Relentless rejoicers

       

        Waiting.
        Waiting for snow, or sleet, or (horrors of horrors) freezing rain to fall all day long.  Oh joy.
        Here's what I'm wondering: why on earth does any human being voluntarily live in Wisconsin...or Minnesota...or North Dakota?  Seriously, winter in some of these arctic tundra states must be beyond brutal.  I don't care how much you love skiing, sledding, and ice skating...I simply cannot imagine how you survive month after month of frigid temperatures and frozen precipitation.            Yes, snow is absolutely beautiful and peaceful, and the cooler temperatures can be so invigorating, but still...  I wouldn't last a week up there.  No way, no how.
        But..."Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thess.5:16-18)
        So right now, thank You, Father, for this day, this sleet/snow/freezing rain-filled day.  Thank You for the quietness, for the break from the same old busy routine, for the time at home to (Lord willing) read and and sit by the fire and enjoy time with our families or solitude, as the case may be.  Thank You for dryers for wet clothes.  Thank You for power (so far).  Thank You for plenty of food and chocolate.  Thank You for cell phones to keep in touch with children (won't they be so happy to hear from us?!) and friends.  Thank You for hot tea and Your warm, nourishing Word to savor and strengthen us this morning.
        And thank You for the reminder that we want to be relentless rejoicers and not contagious complainers.
       We have a choice, each day, each hour, whether we will obey Your command to rejoice always and to pray unceasingly, and to give thanks in all circumstances.  It's not theoretical, is it?  We all tend to do pretty well when it's "in theory"...but sometimes, when the rubber meets the road and life doesn't go quite according to plan, well, we forget.  And we fall into the old grumbling and griping or worrying and fretting mode.  Yuck.  Oh how I don't want to be a contagious complainer!
        So thank You, Lord, that Your mana reminds each new day to start afresh.  To rejoice in You this day.  To pray and practice Your presence throughout this day.  And to give thanks in all, all, all that You bring us this day.  This never-to-be-repeated treasure of a day.
        Oh how I loved these words I just read from Ann Voskamp: "The grace that's in this moment is  your mana.  Wish for the past and you drink poison.  Worry about the future and you eat fire.  Stay in this moment and you eat the mana needed for now."
        Yes, stay in this moment, rejoice in this moment, pray in this moment, give thanks in this moment, and find God's amazing, beautiful grace sustaining and empowering you whatever this day may bring.
         Thank You, Lord, thank You...for Your presence, for Your mana, and for the gift of this day.  Teach us, help us, Father, to be relentless rejoicers.
         To God be the glory.