The Cure for Worry

Thanks so much for joining the SALT team for another challenge. This week it was my (Kim) turn to set the challenge and I chose the topic of worry. I have a tendency to worry and thought this would be an excellent study for me, especially as we all face such uncertain times in our world. I read through a sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the topic and it was a real blessing. My notes below are from the sermon Worry: Its Causes and Cure, based on the Scripture verse from Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

First, what is worry...Jones describes it this way, ".....worry is something positive that comes and grips us and takes control of us. It is almighty power, an active force, and if we do not realize that, we are certain to be defeated by it. If it cannot get us to be anxious and burdened and borne down by the state and condition of things that are actually confronting us, it will take this next stop, it will go on into the future. Worry about the future is so utterly futile and useless; it achieves nothing at all. The result of worrying about the future is that you are crippling yourself in the present; you are lessening your efficiency with regard to today, and thereby you are reducing your whole efficiency with regard to that future which is coming to meet you. In other words, worry is something that is due to an entire failure to understand the nature of life in this world. The result of sin is that there is always a problem in life. The great question is, how are we to face those troubles?"

"According to the Lord, every day has its problems; some of them are constant from day to day, some of them vary. We are allotted our quota for each day. Very well; we must face that and meet it; and He has already told us how to do so. We must not go forward and tack tomorrow's quota on to today's, otherwise it may be too much for us. We must learn to realize that the God who helps us today will be the same God tomorrow. We must learn to take things to God as they arise. Live day by day; live a life of obedience to God every day; do what God asked you to do every day. Never allow yourself to indulge in thoughts about worrying about what tomorrow will bring. God gives us grace once and forever but He also gives grace to us in parts and portions day by day. Start each day by saying "Here is a day which is going to bring me certain problems and difficulties; very well, I shall need God's grace to help me. I know God will make all grace to abound, He will be with me according to my need". This is the essential Biblical teaching with regard to this matter; we must learn to leave the future entirely in God's hands."

"We can sum it all up by saying that, as we learn in wisdom to take our days one by one as they come, forgetting yesterday and tomorrow, so we must learn this vital importance of walking with God day by day, of relying upon Him day by day, and applying to Him for the particular needs of each day. The fatal temptation to which we are all prone is that of trying to store grace against the future. That means lack of faith in God. Leave it with Him; leave it entirely with Him, confident and assured that He will always be going before you. As the Scripture puts it, He will 'prevent' you. He will be there before you to meet the problem. Turn to Him and you will find that He is there, that He knows all about it, and knows all about you. May He, in His infinite grace, give us wisdom and grace to implement these simple principles and thereby rejoice in Him day by day."

I pray these sermon notes are as much a blessing to you as it was to me. I chuckled reading it feeling as if Pastor Jones had perhaps written it especially to me. :-) (The book that this sermon was in is called Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones). If you feel led to join us this week on our challenge, please leave us a comment with a link back to your blog or online gallery. We'd love to share in your creation!

Kim

Pauline Hazel
Lythan

Ruth

Stacy

Half empty?

Following on from Lythan's post two week's ago about Lent, I (Pauline) wanted to share today a little of what I've been doing this year. I decided that rather than give something up for Lent (mainly because my willpower is appalling) I would instead make an effort to Count My Blessings by using Christian Aid's make Lent meaningful suggestions. The idea is that you take the opportunity during Lent to celebrate and give thanks for even our smallest blessings, and to think about those in need around the world. The aim is to help people reflect on what is good in their lives and think of others for whom life is very different. You can read more about it here.

This week the focus has been on work, thinking about minimum wage (even earning the British minimum wage, you would be among the richest 11% of the world), those who have little or no choice over the way they earn a living or the number of children around the world who have to work to support their families. There are a few niggles at my work at the moment, nothing major, but I think both staff and pupils are ready for a holiday. However, I have tried to focus on how fortunate I am to have a job that I love while the majority of those I studied with 2 years ago are unemployed or in very short term positions.

I find it all too easy to focus on the negative things in my life - I'm definitely a glass half empty sort of person. I struggle with this, knowing that I am very fortunate in comparison to others and yet still finding minor complaints about daily life. By choosing to focus on the blessings in my life I've been able to focus on all that God does in our lives and how good He is to us. Psalm 100 says, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God."

It has been a real blessing to me to NOT give up something for Lent this year, but instead to focus on all the good things in my life.

Trust

Today's challenge is about trust.

It's Hazel here - some of you know that my husband, John, is registered blind. He does have a little vision in his left eye, but nothing much.

Some years ago he applied for a guide dog - his first dog was Oscar, a golden retriever, who actually had to retire when he was only six as he lost his nerve and was unable to work properly. We still see him from time to time - his retirement owner brought him over to see us the day before his 13th birthday. Then John trained with Josey, a yellow labrador - they made a very good partnership, but, sadly, because of health issues, John had to say goodbye to her some three years ago and she is now enjoying early retirement with a couple in Sittingbourne.

As someone who needed to be guided, John had to put his trust in the guide dog to lead him correctly. I have to confess that I would find it hard to do that.

But, as Christians, that's exactly the relationship we should have with our Heavenly Father - put our trust in Him to lead and guide us through life. There are many scriptures that encourage us to do this, particularly in Proverbs and the Psalms, such as:

'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.' Proverbs 3:5-6

and

'Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.' Psalm 143:8

Just like the blind person who is being led by the guide dog, we are not aware of the dangers that we might be about to encounter, but out Guide is and He will lead us aright if we put our trust in Him.

Perhaps you would like to reflect on these verses:

'Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.' Psalm 25:5

'For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.' Psalm 48:14

'If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.' Psalm 139:9-10

Here is what the team have crafted in response to this challenge.

We would love you to join in our challenge and create something in response to reflecting upon 'trust' - please leave us a comment with a link to your post so that we can some and see your creation.

Hazel

Pauline

Stacy


Lythan


Ruth

Forty Days

If I had remembered in time that it was my turn to do the thought in the middle then it would have been the second day of Lent. As it is, it's a few days later... but I still have Lent on my mind. Early on in Salt history I set Lent as a challenge theme and discovered that not every Church celebrates it. That is the wonderful thing about bringing a diverse group of Christians together creatively - you learn so much!
Lent is the 40 days (plus Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Day which act as a kind of preparation to meet the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of discipline that is to model the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. A friend linked a wonderful animation of drawings about how Jesus spent his time in the wilderness that has echoes of the readings for the first Sunday of Lent - Genesis 3 and Matthew 4:1-11.
And so I want this video to speak for itself - to help you reflect on Jesus time in the wilderness and how it resonates for your preparation for Easter. Forty days is a long, long time
Watch here

Attitude

Have you noticed the Attitude change in people? I know there are many reasons for a person's perception in life the way they go about it and how they handle it. But have you ever caught yourself being sucked in? I do a lot lately to much negativity and stress makes life harder then it needs to be. I have been praying that God would fill me with joy and love in my heart so i can show people the positive. I read today something so simple and child like but I know it works " if your nice to me , I am nice to you if your mean to me , I am still nice to you". Gods says in

1 Kings 11:11 (The Message)

^11-13 God said to Solomon, "Since this is the way it is with you, that you have no intention of keeping faith with me and doing what I have commanded, I'm going to rip the kingdom from you and hand it over to someone else. But out of respect for your father David I won't do it in your lifetime. It's your son who will pay—I'll rip it right out of his grasp. Even then I won't take it all; I'll leave him one tribe in honor of my servant David and out of respect for my chosen city Jerusalem." So because of Solomon breaking the basic demands of the convenant and there by severely underminding the entire convenant relationship between God and his people. God took away the kingdom.

He also says in Romans 12:3 " For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you , Do not think of yourself more highly then you ought , but rather think of yourself in sober judgement in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."Because God has given the power there can be no basis for a superior attitude or self righteousness. We have been working on our 9 year who is very set in her ways , very bossy and kinda overbearing . I know what your going to say "already at nine??" I said to her today after Ruth had mentioned this verse, that she should think on it and pray.this quote kinda says it all "Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?" ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering. Can't wait to see what you come up with.....


Stacy

Pauline


Hazel

Ruth

Lythan