Few of us don’t appreciate fully a gorgeous sunset, ocean waves crossing our feet, majestic mountains or a peacock with its feathers fully displayed. At the same time we are horrified by tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes. Both sentences describe nature, but there is a significant difference. One describes things specifically and uniquely created and the other describes results of changes in the earth and atmosphere. Planet Carol is human so created as a specific being, but has been altered by changes in her thinking, emotions, atmospheres and circumstances around her. Daily I am in contact with people who are deeply insecure about themselves and their circumstances and it is very easy to empathize with them in a world that is so unstable. It has been very refreshing to be reminded of two things in our first sessions of Vacation Bible School:

1. I am God’s greatest creation. I can praise Him! Psalm 139:14 says I am remarkably and wonderfully made.


2. God cares about me. I can trust Him no matter what. 1 Peter 5:7 says I can cast all my care up Him because He cares about me.

(Direct quotes from Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS materials I am teaching in the pink cowboy hat!)

I never cease to be amazed by how much I learn when teaching children. There are simply basics and truth that are foundational and sure. Just like a car won’t run without gas in the tank I have often sputtered and spurted instead of operating as I was designed to due to lack of filling my heart and mind with God’s word of truth. In addition I have allowed circumstances to run my thinking instead of directing my own thoughts into the spiritually healthy truth of God’s thoughts. As my planet orbits having accepted repairs that have truly altered me renewing my strength I plan to keep my eyes wide open and watch for distractions and make an immediate decision to steer clear………………….

If you have children you have played one of a hundred versions of “What do I See?” We all know the routine- give the color and everyone guesses something different and we all suspect the “leader” may be changing their mind in the course of the guessing. In the photo above I saw 2 girls sharing a moment at the Zoo. When my granddaughter saw it she asked me why I took a photo of their bottoms! What do I see today- a life with too much to do and no possible way it will all get done. A life with needs that can’t possibly be met with what I have and know. Friends and family hurting for a variety of reasons including financial stress, physical pains, mistreatment coming from a former source of love, overload of responsibilities on their plate- just to name a few. I see a world that used to be fairly simple as such a complicated place there is no way to find your way through the maze. Just like the leader in the game who has named the color I keep changing my mind about what it really is I want to draw attention to!


Rereading the above paragraph I find it very reasonable for any of us to choose to withdraw from dealing with circumstances so overwhelming. However in my orbits over the years I have found a solution that has worked when life was easier as well as in the hard places. It is simply this:

1. Make a list of the top 5 things bothering you.

2. Choose which one of those things is bothering you the most.

3. Address that one thing and life takes an upward turn!

Sometimes the thing bothering me the most was not the most serious thing on the list- it was having not mailed birthday cards sitting on the counter for several weeks or a call to someone I care about. Other times something bigger- like doing the taxes or dealing with a financial issue turned out not to be as big as I had built it up on the “to do list” and I would feel almost foolish for the amount of energy the I had used up worrying over nothing! When I freed my mind from one stressor it increased hope and confidence that others that remained overwhelming might also be conquered in time.

Jesus felt overwhelmed as a man on the earth. He is not without compassion and empathy for what each of us face. And I will fly again in the universe because He has not left me alone. He filled me with His Holy Spirit to be my comforter, my wisdom, my navigator who can take my wrong turns and make corrections that put me back in orbit……..

Most of us are blessed to take a break- go to a ball game- see the fireworks, poolside barbeques and apple pie- The perfect fourth! How is it then that as soon as the fireworks are over they start up somewhere else! The car battery has to be replaced – the computer caught a bad virus-$125 to clean it up not including a couple days work lost and a few scrabble plays missed! Then to top it off the dentist hits a nerve with the Novocain shot! It’s like mumps on the right side for a few days! In the middle of this scenario I taught my 7 and 9 year old grandchildren how to play Life. They loved getting a salary and getting married (receiving gifts). However my granddaughter declared there was no way she was taking twin boys so we exchanged for one boy and a girl. My grandson, the proud banker kept trying to sneak us money from the bank thinking he as the banker had that privilege! (Is this true-ha) They fussed at paying bills, but made a huge deal of collecting money! We never finished, but the point that life doesn’t always bring what we want was clear.


Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.” Hard to believe when things so easily fall apart! Yet God was, is and always will be. It is our free will to lay all things broken at His feet knowing only He can repair His creation. I am thinking I’ve made a mess of some stuff. I am feeling bad about myself because of it. However I am believing that not only can God fix it- He wants to very much and repairs are happening!!! In the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” the boyfriend comes up with the winning phrase for the jewelry company “Frost Yourself”. At the party his girlfriend gets to wear something she could never buy for herself and it’s beautiful. Planet Carol is spending more time at God’s party- His “frosting” is free, powerful, and life changing. Once we taste of it we want more and there always is more! We may live frustrated with cars, computers and cavities, but our joy can remain with us as we frost ourselves with God.

“He who refreshes will himself be refreshed” Proverbs 11:25. Going to store up a bit extra to squirt on the next faltering planet that crosses my orbit……