Strength for today...bright hope for tomorrow

     "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today's trouble is enough for today." (Mt.6:31-34)
     How often have we heard or read those words?  We know them.  We consider them sage advice. We say we want to live by them.  And at various and sundry times we do--we actually obey Jesus' command not to worry and instead fix our focus firmly and trustingly upon Him.  And, oh, when we truly relax into Him, when we press into Him, there's nothing that can shake our our peace or demolish our joy.
     But the problem is that far too often we forget.  We forget to trust.  We forget to choose gratitude.  We forget to reject worry in favor of worship.  And we forget to redirect our focus from created things to the Creator of all things.  Ironically, too, it's not so much the big crises of life that trip us up.  Rather, it's often in the little daily, niggling concerns of life, that we allow our minds to wander and our hearts to fall into that worn-out, old rut of worrying and fretting.
     Of course, this has never happened to me...at least not for the last 59 seconds or so.  Sigh.
      Where did worrying ever get us?! Seriously, when have our anxious thoughts or runaway emotions ever helped our children or our spouses or our health concerns or our financial woes or our relationship struggles?  Has fretting ever made any kind of positive difference?  Ever?
     Nope.  Worrying is nothing but a joy-thief and a peace-stealer.
     And here's the thing--worrying is a CHOICE!  We choose fretting...or trusting.  We choose worrying...or worshipping.  We choose rehearsing our woes...or remembering God's past faithfulness.  We choose our thoughts and our focus just as surely as we choose the direction we turn our car's steering wheel.  Will we turn toward trusting in our ever-faithful, Almighty God or will we turn toward indulging in our fearful "what if's?"
     I love the way The Message paraphrases v.34: "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
     Amen!  We choose (there's that word again) to give our "entire attention to what God is doing right now"--that means living fully and gratefully and joyfully in the present moment.  Living in the river of God's grace and goodness today, right now.  That's all any of us has anyway--this day.  This hour.  This moment. The Lord will always be more than enough for all that we need right now.
     But then trusting that whatever comes tomorrow, our Great and forever faithful and eternally present, I Am, will be there too. And He will provide and equip and empower and sustain and redeem whatever tomorrow holds in store as well.
     Here's how Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it: "Worry is always directed toward tomorrow. [Ain't that the truth?!] In the strictest sense, however, possessions are intended only for today.  It is precisely the securing of tomorrow that makes me insecure today...Only those who place tomorrow in God's hands and receive what they need to live today are truly secure.  Receiving daily liberates us from tomorrow.  Thought for tomorrow delivers us up to endless worry."
     "Give us this day, our daily bread," Jesus has taught us to pray. (Mt.6:11)  Today's bread.  Today's need.  Today's gifts.  Today's never-to-be-repeated opportunities to love and laugh, to reflect and rejoice.
     Sure, we could all worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow's merciless "What if's." But doesn't all that worrying boil down to refusing to trust that God will be enough?  Refusing to believe that God is infinitely greater than any of our imagined what if scenarios?
     Yet has He ever failed to pull us through in the past?   Sure, bad things have happened to all of us for we live in a fallen world, but the Lord is always higher, stronger, bigger, and greater.  He who has brought us this far will not fail us in the future.  And even if, even if the very worst happens, He will still be more than enough.  If we need reminding, look to the cross.  The worst--the absolute worst--ended up being a platform for a demonstration of God's absolute and most glorious best.
     As the old hymn puts it, "Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow..."  That's what He promises--today's strength.  Today's provision.  Today's grace for today's need.  But not tomorrow's...not until tomorrow.  Yet in the meantime, we have bright hope for tomorrow because we know, we know, we know that He is already there and will provide the strength and joy and love and grace we need tomorrow...when it is tomorrow.
     So in the meantime, let's reject worry and relax in Him today.  Let's rejoice in Him and His gifts today.  Let's press in and press on in Him today.  Let's love, enjoy, forgive, and serve those He's placed in our life today.  And let's trust Him for tomorrow.  He's got it anyway.
     To God be the glory.
   

Pressing on!

     New Year's morning.  2014.  Hard to believe we sit on the cusp of this brand new year.  Thank You, Lord, for Your undeserved and indefatigable faithfulness to us this past year.  Help us to remember and rejoice. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you" (Phil.1:3) "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice." (Phil.4:4)
     It's so easy to look back, however, and choose to regret rather than choose to rejoice, isn't it?  I regret that I didn't faithfully have devotions with my children or pray with them every night.  I regret that I didn't love and encourage my husband as I should have.  I regret that I didn't love others unselfishly but rather loved myself far, far too much.  I regret that I didn't worship more and worry less.  I regret that I didn't pray more and pout less.  I regret that I wasn't as disciplined with my time as I should have been and wasted far too much on frivolous, vain, and empty pursuits.  Well, and I regret that I bought way too much take-out food and cooked far too few good meals that we could eat together at home as a family.  I regret that I didn't regularly write and tell and show my husband and children how much I adore them and what priceless, wondrous treasures they are in my life.  And I regret that I didn't consistently make the time to love and enjoy and encourage my friends--also irreplaceable gifts in my life.
     O Lord Jesus, I have so, so far to go.  I'm a great sinner...but You are a great, great, great Savior.
     But here's the thing--we all have a choice.  Yes, a choice to regret and wallow in our failures and misgivings and missed opportunities...
     Or a choice to rejoice in God's incredible goodness and grace to us, even in the midst of our misses and mess-ups...and to press on. 
     Because we have a God who commands us to hand Him our regrets and sins and failures.  Hand them to Him and see the glorious, hallowed shadow of the cross towering over them all. Hand them to Him and remember that Christ's blood covered them all.  Every single one of our sins and regrets and failures.
     Incredibly, unbelievably, in Christ our Savior, we are forgiven for the past.  Forgiven...and therefore freed to look to the future...to press on in Him and thru Him and for Him.
     "But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil.3:13-14)
     Forgiven...means forgetting and then forging ahead in Him.  Pressing on.

     Pressing in and pressing on.  Pressing in closer to my Savior who calls us to abide in Him, to follow Him and to daily experience His resurrection life.  No, we can't do this on our own.  I can't make 10 New Years's resolutions and keep any of them.  I'll break 9 of them before 10:00 this morning!  

     But "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  (Phil.4:13)  I can love through Him. I can encourage and strengthen my husband and children and friends through Him.  I can die to my stinking selfishness and give, serve, and love joyfully and fully and freely through Him.  Well, shoot, I can even cook more home-cooked meals and get rid of that ever-present clutter through Him. 

     It's time to stop regretting and start rejoicing...and then pressing on.  In Him.  

     Pressing in and pressing on--great words for the New Year.  For we have a great, gracious, and glorious God leading the way and urging us onward.  Let's press on in Him.
     To God be the glory.
   

Hitherto...

     It was a regular old weekday.  A regular old late afternoon.  A regular old chilly December day.  A regular old walk for Bingley on the regular old greenway.  Same old, same old.
     Only God breaks through in glory.
     What a sunset.  All to remind us that because He is on the throne, all of our "regular olds" in life are anything but. Not with the Almighty Creator and Redeemer sustaining, upholding, orchestrating, superintending all--all, from the far flung galaxies to this spinning blue planet to the minutest details of each of our lives.
     And now this rainy morning,  I'm reminded that His ways are not our ways.  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa.55:8-9)
     We don't understand why dear friends must struggle with serious illnesses.  We can't comprehend why God allows other dear friends to stagger under the loss of a child.  We can't imagine how God could salvage good out of what seems to be nothing but sorrow and suffering.
     But in those moments, we trust the heart of our Savior even when we cannot see His hand.  We trust what we do know--that He sent His only beloved Son to invade and redeem and restore a lost and broken planet all out of His astounding, staggering love for us.  That He who came so infinitely far for us, to save us and to bring us all the way home, well, He will not fail us nor desert us now.
     That His ways are so far beyond our ways and that somehow, someway, He is working all things--ALL things--together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Rom.8:28)  Even illness and suffering and death and pain.
     I was just now reminded of one of my favorite Spurgeon quotes based on the little verse, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." (I Sam.7:12)  While Janie was in the hospital, a dear friend gave us a small rock with that verse written on it, and that rock still sits on our kitchen counter today.  Our Ebenezer of God's forever faithfulness...even in and through the fires of life.  Because His ways are not our ways...but His ways were, are, and will be, forever right, good and perfect.  We trust...even when we cannot understand, because we look back and see His hand of love, grace, and faithfulness.
     For any who might right now be going through those fires, I hope this might be an encouragement.  It's a little long...but well worth it (as Spurgeon always is!)--

          "The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto."

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for--

He who hath helped thee hitherto

Will help thee all thy journey through.

When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye!"

     Amen!  Might we all know and trust today that "He who hath helped thee hitherto, will help thee all thy journey through."  And He has.  And He will.  

     To God be the glory.

Bingley's big sticks

     "Speak softly and carry a big stick."  (Teddy Roosevelt)  
     Well, we've got a ways to go on speaking softly, but we've totally got the big stick part down pat--

      Bingley picks up sticks constantly--and I mean constantly--on the greenway.  Who knew there were so many sticks?  In all my years of walking on the greenway, I had certainly never noticed such an astounding, staggering abundance and variety of sticks...but trust me, there are. Or at least were.  Bingley's making a big dent in the greenway big-stick population. But if you're looking for a few, come visit our yard where he's got quite an impressive collection. They look lovely piled up on top of all our weeds.  Sigh.
     We've noticed that Mr. Bingley strongly favors big sticks...or better yet huge, ginormous ones!  The one pictured above is actually an example of one of his smaller finds...but he carried it for at least 20 minutes.
     He also likes branches an awful lot.  (Come to think of it, are branches "sticks?"  Hmm.) Here's a branch he managed to nab--

     He hauled this one for a good 10 minutes.  It worked well until we came to a bridge where the stick kept whacking the metal side supports.  The staccato bang, bang, bang, bang finally alarmed Bingley so much that he eventually dropped the stick to try to discover the source of all that annoying racket.  He looked rather puzzled when the noise suddenly ceased.  I explained to him that some mysteries in life remain unanswered this side of heaven.  Might as well pick up another stick and keep moving.
       Actually, a pretty good rule for life, don't you think?  Reminds me of a quote I once heard from author Samuel Beckett: "I can't go on; I'll go on."  Sometimes we just have to trust that even if we don't understand, God does.  And since He's both perfectly good and also completely powerful and in control, our job is to pick ourselves up and keep on going.  Even when we're confused...or exhausted...or discouraged.
     Because, I've learned, there's always another stick.  We may think we've found the very last one, and who knows how we'll manage without another one...but then, low and behold, if we'll just keep on going, there's always another stick on up ahead.  Sometimes just around the bend.  Sometimes we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep our eyes pealed.
     And, by the way, there are all kinds of sticks--on the greenway and in life.  Boy, here was a nice fat one that lasted virtually our whole walk--

    I think Bingley held onto this stick until we got home...then low and behold, what's that?  Another stick in the Worth's yard? O my, that one looks even fatter!  So this one gets dropped in favor of that one...and another one...and on and on.  The dangers of comparison--it's never ever enough, is it?!
     So that's about it for now on Bingley and sticks.  Clearly I'm desperately looking for a diversion--anything to focus upon other than the Christmas mess all over our house that needs to be cleaned up.  But maybe it's time to hitch up my britches and get to work...just go pick up another stick and get going!
     "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (I Cor.15:58)
     Thanks for reminding me, Lord.  To God be the glory.

Family, friends, and rejoicing in His coming!

     A few Christ memories--the girls' (and moms) cookie exchange.  It really had nothing to do with the cookies...and much to do with the priceless gift of friendship.  Thank You, Father.  C.S. Lewis asks: "Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?" Probably not...unless you throw in a few chocolate chip cookies and a brownie or two!
     And more Christmas friendship at our annual December 23rd dinner with several dear friends and families--

All the kids in one room talking and eating and having fun...and the adults in another room doing the same.  Thank You, Father.
      And then there was Christmas day, my wonderful sister having us in Chapel Hill...more friends and family all together to celebrate the gift of one another to love and the ultimate Gift of the Savior who loved us.  "We love because He first loved us." (I John 4:19)--

     Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving us so much that You were willing to come...and to stay. Jesus, our Emmanuel--"God with us."  What a wonder--God always with us in our daily routines and in our desperate crises.  God with us, always and forever, in our every moment on this earth.       And thank You for the joy of celebrating Your birthday once again this year.  O might we never take that wondrous privilege for granted. Thank You for the people we love with whom we can rejoice in the birthday of our King.
   And thank You that You are coming again.  Help us to live this day-after-Christmas in the light of that glorious truth--that You came, You are with us, and You are coming again to make all things right and new and perfect...and so we live with joy and hope in You.  The One who came...and who is coming.
   The party isn't over...we've only seen the opening act!  So as we all clean up over the coming days, might we keep the focus on our King and rejoice in His coming--past, present, and future. The best is yet to come!
    "O come O come, Emmanuel."   To God be the glory.

One moment

     Just pausing for a moment and thinking...about the incarnation.  And about that one moment--that one wondrous and miraculous moment of the Creator becoming the created.  One moment in time--but a moment upon which all of history turned.  A seemingly ordinary moment.  An evening...just like this one, as I sit by the fire for a few precious moments of peace.  Who could have known in that one moment how everything, absolutely everything, would change forever?
     Can we ever wrap our minds around that profoundest, greatest, yet most mysterious and miraculous of moments?: Almighty infinite God becoming finite flesh.  I love what A.W. Tozer wrote:
     "I confess I would have liked to have seen the baby Jesus.  But the glorified Jesus yonder at the right hand of the Majesty on high was the baby Jesus once cradled in the manger straw.  Taking a body of humiliation, He was still the Creator who made the wood of that manger, made the straw, and was Creator of all the beasts that were there.  In truth, He made the little town of Bethlehem and all that it was.  He also made the star that lingered over the scene that night.  He had come into His own world, His Father's world.  Everything we touch and handle belongs to Him.  So we have come to love Him and adore Him and honor Him!"
      Yes, Lord, let us come love, adore, and honor You in this moment right now for You are--
    the Baby cradled in the manger
    the Son calming the storm and curing the leper and the lame
    the Savior climbing willingly upon the cross
    the Lord claiming victory over sin and death in resurrection
    and the Mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords one day coming again in glory to make all things new and right and perfect...forever.
     So many moments...so many wondrous, miraculous, glorious moments.  Thank You for coming in that moment of Christmas, Lord Jesus.  Might we hand You our every moment--for however many moments You choose to give us on this planet--and come and adore You.  To God be the glory.
   

Me time...or Messiah time

               A little food for weekend thought:
     The bold letters on the email proclaimed: "Secrets to a Stress-free Season!!"  Underneath, the secret, thank goodness, is revealed: "Me Time"--in the form of metallics nail lacquer (whatever on earth that is), organic body lotion (who knew we needed organic lotion in addition to vegetables), foot scrub, and a mud mask.  Really?  Is that all it takes?  No wonder I've been feeling a bit stressed lately.  Good grief.
     Nope.  Time to hit the delete button on that one.  It's not "me time," we're needing, but "Messiah time."  The more I focus on me, the worse it all gets.  The more I look to the Messiah, to the One who came on that Bethlehem night over 2000 years ago, well, the more the peace and joy begins to flow.
     As Dietrich Bonhoeffer has written: "Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly?  Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high: whoever looks at the Child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in His lowliness."
     O Lord, gives us this day the heart of the shepherds who "went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the a manger."  And after being with the Messiah, "the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had head and seen, as it had been told them." (Lk 2:18,20).
     O Father, help us rush to You...and not our to-do lists.  Help us glorify You...and not ourselves.  Help us praise and honor You...and no other lesser thing that seeks to steal our love and devotion.
     Even in our busyness, give us Your love, Jesus.  Might our love for, and service to, the people You've place in our lives this Christmas spring out of our time spent first at the manger, worshipping and adoring the Messiah.
     O come let us adore Him....for He alone is worthy.  To God be the glory.