I woke up extra early this morning because of a bad dream…In Ecclesiastes we are told that being too busy gives you nightmares (5:3 if interested in seeing for yourself). I imagine that could be it….after all, my Firestick was not working last night for me to go to sleep watching my usual Alaska: the Last Frontier episode so I instead chose to listen to the Bible being read to me from my Bible App.

How cool is that? The Word being read to you as you drift off to sleep??! 11 chapters of John went into this subconscious!

Anyhoo, (yes I said HOO and not hoW) one would have thought I would have slept like a rock- which I did until about 5 am…

I just led a study about the prophet Daniel and learned that God had given him the wisdom to interpret dreams…what a neat gift to have! I said to the teens that I imagined he was tons of fun at a party for those Babylonians!

After my dream, I was I could interpret where it came from or what it meant…However, my mind goes back to Ecclesiastes and settles there to say

Amy, your brain is just too busy.

This is an unusual week for me…one that I have planned well for and not well for at the same time. There is much that is happening that cannot possibly be in my control…

I believe that is where a dream of fear and failure enters in.

I chose to wake up early, get my coffee, and get into the Word.

I needed something from the Lord to soothe my nerves-know what I mean?

Self-talk was not cutting it! You know the drill:

It’s not real

It has not happened yet so quit worrying

It may NOT ever happen so quit worrying

Am I alone in realizing that telling yourself, or having someone else tell you, to “quit worrying DOES NOT HELP???

You are doing a good job

You have good kids

How could I possibly help anyone if I cannot help those in my own home?!

You are a fraud

Oh, it goes on and on and on….

I needed MORE to come into my thoughts and heart that would stick!

Enter in the Lord when I prayed for help first thing this morning~

These words were a soothing balm to my soul…

LOOK to the Lord

Look to His strength –

-not MY strength-which is not much!

SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS=

-Not such an easy task, but it is a habit that is essential to learn to do if you seek peace!!!

REMEMBER THE WORKS HE HAS DONE; HIS MIRACLES AND THE JUDGMENTS HE HAS PRONOUNCED!!!

If I want a peace about me that runs into my very bone marrow, a peace that settles my spirit into calm brook instead of a class 4 rapid-

then I need to CHOOSE to remember what God has done for His creation since He created this world, what He has done for me in His prevenient grace, that He has NEVER left me alone, that He has comforted me, that He has renewed my life, He has restored my marriage, that He has changed the legacy that we were initially going to leave for our kids, that He brought salvation to my father in law, that He has protected us, but mostly that HE WILL ALWAYS HOLD MY HAND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

So,