I often find myself planning out my week and thinking so much about what I have to do that I forget today. I forget today has gifts and beauty and joy. I forget today is filled with experiences and sights and hope. I forget because I am focused on what is to come. So, in turn, I miss what is right before me. I essentially think so much about the destination that I do not enjoy the journey.
When I run in the dark, I have a light to help me see (and for others to see me). If I shine that light too far out, I can see at a distance but I cannot see where I am running. I can’t see where my foot will land. I can find myself looking so far ahead that I trip or lose my balance right where my feet are.
All of this to say, don’t miss today. Don’t miss this day. Pick your head up and look around. Experience where your feet are, right now. See the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We don’t get to repeat this day (sometimes THAT is the gift). We don’t get a do-over. We simply get the opportunity to take advantage of what we have, right now.
Today, let’s do what we are taught in the Gospel of Matthew: “34 ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” I might even add, today’s gifts are enough for today. Today is enough. Don’t miss it.
So what? What’s it all for? These are words which can really take on a new life as we move past Christmas. The trees are down, the lights have been turned off, the presents have been unwrapped, the programs are over, the singing of the carols has ceased. Is that it? Are we done? Was Christmas just a fleeting moment in our lives? It is just a month of dinner parties, extra food, special songs, beautiful sights, and presents? Is that all there is?
This can be a dilemma for so many of us. Some are tired from the season and just want things to go back to normal. Some are already planning for next Christmas. Some are trying to figure out how they will pay for the gifts purchased during the previous season – or seasons. There’s cleaning and changing – and school will return very soon.
But there’s more. Actually, the more is what the season was really all about. The more…the more we don’t want to bypass. The more…the more we don’t want to ignore. The more…there is more to this season, even with the lights off and the decorations put away.
The more is what Jesus came for. The Advent and Christmas season was a time of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. It was a time to remember Emmanuel, God is with us. It was a time to reflect on the fact that God sent redemption in the form of a baby to this world because he loves us that much! This is beautiful and meaningful themes. But so what? What do we do with this info now? What do we do as we begin a new year and try to figure out what’s next?
Christ came for a reason. Christ is here for a reason. Emmanuel, God is with us, for a reason. It is so that we might be “in Christ”. What does it mean when we are “in Christ?”
According to Ephesians 1: In Christ, we are given every spiritual blessing… In Christ, we are chosen in love… In Christ, we are adopted into a greater, bigger family than we could ever imagine… In Christ, we are given redemption and forgiveness through HIS grace… In Christ, we are brought together and given an inheritance… In Christ, we have been given the gospel, the truth so that we might live for him.
Now that’s some pretty incredible outcomes of Christmas. Because of Christ, we have been loved, welcomed, redeemed and set free. We have been called together, brought together, loved together. I love the idea presented by the writer of Ephesians, how God’s plan includes this gathering, this bringing together of all of his children. I think of a mother hen gathering all of her chicks beneath her wings. I think of Psalm 36:7 which reads, “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” There is a protection and a love which comes from begin gathered under his wings, loved as one of his own.
God did not sent his Son simply so that we might celebrate his birth and then be done. He sent Jesus so that we might have new life in him. His birth is OUR life. His birth is our redemption. His birth brings the dawn of a new day.
In this scripture, and in all of Jesus’ teachings, this is a joy for the family of God. That means this is so much more than just good news for me or you. This is an “us” declaration. This means we are being welcomed into a great big family which has Jews and Gentiles. It means we are in a great big family which has people who don’t look like us or think like us or have opinions like us. It means we welcome people who have felt unwelcome, unloved, left out, dismissed, hurt, or forgotten. It means we are brought together under God’s protective wings with people who we are called to love and we might not have ever found ourselves in the same place with in any other circumstance. This is the ultimate gathering of folks who truly are living under the commandments of loving the Lord with all we are and all we have…and loving one another.
This is why Jesus taught us not to judge and to love our enemies and to make peace with those who we have issue with…this is why Jesus challenged the love people talked about but did not show. This is what he came for – this bringing together of people in him. And together, we praise him and offer glory to him. This is not about us individually. This is about a collective ingathering of God’s people, adopted and loved by God. This is about begin “in Christ” together.
This wouldn’t make sense in any other economy. It didn’t make sense before Jesus came and didn’t make sense to those in power. But Jesus came for something so much bigger. He was born so that we might have life…together. We could easily think of the people we wish we didn’t have to be a part of this family gathering with – but, if we are honest, there are people who make think that about us as well. But that’s not the point. The point is Jesus. The point is we are in this together because we are loved together. We are “in Christ” as one family.
What do we do from here? Maybe we begin by understanding we are included. Maybe we start with the whisper from God who calls us his child, his beloved. Maybe we begin with the idea we are called and adored, loved and redeemed. Maybe, if we can see ourselves in Christ, we can begin to see others as our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. If we can step back and realize just how loved we are, we might find love for one another. Maybe, once we feel loved, we begin to see others as our neighbor, not our enemy. Maybe, just maybe, God begins his gathering of his children, where we find refuge. Maybe that’s the beginning of Christmas, no lights or trees even needed.
It can seem that Murphy may have been right sometimes. You know the law…if something can go wrong, it probably will. And it can feel like those times build one on the other. Or, if you prefer, it can feel as though the things collapse one after the other until you are left in a rubble. Either way, once it begins, it can feel as though this is just the way it is.
I don’t necessarily think that’s the way it goes, but I definitely FEEL like this is the way it goes. I think once something happens, we are more in tune and more sensitive to things which would not have bothered us otherwise. Those other things may have happened and we wouldn’t have even cared. But the fact they follow one seemingly major problem, it snowballs.
What do we do when we get caught in this loop? It is helpful to take just a moment and step back. It is best if we can get a view from the outside, a glimpse at the reality of the situation. Do things stink? Probably. Are we upset they happened? Most definitely. But is this the worst like we feel it is? Probably not. Most of the time, a new view or a glimpse of the whole situation helps us to see things are not as bad as they feel.
It also helps if we can write those things down. Once we see them on paper, they aren’t nearly as daunting. And they also don’t feel so defeating. In the end, it is helpful to remember we are loved and cared for – even in the most difficult times. Even if the situation really is overwhelming and things really are stacked against us, remembering we are loved can help to shift our perspective.
No matter what, you are loved. No matter what you may face, you will not face this alone. No matter how difficult, the battle is not fought without God standing with you. That really does change everything because God changes everything.
Psalm 73
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will receive me with honour. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
We are not alone, friends. No matter what we may face, God is with us. May you find God holding your hand today.
I am an anxious person. It just happens to be that way. I work at keeping it to a minimum. Exercise and eating well definitely help. Breathwork helps. Medication helps. And prayer helps more than I realize.
I’ve spend time studying the scriptures and there are many passages which really cause me pause. There are some perplexing. There are some convicting. There are some comforting and full of love. And there are some which I cannot believe are in there. This is one of those (From Philippians):
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Why is this particular one cause me so much trouble? Because it says to worry about nothing. In my mind, I can only think…NOTHING? I worry about everything. What in the world?
I appreciate the message of it. I would love to live it out. And please don’t tell me it’s because I don’t pray enough or trust enough or believe enough. So what is the key? I will share my insight:
The issue with taking one verse is we don’t always consider the whole context. This is a warning I often give. And this particular text needs more. And for me, it is found in the 4 words right before this verse. And these 4 words clarify it all for me… The Lord is near.
That’s right – the key for being anxious about nothing is the fact that the Lord is near. He is with us. We are not alone. We do not face the challenges alone. We do not hurt alone or fear alone or deal with difficulty alone. We do not live this life alone – even when we feel so very alone. The Lord is near.
Will I still be anxious? – Guaranteed. But I am not anxious alone either. I don’t have to worry simply because the Lord is near. But if I do worry, he’s still near. And he still loves me. And he is with you too. And yes, he loves you too!
So just remember – the Lord is near. May you feel his presence even stronger than before – beginning today. Blessings my friends!
A new day begins. This one seems especially different because it is New Year’s Day. It is a day of new starts, new beginnings, new… Well, you get the point. It is a new day and a new year. It can be refreshing to have a fresh start. It can also be intimidating and overwhelming. We want changes, but most don’t want to actually do anything for the change to occur. It seems easier if things just stay the way they are. This is all fine, until it’s not. Change is hard. And it can lead us to just giving up way too quickly.
So here’s something to consider today. Today is a new start. It is a day 1. But guess what? You have unlimited day 1 moments. Now is always a good day to begin. Each day we have the gift of waking up is an opportunity for something beautiful. It is often right before us anyway. We are just so stuck in our own rhythm of life we miss it. We miss this is a new day with a bright beginning. We miss how we can make small changes to begin to head in the right direction. We can read a verse in the Bible – we don’t have to read the whole chapter. We can eat one good meal – we don’t have to eat every meal clean. We can walk to the mailbox – we don’t have to walk 3 miles or 10,000 steps today. We can pray with a simple prayer of ‘help me’ – it doesn’t have to be an elaborate, well thought out prayer. We can simply start. And that can make all the difference.
Don’t forget, if you mess up today, tomorrow is a new opportunity. It is a new beginning. Tomorrow is day 1 too, if you need it to be. Eventually you will see those days begin to build. You will see the momentum kick in. You will see changes happen. It often comes in the smallest moments. But don’t miss them. Don’t discount them.
Finally, give yourself plenty of grace. It won’t be perfect – life just isn’t. Where are you heading? That’s what matters. Just begin.
Blessings as you start your new day, one more time.
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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