Don’t Worry, Be Happy! This Too Shall Pass! Why Smile? Why We Sing! Why Worry?

If you are thinking what my wife did after reading the title, you may want to grab me by the neck & tell me to stop already & give some answers!

Please don’t grab me by the neck as the ridiculous amount of titanium that resides there from 2 cervical fusions 5 years ago & 3 damaged discs from a car accident 2+ years ago are providing more than enough pain!

I began a drug trial for nerve pain several months ago with the hope that the intense pain that I now live with 24/7 would either cease to exist or at least decrease.

Throughout the last couple of years there have been many sleepless nights which cause the following days to be even harder than the last as the pain continues to increase. 

"Don’t Worry, Be Happy!" is a song by Bobby McFerrin & part of the first verse is so true.

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy!

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." — Corrie ten Boom

When you think about how worry makes your trouble double & that it empties today of its strength, we may want to do all that we can to not worry.

Happiness is dependent on our circumstances, so I disagree slightly with Bobby McFerrin’s idea that just being happy will cure our worry.

However, joy is supernatural & is always available to us.

In fact, we are commanded to:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS." — 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

I had a poster in my room during my teenage years of a plant with a few drops of rain & verse 18 of 1 THESSALONIANS which states that we should "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS."

So, I should be thankful that my pain is entering excruciating levels I never thought were possible?

My interpretation is that I should continually be filled with the Joy of the HOLY SPIRIT by constant communication with the LORD which will enable me to be thankful for who GOD is.

 "This Too Shall Pass" is a song by OK Go & once again there is some wisdom within the lyrics.

You know you can't keep letting it get you down

And you can't keep dragging that dead weight around

Is it really all that much to lug around

Better run like hell when you hit the ground

When the morning comes

When the morning comes

Let it go, this too shall pass!

We need to let go of our worries because not doing so will affect our daily lives in a negative way by limiting what we can do & where we can go.

"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." — Glenn Turner

"Why Smile?" is the first poem that I have written since high school which was 25 years ago & I was inspired to write it very early on Wednesday morning the 24th of March, 2010 as I became aware in a profound way that the looks on people's faces either increase the physical pain I am already battling & make me feel worse OR something as simple as a smile lifts my soul & encourages me to be filled with joy, love, & peace!

How did the LORD use a tiny baby bird I named Azulito to remind me of HIS care for me?

"Why We Sing!" by Kirk Franklin expresses beautifully why the LORD allowed my wife & I to encounter Azulito yesterday evening.

I sing because I'm happy

I sing because I'm free

HIS eye is on the sparrow

That's the reason why I sing!

"Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience." — Civilla Martin

For my wife & I, the LORD’s eye was on Azulito last night when he fell 30-40 feet from a nest.

My wife Martha Luz heard Azulito crying & rescued him from getting run over by a car.

Both of us were touched profoundly at how this tiny bird who had been hurt in the fall was desperately trying to climb up a tree & return to his nest.

After several minutes of looking for the nest, I finally found what might be the nest. But, it was on a branch that was impossible for us to get to.

Since I had seen a Great White Egret enjoy a tasty baby duck for lunch yesterday afternoon & with there being a busy street along with cats & iguanas & maybe even an alligator in the area, we decided to take Azulito home & care for him.

We borrowed a nest from a duck on Lake Wolfe where we live & Azulito finally was resting comfortably in the confines of our screened back porch after enduring an incredibly stressful evening.

The tenderness in Azulito's eyes was absolutely amazing!

Eventually we took him to Everglades Outpost in Homestead last night as we have plans tomorrow which would keep us out of our home all day & a baby bird needs to be fed every 30 minutes!

Do you know what amazed me most about Azulito?

At first, Azulito was crying & did not want us anywhere near him.

But after I laid down on the ground next to him, Azulito actually stepped on top of Martha Luz's shoe.

I picked Azulito up & all he did was look up at me with those amazing, tender-filled eyes.

I truly believe that the LORD allowed Azulito to understand that we not only intended no harm, but wanted only the best for Azulito.

How do I know that is true?

From the moment Azulito was on my wife's shoe, he did not cry at all!

Not even a peep!

A side benefit of this was that the position I was carrying Azulito in was almost like cradling a baby with my arms bent 90 degrees. Over the last several weeks, that exact position causes an absurd amount of pain shooting down my neck, through my shoulder, & into my forearm.

Of course we had about a 15-20 minute walk remaining from the time I picked up Azulito so you can imagine the muscle spasms & multiplying pain that I endured to care for baby Azulito.

Why do I think that pain could possibly be a benefit?

I am so glad you asked!

"What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." —  MATTHEW10:27-33

Our Heavenly FATHER arranged for my wife & I to be there to care for Azulito.

Something as simple as that was necessary for me.

I found out today that the Drug Trial for nerve pain that I have been participating in has now been terminated as it made the pain for me & many others much worse instead of better.

So I should now be filled with worry that there seems to be no end in sight?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." — MATTHEW 6:25-34

92% of our worries are not legitimate.

40% never happen.

30% already happened.

22% are beyond our control.

That leaves only 8% of our worries being legitimate!

Why worry?

Why worry?

Why worry,

WHEN YOU CAN PRAY!

Why worry

About things you cannot change?

Why worry?

It only makes things worse!

Why worry?

Your power is very limited.

The power of GOD in JESUS is Unlimited.

Why worry,

When faith & hope in JESUS

Will cast out fear?

Why worry?

“He that is on the LORD’s side,

Who can be against him?”

ROMANS 8:31

Why worry,

When you can pray?

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!

By Ken Pilcher, Jr.

May we all learn how to make worry a thing of the past in our lives!

May we encourage others to extinguish the worry in their lives.

Thank YOU JESUS for using such a precious creature as Azulito to remind me how much YOU care for all of us!

May the HOLY SPIRIT continue to develop the caring instincts within me so that YOUR Supernatural Joy, Love, & Peace would flow freely from within me to whomever YOU choose!

I love YOU GOD & I am humbled that YOU should love someone like me.

I shall say "¡Hasta luego pues!" with "Why Worry?"   by Dire Straits!

Baby, I see this world has made you sad

Some people can be bad

The things they do, the things they say

But baby, I'll wipe away those bitter tears

I'll chase away those restless fears

That turn your blue skies into gray

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain

There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same

So why worry now?

Why worry now?

Baby, when I get down I turn to you

And you make sense of what I do

I know it isn't hard to say

But baby, just when this world seems mean and cold

Our love comes shining red and gold

And all the rest is by the way

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain

There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same

So why worry now?

Why worry now?

FYI ... HOW DO WE SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES? is the present story of how my wife & I are now caring for 8 English Call Ducklings whose Mum abandoned them & they will soon be doing all they were created to do, are we able to say the same thing?

This was a note that I originally published on Facebook Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 9:00pm EST!

Why am I sharing it now almost 2 years later?

I was inspired to share this on my blog from a brother in CHRIST that I have grown to love in a very short time as the HOLY SPIRIT has allowed us to connect & share some intimate details about our lives & as we share the good & the bad, we are able to continue praising JESUS because it doesn't matter what happens to any  of us, we must always praise JESUS & we should do so first thing in the morning!

It began with a simple message I sent to a few people the HOLY SPIRIT prompted me to share the following along with the last 4 blog entries:

We were created to praise the LORD but we have drifted away from HIS will at our own peril so praising JESUS is vital!

"Your nature is not the problem. The problem is that you have become alienated from your nature ― from your power source." ― Laurie Helgoe

I had an epiphany several weeks ago while out in the middle of the lake in my kayak that until I am somehow healed either via a supernatural miracle or via another surgery & some rehab ... I felt the LORD filling me with faith, hope, grace, joy, love, & peace to reach out to the few people who I see on the lake when I am in my kayak & enjoy the creation of the LORD & I have written a couple of blog entries which document this journey.

If this wilderness is to continue for me & my wife for however long it may be, all I may do is understand that the LORD will care for us each day, because HE is in the present where HIS presence resides.

My blog entries may be for me & me alone as a testimony in this time of challenge as physically I am in an increasing battle of pain that amazingly gets worse each day & for whatever reason, the LORD seems to have not given any wisdom in finding a doctor that will be able to help me ease some of the pain & do whatever it takes to be physically able for a 3rd neck surgery.

Thank you so much for your prayers for me & Martha Luz as we press on to win the prize & all I can do is ask that you praise the LORD in any & all circumstances of your life!

How then do we fly like an eagle?

The following 2 songs/videos are what my new brotha in CHRIST shared with me & now I want you to be blessed as well if the HOLY SPIRIT so desires to do so!

"Give Me JESUS" by Fernando Ortega

My physical pain increases every day but in a miraculous way the supernatural faith, grace, joy, love, & peace of JESUS becomes stronger & stronger & that is because JESUS is a 

 FATHER,

SON, &

HOLY SPIRIT!

  

 Miracle Maker!" by Delirious?

May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy & peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT." — ROMANS 15:13  

"Que el Dios de la esperanza los llene de toda alegría y paz a ustedes que creen en él, para que rebosen de esperanza por el poder del Espíritu Santo." — ROMANOS 15:13

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