a walk. Take notice of the small things. Stop and look closely at plants, clouds, lizards, a spider web.
Find out, research the answer to a question you’ve always wondered about
Read and study up on your favorite animal.
Try a new recipe.
Bake something different.
Call a friend or family member.
Check in on your neighbors.
Spend time in a quality conversation with your child (each of them)
Work in the garden? With your plants?
Try reading (a new) part of the Bible
and of course there is always cleaning, organizing, etc.

You have the time, use it. Do something wonderful with it. Something you normally would not do, or spend more time doing what you always wished you could.

This virus and it’s precautions may shut us in but they will NOT shut us down. Take advantage of the days. You never know what the future holds.

Find your peace and comfort and relieve stress in your way, doing what helps you.

We all have the same amount of time in a day. It’s up to us how we use it. Make the best of it. Enjoy it. Do something on the lighter side.

Cheers to you.

Results of prayer

March 16, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspiration, Personal Growthfaith, keep asking, limits, prayer, resultsdebio7 Leave a comment

It would be easy to say “Prayer changed (es) nothing”, or “I see no change”. We had a National Day of Prayer, so what? Big deal! No change.

Let’s be real. Your state has probably amped up it’s restrictions and guidelines. You most likely have family members and loved ones affected in some way. The places you frequent may be closed and your vacation plans are pending major change. Shoot, my son’s wedding, in Hawaii in May is in jeopardy! AND, this what we found at the store today!

But prayer is not an Amazon order. Place your order and have it delivered in one or two days.

The results of prayer are sometimes obvious and other times not. Sometimes immediate other times delayed. Additionally, the results of prayer are not always outcome driven, results orientated. They often have much more have to do with the process, development, personal growth and increase.

That process is most often linked to growing in faith and reliance upon Someone bigger than me, more powerful, trustworthy and really in charge. Because, even though I am driven to be in charge, I really am not. I do not control it all. I must therefore learn to yield my perceived “in charge” to the One who really is.

I believe we will see results, obvious ones, outcome driven ones as a result of the National Day of Prayer. I will share more about that in a moment.

In the “inbetween” time, what do we do?

“Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking.”
Matthew the disciple, chapter 7 verse 7

Again, prayer isn’t a one time shot – like the famed “hail Mary pass”. It’s a process of trusting in Someone bigger than myself and learning to lean on that strength and understanding. It is having faith in something I don’t see. (Like results). It’s trusting His process in and through me.

With all that being said, I do want to share a personal experience or result that came to me yesterday, on our prayer day.

I was impressed to go the beach and stand on the shoreline and pray. So, guess where I went? On the way, I was reminded of Job’s encounter with God in chapter 38, when God basically blasts Job for his know it all attitude and pelts Job with question after question about creation, nature, weather, and affairs of the man. It is in verse 10 & 11 where God says,

“… I fixed limits for the sea, I said this far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.”
Job 38:10-11

And in that moment, I knew, those words were God’s words to us. In this time. This season. His promise was, that just as the ocean has been appointed limits and boundaries set, so too this virus had set limits and boundaries. AND, as we unite in prayer, those boundaries could be affected and even reduced. Therefore, I was to pray at the beach, on the boundary where sea meets land, “This far and no farther o’ virus. You are under the control of the creator and His limits.”

So what happened? Did the virus miraculously dry up and die? Did it physically leave the bodies it had entered? Did those we lost because of it return to their families? Did the panic and fear disappear?

I dunno. I didn’t see those results. But what I did see (hear and read actually) was increased measures being taken to CONTAIN the virus. Calls for a 15 day containment plan/period. Calls to 65 and older community, to restaurants, movie theatres, libraries. All with the purpose of tightening the lasso on the virus. Enforcing it’s boundaries. Limiting exposure.

“This far and no farther.” Containment. No further infections.

This is again where that whole results thing comes in. I cannot control the results. But I trust and keep on asking the One who does control them. Stop this virus, reel it in, arrest it. I don’t stop or quit. The results are His, but in the process my own life benefits and I grow personally.

So, just maybe there are some pretty miraculous things growing in you, in our nation, in the world as a result of prayer. Let’s keep on asking and trusting Him for the results.

Cheers to you.

It’s time to pray

March 14, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspiration, Personal Growthpray, prayerdebio7 5 Comments

Several days ago, when the news about this virus was breaching our environments, and data was becoming increasingly alarming, I just couldn’t sit quiet any longer and decided to take action.

I called The White House, emailed them too, called Vice President Pence’s office, emailed him, emailed other offices in the White House with jurisdiction and told them “to call for a national day of prayer”. Then, I prayed in earnest, waiting, expecting to hear an announcement. Now I am positive I was not the only one making this request for a national day of prayer, but I am happy to say I was one voice.

AND IT HAPPENED! Last night, President Trump called for this Sunday to be A National Day of Prayer.

I’m not here to argue the President’s spiritual fervor because I believe with the office of the presidency comes authority delegated by a higher power – no matter who the president is. Given that, his declaration, to call for Americans of all faiths and all faith levels to rally in this National Emergency is fantastic and vital for our nation’s healing. (in every way)

YOUR prayer is vital, needed, important. All of our prayers united, are powerful! Where two or three agree in prayer there is power, healing, change, and answers.

Prayer changes things. It changes us, but it also changes things. We can come boldly to God and lift up whatever request is on our heart and He will hear us. (Heb. 4:16; Eph. 6:18; 1 John 5:14)

If we are anxious, sick or in trouble when we pray He hears us. (Phil. 4:6; Jas. 5:13)

If we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our evil ways, He has promised to HEAL OUR LAND! (2 Chron. 7:14) Boy, do we need that right now. Healing in so many areas. America needs healing.

I am convinced, as Americans join together in prayer that the tide will supernaturally shift and this super virus will be halted and America (and the globe) will be spared further devastation.

Please join us. No matter your faith or your level of faith. You can:

call out for healing in our land
ask for wisdom and divine strategies for the leaders in charge
plead for the spread of the virus to be arrested
pray for the nation to be strong and united
ask for healing of those who are ill and protections for those who are not
call for a healing of the economy and businesses
ask for minimal effects to businesses, and schools
pray for the healthcare providers for strength, protection & wisdom
plead for Americans to be united
ask for personal forgiveness and healing
trust God to do a miracle

Prayer gives us a better sense of self and brings us closer the Higher Power. Prayer reduces ego and promotes humility. Prayer improves your attitude, reduces stress and gives us hope.

In prayer we have the amazing privilege of talking to the One who loves us, listens to us and yet holds the globe between his fingers. The One in who’s omnipotence we trust. In prayer, we come boldly asking yet trusting in His mercy and forgiveness.

This is the call. This is the day. This is what our nation needs, what we need.

IT’S TIME TO PRAY.

If you’re in, and are gonna pray, please leave me a message. I’d love to know and pray with you.

Cheers to you.

Fear and Faith

March 12, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Inspiration, Personal Growthfaithdebio7 2 Comments

Before you read further, please click on the video…

Faith verses Fear 53 seconds

Although the video may seem a bit silly, it makes 4 important points:

How do you do that? (be so calm)
You never know when you might get hit
Aren’t you afraid?
You believe

Hang on to those, we will come back to them.

We are living in unprecedented days which are evolving with new challenges and fears every hour. Our lives, plans, futures, minds, emotions, and spirit have been burst upon with unexpected concerns and fears.

Fear is an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger, real or imagined.”
Dictionary.com

Fear, the emotion most of us are wrestling with today, is a common emotion and is meant to promote survival. Fear helps protect us, makes us alert to danger and prepares us to deal with it. It is natural and helpful, like a warning, a signal that tells us to be careful.

When the fear is triggered the brain instantly sends signals to the nervous system and the body responds. The heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure all increase. Muscle groups get ready for action and the skin begins to sweat, readying for the “Fight or Flight” battle, until the ALL CLEAR signal sounds. Then, all systems return to normal.

Fear is activated in the brain seconds before the thinking part of the brain can process what’s happening. So that’s why sometimes we are startled by a loud noise, even though it’s no harm.

Lastly on fear… although it is a healthy response it can become unhealthy. Science tells us that fear releases hormones that shut down systems we don’t need for the fight or flight. It weakens immune systems, effects heart damage, GI issues and even fertility. Fear tells the brain to immediately respond to the overactive signals from the Amygdala (the part of the brain that deals with emotions) rather than the more rational parts of the brain. (“Amygdala hijack”)

Well thanks, Deb, that’s encouraging, I heard someone whisper… Ok, so let’s go back to those 4 points from the video.

#1 – How do you do that?

How do you stay calm in the face of fear and what it is doing in your head and heart? (city and nation)

Because part of fear is feeling loss of control, and my inability to control that event/thing – I seek out The One who holds all things in His control. The One to whom winds, waves, nature, all living things, all rulers, all powers and principalities AND EVEN VIRUSES respond to.

” When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
King David Psalm 56:4

Psalm 91 – those who stay close to God are protected from deadly pestilence for He will cover you

Psalm 23:4 – even though I walk through the valley with a shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me

#2 You never know when you might get hit

That’s right. You don’t know what the future holds. But I do know this –

” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…”
The prophet Jeremiah, chapter 29 verse 11

So no matter what happens, I choose to trust His plans for me, my family, friends and associates.

#3 Aren’t you afraid?

To be honest, concerned a little, but there is a peace that permeates my heart because of who I trust and place my faith in. And when fear does come, (and be sure it does) I go to those verses above and choose to trust Him and His plan. That’s faith.

#4 You believe

Yup. That’s it. I choose to beleive in someone bigger than the situation, news, CDC, President, virus, or the panic. But I don’t believe in some passive, naive way. I’m not hiding my head in the sand. I’m actively contending within my own mind, spirit and emotions to not let fear get hold of me. It’s a battle. But I believe. I choose to. I will not give way to fear and panic. I believe.

In closing, I am reminded of these famous words:

” These are the times that try men’s souls.”
Thomas Paine 1776

In these times may we be found strong in faith as we are learning to overcome our fear.

Cheers to you.