Day Eight

June 8, 2016.  What a beautiful day, Lord, You have made.  I went outside to mail some cards as Your playful breeze beckoned me to linger and feel the warmth of the brilliant sun.  I see the tree swaying gently, even as I write this blog, and wish I could just go back out and enjoy the pleasant day provided for me.

For me.  You made this day for me.  "This is the day the Lord has made and I am to rejoice and be glad in it."  And a great part of me is, Father.  I'm watching the tree, hearing the noise from the wind, and that blue sky?  It's just perfect, God.  Perfect!  Like You are.

My mind has lots of things going through it and with such a small amount of space, my thoughts tend to come out of my fingers.  Two songs are going through--no, make that three--my head.  The first is from way back when called "When He Beckons Me Home To Stay."  My friends from Unity Baptist Church, Mike, Becky, Myra, and the precious Alechia used to sing it sometimes and it went through my mind as I was putting the stamps on my cards and felt the calling of the great outdoors.  The next song--which goes with today's Bible Study reading--is the song by Casting Crowns, "East to West" and I love the message it provides for me.  Then lastly, because of the beauty You have made, the children's classic "This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made."  

Rejoice would be the key theme to these songs and to the verses I am about to share with you readers.  Ready?  They come from Psalm 103:8-12 and go like this:

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abiding in steadfast love.He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever.He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love towards those who fear Him;as far as the east is from the west so far does He remove our transgressions from us.

So much here that could be discussed but I think instead that I will just rejoice in the fact that God loves me.  Do I ever get on His nerves?  Surely!  Does He get mad at me?  Mmmn, how could He not?  But just as kids do bad stuff and we reprimand them for it, we don't hold that infraction against them for the rest of the day, much less the rest of their lives (this nugget of wisdom is courtesy of my loving and wise hubby).  God is perfectly just to chide me and honestly, I appreciate when He does.  I know I'm far from perfect and when I do err, He doesn't let me by with it--not because I am so great, but because He is.  And I'm to reflect His Son Jesus and I can't very well do that, now can I, when I am left to my own devices?  

Speaking of leaving, I will close with the link to another song I dearly love by The Mike Whitson Family:  "Jesus, I've Got A Longing."  Hope you will enjoy it!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n77_AQLhUwY

Give yourself a break!

So, how's your day going so far?  Yeah, that can be a loaded question.  Some of us are back to the daily grinds at work, where it seems, perhaps, as though the end is never in sight.  Others see all of that laundry piled up, waiting to be washed--along with the load still in the dryer and, come to think of it, the dishes are still in the dishwasher waiting to be properly placed as well.

Can I ask you to stop for just a moment, 60 seconds, and just pause.  Be still.  Take a deep breath.  If a window is nearby, gaze out towards it and remember this:  This is the day that the Lord has made.  This one!  Right at this very moment our heavenly and oh-so-sweet Lord is resting on His throne, and guess what friends?  He's got it all under control!  Yeah, life has a way of weighing down on us but only if we let it.  Relax!    

Okay.  You've looked outside and been still for 20 seconds or so and are itching to get back to it but wait!  There's still another part to do--the better part.  For you see, there's a second portion to this verse that goes like this:  let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Mmn hmn.  Shout glory or hallelujah!  Someone may look at you funnily but what else is new?  Whisper a quiet thanks.  Murmur a silent prayer but not of "Help me, God" but instead "Thank You, Lord."  After all, you have clothes to wear, right?  Some don't.  Dishes to put up means you probably have been eating.  There are many out there begging for what you scraped off of those plates.  You have a job to go to so you can help to provide for your family.  Some can't even get off of the couch.  Mostly though?  You've got a God that loves you beyond measure.  He's numbered your very hairs and notices each tear, each sigh, each unutterable prayer.

Okay, 10 seconds left.  Take another deep breath.  Exhale slowly.  Smile at someone randomly and see the unexpected joy you just put in his/her life by this teeny little act of kindness.  By now, my prayer is that you are smiling too!

Not bad for a minute of your time, huh?  Let's do it again soon!

Put me in, Coach!

May 9, 2015

Good morning!  It's a beautiful spring day and I plan to go out and enjoy it.  In a few minutes, Steve and I will head to the ball field to watch our two oldest gsons play some Tball.  It should be a fun--and humorous--experience.  

These little kids go out and try to hit a ball that has either been pitched to them or--if they were unable to connect--they try to hit it off of a tee.  The expressions on their faces as that ball makes impact with their bats is priceless.  What they do next is even more fun because some are just so excited to have hit the ball that they aren't sure if they should run to third base or first, or if they should look around to see who else saw that, or whether they should jump up and down from the pure joy of the occasion.

Shouldn't that be us today, friends?  Shouldn't we be so excited in this game of life that when it's our turn to bat and we get a hit that our exuberance knows no limits?  Shouldn't we bask in the sunshine as success comes our way?  And lastly, shouldn't we be like little kids, expecting to be praised and patted on the back for our attempts, even if in our success we get a little confused and we run the opposite way?

As you go about your day today, take time to see the opportunities ahead of you.  If the first pitch doesn't go your way, try again.  And again if necessary.  And remember:  when you can't hit it on your own, don't be afraid to rely on a little help from others.  We're all in this together, folks.  Get your bats ready.  Don't forget the helmet 'cause you know someone out there is going to try to knock you down.  Keep that battle gear on!  Lastly, don't forget to have fun.  God wants us to live the abundant life and I intend to go do that.  Join me?

Let's pray!

Dear Lord, as this day holds so much promise for fun, sun, and maybe a burger on a bun, may Your children honor You with our actions.  May we support one another even if it appears we are on opposing teams.  May we cheer when success comes.  And, when it's all over with, may we shake hands and be friends with those on the other team, showing them our spirit is one of camaraderie and is a reflection of the love You have given to us.  We love You, God.  Thank You for this beautiful day!  In Jesus' name.  Amen.