Thursday, October 4, 2012

Worry ~

Yesterday was an exceptional day of rewarding inspirational moments.  Wednesday's Bible study focused on "worry" and who doesn't worry, some definitely more than others.  Sometimes we worry so much that whatever we are worrying about almost becomes bigger than life.  I loved the illustration that was given in our study book concerning how worry grows and how we should keep a realistic perspective on our thoughts.  Visualize a fog, a fog so thick that you can barely see the hand in front of you.  Fogs are common in London and can stop everything dead in their tracks.  A fog bank a hundred feet deep and covering seven city blocks is composed of less than one glass of water.  Divided into billions of droplets, it hasn't much substance.  Yet it has the power to bring an entire city to a standstill.  Now think about your worries, are they as small as a mere glass of water or do we let them grow so large that they can bring an entire city to a standstill.  There is a wise saying that says, "worry is a down payment on a debt you may never have to pay."



  • Worry is often unfounded
  • Is generalized (can spread to many things)
  • You become obsessed with the problem
  • It can create more problems (ie health, stress)
  • We look to ourselves or others for answers instead of looking to God for our concerns.


These are the things we worry about:

  • 40% are things that will never happen
  • 30% are about the past - which can't be changed
  • 12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue
  • 10% are about health, which gets worse with stress
  • 8% are about real problems than CAN be solved



Three concise and practical steps to claim victory over worry

  1. Be anxious about nothing.
  2. Be prayerful about everything.
  3. Be thankful for all things.

If we can adapt these practical steps we can at least reduce the size of our worries into a 1/2 of a glass of water which would reduce the size of the fog to three and a half city blocks.

As we discussed worry I found that most of the younger women are far more worrisome than us "more mature" generation.  I think it is because we have lived through our children growing up and out of the house, we have experienced so much more in life as 60 + year old women vs. mid 30's women, some of us have gone through great loss and heartache and managed to live through it and continue to lead full and meaningful lives.  My worries have diminished over time, and when I do have a worry or concern I seek the help of God through prayer.

"Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."  ~  Colossians 4:2

Linking to Deb's This or That Thursdays and Nancy's Rural Thursday and Leanne's Flower Art Friday.....

Until next time....



34 comments:

  1. Beautiful post and such lovely photos!

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  2. thank you, deanna. i needed this today moreso than most days. :)

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  3. Deanna - oh so lovely. this entire post was fabulous. Poignant message and beautiful, relaxing photography! Thank you!

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  4. Your photos leave me breathless! Love the thoughts on worrying - thanks for sharing them.

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  5. These photos are just beautiful, love the processing you did. Gorgeous.

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  6. Such a great post about the very thing that gripped me for far too many years. I finally realized that if I'm going to hand it over to God, then I can't continue to fret about it. Wouldn't God be insulted if I persisted in worrying over the problem? In my family, worry is like a sport. We called it the Acaldo Worry Gene (from my mother's side of the family). I've also heard worry described as a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but you never get anywhere. Great post, Deanna! And lovely photos (as usual).

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  7. Two of my favorite things. Blue glass jars and hydrangeas. Beautiful!

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  8. Thank you, Deanna. I have never been much of a worrier until this past month. Possibly because I've never really had anything to worry about. I need all the encouragement and reminders I can get right now.

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  9. Love this! I'm definitely a worrier at times.

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  10. Oh, I can worry too though I try not too..! Beautiful pics! :-)

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  11. And after seeing your beautiful photograph, how can I be thankful that I left my hydrangeas out in the cold and wind last night because I was worried there wasn't enough time do it all? You know what, there NEVER is enough time to do everything! and I spend too much time worrying about it!!

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  12. A beautiful post with incredible photos. This is so true. B

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  13. Thank you for a beautiful post and photos, Deanna! You're right most things we worry about will never happen. If there is something really concerning, just turn it over to God and let him take care of it.

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  14. So true, "worry is a down payment on a debt you may never have to pay."
    Worry and fear can ruin some one's life (perhaps not intentionally) and even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    Thank you for this beautiful post.

    Love,
    B.

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  15. So deep and meaningful Deanna. I have to ask -how do u get your pictures so clean and noise free? I'm in awe at them

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  16. Thank you for the encouragement! I was about to get carried away by worried feelings today ... then "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Pr. 25:11
    I'm happy having found my way to your blog!

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  17. Wise words and lovely photos.

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  18. I find everything about this post inspiring, from your beautiful photos to what you've said here. How lucky I feel to have found your blog today!!

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  19. I worry way too much about things I can't do anything about--like the weather. This is such good advice. Thank you for sharing!

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  20. Deanna, I don't know which I love more: your wise perspective, your sense of humor or your beautiful photographs...What am I worried about? I don't have to choose! I love them all the same...~Blessings

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  21. I am not going to comment about the worries topic, but I wanted to say I really like the flower setting, beautiful colors! Have a good weekend!

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  22. Great and meaningful post with incredible photos!

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  23. One of my favorite flowers especially at this time of year when it puts on a show of all it colors.

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  24. So very true Deanna - I think age has a lot to do with how we worry, but also the experiences we go through that we learn from. There isn't a problem too big for God to handle or too small to go to Him with. And, I think the people we choose to be around or not become a factor in our fear and worry - some people are just toxic to our souls! Beautiful post my friend, and I adore those photos!! xo hugs

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  25. As always I love reading your posts and am always inspired by what you have to say...plus I love your photos that you choose to go with your wise words ;)....a few years ago I read that if you worry it shows that you have little faith in God...and this really bothered me as I always believed I have a very strong faith...this really made an impact on my 'worry habit' because by worrying it was showing others that my faith was rather weak. Very impactful for me and it changed a lifetime habit.

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  26. Very nice commentary Deanna ... it's so true! Your photographs were stunning as always!!!

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  27. These are the prettiest pics ever! Love hydrangeas and the tones in these just soothe my soul today.
    Would love to know the name of your study book! Have a worry-free weekend!

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  28. Awesome shots of the hydrangeas, they're gorgeous!

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  29. Wise words, Deanna. If only I could put them into practice! :)

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  30. I absolutely LOVE this post. It was beautifully written and what you've shared is so very true.

    Kristin

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  31. So true Deanna, words and truths to hold inside our hearts each day, thank you for posting them :) beautiful hydrangeas btw, such delicate light images, just perfect!

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  32. wow, so beautiful...I wish I had the patience to learn to use photo shop.

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