Wean me from the world
From it's worries
And it's wealth.
Show me how to move
When You don't remove
The problem.
Help me see how
I must bleed
If I'm to ever bless,
And in it all
May I display
Your truth
​And righteousness.

Some years ago I heard the story of a four-year-old boy facing major surgery. For weeks Barrett's parents tried to prepare him for the ordeal. Convinced Scripture could help, they taught Barrett this simple verse: "When I am afraid, I will trust in you" (Ps. 56:3 NIV). The day of surgery arrived and Barrett kept repeating his special verse. Later, the doctors and staff said they witnessed an unusual peace for a child so young.

Barrett, however, will display a degree of hostility when he is withdraw from the drugs following his operation," the surgeon warned. "Don't be alarmed. It's perfectly natural." 

Steeled for this time, Barrett's parents seldom left his bedside. One afternoon he began to stir and it wasn't long before they observed him slowly moving his lips. His first silent words were "I love you," and the next was a complete sentence: "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."

Barrett's parents didn't try to teach him Philippians 4:6-7, but gave him one phrase he could handle. However, as adults who seem to let anxiety attach us at every level, we can benefit from Paul's instruction: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything (health, finances, family problems, etc.) by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be may known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

These two sentences are among the most profound and comforting in the entire Bible. Paul had just reminded the Philippians to rejoice, but now he warns them of anxiety, the joy robber. He offers the remedy to anxiety in a nutshell: prayer, petition and thanksgiving, which results in peace.

Let's take our March 2020 circumstances to our loving Father and live in His peace! 

Not my problems, but his power
Not my stress, but his strength
Not my worries, but his wisdom
Not my failures, but his faithfulness
Not my loss, but his love
Not my pressure, but his peace
Not me, but him, in everything
"For from him and
Through him and 
To him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
Amen" (Romans 11:36, NIV)
​Published in Purpose/1998

When Jesus came down
His only crown
Was the jewel-filled
Stars in the sky.
His throne was small
In the cattle stall;
His praise a lullaby.
And those who came
To give acclaim
Were men who
Smelled like sheep,
Yet shepherd's heard
The angel's word,
And now we all repeat:

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men." 
(Luke 2:14) 

You came home today
Finding me uptight, tense.
No reason, really,
Except the jangling phone,
A tight schedule, and
Endless interruptions.
Sitting down to dinner
It all came out.
You had problems, too.
We passed them back and forth
Along with chicken, bread,
Tomatoes, beans.
And then you passed a smile
Familiar, yet somehow new.
I savoured it awhile
Then sent it back,
Unable to describe
​This taste of loving you.

Sometimes we need a diversion. Mine was simple today. Instead of sitting at the kitchen table, I took breakfast into the den, using the coffee table for set up. After a brief prayer, I turned on the t.v., practically inhaling coffee, eggs and toast during the Christian program.

Then, glancing at the time, I jumped. The memorial service for a friend would begin in just over an hour and I still needed to bathe, dress and pick up another friend who would ride with me.

About to dump the scraps into the trash can, my eye caught something more precious than food. Somehow, I had managed to accidentally snag the Bible bookmark up with my breakfast plate. Now this is no ordinary bookmark. Crocheted by my grandmother, this is one of a few items I have from her: a gift she gave me when I was around six years old. Grandmother Belle died when I was only eight.

I immediately thought of her favorite hymn: Rock of Ages. Sometime during those years before her death I had learned to play the piano. Knowing this was grandmother's special hymn, I had struggled to learn it and fondly remember calling her on the phone to play it for her. After the brief recital, I recall grandmother saying something like this: "Honey, this is the best gift you could give me."

Today, I have little skill for sewing and don't crochet so am truly thankful I didn't carelessly toss the bookmark away. After all, one line in Rock of Ages reads, "Let me hide myself in Thee." Now, as the marker rests in my Bible, I am also reminded of the admonition: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Ps. 119:11 NIV). Today I can say with her: "This is the best gift you could give me."

Not my problems, but His power,
Not my stress, but His strength,
Not my worries, but His wisdom,
Not my failures, but his faithfulness,
Not my loss, but His love,
Not my pressure, but His peace,
Not me, but Him, in everything:
"For of Him and through Him and to
Him are all things, to whom be glory
forever! Amen." Romans 11:36).