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Use Today

Oh today,  today is here, and today will be full of well todayness.

Isn’t that great!

We can attack it and pour out our cup on others around us with no worries about tomorrow. Tomorrow, when it gets here, will offer us  new opportunities and a another great chance to pour out our cup.

but Today!  It’s here.

Lets use it, and not be anxious and worry about what may come.

 

33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. 34So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34New Century Version (NCV)

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National Day of Prayer

It’s the National Day of Prayer.  In continuing Paul’s urging in First Thessalonians, lets make sure we “pray continually” and participate in the day in  some form or fashion.  As believers this is quite an honor and privilege and a source of great encouragement.  Make sure you work in a little extra moment of prayer today – and pray about this nation and the people you come in contact with each day. Oh, and also do it while you are full of hope and joy!

 

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18New International Version (NIV)

 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV

And don’t forget the rewards from turning over things is praying.  The payback when we leave our anxieties with the Christ is tremendous.

 

 6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 The Message (MSG)

 

I think today may be a good day to reap some of those, don’t you?

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No More Sacrifices

Aren’t you glad that as you head off to work this morning you are not having to think about what animal you will sacrifice to atone for your bad deeds and missteps of the week!

This is one of the many fantastic things that we Easter reminds us about; the Christ become THE sacrifice!

 But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.  Hebrews 9:26

Today as you head into work and get started on your week, remember the only thing you really need to worry about is doling out forgiveness in the same quantity it’s been giving to you!  Really that’s just about all you need to worry about.

That’s makes no sense.

And that is why I follow him!

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Panic Day

It’s Panic Day.

what, it is.. What am I supposed to do. I don’t know.  Oh no.  I ,, I ,, I ..

What do I do?  Where am I supposed to be? This is so stressful.

 

I don’t have a clue what Panic Day is, but it’s seems like a good time to just remind yourself about where to deposit all of that stress and anxiety.

 25-26“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

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. Matthew 6:25-34 The Message (MSG)

 

 

and this one as well:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

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The Importance of Keys

I know it’s a Monday.  Not only is it a Monday, but it’s a Monday with a full moon.  How do I know this you say.  Well, let me recount the ways.

After a surprisingly non eventful start to the day, Amy and the boys went off to work.  Following suit, I prepared my self for a day at the ol’ milestone, feed the cats, loading my bags for the post-work activities into my truck and reached in my pocket for my keys.

Except  they were not there.  Nor were they on the nightstand, of the kitchen counter, or my desk.  no, they were in Amy’s purse – that was in Amy’s classroom at Amy’s school.

Not only that, but remember last week when I had no power ( yes Ben, I had no POWER!!!, and it went out again last night!!!! – I think I have moved to a third world country).  Anyway,  remember last week, when I had no power, and no laptop.  You do!  great, because the laptop problem has returned.

So, here I sit, at home, with a laptop complaining about a hard drive it can’t read, and two , count them two cars in the garage which I cannot start, because I have no keys.

Well, actually, I do have one key – I have a key to the car Amy drove to work today.

Oh, it’s Monday!!!

So, what does this have to do about anything, apart from my complaining?  Well, I think it shows how important something foundational or something essential is to the whole works.  Without  a key those vehicles are just big hunks of steel.  Although they are completely functional, they are missing the one element that keeps them going.  It sort of reminds me of these words from John 15:5, which we will put in Red letters

   5I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5New International Version (NIV)

The Christ himself says that he is really the key to you running properly, otherwise, you are just sitting in the garage!

Also I think this is gentle reminder about how to handle something we all deal with everyday – anxiety.  In the end, this whole deal this morning is actually a small thing.  I do have a 11ish appointment that I should be present in the office for, and I do need to get this laptop fixed, which again requires heading to the office, but in the end, being anxious and worrying will not help at all.

 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12 NIV

 

So, Stay Calm and keep hold of the Key!