The Beauty of Today

I am inspired every morning by the cheery songbirds outside my window, up early getting breakfast for their growing families. They sing just for the joy of being alive, never wasting the beauty of today worrying about tomorrow.

Knit Together

I can picture Granny sitting by the fireplace with a basket of yarn at her feet, knitting gifts for all the girls. I think of that scene when I read the verse in Psalms 139:13-14

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

I marvel at my grandchildren and how quickly they are growing and learning. It seems they come here already knowing who God is. I pray their lives will be a journey of becoming more and more like Jesus.

I love the epitaph on Ruth Graham's tombstone:
"End of construction. Thank you for your patience."

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Here is something I didn't know when I was a child: that Jesus Christ is forever the same, just like Father God and Holy Spirit. In my mind, I thought Jesus was "invented" when he was born in Bethlehem.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was there before the world was made and that He loved you and me and was thinking about us even then.

When He walked the dusty roads of Galilee, He knew that someday I would be a little girl named Karen, and He loved me when I had not even been born.

Jesus thinks about me right now, even while I am asleep!

When I have been with Him in Heaven for ten thousand years, He will still be the same. He will still be thinking about me.

Promises

Recently, I was keeping the grandchildren for the day. The two year old was crying for her Mommy as she walked out the door, so good ol' Mommy promised her, "Nana will take you to the park."

The only problem with that was that it was 7:30 and the playground didn't open until 10.

Kaedyn immediately got her sweater and shoes and stood at the door, saying, "Go to the park!"

This was an object lesson to me that I should not forget God's promises. He keeps His word, even when there is a waiting period before His perfect timing for its fulfillment!

I will bow down toward Your holy temple
and give thanks to Your name
for Your constant love and truth.
You have exalted Your name
and Your promise above everything else.
Psalm 138:2 HCSB

God Is In Control

Above the floodwaters is God's throne
from which his power flows,
from which he rules the world.
Psalm 29:10

You may have read predictions of economic crises and hard times ahead, but we don't have to wonder if God hears our prayers or cares. The best position from which to pray is looking down, confident that we are seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenlies.

God was in control in Noah's day, when the whole earth was flooded. He is still in control no matter what we face in the days ahead.

Remember Paul's prayer for us in Ephesians 1:16-21.

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Just as Noah's ark landed safely, when all is said and done, we will still be securely on the ROCK. God's still in control.

Hold on to your fork!

There was a home-going celebration for a ninety year old lady at our church recently. As our Pastor viewed the casket, he was curious when he saw that the family had placed a fork in the hand of the deceased.

The grandchildren (now ''senior citizens" themselves) related the story that when they were kids, the large family would gather at Granny's for Sunday dinner. Granny had just enough silverware for the number of relatives, and she would tell them: "Clear your dinner plates, but hold onto your forks!"

Before she served them a slice of her delicious cake, she would have them hold up their fork and say, "The best is yet to come!"

In his remarks at the funeral, the Pastor celebrated with the family a life filled with love, but reminded them, "The best is yet to come!"

Singing in the Rain?

I have to admit that singing is not always my first response when
"raindrops keep falling on my head"!
I need to remind myself that I can sing because I am loved by God,
no matter what the weather.