​     1 Corinthians 10:13 talks about God being faithful and will not letting us be tempted beyond what we can bear. It goes on to say when we are tempted, he will also provide a way out so we can endure it. I believe he also provides a way out when life becomes overwhelming and we feel like we’re drowning. We may be drowning in debt, in the darkness of depression, or struggling through disappointments brought about from others or from life not going as expected. God is always there when the spillway opens and the waters rush towards us. We just need to open our eyes and look for the way out, or through it, that he has provided. Many times, it is in unexpected places.
     Today's picture was taken a few hours after the spillway had opened at one of my favorite state parks in Oklahoma last week. The other pictures are of the same area. One before the spillway opened and the other a few hours afterwards. What a difference! Life can come at us fast and hard some days with strong, scary currents trying to pull us under.

     Everyone needs that special partner in crime to travel and have adventures with. Maybe it's a life-long friend, or someone you have only known for a short time. It could be a spouse or other family member. As long as it's someone with a similar sense of adventure, there should be fun and laughs no matter where you go.
     How did you meet your adventure buddy? How long have you know them and what is the craziest adventure you have been on?

I see an outdoor tub for one here. What do you see?

    
     After rounding the corner on a hike, I ran into this sumo wrestler standing strong at the edge of the trail. I can't help but recall the story in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat courageously leads his small, ill-equipped army into battle against the vast army coming against them. Can't you just see his army marching down this trail? God, their sumo wrestler had their back. He was going to fight their battle. All they had to do was show up and march forward. How many times have you know armies to march forward singing praising God as the Lord sets the perfect ambush against their enemy?
     God will fight your battles as well. You just need to show up and trust him.
(This week's glance is a little delayed due to "Tuesday's Technical Troubles." )

            Something tells me if you were to look at a blank calendar five months ago, it would have been very much welcomed. Maybe it would have represented a vacation.  How do you see it today? Like you, I have taken many meetings, trips, business travel, and events I was planning, and planning to attend, off my calendar. Emotions are mixed as we deal with all the cancelations. Things we were looking forward to, and those we celebrated by doing a happy dance as we marked them off.
          Adjustments have been made and many of us are now attending virtual appointments and meetings. Some working from home are surrounded by kids and pets. I can hear the circus music playing now in the background of meetings and homes.
          How are you filling in all those other empty boxes on your calendar? Doing more with your family? Enjoying a hobby, new or old? Are you beginning to like the new normal and looking forward to continuing it in part when the masks come off? Is it a time of redefining or taking a chance on something new? I would love to hear about the things you are doing with this unexpected gift of free time.

   March 31, 2020
 
   Running mild or running wild, anxiety levels are all over the board today. How are you doing? I sincerely hope life is going well for you. When moments of anxiety set in, it happens to us all, chase them away. Mind your mind by focusing your thoughts on the positive.  Make the choice not to let them lead you down dark and lonely roads.
   Are you barely hanging on long enough to make it through the day or next hour? If that’s you, or a friend, please talk to someone. There are people out there who truly care about you and what you’re going through. They are glad to listen.  The Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org 24/7 for calls, text, and online chats.
  

1. It’s going to all be okay. I do believe most things will return to normal. Maybe there will be changes in some areas, for the better. Some will find they like parts of today’s normal and will make intentional life changes for a slower pace. If your previous normal never completely returns, will that be all bad? A ‘new’ normal, once we survive the shock, can bring growth and strength leading to something good and unexpected not imagined before.
2. Faith fills you with peace and joy. This is a biggie for me. There have been a couple of times when I felt isolated and the blues set in. I tried to solve the problem myself, to no avail. That was the problem. I was trying to chase them away. As soon as I let go and let God, almost instantly, there was an unquenchable joy and peace that filled me. Not just for a few hours, but for days and weeks. When I lost focus again, I went back to God who lovingly restored my peace. My inspiration comes from Romans 8:5-6. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

 
   This week we had an online gathering with the people in our small group from church. It was wonderful to see and talk to everyone. All were doing fine. Everyone, in their own words, expressed how they knew God had this, and that it would be okay. Later that evening, my husband was telling me about a radio program he was listening to. It featured stories of a few unrelated people experiencing high anxiety levels. It jumped out to him how none of these people mentioned having a faith in God. God can make all the difference.

staff. No, the four-legged variety. The Great Pyrenees farm dog. I watched in my side view mirror as he slumbered out the driveway towards the threat of danger. Sensing the protection of his presence, panic ceased among the sheep. One squirrel-headed ewe was already heading to a field of beautiful grass she had just spotted. And just like that everyone joined her and there was peace in the pasture again.
   Panic can be seen running rampant in our lives these days with all the empty shelving in grocery stores. Common everyday items sold completely out. Just like sheep, when a few began to panic, the whole population can go a little crazy. When we pause for a moment to take a deep breath and look around, we too can find our good shepherd watching our back. If we find ourselves a little lost and ready to flee in fear, we can listen for his voice and focus instead on the guidance he gives as nudges in the right direction. Like sheep know the voice of their shepherd, we too can learn to identify the voice of our shepherd by reading his word.