Conditions: 57° and a little drizzle
Disclaimer: Given, watch out and get out of their way…worse with the rain
Crowd dispersed in different directions, at different paces, with different goals. Some working the soreness out post Swamp Rabbit Half, some working the kinks out from recent “underuse” of wheels, while others find joy in hauling around sandbags in the rain. Regardless, everyone put in up to an hour of hard work to get better.
Waited until a few minutes after 06:00 for the 6 (Corn Cob) to arrive. We counted, named, announced, requested prayers, and QIC shared a few words (below) before we prayed.
Excerpt of some words shared before balling it up:
YHC continues to cross paths with men who are getting beat up by life’s struggles. Whether it is a job, marital problems, wayward children, substance abuse….Satan is busy and he is attacking men all around us. YHC shared some of the message below and reminded all PAX that they are not alone, there are other men going through the exact same struggles, they have brothers here to help them, and ultimately there is peace because GOD is in control. Finding that peace is easier said than done, by my prayer is that you find it.
Fear. One of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Worry, anxiety, fear…can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision.
So much crazy going on around us today – wars, conflicts, persecution, violence, crime, natural disasters, terrorism, economic uncertainty, unemployment, divisions, disease, death. We fear for our children’s future, we fear for our families, we fear for our financial future, we fear for our safety. The list goes on…long. There actually is a lot we could potentially worry about.
Yet reality tells us that so much of what we spend our time worrying about never even happens. Living under the weight of the “what if’s” is a hard place to dwell.
I struggled with fear and worry for years. But through time, I began to find that the things that once would have sent me down an anxious spiral, no longer had the same effect. It didn’t happen quickly, but over days, months, years.
I read words – of life – of truth. Soaking them in, over and over, praying them out loud. Until they became so familiar, they replaced the other things in my mind that I’d battled against. There’s nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them, because they’re God’s words.
Change happened. Anxious thoughts began to diminish. Worry let go of its constant grip. And though fear is sometimes still there, it no longer wields control, holding me back, paralyzing me in its grasp.
His words are “life” words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days.
It’s not always easy, and it often comes down to a choice:
- Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control your life.
- Choosing to guard your heart.
- Choosing to focus your mind on what is truth in the midst of uncertain times.
We might still feel afraid, but we can believe that God is with us. We may not be in control, but we can trust the One who is. We may not know the future, but we can know the God who does.
33 Verses to Remind Us – We Do Not Have to Fear:
1. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Announcements: 1) F3 Greenwood Campout 4/13-4/14 2) Hodges 5k Memorial Run followed by PAX/family food and fellowship 3) Sign Up for March Madness Challenge (details shared on Twitter, teams selected on Wed this week)
Prayers: Sugar’s sister in law (additional tests and treatment), Still family as Lawson continues to receive treatment, All PAX who are in a storm and can’t see a way out….reach out to a brother for help!
Thankful…
Boy George