As I write this, I sit on our Florida patio waiting for yet another hurricane expected in the next hours. It’s a beautiful, tropical day in paradise. The humidity is gone, the breezes are blowing the palms and everything else, and it’s a cool 75 degrees. Gorgeous. Yet, we know what is coming.
I did “emergency” food shopping yesterday–you know, things we don’t need electricity to prepare–just the essentials. When I arrived, everyone else in town had the same intention. The place was a beehive of activity, with grim looks on people’s faces, employees looking like they were under attack, and not one shopping cart to be had! I almost felt guilty thinking how self-centered and self-serving we have become. Certainly our pantries could have fed us without another can of tuna fish and another jar of peanut butter. In this inflationary time, people did not need another affront to their tight food budgets, yet here we all were, scoffing up products to assure our selves we were prepared for anything that could happen.
Second:
Here we are, the day following the election, and we don’t know the results. Not only that, the balance in the House of Representatives and the Senate show no majorities. We are right back where we have been…a nation divided, a nation that distrusts and argues, and neither side has enough sense to tackled the problems each party’s candidates said needed fixing.
One of the verses in today’s Thanksliving entry, written several years ago, reflects the writer’s opinion thousands of years ago. Has anything changed. Here is it: “Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.” (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)
Day 9
As the oldest of four children, I was expected to achieve, to accomplish, to be a good example, to look after the others, to be perfect. It has scarred me, placed too much stress on me, somewhat alienated me from my siblings, and in perspective, colored my attitudes and diminished my sensibilities.
But God is healing me of that stain of self-sufficiency, and life’s blows have taught me the humility and balance I was lacking. I am learning to trust in God’s sovereignty, disciplining myself to ask God’s guidance before and during a project, rather than starting out on my own, trusting in my own sense of adequacy. I am unlearning years of bad habits, but rejoicing at each baby step.
Today’s Scripture: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the word life. . .” (Philippians 2:14-15)
Prayer: Dear Lord and Father of us all, take my feeble efforts in following you, redeem them, and use me even in my brokenness, even with my foolish reliance on my own will. Use me, broken vessel that I may be, to Your glory, and help me to further reflect the Spirit of Christ as I live my life. Be very present in my thoughts and attitude. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 9 Scripture references showing Almighty God’s power and man’s recognition of that power.
Psalm 8
“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-17)
“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21: 2)
“Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.” (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Day 9 Thanksliving Album: Items, pictures, sketches, photos showing my do-it-myself perfectionism when I trusted myself and my accomplishments, a legacy of memories, a place I’ll return when I need reminders of evidence of His love for me in every situation.
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