thanksgiving

From Anxiety to Peace

In my recent newsletter, I told the story of our older cat, Paka, and how she’d stopped eating. She had gone for several days without food. She would use her scratching post and groom herself, but she had no interest in her paté or kibble.

After a thorough examination and Xray, our vet, Doctor Amy, and I came to the same conclusion. Our new kitty, Tatertot, had caused Paka a lot of anxiety.

Paka has always been a little skittish. She was a rescue cat that lived with a man who didn’t like her. He wasn’t too fond of his former girlfriend either, who had left the cat with him when she moved out. I assume Paka stayed hidden from him because she hides whenever someone comes to our house. When it’s my husband, our youngest daughter, and me, she’s the perfect cat. But she doesn’t like change. And our new kitten brought a lot of that!

Although our vet took great care of her and got her back to her old self, Paka was not out of danger. Doctor Amy told me that the treatment she used with Paka would last for thirty days. She hoped Paka would bond with Tatertot by then, solving the problem. Today is day thirty-five. So far, so good. I am certain the two of them have formed a stronger connection.

On multiple occasions, I’ve discovered them sharing a bed, either theirs or ours, with their bodies close together. And twice, I’ve observed them as they groomed each other. So sweet! Brings a smile and praise to my lips.

During our times of stress and anxiety, our circumstances may become so overwhelming that we forget to pray or lack the energy to do so. Often, these situations take a severe toll on our bodies, hearts, and minds. But the Lord encourages us to turn to Him. He opens His arms and waits for us to run into them. To hold us. To comfort us. To pour out His unfailing love and peace upon us.

Two of my favorite verses are Philippians 4:6-7.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

My hope for Paka is that she has found peace to deal with Tatertot and will continue to thrive. My hope for us is that we find peace in Christ whenever anxiety strikes. He desires us to come to Him in prayer, tell Him what we need, and thank Him for all He has done. He’s done much in my life. What about in yours? Please share below a recent blessing He’s poured out upon you.

A New Year Filled With Joy

I’m looking forward to a new year filled with joy. It’s a choice I’m choosing to make. A year filled with gratitude and prayer.

At the beginning of 2020, I selected the word “trust” as my “word of the year.” My verse was Philippians 4:6:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God
(NIV).

I read and quoted that scripture over and over during the past year. Not only because of Covid but also with the selling of our home—something I thought would take a week ended up taking over two months.

For 2021 my word is “joy,” and my verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
(NIV).

There’s a common theme of always thanking God in my 2020 verse and for 2021. Joy and thanksgiving go hand in hand. To receive joy, I must have a grateful heart. In the past, I tried to incorporate an app-based gratitude journal but only kept it going for about a month. I purchased a planner a few weeks ago, and so far, it’s working for me. I’m using a section for words of thanksgiving each day.

My verse also includes prayer again this year. Prayer is an important part of my daily walk with Christ. There are many people who suffer deep sorrow and pain, and God has called me to pray for them. And when I do, joy fills my heart knowing I’m a part of something that pleases the Lord and benefits those in need.

By choosing joy, praying always, and giving thanks in all things, I’m following God’s will for my life. Although you may not have a “word of the year” or yours may differ from mine, I pray you’re looking forward to a new year filled with joy too.


The Waiting

In my blog post, Personal Blessings, I shared how my husband and I have wanted to move back to Tennessee for several years, but we were hesitant to leave our youngest daughter in New Mexico. We believe that God opened the door six weeks ago for our move, when our daughter stated she was ready. Now that we’ve decided to relocate, I don’t enjoy the waiting. I want to hurry back to where the rest of our family lives so we can be together again.

We’d heard stories of offers accepted within ten days when we put our house on the market here in New Mexico three weeks ago. And while the market in middle Tennessee is hot, and they list homes one day and receive an offer within two, we hoped for similar results here. But God has a different plan for us.

After I sent a text to my children in Tennessee expressing my discouragement, I realized I sent that message without forethought. I’d experienced disappointment, not discouragement. I know God is working His plan, and His timing is better than mine. Maybe the home the Lord has for us in Tennessee isn’t available yet. The best thing for me to do is wait and trust.

At the start of 2020, I selected Philippians 4:6 as my verse for the year. I’ve referred to it often.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Verse 7 states the benefit of not worrying but praying instead.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The word I selected for 2020 was “trust.” Fits in with my verse, doesn’t it? And appropriate for this year with several travel plans canceled because of COVID-19 and living life outside of any normalcy for the past seven months. Trusting God is the only way to endure these crazy times.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I find peace by seeking God’s guidance through prayer and thanksgiving instead of worrying about tomorrow. My focus is on Christ, and I choose to trust Him.

Disappointed, but filled with peace. That’s a good place to be and where I find myself today during the waiting.

What are you trusting and waiting for today?


All scripture references are from the New International Version.

Photo by Anvesh Uppunuthula - Unsplash.

Sing To The Lord

Do you enjoy singing? Do you love to sing to the Lord? The Book of Psalms includes many references to singing.

I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise
to the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17, NLT

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28:7, NLT

Why are we instructed to sing songs of thanksgiving and praise?

  • We sing because of God’s goodness.

I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Psalm 13:6, NLT

  • And we sing to celebrate His mighty acts.

Rise up, O Lord, in all your power. With music and singing
we celebrate your mighty acts.

Psalm 21:13, NLT

What are we to sing about?

  • We sing with joy of the Lord’s power, love, and protection.

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

Psalm 59:16, NLT

  • And we sing about the glory of His name.

Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.

Psalm 66:2, NLT

Although the references above are from the Old Testament, Book of Psalms, the New Testament also directs us to sing.

. . . singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Ephesians 5:19, NLT

I enjoy lifting my voice to the Lord in song both in corporate worship and in the quiet of my home and car. Times of praise and thanksgiving fill me with joy, love, and strength, and inspire me to draw closer to the Lord. I love to sing to the Lord. Do you?


Photo by Aaron Burden - Unsplash