Sunday Thoughts

Happy weekend ladies! We have been busy this weekend working around the house and trying to get some things done. I spent most of the day on Friday putting together wicker furniture for my screened porch. I have vowed never to purchase outdoor furniture that is not already put together. Ugh!

Although I didn’t love putting it together, I love how it turned out. Our screened porch is much cozier, and I can sit out there and read and have my morning quiet time and of course, coffee.

Yesterday we had a graduation party to attend, and then we celebrated our granddaughters first birthday. She is growing up so fast! It’s hard to believe how much they change in a year.

She looks so much like her mama in this picture.

I have shared with you before my love for podcasts. I have recently started listening to The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman. This is a weekly podcast to help clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing. I recommend if you listen to it, to go back and start from the beginning.

Emily shares lots of heart messages, and I’m a fan of talking from the heart. She’s a believer in Christ, and she has a calming voice. She recently shared a quote that I had to write down. I paused the podcast to write down each word.

Here it is: I can’t prevent storms from coming, but I can decide not to invent my own. -Shawn Groves

Maybe that quote doesn’t hit you the same way it does me, but I have lived through my fair amount of “life” storms. And when I read the quote, I realized that I sometimes invent “life” storms.

It’s what I like to call the what ifs. What if I get a horrible disease and I cant’ work, what if something happens to one of my children or grand-children or what if the person who deeply wounded me, wounds me again???? What-if, what-if, what-if?

If I’m not in a storm, I’m always thinking about the next one and what it will be and how will I handle it? Can anyone else relate?

It’s taken me a long time to learn that I can’t control any of this. I have to let go of it all and lay it at the feet of Jesus. I’m not there yet. I have days when I do it and I do it well. Then I’ll take it back and I think I can do it on my own. But I can’t.

If there’s one thing I know, I’m desperate for Jesus. I’m nothing without Him.

Today, let’s decide to live in this moment, in this day. Let’s not think about what next year will bring or next month, or even next week. Seize today ladies because it’s a gift!

I’d love to know your thoughts. Do you sometimes live in what if it moments?

A song about control seemed appropriate. Enjoy!

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Have a blessed day!

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  1. Thank you! I most definitely can relate, and I love this quote. Thank you for sharing from your heart! 🙂

  2. Love the quote!! The “what-ifs” are killing me right now. Lots of changes and happenings. Moving, graduation, soon to be college, etc. etc. Thank you for sharing. Just need to place all my fears and worries at the feet of Jesus. Have a blessed day!

  3. Can I say just how much that quote from Shawn Groves meant to me? As the spears of life keep being hurled at me I just pray I don’t become part of the attack on myself or my family…….Thank you for sharing!!!!!

  4. As much as I LOVE your fashion post I love your Sunday post with great inspirational quotes, music and encouraging words to reflect on.
    Thank you!

  5. I am always thinking what if?!!
    I will also try to seize the moments everyday!! Today I lived the moment and I had a fantastic time with my mom,my sister, my daughter, my niece, my cousin, my cousin’s son , my aunt and my uncle!!!!😊

  6. I love that song because I can certainly relate!
    I used to worry a lot… but since having some dramatically UNcontrollable things happen in my life over the past 3 years… I can say I don’t worry like I used to. It’s not that I do t ever- but even that seems different. No matter what this broken life brings- God is ALWAYS good!
    Love to you and your family! That Claire is so beautiful too! Happy 1st BIRTHday!

  7. Love the quote!! It is so true. We grow anxious about the unknown, with transition periods in our life, the big decisions like which house to buy/where to live, what if we lose our job, our kid is in an accident when driving, they struggle with school…. We so often create our own anxiety, looking at all the assumptions and what if’s….. It is hard to step back, realize we are not in control and let God guide the reins. But, we are so much more at peace with what life brings us if we realize God knows the whole puzzle while we are struggling with this one piece.

  8. First of all, thanks for sharing Claire pics—so cute!! Second, sometimes don’t we just need a Sunday off once in a while? I totally get it! Third, yes—I wish I wasn’t such a “what if” person. I read a quote the other day that helped me (even though I know Jesus is in control no matter what)—“Thoughts are just thoughts. They are NOT predictions. Let them come and then let them go”. Or on my case, it just means I need to focus my thoughts on Jesus!!

  9. Sometimes I think I am more comfortable living in a state of always waiting for the others shoe to drop. It’s not a happy place at all, but so sometimes I catch myself feeling “too happy” and consciously reel myself back in so that I am not caught off guard when the next bad thing happens. Not at all what Christ intended I know. Looking forward to the podcast, thank you!

  10. I can totally relate. Both my children are grown married – and live out of state. Our daughter just had our first grandchild ❤️ I’m always thinking what if my grandson doesn’t know me? What if something happens to one of my children or their spouses. The older I get the harder it is to be further away. I get very melancholy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will definitely listen to the podcasts. I know I need help in this area. Life goes by too quickly to not enjoy each day the Lord has given us!

  11. I find myself living in “what if” and “would, shoulda, coulda” land. Have to tell myself, let go, God has my back, no matter what!

  12. That book by Emily Freeman is outstanding. I’m reading it slowly, underlining tons! I will be reading it over and over.

  13. You are very normal sounding to me. I think most of us think of “what if” because most of us have had life’s trials and having Jesus in our lives makes the biggest difference in the ones who believe in him. If we didn’t have this belief it’s tougher to get through the what if’s in life.

    Sometimes it’s fun to just enjoy the day know matter what ..

    Your granddaughter is adorable what a blessing.. You are too Cyndi for just showing us the normal feelings and thoughts it’s honesty that we can understand and most of us think like you.

    So thank you for being you!

  14. Yes, I definitely have a difficult time not thinking about the what if’s. I love that quote. I need to learn to focus on today and not worry about tomorrow. I enjoy reading your blog. Your granddaughter is precious. Thank you for suggesting the podcast. I will take a listen to it.

  15. Yes, I live in the what ifs. It’s hard to get them out of your head once they are in there. I will definitely take a listen to this pod cast. I also love to listen to jole osteen on his pod cast. He always tells you to change the channel in your mind when those thoughts creep in. Anyway. Happy birthday to your sweet granddaughter. Have a great weekend.

  16. Hi Cyndi!
    I am happy you had time this morning. There is never enough. We are doing to be decorating a new smaller screened in porch. I’d love to see what have done with your new porch! Would you share pictures?!

    Thank you!

  17. Claire is just too adorable! Enjoy her and your grandson, as I know you do!!! Sometimes, we just can’t be everywhere we want or supposed to be. There are times when we just need a “me” or “us” day. I totally get it. We may do that once every two years or so, but personally, I think it’s good for you! Enjoy your holiday and thank you for your blog!

  18. Oh my.. that’s me. I tend to hang out too much with the “what ifs” .

    Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.

  19. I am a “retired pastor’s wife” and also find it hard to skip church without a really good reason. ….guess Jesus asked his Father for a reason not to go to the cross. So glad He went anyway.

  20. Happy birthday Clare! She’s adorable! The grands grow faster than the kids did!
    I’m not a what if person! I lost my best friend to ovarian cancer when she was 38. Losing her changed how I look at life. Live each day to the fullest! And what’s my fullest day, may not be the same as yours. And that’s ok. It taught me not to complain about aging. Audrey never got that privilege.

  21. Claire is adorable! Happy 1st Birthday to her! There is nothing wrong with you staying home from church this morning. I have no doubt that you and Way e still filled your souls, just like you do every other day of the week. Beautiful words you shared. I plead guilty, but I have greatly improved since moving to the country where life is much simpler and slower. Have a blessed day!

  22. Your words definitely resonated with me this morning. I am almost 70 years old and feel like I have always lived my life waiting for the next shoe to drop. I don’t really know why that is. I truly feel my life has been blessed, and much more than I deserve. I am not one to ever verbalize to anyone that I have lived a blessed life. That’s when I think God will show me no you have not

  23. I love that quote and spend way too much time dwelling on What if’s…. especially when things are going well and I should just be enjoying life. I can’t wait to listen to the podcast. Thanks for sharing!

  24. So true! As someone who is OCD I feel I always need to be in control and worry about the “what ifs” but I ALWAYS find when I give that control and “what if” worry over to God it always works out. Maybe not always the way I think but always in His right time and plan. And oh the joy of turning it all over to Him! But of course it’s a work in progress… ❤️

  25. “What ifs” are the story of my life!! I’ve lived through both my parents passing, my husband passing, my second daughter that I had days after his passing passed away at 2, my first daughter being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, my very best friend’s passing, church family wounds and deep marital hurts! I feel as though I’m always waiting for the next thing to happen! Such anxiety! I know I’m suppose to give it all up but it’s so hard to actually do!

  26. Hi Cyndi,
    Nice message today, I think so many of us struggle sometime or another with similar feelings of worrying before / if things happen. I learned to plead the blood of Jesus over my family, myself & loved friends, our homes, cars…etc you get the picture. After learning about His covenant of protection & His promise to give His angels charge over us, I was able to really trust Him and pray these reminder to Him of His promises. This has given me so much relief & peace. I still struggle with some areas regarding my future, but I’m a work in progress too. ❤️

  27. she is so adorable. thanks for sharing. just like her big brother with loving the spotlight. this is an email i will be rereading after church. so much to digest. love it. \Oh i think you will have a long wait if you are waiting for anything pre assembled these days. (ha)

  28. I live in the “what if” way too much. It’s a terrible place to be. I will lay it at Jesus feet and pick it right back up again. Daily struggle. Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone in this!

  29. Happy Sunday, This post is just what I needed today. I believe Jesus is working through you! You have been given a great gift.!

  30. The storms that are NOT a choice take a long time to cope with. It would have been my daughter’s 25th Birthday this month. The storms that are a choice are not the problem.

  31. I am a worrier…and I’m working on it. I’m a fixer…and I’m working on that, too. By working on it, I mean I am consciously, vocally, turning things over to Him. I am recognizing that I am only in control of myself and He has a plan. I spend too much energy worrying about things that may never happen or things I can’t change. It is hard work to give up the “what if” mentality but I am trying!! Thanks for the reminder to live in each day rather than always looking to next week, next month, etc!

  32. I love your Sunday words. They always seem to be the perfect words for where I am in my life on any given Sunday. Enjoy your day.

  33. Oh yes, this is what I do……overthinking, over planning, over worrying. I surely can make a mountain out of a molehill. We are going to go to Alaska in two weeks and I have been sitting at my computer for over an hour trying to decide the “perfect” thing to do along the way at each stop. How refreshing to switch over and find this blog by you. Now, if I can try to live without constant worry….maybe I will try to do that for a few hours each day until I can live it. I need to just relax and enjoy the beauty around me.

    1. I too live with what if’s, my husband and I have been married for nearly 25 years. Our first baby didn’t survive, we went on to have 4 more. All 4 have an aspergers (autism) diagnosis among many other issues. We have gone through an amputation with my daughter when she was nine. My husband has terminal cancer, he has a lot of neutron exposure from his former job. My only son has an issue with a “kink” at the base is his brain. It has been one life changing event after another and sometimes it becomes too much. I don’t understand why God gives one family so many mountains and others seem to always be on top. Through it all, we are still a strong family, we have a good marriage and we always make sure the kids are taken care of but I struggle every day by watching my kids not be able to leave the safety of our home(anxiety), my husband not be able to walk across the floor without excruciating pain and what will happen when he’s gone. It’s all so overwhelming. I know God has a plan but I always wait for the other shoe to drop, the what if’s are too familiar.

      1. Melissa, my heart goes out to you and I will certainly be praying for you. It is hard for me also to understand why some people are so blessed and others struggle. However, I’ve come to realize that sometimes those that are so blessed don’t seem to realize it and appreciate it. I pray that you find joy in each day and know someday we will understand it all.

      2. Oh, Melissa! Bless your soul! I stopped to pray for your family! I do want to encourage you. You definitely have more challenges in one family than seems fair, but I’ll wager that your strength and faith are an inspiration to SO many people. I know they are to me…