Tag Archives: moss

Be Still and Know

Be still and know.  Moss  from Beauty Observed

My “unword” for the year is “unafraid.”  This year, I was kicking fear to the curb!  And yet, here I was, laying in bed again, eyes wide open, gripped with fear.  I was sure that the information I had was reliable.  The threat was imminent.  I tossed and turned all night, crying out to the Lord for help with this situation.  Sleep would not come.

In the morning, with fear still balled up in my stomach, I made my way downstairs.  All I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with my laptop and a pair of headphones and lose myself in Netflix to ease the pain.  But, really?  How many times had that helped in the past?

Instead, I went to the chair that I do my devotions in.  Several years ago, a friend told me about Professor Grant Horner’s Bible reading method and I’m still using it.  Feeling raw, I knew I couldn’t process all ten chapters today, so I turned to Psalms.  My Bible opened at bookmark #6  and I began reading.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore, we will not fear, ….

Be still and know.  Moss 2 from Beauty Observed  And I started to bawl.  Tears falling down my face bawling.  And the knot of fear in my stomach released.  I continued reading through my tears.

though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging…..

The “thing” I was facing was no where near as scary as watching a mountain fall into the sea.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress…...

 10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

He is so faithful.  He is so loving.  He has us in the palm of His hand.

And that “thing” that kept me up all night?  It didn’t even happen.  But, I am grateful for it, because this living God that I serve gave me a gift that I have continued to carry through these last few days.  And that is beautiful.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

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Cabin Fever Blues

We came across this wild rhododendron in the woods at Lover's Leap, Virginia
Click on any of the photos to see them at full size.

Pine tree with pine cones in Gatlinburg, TN

Lichen and moss on a tree trunk at Lover's Leap, Virginia

I love how these pictures are so very green.  It’s the last week of January and I have the cabin fever blues. Winter can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic.

I find myself counting down the days until the end of winter.

January. Only two more days of January.

February.  February is a short month.

March.  I can convince myself that a northeast Ohio March is more spring than winter.

Spring? I’m almost there!!

Here are a few things I do when I find myself feeling this way:

Tips to beat the winter blues. Beauty Observed

1. I give myself a break.  I tend to forget that I spent November and December at break-neck speed creating the perfect holidays for my family.   Baking, decorating, entertaining, shopping, wrapping.  Whew!  That takes a toll on my body and I think January is my body and mind’s way of resting and refueling.

2. I check my quiet times.  Am I spending quality time with God?  Am I casting all of my cares and worries at His feet so I don’t need to be carrying them?  I’m currently trying to memorize some scripture.  This is both stimulating for my spirit and my mind.

3. I look into my nutrition.  Am I eating good, wholesome food or carbing it up a little too much?  I also check my vitamins and supplements.  Vitamin D is supposed to be good for people who don’t get enough exposure to sunlight.

4. I ask myself if I’m avoiding anything.  It could be something really simple or it could be a really big project.  Have you read the book Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy?  The basic idea is that one should do their hardest thing first.  This frees up the mind to focus on other things.

5. I dream of spring.  My new blog friend, Marie, posted a picture on twitter of the seed catalogs she was looking through.  (I will not covet other blogger’s chickens.) This is a great time to start planning for those warmer, sunnier months.  Also, as a home educator for many years, I find this the perfect time to plan next year’s curriculum.  (Don’t think me hyper-organized.  I’m usually just bored with whatever curriculum I purchased THIS year.  lol

6. I call a friend for coffee.  Getting out of the house and doing something fun can sometimes be just the thing I need!  And, you know, coffee.

Do you have any things that you do to fight the winter blues?  Please leave a comment.

Linking-up at Three Word Wednesday.

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