I've been up for several hours; can't sleep. As I've been praying throughout the night and researching on the computer I am reminded of a scripture talked about in yesterday's sermon. Now I am taking this scripture completely out of context from what the message was, but it fits me where I am right now. I'll explain why in a minute or two have patience it is after all 5:27am here!

"Take captive EVERY thought and make it obedient to Christ!" 2 Cor
10:5b

Random negative thoughts run through my head like cockroaches on a dirty kitchen floor in the south. You turn the light on and they scatter so fast you'll never catch all, you're lucky to catch one of them nasty beasts. When I turn the "light" on in my head those negative thoughts scatter, but the second I take my mind off of Him, they come running back for more. The more I focus on Christ the more at peace I am in the midst of all this. Is my life suddenly perfect? No. Am I cancer free? No. Do I suddenly love homework time? No. Is the laundry finished? No. Dinner on the table? No. Do I realize I can handle all of this? Yes. because ...

"God has not given me a spirit of fear (or cowardice) but He has given us a
Spirit of power and of love and of calm and a well-balanced mind and discipline
and self-control!" 2 Timothy 1:7

If I can conquer my mind, where all fear begins then I can conquer anything brought before me. Cockroaches begone... let the Peace begin!

Of course I lived in the south for many years and sometimes you need more than a light to get the cockroaches to scatter, a hammer will do, Terminx will often do the trick... and on the rare occasion I've resorted to SCREAMING! So what am I asking... for anyone and everyone who reads this to pray 2 Timothy1:7 over me and my family. My family is also forced to deal with this beast, they need peace of mind as well.