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Hello Great Family,

I trust you are enjoying the sunshine today and praying for Spring to really spring.  Praise God in all situations!  Even chilly ones.

Today brought to me an incredibly stressful, fearful, claustrophobic experience. I won't bore you with problems, but I want to encourage you with what brings me comfort and hope.  To keep it short, I'll just tell you I was in a tight situation for around 40 minutes with no way out and nothing but worrisome thoughts swimming around in my mind.  To quote a Zac Williams song, "Fear, he is a liar, He will take your breath, Stop you in your steps, Fear he is a liar, He will rob your rest, Steal your happiness.” 

Fear is a powerful thing!  A panic attack started happening within me that had my heart jumping out of my chest and sweat pouring from my palms.  I could barely breathe.  When I was about to lose my composure and begin to freak out on the outside like I was already freaking out on the inside, I began quoting my favorite passage from Psalm 139 in the Bible, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”  I kept quoting this passage until I noticed my heart rate had slowed, my breathing returned, and I began to relax.  I’m not going to say I was fine.  It was still a long 40 minutes, but I was changed, and I did make it through.

Only sharing this to encourage you to know some Scripture that you can quote at any time.  God’s Word is powerful and effective!  God Himself comes to you through His Word to comfort and help you through.  What’s your “go to” passage?  Psalm 23; Jeremiah 29:11; John 3:16?  Find something and learn it!  Memorize it so it will come to you clearly at a moment’s notice.  Write it on an index card and read it when you are waiting at a stop light.  Put it up on the mirror and read it while you’re getting ready for the day.  Read it as a prayer before you eat your lunch.  Hide His Word in your heart…it will help your brain!

I pray you will experience His goodness even in your worst mess!  Hope to see you on Sunday at 9am or 11am.  Read Romans 1:24-32 to prepare yourself for the message.

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)