Anxious?

(10.26.20—Don’t Fret!--Philippians 4:6-7)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Talking and eating aren’t very good partners. Similarly, when you and I choose to combine work and worry, can choking also easily become the consequence of doing something we ought not to do?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner?

I have what my wife calls a “lazy flap” in my throat. It’s that little flap of muscle that closes over my airway when swallowing. For some reason there are times when that little flap doesn’t close all of the way in time to block whatever I’ve got coming down the pipe. It doesn’t happen every time I swallow and seems to happen more often when I’m talking and eating at the same time (something that is dangerous to begin with). So, every now and then I end up coughing and choking on a bit of a piece of meat or veggie. For some reason crackers can really give me trouble. I guess I just need to learn to stop talking while I’m eating. The two just don’t go well together.

Talking and eating aren’t very good partners when you come right down to it. One requires an open airway the other a closed one. Similarly, when you and I choose to combine work and worry, choking can easily become the consequence. Here’s a story: Many years ago during the Great Depression a New York Times reporter was given a task by his Managing Editor. “I want you to go out there and interview folks and get their stories on how they’re coping with the bad economy.” So, out the reporter went. He interviewed numerous merchants and residents of New York, relating their sad stories. Then he ran into a woman with six kids, no husband, living in a shabby tenement. Although a widow for years, she was raising six children and six more adopted children. In spite of her busy and useful life, she seemed poised and charming and completely uncomplaining. The reporter asked her how she managed. “You see, I’m in a partnership.” She told him. “What kind of partnership?” the reported asked. She replied, “One day, a long time ago, I said, ‘Lord, I’ll do the work, and you do the worrying,’ and I haven’t had a worry in the world since then.” (Source Unknown.)

When you and I choose to take on the worrying part of our partnership with God, it’s likely that we’ll have bit off more than we can chew. And, that bite will probably cause us to choke on something we were never meant to swallow–worry. In fact, the word “worry” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word, “wurgijanan” – to strangle or choke. As you and I live out our daily lives we have this choice: we can choose to swallow the tasks of the day with patience and devotion to duty or we can try to swallow those same tasks and the worry about them at the same time. Like trying to talk while you’re eating, the outcome is very likely to make you choke on those tasks. The Bible instructs that we should not “be not anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God . . . (Philippians 4:6). The reasons being? God never chokes on tomorrow because He already knows what it tastes like.

We pray. Heavenly Father. We can choose to swallow the tasks of the day with patience and devotion or we can try to swallow those them and worry at the same time. Forgive us when we make the wrong choice. Fretting is never a good choice. It is like trying to talk while you’re eating, because the outcome is very likely to make us choke on the tasks of the day. Thank You for reminding us that we should not “be not anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to You.” You never chokes on tomorrow because You already knows what it tastes like. That’s good enough for us. We trust Your taste. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Anxious?

(10.26.20—Don’t Fret!--Philippians 4:6-7)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Talking and eating aren’t very good partners. Similarly, when you and I choose to combine work and worry, can choking also easily become the consequence of doing something we ought not to do?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner?

I have what my wife calls a “lazy flap” in my throat. It’s that little flap of muscle that closes over my airway when swallowing. For some reason there are times when that little flap doesn’t close all of the way in time to block whatever I’ve got coming down the pipe. It doesn’t happen every time I swallow and seems to happen more often when I’m talking and eating at the same time (something that is dangerous to begin with). So, every now and then I end up coughing and choking on a bit of a piece of meat or veggie. For some reason crackers can really give me trouble. I guess I just need to learn to stop talking while I’m eating. The two just don’t go well together.

Talking and eating aren’t very good partners when you come right down to it. One requires an open airway the other a closed one. Similarly, when you and I choose to combine work and worry, choking can easily become the consequence. Here’s a story: Many years ago during the Great Depression a New York Times reporter was given a task by his Managing Editor. “I want you to go out there and interview folks and get their stories on how they’re coping with the bad economy.” So, out the reporter went. He interviewed numerous merchants and residents of New York, relating their sad stories. Then he ran into a woman with six kids, no husband, living in a shabby tenement. Although a widow for years, she was raising six children and six more adopted children. In spite of her busy and useful life, she seemed poised and charming and completely uncomplaining. The reporter asked her how she managed. “You see, I’m in a partnership.” She told him. “What kind of partnership?” the reported asked. She replied, “One day, a long time ago, I said, ‘Lord, I’ll do the work, and you do the worrying,’ and I haven’t had a worry in the world since then.” (Source Unknown.)

When you and I choose to take on the worrying part of our partnership with God, it’s likely that we’ll have bit off more than we can chew. And, that bite will probably cause us to choke on something we were never meant to swallow–worry. In fact, the word “worry” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word, “wurgijanan” – to strangle or choke. As you and I live out our daily lives we have this choice: we can choose to swallow the tasks of the day with patience and devotion to duty or we can try to swallow those same tasks and the worry about them at the same time. Like trying to talk while you’re eating, the outcome is very likely to make you choke on those tasks. The Bible instructs that we should not “be not anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God . . . (Philippians 4:6). The reasons being? God never chokes on tomorrow because He already knows what it tastes like.

We pray. Heavenly Father. We can choose to swallow the tasks of the day with patience and devotion or we can try to swallow those them and worry at the same time. Forgive us when we make the wrong choice. Fretting is never a good choice. It is like trying to talk while you’re eating, because the outcome is very likely to make us choke on the tasks of the day. Thank You for reminding us that we should not “be not anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to You.” You never chokes on tomorrow because You already knows what it tastes like. That’s good enough for us. We trust Your taste. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.