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Little Things

There are so many little things that bring joy.  For instance when I returned to my rental after a day full of work yesterday, I found this is the parking lot where I left my vehicle:

Parking Lot after Work
Parking Lot after Work

I was so excited.  Finally, after years of traveling to Maine I was going to be able us the scrapper thingy they provide for you in the car.  ( By the way, that thing is in the car in the middle of the summer!).  But yes, I was going to be able to scrape off the windows of my car.  To most Mainers, that is a pain – an unwelcome sign of winter.  But to me, on this day, it was a source of joy.  A simple event,  but a one that I cherished. 

You probably have things like this in your life as well.  Most days, these are over whelmed by the trials and mundaneness of life.  Today, challenge yourself to find those little things that bring you joy, cherish those, and give thanks for those.  And if you don’t mind – add a comment to this post, and share those moments with all of us.

And I will help you will one – just to get to you started.  The Good News from Acts 13.

 32“We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
   ” ‘You are my Son;
      today I have become your Father.34The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:
   ” ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35So it is stated elsewhere:
   ” ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’

 36“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

 38“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Joy Joy Joy!

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Anxious for Nothing?

Today’s post will be quick.  The hotel’s wake up call came an hour late! Yikes.  So all morning, I am been reminding myself that God is in control and to not be anxious.  You know its times like this that you want to yell and rant and rave and your stomach in up in your chest.  But it is calming if you can keep remembering words like these:

 

Philippians 4:6 (New International Version)

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

 

and this which is what I kept repeating in my mind this am.

Matthew 6:25-27 (New International Version)

 

Do Not Worry

 25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?

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Happy MLK 2010

It’s the day the government has set aside to remember Martin Luther King Jr and his wonderful work to create racial equality in America.  Its also a day that I get to travel to snowy Maine to work!  Have a mentioned I love snow.

Anyway, its MLK day, so take some time to stop and think about racial harmony and racial tension.  As follows of the Christ, sometimes this seems to be one of the hardest things for us to deal with for really unknown reasons.    But this problems with differences is an issue that is discussed much throughout the history of mankind and also very much in the pages of our Bible.

For instance, Jesus, when asked “who is my neighbor”, tells the all familiar story of the Good Samaritan, a story that fundamental tells us that our neighbor is the person we hate – so go and show them mercy.  He is telling us that everyone is you neighbor and that

” A person’s a person, no matter how small” – Dr.  Seuss.

And we can’t forget the passage dealing with the oneness we have in Christ and how that unity crosses social, gender, racial, or any other barrier you want to create.

Galatians 3:27-29 (New International Version)

27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So today, honor Dr King, and spend some time thinking about how you are treating your neighbor ( is it as you treat yourself?)

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My Way or the Broken Way

Its been one of those sort of weeks that wear you down mentally and spiritually.  One of those weeks that sets you up for doing something dumb – do you know what I mean?  Frustration at work, the ‘joys’ of parenthood, the fast pace of life in general.  So much that last night my oldest son and I are still working away on getting the documentation complete for his science fair project ( YES! SCIENCE FAIR!), and emails are streaming around from work that well frankly put are making me want to put my fist through the wall.

It was in the midst of this that I sat down and took a look at some pictures from Haiti, courtesy of the Sacramento Bee and Boston.com.  While reviewing those, I thought about one email I had received earlier in the day.  I email containing a link from the Chattanooga.com about a co worker of mine who was tragically killed by a drunk driver two days before Christmas.  (All of these links are tales of heart breaking events)

Its funny how God works. Right when I think things aren’t going my way and I should start to take control of these situations – boom, reminders hit you in the fore head.  I am really being a servant?  Am I really considering others?  Am I being humble enough? Am I really being humble AT ALL?

17 The sacrifices of God are  a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51 NIV)

So even though Alex and I were up late finishing up the science project, and even with meetings being schedule at unreasonable times,  and even with expectations and life events that don’t seem fair, can I still realize the blessings that I have.  Can I still see how good life is? Can I still come to God with humility and contriteness and lay myself before him and say “I will do whatever you ask”?  We are all blessed – beyond compare.  Let us stay humble and broken,  and let us keep the heart of a servant.
I have a strange feeling I will be surprised how different the day will be if I approach today with a servant’s heart rather than the attitude I had last night – one of anger and frustration and pride.  Its interesting how God’s Way puts is in a place of joy, and our way
puts us in a danger zone.!

So break your heart, humble yourself and live today.  Take advantage of what you have been given.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51 (NIV)

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Considering Others

Its one of those difficult days when its hard to determine what to post.   Lane Kiffin?  Well that’s old news given so much else that is going on.  I was in a study last night where this verse from Philippians 2 was discussed:

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The whole chapter has stuck with me, and that’s why Lane Kiffin is old news.  This verse is very profound, very threatening, even very motivating.  So today here are two things related to this verse.

First, a great example of a person doing their best to live this verse. A daily buffeter herself, this is a great story about a local school counselor doing her best to love and help others.  Hand WDEF’s Golden Apple to Jennifer Greer. (applause)

Second, a challenge, or an opportunity for you all to consider today.  Disasters are always a time when we can count our blessings, and continue to show the compassion we have been given.  Here is one place you can donate that will be working in the disaster zone in Haiti – Healing Hands International.

Look out for others today!