Abundance

The flower boxes of Main Street love the rain. Selah.

It’s another rainy morning in New Hampshire, and the temptation is huge to complain. “Enough already!” Until I see scenes like this while walking downtown. Lots of rain, yes, but look at the abundance here, and in our rapidly growing veggie gardens. And don’t forget how barren and naked everything feels in winter. The psalmist had it down right: 

“God, You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart.” (Psalm 104:4-5)

Every day, even the rainy kind, “is a day to be thankful,” says author Ralph Marston. “Life's abundance has no limit, and gratitude is what keeps that abundance flowing. In every circumstance there is something for which to be thankful. Even when there seems to be nothing else, there is hope.”

That’s really good, but perhaps without realizing he was following the Master voice, Mark Twain takes it a good step further: “If you want love and abundance in your life, give it away.” 

Amen to that. Let it rain…

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

Beauty In the Routine

Just before sunrise this morning at Cunningham Pond.

On a morning like this, I will look at my praying hands clasped around a coffee mug.
Praying…among other things, to see the beauty in the routine of things.
Celebrating fullness of life and activity, yes,

But remembering to celebrate chill-out simplicity, too.

Because it is often here where God speaks loudest, and where it is easier to listen.

Like today, before sunrise at a nearby lake when the world was still asleep.

But all of Creation—loons, songbirds, a gentle breeze making new leaves dance—was full-throated in being thankful for a new day.

And so should I.

And so I did.

And to also remember those praying hands clasped around a coffee mug—

That God had planned to put things in our hands since before the beginning of time that would bring pleasure to both of us, and others.

Even (and maybe especially) in the routine...

A camera…to see new angles of Creation and reflections of the "Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1) in everyday faces and places.

Two different kinds of keyboards with the same purpose…to find words and notes that encourage and point Up.

A kayak paddle…to “be still and know” (Psalm 46:10) when all around is 24/7 noise.

A basketball and a baseball bat…to run free, to jump, to remember joy, and to know that celebration and life mission are always better with teammates.

Freshly tilled soil after a long winter…maybe as a subconscious assurance that no matter how things look, "the whole earth is still full of His glory." (Isaiah 6:3)

Like today, like before sunrise at a nearby lake when the world was still asleep.

But to also remember to then loosen the grip of those praying hands around my coffee mug,

And ask them a daily question:

“Are there different ways to do what you’ve always done to help someone—even yourself—see or feel the goodness of God, even on a routine kind of day?”

And to know that there is only one good answer.

“Morning is had hand. Light will soon come flowing over the edge of the world, bringing with it the day. What a gift! Whether wrapped in streams of color or folded in tissues of mist, it will be mine to use in ways that I can foresee and in those that are unexpected. The day will make its own revelation, bring its own challenge; my part will be to respond with joy and readiness.”—Elizabeth Yates, “A Book of Hours”

Hope In the Woods

Like Robert Frost’s on a snowy evening, my woods are “lovely dark and deep” Even on a gray early morning like this.

And no matter the season, they are a window with a non-stop, open invitation to stop and pause…

And slow down and breathe deeply…

And be still…

And in the stillness, be thrilled to hear this day off in the distance the familiar songs of early spring birds.

The same ones you hear on a warm summer night!

To take time to fill your heart and soul with simple gratitude…

It’s a new day, “let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

To let your mind wander a bit to the day ahead,

And even a bit randomly, but perhaps perfectly, to ballplayers gathering under warm sunshine for spring training—where everyone is hopeful, no one has lost a game, and no matter what happened last year, all begin with a clean slate ready to be filled with dreams and goals.

So good.

But even better to find your thoughts suddenly shift to this:

That no matter how many faults and blemishes you can see in yourself,

No matter how bad your morning breath may be,

The God who made you and formed you for an abundant life loves you incredibly anyway.

(And besides, it is His breath in your lungs, so how can it be bad?)

A time to focus on that sun trying ever-so-hard to break through the cloud cover and remembering some favorite words…

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8)

Amen. Sometimes, simple prayers are the very best.

These woods that are “lovely dark and deep” at 6 a.m., and have an aroma of earth

That’s almost as intoxicating as the smell of cookies in the oven

Will likely be, according to the forecast, like Robert Frost’s later this week.

Such is the tease of late February and March in New England.

But “to everything there is a season,” even this one.

Because through all of its up and downs, this early morning pause is a reminder that life is good.

Because God is still faithful.

He hasn’t left the building.

And though the morning clouds have now covered the sunrise glow in the east,

In the stillness, my woods that are “lovely dark and deep” are nevertheless shouting encouragement:

“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.” (Romans 15:13)

Here we go!…

What If I Just Yell?

Photo: StockSnap @pixabay.com 

“Lord, teach us to pray...”—Luke 11:1

What follows was originally written a couple of years ago, yet it could very well have been written a couple of days ago. The stuff near the end that happened back then is eerily similar to what happened this week when a country that may not have been sure about prayer stopped what they were doing anyway to lift Up a young football player fighting for his life. The organic power of it all, without formality or pretense, and the amazing encouragement to millions that has come from it, seem to be on repeat as if Heaven itself is waiting, longing for us to 'get it.' Selah...

Sometimes, like the persistent widow, prayer can be fervent and repetitive in seeking resolution to a really difficult situation. It can go on for days, weeks, and longer, and while there are often increasing glimmers of hope, it can also seem the answer is taking forever. And you know that you know that God is in it. These are the prayer situations when, as in my life, two wise and respected men of God (unbeknownst that the other had said the same thing) encouraged, “This story is not over!” Keep at it. God is listening, God is at work. Don’t quit.

This is how you pray.

But then, Jesus lays out the “how to” blueprint for His disciples: “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy. May Your holy nation come. What You want done, may it be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us the bread we need today. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. ‘Do not let us be tempted, but keep us from sin. Your nation is holy. You have power and shining-greatness forever. Let it be so.’" In other words, keep it simple, don’t make a show of it, and don’t just “say” the Lord’s Prayer either, but focus in on the multiple facets of who God is in your daily routine.

Ok, so that's how you pray.

But then, there's Anna the prophetess, the widow who spent day and night serving God by praying and fasting, the one who had been so in tune with the things of God that when she heard Simeon speak into the lives of Mary and Joseph about their newborn Son—“My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins.”—she knew it was true. And so she went and told everyone who was looking for some good news that Jesus was the One they had long been waiting for.

In other words, it’s good to dedicate your life to prayer so that you can get God’s heart on a matter, and know that you know that you know, so you can tell the world the Good News. Who wouldn't want that?

And so, if you’re really serious about prayer, that's how you do it.

Except, there was that time when a situation comes out of nowhere that punches you in the gut with its potential ramifications. Everything within you says, “This is not going to end well.” Words are few. Thoughts are incoherent and spinning. There is no persistent praying, model praying, or dedicated praying. Not even close. Only a gasp, a yell of "God, help, please!" and an inner resolve that "God’s got this"—but that’s about it.

And a couple of days later, again out of nowhere, a dramatic, table-turning answer that no scheme, great idea, or modern technology could ever pull off. The only explanation: God heard, and God answered....  

After all these years in the Walk, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t know how prayer works. Just that it does. Prayer has no neat and tidy confining boxes because God in His great goodness doesn't have any either. And maybe, in all kinds of prayer, all of Heaven keeps cheering us on to stop sweating the method and simply cultivate this for every situation, big or small, in our everyday life...

“Prayer is what happens when the soul cries out to its Maker, and no matter what the words, no matter what the feelings, no matter what the method, when it happens, it is prayer.”

—Steve Brown, “Approaching God”

Hope On the Horizon

A recent jaw-dropping Christmas evening in Northfield, NH.

My gift of thanks and appreciation to all of you who have been reading and a part of the conversation this year and the past eight: Words of hope and faithfulness from the past year 's Sunday Morning Vitamin (and some favorite photos) to carry into a new year and beyond. Because in this crazy world, we can't be reminded enough of God's goodness to us in every season, so that we can seek to live it out before those on our daily path. To remember to always keep looking Up...because Hope is on the horizon!

Remember this, O my soul: Whenever you clasp your hands in prayer, whenever you lift your hands in worship, whenever you write, whenever you grip the hand of another in fellowship, whenever you create anything with your hands, whenever you play a song or paint a landscape, whenever you applaud in encouragement, whenever you dirty your hands to grow a garden, whenever you offer a hand to someone in need—your hands are a weapon of worship created to bring glory to God… “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.”—HANDS OF GOD“

Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17_…It’s good to be reminded that this Journey is not always as super-spiritual as we try to make it, but, rather, it is life to the full — just as He promised —in the midst of all of its circumstances, and through them. He is in it all. It just takes two words to get the right perspective back…“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you,' it will be enough.” (Meister Eckhart)—WHAT’S GOOD?

Often, after I grab my coffee first thing in the morning, I’ll just breathe in deeply and thank God that it’s His breath in my lungs to live another day for His glory. It's “seeing” and feeling the Words on a page come alive: “This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; He has everything he needs.” (Acts 17:25) For the start of any new day, breathing that in always puts a lot of things in their right perspective. When you “see “ God, you see really well. With so much heaviness and troubles in our world and in the news, we all need that recalibration to remember that we are never alone and that He is always “God with us” and not off preoccupied with someone or something else more important.—SEEING

You are not “the Big Guy.” You are not “the Man upstairs.” You are not just a “higher power.”You are not just a lord to be respected but Lord of Lords—You are the plural of ALL majesty! You alone are ALL power, ALL authority. You alone are ALL-sovereign. You alone are maker of ALL heaven and earth. You alone are master and ruler over ALL-everything. And You alone own everything—and because I believe in You, that means I belong to You, too. I can cast ALL my cares upon You—ALL of them. The whole world—my whole world—even today, is in Your hands. And You love ALL that is Yours (even me at my worst). And You care for ALL that is Yours. And You alone are my only ALL-in-ALL protector, and provider, and Savior, and oh so much more. You never change—from everlasting to everlasting, You are Adonai Lord of Lords—a plural of ALL majesty! You are…worthy of ALL my praise, ALL my worship, ALL my life, for ALL of my days.”—THE JOURNEY OF BELIEVING ALL

There are few things better than the feeling of “git ‘er done.” But there is also this: "It is impossible to do everything people want you to do. You have just enough time to do God’s will. If you can’t get it all done, it means you’re trying to do more than God intended you to do…” (Rick Warren). Stay in your lane… Four of the most challenging words ever preached. But the smartest Man who ever walked the planet knows best and says it’s still the right way to go: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you, too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.” (Matthew 6:33-34)—FINDING OUR LANE

Just a bunch of cool-looking rocks holding up a corner of the old Granite Block building at the corner of Main and Grove in my hometown. Colorful, artsy foundation architecture for sure, but I remember when I took that photo a couple of years ago, it was intentional—to help practically illustrate a teaching on something mysterious that Jesus said about Himself many years ago: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very stone—the cornerstone—that holds together the entire foundation.” (Luke 20:17). That's a great image to hold on to when you wake up every morning to a world gone mad, where all around seems shaken and unstable. The Lord who made heaven and earth and all that is in them is still the firm foundation of it all. —FOUNDATIONS

On this porch, to everything there is a season…A time to savor a warm breeze on a summer evening and time to feel the roar of a winter gale. A time to hear all of creation awakening the dawn and a time to to hear the deafening silence of a January night. A time to be grateful, and never a time to be ungrateful…“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” He’s been faithful in all the rest, and He will be now.—THE PORCH AWAKENING

Before planning and scheming the day ahead, rejoice, even if just a little bit—which means don’t just feel gratitude, express it. Give Him praise from whom every single blessing flows! This day may seem full or it may seem like just another day, but don’t be fooled; Remember that every day is His day, and for His glory, and how I walk—even run—through it really matters. And even if (and when) I veer off course on this day’s journey, or my heart and flesh fail, remember to end the day as you’re doing now, even out of breath: Give Him praise from whom all blessings flow! This is living life in all its fullness.—FULLNESS AT TURN TWO

“One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord—in His presence—all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty, the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur, of the Lord…” (Psalm 27:4) That’s it! That’s the goal. In writing, in speaking or singing, and especially in photography, I knew that I knew that afternoon in the woods that the goal of my life was not retreat but advance—to gaze upon and then point to the beauty of the Lord that’s all around us “all the days of my life.” And then get out of the way. Yes, there is surely darkness and ugliness. The goal is not denial. But the goal is built on a promise that trumps all ugliness: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered, defeated or understood it.” (John 1:5) Never has, never will.—THE GOAL

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” Still. He is not some quarterback in the stands watching the game unfold, wondering if the players will ever get it right as the game seems to get out of control. From the rising of the sun to its setting. Our Captain of our Salvation is unfazed by wind and cold and storm...and headlines. His decisions are always perfect and unwavering. And He often calls amazing audibles, and plays that are not in our playbook and that don’t make sense Until at just the right time, they do. Even if we don't realize it until we look back later.—THE CAPTAIN IN THE FIELD

Stop striving. Stop trying to win this battle on your own. Stop running away and run perseveringly to green pastures instead. Stop trying to live by performance and approval and instead find God’s grace and mercy in time of every need. Be still and remember that you have a Savior who is forever your advocate, no matter what. He was, He is, and He always will be your defender: “The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is keep still.” (Exodus 14:14)—FIELD OF DREAMS

“A very present help in times of trouble.” Whether it's times of sadness, weariness, stress, uncertainty or confusion, I needed to hear for the gazillionth time that God is not only my greatest-ever defense and offense, He is always “very present.” Things you know but things you forget in the heat of the moment. But very? How can anything be more present than present? Perhaps it was the psalmist’s “I don’t have the words for this” way of saying, of encouraging us all, that no matter what the season and unlike any other friend on earth, God is: Always ready. Always listening. Always near. Proven. Trustworthy...Undefeated! That wherever we go, there He is. That whether we are stuck inside during a snowstorm, or halfway around the world, or “If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, Your strength will support me.” (Psalm 139:9-10)—VERY PRESENT

"Jesus stands at the door and knocks, in complete reality. He confronts you in every person that you meet. Christ walks on the earth as your neighbor as long as there are people. He walks on the earth as the One through whom God calls you, speaks to you, and makes His demands. That is the greatest seriousness, and the greatest blessing, of the Advent message.”—Dietrich Boenhoffer

Fullness at Turn Two

Heading toward Turn Two earlier this spring.

Sometimes, you can be minding your own business and the oddest things happen.

Yesterday morning’s run at the high school track was like that—loop after loop, gulps of cool air, an incredibly beautiful cloud cover, the nearby shouts of the football team at their first workout of the season, waking up and feeling fine, and having the lanes all to myself. And then as I rounded turn two, I noticed a car had pulled over and someone was approaching the fence with a camera. 

First thought: “You lookin’ at me? And who-the-heck are you?” A little creepy at first, but as I kept running, I chose to believe the guy was taking a photo of the football team in the distance instead. But just maybe, he stopped because he wondered “why do people do this—running around and around on a track in the early morning? It looks… boring.” 

And the guy would have a point. But he’d also have no idea. Because though making time to run was the last thing I should have been doing to start an incredibly busy day, and though it may have seemed boring and routine to others, that weird little photo incident was a reminder that what I had taken time to do was the most important thing I should be doing. Every day...

“People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But don't think that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.”

I have never met marathon runner Haruki Murakami, who said that, but I can relate to him. He is a career writer and has spent many hours behind a desk. Check. He did not start running until later in life. Check. He began as a way to stay healthy and counter his sedentary every day working position. Check.

And most of all, because he wanted to “live life to the fullest.” Check. In my case, it was to take seriously the words of Jesus,

“I have come in order that you might have life—

life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

Because there is a thief that is constantly trying to rob us all of the goodness of life, both in this world and the promise of the world to come. Running in endless circles on a track can seem crazy to people driving by, but yesterday was a reminder that no matter how much stuff there is to do and process, living life in all its fullness begins by starting the day right on the right foot (whether you are a runner or not)—with prayer, with gratitude, with thankfulness.

Three things easily forgotten or taken for granted.

And as I often do on a run, the mish-mash of thoughts going through my brain on that boring-looking track yesterday looked something like this…

Today is another day that the Lord has made,

And before doing another thing, even before that first sip of coffee,

Before planning and scheming the day ahead,

Rejoice, even if just a little bit—which means don’t just feel gratitude, express it.

Give Him praise from whom every single blessing flows! (James 1:17)

Including that your life is a gift and the giver is God alone,

Because He alone “gives us life, and breath in our lungs, and everything else.” (Acts 17:26)

This day may seem full or it may seem like just another day, but don’t be fooled;

Remember that every day is His day, and for His glory, and how I walk—even run—through it really matters.

“OK, then, let’s do this!”

Wait…first, don’t forget to pray at all times, and as you go (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and especially for these:

Pray for wisdom on how to proceed, for what you know about already and the unplanned.

And “if you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.” (James 1:5, Voice)

And pray, too, for an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11) that stays soft and pliable in the hands of its Maker throughout the day.

Especially when it is prone to wander or become hardened by the things and voices of this world that continually scream (lie) that they are more important or desirable.

And don’t forget to pray for others…family, friends in need, and how you will interact with all the people that come across your path today:

“Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed.” (Ephesians 6:18)

And even if (and when) I veer off course on this day’s journey, or my heart and flesh fail,

Remember to end the day as you’re doing now, even out of breath:

Give Him praise from whom all blessings flow!

From beginning to end, today is another day that the Lord has made, so keep on running…

“Let us be full of joy and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24, NLV)

This is living life in all its fullness.

Seeing

“The air is distinctly fragrant with balsam and resin and mint,  every breath of it a gift we may well thank God for.”—John Muir, “My First Summer in the Sierra”

It’s cold and it’s windy but it’s beautiful out there this morning anyway, with the sunrise painting the clouds pink and yesterday’s pasty snow clinging to tree branches like a Currier and Ives holiday scene. Just maybe, this weekend is winter’s last gasp, but because this is New England and since it snowed seven inches in May last year, I doubt it. Even so, the dawn of a new season of Daylight Savings Time signals that, just as it has been forever, warmer weather is ahead eventually and spring will arrive on time…eventually. I can almost smell it all now…

…Often, after I grab my coffee first thing in the morning, I’ll do something like John Muir did—I’ll just breathe in deeply and thank God that it’s His breath in my lungs to live another day for His glory. That’s not weird, that’s “seeing” and feeling the Words on a page come alive: 

“This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; He has everything he needs.”

—Acts 17:25, New Century Version

For the start of any new day, breathing that in always puts a lot of things in their right perspective. When you “see “ God, you see really well. With so much heaviness and troubles in our world and in the news, we all need that recalibration to remember that we are never alone and that He is always “God with us” and not off preoccupied with someone or something else more important.

Many people think that they can’t “see” God in the everyday, but His artistry and majesty and faithfulness and steadfastness in a crazy world can be seen in all four seasons, and in everyday life. It’s probably one reason why Jesus painted everyday pictures in words to help others better understand and “see” the God who made and loves them. Every everyday picture tells a story if only we will look for it. For instance, I remember a time driving down the highway with one contact lens in focus and the other not quite right, and somehow I knew God was trying to show me something about living well that was more than just about malfunctioning eyewear. You don’t have to be special. Anyone can “see” God in the everyday. so long as you’re looking for Him. As the young prophet Jeremiah wrote: 

“You will find Me when you seek Me, if you seek Me in earnest.”

—Jeremiah 29:13, Living Bible

I was reminded of this in a jaw-dropping sort of way one day last summer. I woke up one morning in Maine surprised to see the sun when all the forecasts were dead-on promising rain. I thought I was just doing an everyday unspiritual thing like walking the beach. My everyday thoughts were not on church things but on everyday “to do” things and on how my grumbling stomach needed breakfast. But I must have remembered John Muir and that holy breath in my lungs while taking an everyday step on the low-tide hard-pack because I decided to check my phone app for the verse of the day. You know, just to see what it says. And it was this: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God, and the expanse of heaven is declaring the work of His hands. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night reveals knowledge.”—Psalm 19:1-2

And then I happened to look up and then out over the ocean, as I often do on an everyday kind of beach walk. I could not believe my eyes—I was “seeing” what God had just said about Himself (pictured)—the vast expanse of sea and sky, with the sun advancing on one side and storm clouds retreating slowly in the other direction. Mic drop.

And it’s just as true on a frigid Sunday in March as it was that summer day....

Our God …is…always…speaking to us in our everyday. We just need to look for Him.

Down in My Heart

“The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy; my soul shall dive therein…”—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

What do we do with the word "joy"? There must be something important and good about it in God’s eyes because joy is mentioned more than 200 times in some translations of the Bible.

But well-meaning Sunday School teachers and authors down through the years have made it sound like joyful Christians are to be serious-faced about God’s joy, and have said not to confuse natural happiness with joy because happiness is a fleeting emotion—it comes and goes. Only joy lasts. On that last point, there is Truth. But on the whole, this handed-down teaching needs revisiting because the root words for joy in both the Hebrew and Greek do not imply serious-faced expressions and lifestyles at all, but instead speak of an inner happiness or gladness that cannot be contained or deterred. 

And if you’ve experienced that kind of joy, you can’t really explain it, but you know it's true.

It’s better than the fleeting joyful feeling of getting a new car or going on vacation because God’s joy (or, joy in God), is rooted in knowing that no matter the ups and downs of life, if you have Jesus, you have everything, and He will never abandon you and He loves you through the ecstasies as well as the hells of life. And most of all, because unlike any other god, our God is not dead but fully alive and reigning still and forever over this crazy world in ways that are totally beyond our imagination or understanding. And not only that, He is interceding—praying—for us all…the… time. (Hebrews 7:25).

And oh yes, His joy is unspeakable because unlike that new car, He never rusts or breaks down, and unlike that vakay, you never need a reservation to be with Him.

And that’s only a glimmer of what joy in the Lord looks like. Or, it’s about all our (my) feeble brains can handle at one time. But somehow you know and believe that there is so much more depth, width and height to the kind of happy joy God is talking about. I’m thinking of that campfire song right about now: “I’ve got that joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where?…” Deep down. Just as Spurgeon says.

I was thinking about that when putting up the tree yesterday, and of all the lights and shiny objects, one three-letter word (pictured) was magnified….

Remember, the Word shouts: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say rejoice!”

But look at our world—there isn’t much to rejoice about. Joy to the world? Really?

And what about all the hurts and pains that have somehow concentrated in Decembers past? Joy to the world? Really?

The Word shouts louder: Remember to live each day not through your lens but through Heaven’s lens. Remember…

“Be full of joy always

Because you belong to the Lord!

Again I say, be full of joy!

And let all people see how considerate, compassionate, unselfish you are.

The Lord is coming again soon!

Do not worry.

Learn to pray about everything.

Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need.

The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:4-7, New Life Version

Our problems and painful memories may be real, in December and the other 11 months as well, and many are no laughing matter. But that little three-letter decoration is a loud reminder that the Word of God has never failed and won’t stop now: the joy of the Lord is indeed our strength still, and very deep and very wide, no matter what. It's all about choosing to look through the right and heavenly lens…

…“Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care — all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power.” 

— A. B. Simpson

Thankful

Photo: Hannah Skelly @unsplash.com

"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything."—Thomas Merton

Outside, the air was November-brisk. Inside, all was warm with good food, conversation and gales of laughter. Friday was another wonderful Friday night in my little hometown. Until I suddenly realized it was more than that.

I think I first noticed it when the happy vibes of the restaurant became so vibey that our server had to lean in to hear what we wanted to order. And to the left, a large table of friends had gathered to happily celebrate someone’s special occasion, although I couldn’t tell what exactly. It didn’t really matter. What struck me was…a sudden wave of thanksgiving, gratitude and an answer to a strangely-worded prayer. It wasn’t all that long ago, really….

…While taking an evening walk in my little hometown in late March of last year, I remember being so struck with the sadness of seeing neighbors avoiding one another and crossing to the other side of the street when they saw you coming. Everything was on COVID lockdown and safety awareness. No dining out, no gathering with friends at the game or in church—for days, for weeks, and sometimes for months—and every feeling within had a very deep, mournful “this ain’t right” sigh to it. And I remember writing afterwards: 

“I want my community back—my hometown and its neighborly sidewalks, my co-workers, my friends at Nonie’s and at church….When this is over, I know there will be nothing sweeter than being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hometown crowd cheering and shouting at the basketball game, or…

...going to the loudest restaurant I can find just so I can hear people laugh with one another…”

 

And here it was! It had happened! This thing may never be fully over, but we have come out on the other side after all. And not only that,  just as I strangely prayed, I got to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hometown crowd cheering and shouting at a soccer game (basketball hasn’t started yet), and now here I was delighting in “the loudest restaurant I can find just so I can hear people laugh with one another.”

What seemed impossible 18 months ago, and even only dimly possible this spring, all came together in thankfulness in that hometown restaurant on Friday night. And those sidewalks of avoidance? They have been replaced by friendly nods or a “hello!” (miracle alert—New Englanders just don’t do that), and while there are still face coverings, there are more frequent unveilings of  “hey, I remember you now!” smiles of neighbors and friends.

The meal and service and friendship in “the loudest restaurant I can find so I can hear people laugh with one another” were fantastic. But the best part may have been the Thanksgiving take-out menu I reminded myself to carry with me this week and all the other weeks to come, to remember to be thankful for all blessings huge and small, and especially to remember the Source of them all…

…Thank You that “I lay down and slept safely; I awakened, for You sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5)

Thank You that no matter what the headlines say, “This is the day that You have made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Thank You for family, friends and the air I breathe, that You alone “give life and breath to everything, and satisfy every need.” (Acts 17:25)

Thank You that no matter what others may think of me or what I think of myself, that in Your eyes, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

Thank You for the “incredible quality of love You have shown to us, that we would be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!”  Wow. (1 John 3:1)

Thank You that even on those days when I feel alone—even in a crowd—I’m not because Your name is “God with us” and You have promised “never will I leave you, never will I abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Thank You that though truthfulness is lacking in a big way all around us, I know I can trust You because “it is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18)

Thank You that in a world with too much deception and lack of integrity, You alone are “not a human who changes his mind. Whatever You promise, You do; You speak, and it is done.” (Numbers 23:19)

Thank You that no matter how chaotic and out of control this world may look, “The earth belongs to You, and everything in it — the world and all its people.” (Psalm 24:1)

Thank You for the reminder that being thankful “strengthens my faith.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

And thank You especially that no matter what, You never quit on anything or in the midst of any bleak situation, that “You are good and Your love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1)

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.—Meister Eckhart