Tuesday 4: "Trouble Right Here In River City"

 Trouble Right here in River City

(Per our Hostess Annie:)
Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we strive to interest you with 4 questions each week.

"ya got trouble my friend, right here I say trouble right here in River City..." the music man

Problems come to us all and you don't even need to live in River City!

Some you can solve, some you can't. Some scare you. For instance, on Facebook I lost a lot of people from my friends list and I have no idea why. It was enough people to make me think it was a glitch but then I was too shy to ask people if they had gotten rid of me because they just don't like me....so I did nothing. What about your problems?

1. Do you think that you handle problems well over all?

I believe I do most of the time. I put my faith in God and trust Him to work things out, but that doesn't mean that I don't have some moments of panic or distress when things go wrong. My humanness rushes to the surface as soon as trouble starts, but then when I allow God to take over...and often times He just takes over without my permission because if I am too distressed to remember to "let go and let God" take over, He sees that and just picks me up and carries me through.

Romans 8:26-28 New King James Version

"26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

2. What kinds of problems send you into a tizzy or downright scare you? Maybe some just exasperate you?

Well, of course health problems for me or any of my loved ones and/or friends...things that come out of the blue totally unexpected can be frightening.  But again, GOD.  

I Corinthians 10:12-13

"12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Those verses do not say that we will never have temptations or troubles or sorrows, but that when they do come, God will see us through it. He will give us what we need as we need it to be able to cope and deal with the situation, whether it be temptations or sickness or other troubles that come our way.

3. We always have God in our corner but besides him do you have a reliable back up system to go to for help with car trouble, home repairs and maintenance, or any troubles that may arise for you?

It is sometimes difficult to find "reliable" persons for car trouble, home repairs, etc.  They are often expensive and we never know for sure if they are reliable.  My husband is good at finding people whom he feels he can trust to work on different projects that need doing.  Oftentimes these are people in our church or friends of the family that are recommended to him or with whom he has cultivated a friendship and we have often found these folks to be the most reliable and also affordable.  We have also found that living in a small town/community actually makes it easier to find help than when we lived in a city where everything and everyone was totally impersonal.  It "pays" to develop a network of friends and people who are talented and also willing to help in time of need.

4 I love the idea that a lovely cupcake can fix anything at all. "Oh, you are sick? Just eat a dozen of these delicious cupcakes and you will be right as rain!" What foods, places, music or whatever can make a problem seem easier to handle? I guess we are talking about what brings you comfort in the way of material things.

LOL. I've never found "cupcakes" to be all that beneficial, rather they usually make me even sicker. LOL.  But then again, a piece of homemade apple pie and/or a bowl of ice cream might help more. LOL   But seriously, I do not usually go to "food" or other material sources to make me feel better.  That is a real trap that can be very harmful for anyone to fall back on.   I find my comfort in God's Word, in the fellowship of good friends, and music that is of a spiritual nature...old hymns, gospel music, inspirational music.   Also sometimes when we are feeling a little "down", taking a ride in the country or to a lake or park where we can get out and walk and be in nature with God's beautiful creation for a while is very soothing.  I've been wanting to take a ride to the beach (ocean) and just walk on the beach, but we will probably wait until things aren't quite so hot and crowded.  

Sometimes getting away from crowds, people, and things is the most comforting of all.  I love to sit out in the Memorial/Secret garden on the swing beside Still Waters Pond and just relax.

Here is how that looks right now as I write this early in the morning...things are a little damp outside from last night's rain, but everything is lush and green and beautiful, and we are thankful.  

Well, that's today's Tuesday 4.  I hope you enjoyed these answers.  I want to thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers and comments over the past few days/weeks while we have been sick.  We are mostly better, but still have lingering fatigue.  We did make it to Sunday School Sunday morning so hubby could teach his class, but again, we were both so exhausted and feeling weak and went home right after and took another nap.  That seems to be our pattern right now...we need naps a few times a day in between activities.  Hubby ended up going to the Dr. yesterday and they gave him a big shot of vitamin B12 and put him on steroids for a few days.  Hopefully that will give him the boost he needs to get over the hump.  It keeps feeling like we get over the hump and then crash again, but little by little we are getting there. 

 Also, the events over the weekend regarding the assassination attempt on our former President and all of the horror that went along with that was very upsetting to us. We were watching the rally right when it all happened, and I can attest to you that the shock of seeing that happen in real time was very surreal.  This was definitely a time when I felt very afraid and overwhelmed with anxiety for those moments when everything was unfolding and we didn't know the outcome.  I began to weep and pray immediately.  We are SO thankful that President Trump was okay, but our hearts go out to the families of those who lost a dear loved one and the others who were wounded, and for the trauma that struck so many hearts at that moment.  We are praying now for God to work in the hearts and lives of people in "high power" in our nation, and may our country turn its heart back to God.  

Amen

Okay, let's all go over to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4  and see what others are saying today!

Have a blessed day my friends.