I'm starting to think maybe I should join in the hysteria.
It's all over the media: radio, news, papers, magazines.
It's weaseled it's way into blog posts and wriggled into a Facebook Status or two.
Even the stone-faced librarian that checked us out today had it on the brain.
This is the book I innocently checked out for Avery.
Upon reading the title, Librarian Lady said, "How appropriate given what's going on in the world."
What the what?!?
Lady, it's just a cute kid's book.
*Sigh*
So - here's the deal: I'm making a stand.
I'm refusing to buy into the hype.
I won't be bullied into fear by news anchors and journalists.
I will not allow myself to worry about the economy.
I will not stress about the value of my house or my 401K.
I will not spread messages of doom and gloom.
I won't be fearful of my kid getting Autism from vaccines.
I will not worry that my burger contains Mad Cow Disease.
I will not rush to buy a face mask at Walgreens when someone sneezes in my direction.
I won't carry around a backpack filled with water bottles and dehydrated food.
I won't hide my kids in an underground bunker.
I will not obsess over the the Bird Flu, Pig Flu, or any other kind of Flu.
I won't worry that every bee is a Killer Bee.
I will not worry.
I will NOT be afraid.
I just won't.
Instead --
I will save money, not hoard it.
I will give money generously, and not worry about how I'm going to get more.
I will play in the yard with my kids.
I will pray for my President instead of trashing him.
I will shake hands with people fearlessly.
AND while I'm at it--
I will go on vacation with my family.
I will enjoy the sunny weather and the sand in my toes.
I will love on my babies. and cover them with kisses.
and sunblock.
I won't worry about UV rays. Or skin cancer. Or even wrinkles.
I'll even try to not worry about the fish swimmin' around in the water I'm wading in.
That's how serious I am, people.
The good news is that the sky isn't going to fall today, but if it does, I know the creator of the sky.
He's got everything under control.
I'm so glad.
So, so, glad.
Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Psalm 46:1-3 (The Message)
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
Isaiah 41:8-10 (The Message)
"But you, Israel, are my servant.
You're Jacob, my first choice, descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
22 comments:
we just had a similar discussion here. why is there a ticker at the bottom of the tv screen during lost alerting us that there may or may not be the first case in our state but not our city? and, that the school the child who may have the swine flu will be closed for the next week. hmm . . . closing the entire school for a week-gosh, you would think they were predicting snow. and, why is it swine flu and not pig flu? i mean, it is bird flu, not avian flu. bottom line: i think we prefer to worry. thanks for the reminder that god desires more for us!
amen, sistah! two districts in our area just closed until may 8th. insanity!
although i do kind of have a tickle in my throat... ;)
You're Spot On with Right-Thinking.
I got more than a little disgusted with the nonsense about the election last fall.
Fear. Fear sickens me.
We're not given a spirit of fear.
"People... you can't live WITH 'em. You can't KILL all the ones that bug you," that's what I always say.
I LOVE THIS POST.
A big AMEN sister!!!!
I *just* posted this morning about this. :)
I agree with everything you've said.
AMEN! :)
LOVE this post...I agree wholeheartedly!!!! All my hope is in the ONE ABOVE, and NOTHING is going to shake me. Here's a cool quote:
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan says, "Oh no. SHE'S UP."~don't know who said it, but it's my mantra.
Have a blessed day, friend!
Amen! Sister!
Bravo!
You Tell Them!
Standing Ovation!
Great Post!!! I'm with you! I'm not going to freak out about all this stuff either....My Father has it all under control & He's not surprised about anything!!! Thanks for bringing that message home!
You took the words right out of my mouth!
It's just the latest media disease-hype. Avian flu, MRSA, SARS...
Yes, these things exist, but no, you do not need an underground bunker.
A friend of mine is *literally* not allowing her children to go outside for fear of contracting the disease. poor kids.
AMEN! I agree with each and every point that you made. I just can't get into all the hype because then we make it our focus and not God. He is in control and while I like things in order and I'm a planner some things I just have to put in His hands. I can't kiss my babies if I have a mask on my face...I just can't!
Thank you!
Oi. Parabéns pelo excelente blog. Gostaria de lhe convidar para visitar meu blog e conhecer alguma coisa sobre o Brasil. Abração
Delurking to say "preach on, woman!"
It's hard to be fearful when you know that God is holding you in the palm of His hand.
Have a blessed day!
In the words of my favorite Matt Redman song..."Whom then shall I fear?".
NOBODY or NOTHING because God is there in it all. While that is hard to wrap your brain around sometimes, I know in my heart that it is so!!
Yes, yes, and YES!! I am with ya girl!! We are refusing to go nuts about this!! God is still God and the last time I checked He's still the same as He's ever been, loving, caring and IN CONTROL!
Hey - Call or email if you need me to do anything else for the banquet. Talk to ya soon. Hugs!
Thanks for this post :) I wholeheartedly agree!! I am dreading going to work tomorrow... think I can print out your post and just hand it out to everyone??
wait, someone's talking sense! i might just faint. no sensationalized post about how we're all going to die from the sheep shingles? oh wait, it's the rooster rash...nope, maybe the pigeon pox...
preach on, sister. maybe you'll start a trend of "not freaking!"
I totally agree!
I am not worrying about it until I start oinking! :)
I'm not worried. I don't think about it. Lol, We are fighting the strep throat demon right now.
I am not worried...we have a little stock pile of Tamiflu and are headed to Florida to visit the Mouse next week.
I enjoyed reading your blog today. I am still new to the land of blog, but so loving reading others stories. Everyone has a story and so many of them are so touching....
Hope you will stop by for a visit.
The May give-away has started and this month there will be 10 winners. I will be blogging from Disney World soon...
AMEN WOMAN!! I'm with you on all of it!! And AMEN for Kevin getting out of jail and DID YOU SEE SHARON ON FRIDAY'S SHOW???????????
You should add, "I will watch my trashy soap and I will NOT feel guilty!!!"
Amen and amen!
i love your post! i feel the exact same way. thanks for sharing.
blessings,
missy
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