What's on your mind?

A lot has been on my mind lately, in fact it doesn't seem to ever shut off anymore. I find myself going to sleep and then thinking about all kinds of things from things I need to accomplish at work, places I need to send my resumes too, what I am going to cook for dinner the next day, and making plans with Stephen for the holidays. It is crazy! Recently I have been plagued by some serious thoughts too.

You may have seen or read about the little girl that went missing while walking home from school in Florida and was then found 2 days later at a landfill in Georgia. The little girl's name was Somer Thompson, she was 7, and she lived 5-10 minutes away from me. I have been thinking and praying for her family a lot the past two weeks. My heart really does go out to them, as I cannot even comprehend what they are going through.

Today, a woman in Orange Park got out of the shower while getting ready for work only to find her husband had woken up and killed their two children and himself while she was getting ready. The children were 16 and 11. As I read the story online about this happening in my community, my heart broke for this woman. Please lift her up in prayers!!

I am going to continue to focus on this verse that has stood out to me a lot recently with all the stress, uncertainty, and negativity in the world:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil 4:6-8

Isn't it encouraging to know that we can surrender all the things going on in our families, our communities, our minds and hearts to the Lord and he will take care of it and give us peace? Praise God!