Living For Today

How many of us really live for today? How many have a calendar that has dates marked with something to do, a week from today? Two weeks out? A month out? Six months out? We all do!

We all have a to do list that can not be completed in one day. Am I saying it's wrong to plan ahead, to set goals, no! We would be irresponsible if we didn't write the dates down. We have annual exams. Our children and grandchildren have a game and we want to make sure nothing else takes that spot. Teenagers and even adults have a test and can't miss the date.

We can easily agree that our calendars and to do list drive our days, weeks, months, even year. But I'm wondering how many of us are letting God drive our calendars our days. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. NKJV Other translations say For I know the plans I have for you. God has a plan for each of us.

That is where it gets tricky for us. We too have a plan for ourselves and perhaps the two are not the same. Then again maybe they are but the timing is off. How many of us start the day with to do list and calendar in hand and say not my will but yours God. I'm guilt. I don't I start my day off trying to catch up.

I have to begin to wonder if I'm not trying to do things my way and not His. His way isn't going to hurt me. His plans for me are peace and hope. So what do we need to do to get on the same page with God?

There are other things that compete for our days. One of the Explorer's Bible Study leader did a fabulous devotion in September. She started off by walking around with a trash can and asking people to throw away their trash. I'm sure they looked at her oddly.

The point of her discussion was trash being our sins. We get rid of it. We ask God to forgive us and we receive forgiveness and to the trash the sin goes. Unfortunately WE don't keep it there. We allow Satan to plant a seed that takes us back to the thought of our sin. We start digging in the trash can. We are now spending precious time thinking about our past transgressions. Then that thought might bring up more. Next thing you know we are down and out and don't feel like doing a thing. One point for Satan.

We as Christians say it's easy to forgive but hard to forget. I am so glad that God does not use that motto. He forgives and extends grace. Jesus signs his name over our sin and it's forgiven and forgotten. God is not sitting in heaven reliving our sins, dangling them over our head waiting for us to mess up again.

We are robbing ourselves of joy by living in the past. We are rob ourselves of the moment of today. We are robbing ourselves of God's plans for us. We need to determine to ask for the forgiveness and accept it and move on. Each women in this room has a past. Regardless, of that past if we have each sincerely asked God into our hearts and to forgive us our sins we don't have to revisit that past. He wants us now. We must let Satan take our time away from God. We can't let that sin keep us from God's plan for our lives.

How many of us are anxious? By definition anxious means experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Causing worry or nervousness. Wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease.

Ben makes fun of me for worry about a month from now. Who's to say any of us will even be here tomorrow. I have wasted today worrying about tomorrow. Luke 12:26 – 31 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things[a] shall be added to you.

How awesome to know and remember that God knows all that I need!

I heard someone comment about another complaining how there are only 24 hours in the day. They said God created the day and it was good. Which means that all that God has plan for us to do can be done within the time He created.

We over load the schedule. We plan so much to say we've done so much. At the end of the day it doesn't matter if we were super women. Do our children think so or our our husbands? Or do they think were was she today, why was she so short and anxious, why wasn't she happy, why did she complain so much. If we are piling the stuff on we might need to look at ourselves through another set of eyes.

Songs: Natalie Grant “Living for Today” Revive “Blink” see if our worship leader can play these songs.

Both songs talk about living for today. Not worry about tomorrow. That life happens fast and before you know it's over. Making every moment count. Are we doing that.

While I was putting this together my father told me of a tragic story in Tuscaloosa, AL. A gas station was robbed and there was gun fire. A student was in his apartment parking lot getting into his car. He had no idea what was going on and he was hit by a stray bullet. He died in the parking lot. He was three months away from graduating with his MBA.

The story really struck me as what are my priorities. How quickly, in a blink, can are lives change. This young man did plan on dying that day. He had his future mapped out. I can only pray that he knew God as his Lord and Savior. We hear so often about these sudden deaths.

If I were to die today would it matter if I had laundry to do, no. would it matter if my family had my time and love, yes. We can only do so much in a day. This is where we need God's guiding hand on our to do lists, our schedules, our wants and desires. We need God's plan for our day so we can make the most of each moment.

Police Inspired

I was traveling to work the other day and noticed a police car behind me. Immediately I went into good citizen mode. I had been traveling this road for years and had no idea what the speed limit was. I slowed down to 30 mph. I thought "if the police car gets close to me I'm going to slow. If he stays at a good distance I must be doing right." He stayed a good distance away. I decided to bump it up to 35 mph and put it on cruise control. I didn't want to take any chances.
A thought occurred to me that this was like my relationship with God. When I think God is watching me I try to do everything right, but when I think He's not watching I do whatever I want to do. This is a very foolish thought. For we all know that God is always with us and always watching over us.
I thought about how many times I break the law by speeding down that road. Which by the way, I later found out the speed limit was 45 mph. What example am I setting for my children. God told us to obey laws. We have people in positions that give us rules and laws, we are to obey them. By not doing so we are disobeying God.
What would have happened if I got pulled over. My children would say "Mom I thought police officers are suppose to protect us. Why is he being mean to you and giving you a ticket?" Trust me, kids will think this way. I would have to explain to her that mommy broke the law. I was speeding and he was protecting you and everyone else from mommy driving too fast.
Isn't that what God does. He tries to protect us from others and ourselves. We chose to not listen to His voice speaking to us. We chose to do it our way because naturally ours is the best. If we would only stop and listen to Him we would live lives please as he has planned for us. Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
We would do good to remember daily that God is walking with us. He's in the car with us. He's at the office with us. He's listen to our conversations. He's reading our email and internet searches. He's at home with us. He is everywhere. How blessed we are to always have our Father by our side. When we make decisions and take action we should wonder if it will be pleasing to God.
We can't be perfect. That's why God sent us a Savior. We can be more aware of what we do, think, feel, etc. God is with us and living through us. Don't live for God on days when you see a fellow church member out. Don't live for God on Sunday and Wednesday evening only. Live for Him daily. Shine for Him in this dim world.

Refreshing in the snow

I believe there should only be two working days a week. Of course for my own selfish reasons. The other five days I would love to spend with my family. I have enjoyed the snow days that kept us home bound. I didn't have to share my family with anyone. No schedules, just us laughing and spending time enjoying each others company. The snow days have been very refreshing for me.

I've also discovered something about me through the snow days. I'm always so out going. Longing to be around others. Active in many different things. Through this down time I discovered I really like having nothing to do sometimes. I wouldn't have thought that of me. I didn't go stir crazy as I thought I would. The slow to no pace was refreshing. A wonderful blessing from God.

It's hard to believe that another year has passed. So many lives were touched. I remember the day so clearly. I was heading out the door to work when it happened. At first I was unable to take in what was happening. It was like a movie came on, but it wasn't a movie. I remember leaving driving to work listening to the radio only to hear another plane crashed into the Twin Towers. Everything came together. This was no accident.

That day changed the life of some many people. America had experienced a terrible terrorist attack. I like so many never thought this possible in the United States of America. Sure we read about in other countries, but not ours. Yet here we were.

How amazing to see so many people rally together. So many people remembering this great country. So many people uniting as one. Our eyes only saw each other as neighbors, friends, allies. How sad that it quickly faded. How sad that we again turned our backs on one another.

Remember those who lost loved ones. Remember those who serve our country. Remember our nations leaders.