In reality, it’s been raining for 4 or 5 days. It feels like it’s been raining since January.
For a brief and glorious moment, the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. For a second or two, I could see clear blue sky.
Then it rained again.
As of this moment, it’s still raining.
I almost feel like I should start checking on the prices of arks and how to take care of animals in pairs of two. But thankfully, that scenario won’t ever be repeated.
Yet still it rains.
So I hold on to hope along with that little orphan Annie that maybe the sun’ll come out . . . . tomorrow. Maybe.
I admit I didn’t have a dog in the fight, proverbially speaking. I was sorta kinda hoping that the 49ers could pull off a Super Bowl win, but I wasn’t going to cry myself to sleep if the Chiefs won. I respect and admire both coaches and both teams. Both quarterbacks seem to have a solid faith in God and Jesus.
It turned out to be a Super Bowl for the ages. If you’re a Chiefs fan. I mean how many Super Bowl games go into overtime? Only two that I’m aware of. And it was a battle royale of back and forth to the very end.
My heart goes out to those 49ers. They came so close, so very close. Literally it was a matter of inches. If that extra point is a few inches higher, it doesn’t get blocked and the game possibly has a different outcome. If that player falls on the muffed punt instead of trying to pick it up and run with it, the game might have taken a different trajectory.
Instead, those 49er fans are left with what ifs and what could have beens. As a Titan fan I can relate. I think about that 2000 Super Bowl where Kevin Dyson ended up one yard short of the end zone in their loss to the St. Louis Rams.
I know people will say that in time, it won’t hurt as much. If I want to find out the Super Bowl winners from more than a few years ago, I usually gave to google them. Life goes on and a new day dawns and all that.
But for now, it still stinks. At least for the 49ers team and fans.
Have you ever had those moments when you find something riotously funny? Typically, it comes when you’re sleep-deprived or anxious. It’s a moment when you’re laughing so hard that you make no noise and sometimes you clap like a seal for special effect.
I have.
Have you ever gone to bed feeling hopeless and despairing and then awoke to find that all those problems that seemed overwhelming the night before don’t seem as daunting?
I have.
Sometimes, the best cures for just about anything are a good belly laugh and a long sleep. And I don’t mean a polite chuckle or even a loud laugh, but one where you have tears streaming and your sides hurt and you can’t breathe. The kind where if anyone seeing you will think you have gone and lost what little of your mind you still had left.
And a good night’s sleep. That’s when you turn off the alarm. You even might feel a little guilty for sleeping so long. But sometimes that’s just what you need, so don’t listen to the guilt.
Remember, Jesus took a nap in the boat in the middle of a storm, so you’re allowed. And I’m sure the disciples had plenty of reason for laughter with Peter constantly sticking his foot in his mouth.
“Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest and simple graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God” (Thomas a Kempis).
First off, you should find a copy of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis and read it as soon as humanly possible. This book is a timeless classic that has stood the proverbial test of time and remains relevant.
But also, if you want to step into all the fullness of God’s provision and blessing, you need to appreciate what you have. You need to learn how to give thanks for the smallest blessings that are easy to miss and take for granted. And by you, I mean me. I need to do these things.
Also, if you feel stuck in a phase of your life, you might want to see if there are any areas in your life where you are being disobedient to a command of God. There’s probably something that God wants you do to but that you have not done because you simply don’t want to do it. And again, by you I mean me.
The most clear part of God’s will is in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where it says to rejoice always, give thanks in everything, and pray without ceasing (not necessarily in that order). The verse explicitly says that this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
In other words, learn to cultivate an attitude of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. Learn to love what God loves and love who God loves. Always put others ahead of you and God above all. And remember that Christianity is not like all those other religions where the key word is DO, as in what must I DO to appease the deity, how can I make sure I’m good with my higher power, but Christianity’s key word is DONE, as in Jesus already fulfilled everything you need for heaven and all you need to DO is receive that gift of salvation by faith.
I think if you’ve got nothing else to pray, you can always go with something along the lines of “God, you know what’s going on and I don’t. Have Your way.”
Put another way, you can always pray, “Thy will be done.”
Here is a prayer that Elisabeth Elliott offered to God throughout her lifetime that also works:
In case you couldn’t read the picture, here’s the poem in a little bigger font:
From an old English parsonage down by the sea There came in the twilight a message to me; Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven, Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven. And on through the doors the quiet words ring Like a low inspiration: “DO THE NEXT THING.”
Many a questioning, many a fear, Many a doubt, hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from Heaven, Time, opportunity, and guidance are given. Fear not tomorrows, child of the King, Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing
Do it immediately, do it with prayer; Do it reliantly, casting all care; Do it with reverence, tracing His hand Who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing, Leave all results, do the next thing.
Looking for Jesus, ever serener, Working or suffering, be thy demeanor; In His dear presence, the rest of His calm, The light of His countenance be thy psalm, Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing. Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.
That’s the key. As Oswald Chambers said, trust God and do the next thing. It’s not about figuring out God’s complete will for your life or knowing how the next six months or six years are going to play out.
Just be faithful with the next thing you know God wants you to do, be obedient to what you know Jesus has asked of you (pray always, be anxious for nothing, give thanks, stay grounded in God’s word), and keep your eyes on the next step on the walk of faith.
I don’t know who wrote the poem. I know Elisabeth Elliott quoted it. I know the words speak truth that I need to remember and heed.
According to the tab that reads About This Mac, my little MacBook Pro was built in early 2015. According to my math skills, that makes it nine years old. I believe in the world of electronics and technology, that’s considered at least vintage if not antique. It’s old.
I bought it refurbished in 2016 and have written thousands of blog posts on it since then. I don’t have to worry about all those annoying pop ups that used to plague my old laptop. I don’t have to worry about waiting for it to boot up when I first turn it on.
I don’t say all this to humble brag but as a way of being thankful. I’m grateful for this trusty old mac that still works. I’m thankful for my 51 (almost 52) year old self that still works. I’ve learned over the years never to take anything for granted — even the smallest stuff — because sometimes when you take things (and people) in your life for granted, what you’re granted gets taken.
By the way, I still have that old laptop. It still works, but it’s a bit slower and has all those annoying pop ups.
This is my absolute favorite verse because it’s a reminder of God’s heart toward His children. It’s a promise that belongs to everyone who has ever trusted in God as revealed in Jesus:
I think this post falls under the category of I Needed This, So Maybe You Will, Too. As much as I’ve seen the goodness of God, especially with His provision for me throughout my life, I can get spiritual amnesia and forget not only the goodness of God but also my status as His child. I forget the past and I forget to give thanks for all my present blessings. This will hopefully remind me (and some of you) that God will provide:
“Hey Soul? Your legs may be weary, your heart may be heavy, but whatever you are facing, it is always named Mt. Moriah -The Lord Will Provide.
‘The Lord will provide.’ Genesis 22:14
Every mountain that you face, the Lord will level with sufficient grace…
I went to the theater to watch the first three episodes of the new season of The Chosen. The fact that I am voluntarily paying money to watch television in a movie theater is a bit mind-boggling when I really think about it, but I don’t regret it for one moment.
One moment that caught my attention was a conversation between Roman Gaius and the disciple Matthew. Bear in mind that Matthew used to work for Gaius as a tax collector [mild spoiler alert following].
Gaius remarks about how much more peaceful and relaxed Matthew is than in the olden days. Matthew’s reply is what made me sit up in my seat and pay attention. He said, “I have only one thing to do today. Follow Him. The rest takes care of itself.”
That sounds remarkably like a passage from Matthew’s gospel: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).
It also served as a reminder to me that I don’t have to worry about so many things. It’s not my job to work out every detail of my future and worry myself sick over things like the next job or a new car or what may or may not happen to me or to those I love.
My job is to follow Jesus. My job is to seek after the things of God. If I do the first part, then naturally I will be doing the second. It’s impossible to be around Jesus and not love the things He loves and look more like Him a little more every day.
So maybe the lesson for today is to fret less and follow more.
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