WATCHWORD:
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34
Meditation:
Ground Hog Day (Tomorrow)
Ground Hog Day with Bill Murray. It’s a fun little movie but watching it over and over and over again, it gets a little…repetitive? But you know, as our hero goes through repeats of the day, he begins to learn. He can step aside and avoid being splashed. He knows how to deal with the pest that wants to talk to him incessantly. But the thing he wants to avoid most of all, is to go through that day again.
I think we all can relate to him from the standpoint of wanting a “do-over” to restart a day that’s going poorly. I played golf with a couple of old geezers (think my age) many times, they were playing for money (think pennies), but they were very tolerant of do-overs, or mulligans, or “let me do my drive again. It was fun to play with them because the rules were, let’s say, easy to live with. And those golf scores looked really good!
There’re days that we definitely would like to do over because they were so good, so much fun; filled with love and family, funny skits, bike trails into beautiful hilly country. Really good days, especially with a special loved one. So many days in our memories that we would like to replay, as if they were video tapes that we can just plug-in. Wouldn’t that be a blessing?
We don’t have a life do-over, but we do have a Lord and Savior with a forgiving spirit that allows us to carry-on even when we do the most dumb, idiotic thing on the planet. Because we are HIS, those moments we would like to forget, those events where we may have embarrassed ourselves, those words that were out of our mouths before we could think straight – the “do-over” that we get is the forgiveness that is contained in our faith and in the loving arms of our Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Look at your “to-do list” for today.
- What is the most important? That must do item that simply cannot be changed? Really? What happens to that item when a friend calls in tears and needs you? Or perhaps you have a heart episode and are taken to the hospital? Of course, change of plans, reorder priorities.
- Where are YOU on that list? Have you carved out a little calm island in your day, just to re-charge, to refresh? Once in a while we need to spoil ourselves to keep our own mind and body functioning…for others.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know not what the next moment will bring in my life. I don’t know if this is the day when I will see you face-to-face. I don’t know if any of the items on my schedule will ever get done. I don’t know so much, but I do know, for certain, that I can do all things you ask me to because you will give me the strength and the resolve to carry through. You, dear Lord, will help me deal with the uncertainty of tomorrow, or even the next instant. I am so privileged, I am so rich, for I am in your arms and you are my Lord and Savior. There is nothing in the next moment that couldn’t possibly make me fearful, with you. There is nothing on my schedule that is more important than the knowledge that you love me, that you forgive all of my shortcomings and help me get beyond them. It is in your name, Lord, that I offer all these prayers. Amen.
