How Much Time Is Left?
Yesterday was full (and wet) but it was full of blessings! It was a blessing to share what You had laid on my heart at both churches, Father, It was a blessing to interact once more with the Balcom family at Wayne’s calling hours. It was a blessing to be with Karen through it all and as we buzzed around delivering dessert for the Balcom family’s meal together and other things. You are a good, good Father and I am blessed to be Your child!
As today is the funeral, I am reminded that each day is a blessing and we must always be about Your business, Lord. Time is short and none of us know when our last day will be. Today we lay to rest one of Your children who lived 88 full years. And I just heard of a 2 week old who was supposed to be going into surgery but is not able to due to a very serious complication. We just don’t know how much time we have.
Lord, use me this day. May Your light shine through. May the fruit of Your Holy Spirit be found in me today in abundance – love…joy…peace…patience…kindness…gentleness…faithfulness…and self-control. And…may all the praise go to You! Amen!!
May 2nd, Mon, 6:46 am
For Those Who Come Behind Us
What a privilege, Father, to come together with You. As I looked out the window this morning the fog is fairly thick and my mind doesn’t feel much different. Lack of sleep from sitting with the family of a dying man the night before last has impacted me…but them even more so. Father, may they feel Your presence as their grief weighs heavy upon them this day. May they find Your peace as we all cling to the certain hope of being reunited with him and all our loved ones who have gone before us into Your presence. Amen.
Lord, as I sit here rocking and praying, You bring to mind a question: What kind of legacy will we leave behind when we are gone?
Wayne left an exemplary one. He was faithful to You, he was a loving father and husband, he was a hardworking man of integrity, he was a devoted servant of the Church. He was no more perfect than any of us but in the almost 14 years I knew him, I really don’t recall anyone speaking ill of him.
Lord, when our lives are built on You – when You are our model to live our life in fulfilling Your will – when You are our model for life – others can look at us and be inspired to live likewise.
Once more, a wonderful song by Steve Green comes to mind…
Apr 29, Fri, 5:10 am
♪♫♪ Find Us Faithful ♫♪♫
We’re pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find
[Repeat Chorus Twice]
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Words and Music by Jon Mohr Copyright 1988 Birdwing Music/Jonathan Mark Music (admin. By The Sparrow Corp.) All Rights Reserved. International Copyright secured. – See more at: http://stevegreenministries.org/product/find-us-faithful-3/#sthash.MXePcPcX.dpuf
Spoken into Reality!
Getting up in the middle of a raging storm, Father is quite exhilarating! Your might displayed in Your creation is worthy of praise!
Hebrews 11:2-3 (<<click here)
Lord, today’s verses point again to Your power in creation! There was nothing…then there was everything – all because of Your command. You speak and wondrous things happen!
And we’re not just saying You spoke and someone wrote down Your words or drew a simple picture – some two dimensional depiction. When You spoke our universe and everything in it came to be in all of its intricate detail! That which was “formless and empty” Genesis 1:2 took form and was full of life and beauty beyond description! It was not happenstance; it was deliberately thought out and meticulously spoken into reality!
Since this universe, in all its splendor, came about because of the power of Your Word, Lord, what can I be and do when You speak to and through me?! “Nothing is impossible with You.” Matthew 19:26 We may not think we are worth very much but when we, in faith, believe Your Word in regard to ourselves – anything can happen!
Apr 26, Tues, 5:44 am
Determine My Steps
A little later night than usual yesterday, Father, and I am feeling it this morning. But, truly, there is no other place I would rather be than right here, right now. Bless me this day, Father. May Your Holy Spirit guide and direct my every thought and action – my life is in Your hands. Amen, so be it.
Trust in the lord with all your heart,
Do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
And he will show you which path to take.
Lord, as I sit here thinking of and praying for loved ones, these verses are very applicable. Another verse that comes to mind is from Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps.”
Somewhere in the attic is my old NIV Student Study Bible and I am pretty sure that in it, written on an old Post it note, is Proverbs 16:9. I remember having it posted at my desk my freshman year at Mt Vernon Nazarene College. It was important to me then… and is important to me now.
As a follower of You, Lord, this continues to be my heart’s desire. I am grateful that You have fleshed it out in my life. I have made my plans – often seeking Your direction but often also going solely on what I thought best. You know my heart, You know what is best. I am by no means perfect but I truly want to do Your will in my life and regardless of my poor choices, or my bad attitudes and actions, You have determined my steps using the good, the bad and the ugly to make me who I am today.
I may be a little worn and weary. I may have lots of dings, dents and scratches, there may be quite a few miles on this body…and soul… of mine, but You’ve been with me through it all. All I have experienced has made me more able to understand and relate to those with whom I interact with every day – at work, at home and at church. Lord, as I continue to make my plans, please continue to determine my steps. Use me as You will.
Apr 22, Fri, 5:18 am
Savor the Blessing
What a blessing, Father, it is to sit with You each day. I cannot recall the exact date of when I first began but it has been about a year now. I know that my walk with You has deepened. I more readily hear when You call. Over time my perspective has matured. Initially I stumbled about; inconsistent would have described our time together. But as the days turned into months it more and more began to fill in the gaps. In a way it was like I was a child learning to walk. I would fall but, Father, You were always there to pick me up. I knew You loved me and that You were proud of me, too.
Over time I learned to run and I can recall the sheer joy I had in our time together. I basked in the light of knowing that this was truly a special time. I, one of billions, was called by the King himself to begin my day with Him. It was exhilarating!
At this point our time together is well established. As I write I look back and I haven’t missed a single day with You in over 3 months. I miss the excitement of those early days but each phase of life has its own things to glory in. What brought me joy at six years of age, I probably wouldn’t even be able to pull off at 53! 😀
In my youth, flitting about from one new experience to the next was wonderful and exhilarating. But in my adult years I have learned the blessing of savoring. I no longer gulp life down in heaping spoonfuls but take it a bite at a time and relish every one.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8
Apr 21, Thurs, 4:56 am