Thankful for Only Now
We tend to focus too much on the past. We allow the larger losses in life to occupy our time. Loss of a family member, a job, money, a relationship or a dream never reached. We get anxious about the future. Future of a family member, a job, money, a relationship or an anticipated dream. But if we focus too much on the past, losses, or the future, we lose what lies in front of us—what God places right before us now.
Each day that God gives represents moments in time. They come so quickly and go so quickly that if we are not careful, we miss them. They fade into the distance and remain gone forever. This reminds me to just be thankful for only now—the present.
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Eyes Wide Open
The fall ushers in a new season. A season filled with beautiful orange, yellow, red and green foliage. A season of leaves changing colors and slowly drifting from the branches of the trees landing softly on the lawns and pavements. A season of pumpkins… pumpkin pies and lattes. A season of cooler temperatures allowing our air conditioners to get needed rest. Witnessing the rainbow of colors and all the changes that fall brings requires us to open our eyes to the newness of this season.
Sometimes we miss so much when God brings newness into our lives. We fail to see what others see or what He wants us to see. This happened in the story of Elisha when the king of Aram warred against Israel and sent horses and chariots and a great army to circle the city. Elisha’s servant cried out in despair as he looked upon the great army. Elisha answered in 2 Kings 6:16-17. “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
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Crying Out to Jesus
The stage play “COVERED” launched successfully on September 1st at the Scott Theatre. I felt such joy and relief all at the same moment upon hearing the applause of the audience after the first show. I ran into the arms of one of the stage managers and cried… I cried tears of joy. The second show resulted in the same effect.
My tears of joy centered more on His faithfulness to me than the applause of the audience. You see, the Monday before the launch date, I cried. Not once, not twice, not three times, but pretty much all day. I woke up crying not knowing why I was crying. And I got hit with so many negative things that kept me crying all day.
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Grooving with Jesus
As most of you know, Ryan and I are in the midst of launching our first play outside of the church walls. We will present “COVERED” on September 1. As we approach the deadline, I find myself inundated with so many tasks. But I know me and my body started to say, “Hey, its time to slow down and just groove. The play belongs to Him…Jesus, you’ve got this.”
So, when I need to chill out, I often listen to music-gospel, jazz, or ole Motown grooves. Ahhh… and here we go. I started groovin’ away. But something different happened this time. My mind pulled some ole familiar songs into the “what might” mode…. What might Jesus say to us when we get stressed. Using titles of some old school songs, I starting “grooving with Jesus.” See how many you remember.
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Mama’s One Sentence Sermons
“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
As we approach Mother’s Day, this one verse resonated on my mind as I thought about the senseless and dumb things I did as a teenager. My mother would remind me of her responsibility as a mother in a unique way. She would use what I called one sentence sermons… you know, the one liners that belted out of her mouth to let you know she just moved into the training mode.
Sometimes the one line turned into a short and to the point sermon. Other times it required me to sit in the pew and listen whether I wanted to hear it or not.
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Busy as a Bee
The swarming and buzzing of honey bees indicate Spring’s arrival. When it comes to bees, my oldest son Branden avoids them at all cost. Just the sight of them propels him into a fight or flight mode. I pretty much maintain a love/hate relationship. I love the honey they produce, I hate the trauma they can cause if you get stung by them. So, I just let them do their thing and leave them alone. But I did a little research on the honey bees and discovered some interesting findings about God’s busy little creations.
A beehive must remain at a certain temperature to preserve the honey, wax and eggs inside. So, the bees lower the temperature by fanning their wings or they raise it by vibrating their flight muscles. The bees work according to their divine purpose.
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