Life as a Celebration — Every day?

 

Image by edith lüthi from Pixabay

In Our Daily Bread, the author asks, how can we celebrate life and eternity with God today?

My first thought, many of my problems and struggles melt into only annoyances when compared to eternity. Most have a short lifespan. A day or a week. The more serious aren’t as frightening knowing even death isn’t the end of life.

However, I won’t lie. It takes a huge amount of faith to actually live that way every day, especially when the cares and concerns of this world press down or facing a life and death situation. But when a rainbow appears unexpectedly in a stormy sky, it lifts my spirits, reminds me there is more to come in this life and the next. Comforting scripture pops up in unexpected places, and for a moment, I celebrate the fact that God loves me enough to bother sending signs and confirmations of His love.

Afterward, my troubles often fade away or become more bearable. A change of attitude. A letting go. Of giving God the problem to solve and stepping back to see how He works it out, celebrating the resolution, freed from the burden of having all the answers.

So, I suppose what I’m trying to say is, even during the hard times, we can celebrate the truth that God made us, He loves us unconditionally, and He will walk with us through the hard times. If we pause and take the time to look, we can see Him in every aspect of our lives. That indeed is something to celebrate. Every day. Amen. 

Tranquility

Image by Henryk Niestrój from Pixabay

Although I love summer, I’m tiring of the extra yardwork, and I’m ready for the change of seasons and a lessoning of the chores. Not surprising, God addressed my need for rest.  

Our pastor’s sermons are on The Lord’s Prayer. Last Sunday was “Give us this day our daily bread.” There’s much debate about whether that is physical or spiritual food. I think both, at least for me personally. Pastor also quoted Matthew 6:27-30: “And which of you by taking thought can add to his stature by one cubit? And for raiment, why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labor not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?”

I smiled. I even wore my gold and pearl calla lily earrings that morning.

The coincidences continued. My from Good Morning, Lord, by Joseph T. Sullivan also mentioned the lilies of the field. Our Daily Bread quoted Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.”

Our Daily Bread also quoted Numbers 11, Moses’ lament to God of the heavy burdened he carried. God heard his cry and sent him helpers.

I understood God was promising me the same. He would give me the strength I needed to carry out my tasks or send me help. He did both.

By making slight changes, like not taking a one and a half-mile walk before I weed the flower beds, and by limiting other tasks I do on those days, I haven’t been as tired. Same with the housework. On days with the bigger chores, I limit other tasks. 

My husband has an injured shoulder and residual effects from Covid, which limits how much he can do, but he refuses to let me carry all the burden of maintaining our home. He has stepped up and taken on tasks he knows he can handle. These may seem small to some, but they lifted a good portion of my burden.

Things may change again as we both age, but I’m not worried. God will ease my burdens. I have his promise, and as if to emphasize that, once again, rainbows are appearing — reminders that God keeps his promises.

Dear Lord, thank you for not only the physical rest but also the tranquility of knowing you will take care of all my needs. I love you. Amen.

The Ordinary and the Extraordinary

Photo Art by charnchai saeheng @Pixabay

Joseph T. Sullivan states in, Good Morning, Lord, it is unrealistic to “expect adventure, romance, and the extraordinary every hour of the day.”

For myself, at this point in life, I’ve had enough excitement. I crave monotony, the mundane, even the boring. Maybe not endless piles of laundry or dishes, but I wouldn’t mind some routine, a period of sameness.

I am aware nothing stays the same for long, but that doesn’t negate my desire for the simpler things.

Jesus said, “Pick up your cross and follow me.”

I have asked Him to use me to spread His Word. So, perhaps my unsettled life, although not extraordinary, is the method He’s chosen. In that light, I can strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Dear Lord, adjust my attitude to accept my daily challenges as ways of exhibiting my faith and Your glory. Amen.