Do the next thing

This is a poem that I looked up because Elizabeth Elliot quoted it in one (or more) of her books. I have been finishing up grades for the first semester and cleaning out my gradebook for the second semester when I saw this again. Sometimes I get really stressed by life and feel almost paralyzed because I don't know what to do or what to do first...so this poem is so good for me because it reminds me to offer up all of my anxieties and fears to the Lord, to trust that He is working for my good and to just do something...the next thing.

Do The Next Thing

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea, there came in the twilight a message to me. Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven. And all through the hours the quiet words ring,like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear, many a doubt hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from heaven, time, opportunity, guidance are given. Fear not tomorrow, child of the King, trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand, who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener, working or suffering be thy demeanor, in His dear presence, the rest of His calm, the light of His countenance, be thy psalm. Do the next thing."

Santa Barbara get away and Christmas

We decided to go up to Santa Barbara for our anniversary this year. We had to wait until the weekend after the 16th because of work stuff. I think we figured out though, that trying to get away the weekend before Christmas is not an easy thing to do. But, once we were actually up there is was really nice. We finished our Christmas shopping on State street and went to see National Treasure at the Arlington theater, which is huge! We spend a few hours up at Solvang on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday night we ate at a restaurant called Brophy Brothers in Santa Barbara harbor. They had some of the best fish and chips that I've ever tasted!

There were quite a few pelicans hanging out at the entrance to the harbor. There were even a few on the wharf. They gave me a chance to try out my new camera.

Alan and I enjoyed a quiet Christmas morning at home opening gifts and then we went over to my mom's house for the rest of the day. We found it funny that while Alan got mostly clothes and gift cards, I received techno gadgets and of course books!