I wasn't sure I would make it to our granddaughter's 11:00 a.m. basketball game, since we had to get our son to the airport and I was to get my hair cut. Nevertheless, we found time and were soon seated on the bleachers watching the 4th graders play.
Not knowing much about the rules of the game, I mostly just watched and enjoyed the energy of the girls as they tirelessly bounded from one end of the court to the other, pony tails flying. Frequently the teams merged into precise formations with a girl guarding the opposing player with upraised arms behind her, signalling to catch the ball.
I would have tired out in the first quarter, but their strength and vitality amazed me as they shot baskets, blocked players, dribbled and passed the ball like pros, only occasionally getting correction from their coaches. I found myself laughing and smiling with the sheer joy of watching the determined, purposeful youth in action. It was positively fun!
After a stop for lunch, Howard asked me for the bank card I had used at the salon. "I gave it to you!" I responded. He said he didn't have it, so I double-checked my purse, to no avail. We looked in the car, checking the seats and floor. Oh well, I thought, when I get home I will empty everything and locate it.
Arriving home, I said a quick prayer that the card would turn up, then I opened the door to get out. I couldn't believe my eyes! There on the ground beside the car was the flimsy card! Had it been lying there since we left over 3 hours before? I didn't see how that was possible, with the cold wind blowing on the light-weight card! That was the quickest answer to prayer I'd ever had!
God is a prayer-answering God! During recent weeks I have been fretting and concerned over some family situations, stewing and worrying in indecision. What a waste that was! When the time drew near for resolutions, the problems were solved smoothly and like clockwork in God's perfect timing!
The ball players I watched today had their obstacles, but I didn't notice any anxiety as they doggedly kept on keeping on! Their coaches were hovering nearby, guiding and keeping an eye on them. Just as God has been there all along for me, faithfully answering my prayers!
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Drama of Life
I love "The Waltons" television series. The nostalgic show, while set in a slightly earlier time, reminds me of my early growing-up years. We lived in a mountainous area, had a red-haired, home-maker mother and a dark-haired, handsome father, full of kindness and wisdom, but shrewd as they come.
Even the siblings, for the most part, fit some of the characteristics of us kids. You might say my oldest brother, Sam (known as Duane then), was a John-boy type--Daddy's helper, smart, and a leader and teacher for the younger ones. I remember him showing me how to do simple sewing, pushing the needle through the fabric without sticking my finger.
"How do you do that?" my 5-year-old self asked, and he replied, "Well, you've just got to be that sure of yourself if your gonna sew!" He made the first pan of brownies I'd ever tasted, getting hold of the recipe and proudly turning out a treat.
Mary-Ellen could have been blonde Pauline, a tom-boy, brave and a little brash, not to mention beautiful, in her place as next-oldest.
Elizabeth and Jim-Bob make me think of my brother Bobby and myself, only I was the older one by almost two years. We were playmates as little kids, doing crazy and silly things and laughing about them. Once we played a trick on Mama. We knew the seat of the rocking chair was broken, but we placed the seat back on as if it had been repaired, then thought it was funny when she fell through!
I remember explaining to Bobby as we examined one of the rare dolls I had, "Look, that's where God put it together," running my finger along the seam of the composition body.
When the Walton's say, "Good Night," their voices echoing warmly through the rooms, I remember how our family talked after we went to bed. We could hear through the small house as Mama and Daddy made up riddles for us to guess, much to our delight. Talk went on in the dark until it became mumbles that lulled us to sleep. If I awoke scared in the night, I listened for Daddy to cough or snore, then I felt safe again.
In my own family, I was Olivia and Howard was John. Our oldest, Mark, was our John-boy, responsible and a model for the others. Trevor was red-haired Ben, Greg musically gifted Jason, Julie was impulsive Mary-Ellen, Amy pretty Erin, and Jamie might be innovative Jim-Bob.
We were (and are) a church-attending family as the Walton's were portrayed, and I can't help identifying with anyone with a large family, even on television!
Even the siblings, for the most part, fit some of the characteristics of us kids. You might say my oldest brother, Sam (known as Duane then), was a John-boy type--Daddy's helper, smart, and a leader and teacher for the younger ones. I remember him showing me how to do simple sewing, pushing the needle through the fabric without sticking my finger.
"How do you do that?" my 5-year-old self asked, and he replied, "Well, you've just got to be that sure of yourself if your gonna sew!" He made the first pan of brownies I'd ever tasted, getting hold of the recipe and proudly turning out a treat.
Mary-Ellen could have been blonde Pauline, a tom-boy, brave and a little brash, not to mention beautiful, in her place as next-oldest.
Elizabeth and Jim-Bob make me think of my brother Bobby and myself, only I was the older one by almost two years. We were playmates as little kids, doing crazy and silly things and laughing about them. Once we played a trick on Mama. We knew the seat of the rocking chair was broken, but we placed the seat back on as if it had been repaired, then thought it was funny when she fell through!
I remember explaining to Bobby as we examined one of the rare dolls I had, "Look, that's where God put it together," running my finger along the seam of the composition body.
When the Walton's say, "Good Night," their voices echoing warmly through the rooms, I remember how our family talked after we went to bed. We could hear through the small house as Mama and Daddy made up riddles for us to guess, much to our delight. Talk went on in the dark until it became mumbles that lulled us to sleep. If I awoke scared in the night, I listened for Daddy to cough or snore, then I felt safe again.
In my own family, I was Olivia and Howard was John. Our oldest, Mark, was our John-boy, responsible and a model for the others. Trevor was red-haired Ben, Greg musically gifted Jason, Julie was impulsive Mary-Ellen, Amy pretty Erin, and Jamie might be innovative Jim-Bob.
We were (and are) a church-attending family as the Walton's were portrayed, and I can't help identifying with anyone with a large family, even on television!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Just Do It!
"Max almost didn't make it to the meeting tonight," the leader of our study on prayer said. We were to begin a video/discussion series by Max Lucado last night. "We had ordered this material several weeks ago, and it was back-ordered and back-ordered," he explained, then told an animated account of how he had chased down the UPS truck, got inside and dug through contents until he came up with the video!
Well, it was worth all his effort! The study, "Before Amen," deals with the simplicity of prayer and how sometimes people are uncertain or reluctant to pray because they don't know how. For purposes of the study, Max distills prayer into four succinct divisions: "God, you are good. I need help. They need help. Thank You."
Today Howard and a helper worked in our basement cleaning and organizing it, discarding some of the partially empty boxes from our last move. I made a pot of potato soup and a chocolate cake, of which they ate heartily when they were almost finished.
"Don't be going up and down the stairs since you just ate," I cautioned my husband, who has been known to get a little short of breath if he exerts himself after eating. Naturally, he didn't pay any attention but went down and did some more. A little while later, I noticed him being extremely quiet and preoccupied in his easy chair.
He admitted he was having some discomfort and asked for an Alka-Seltzer, but just wanted to rest, and I was more than a little concerned. "Get me the Scripture Keys book," he requested. He went to the section on healing scriptures and asked to be left alone.
A little later, I noticed he was looking like his old self, and he said brightly, "God answered my prayer! I have been healed!" What a relief! Praise God!
Then he said, "And something else. I was thinking a few days ago about a book I used to have." He described the book to me, and I remembered he had referred to often when we lived in Mississippi several years ago. "I prayed that I would find that book, and would you believe I found it in the basement today!" He went on to marvel that "God answers my prayers!"
Part of the discussion last night was that some people seem to have the gift of prayer. They can pray long, effective, heartfelt, beautiful prayers. My husband is one of them. He is conversationally gifted. He can talk and talk. While others pray more simply and to the point. I am one of them. I tend to speak in the same manner, directly and even abruptly. It seems we should pray in a manner comfortable to us. Oh, and I have my prayers answered, too!
After the meeting, several people said they had been feeling guilty about their prayer lives for not praying longer and more proper prayers, but now they were reassured that God hears all our prayers, no matter how halting or faltering they may be!
Jesus said in Matthew 6:7-8, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8)Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
Well, it was worth all his effort! The study, "Before Amen," deals with the simplicity of prayer and how sometimes people are uncertain or reluctant to pray because they don't know how. For purposes of the study, Max distills prayer into four succinct divisions: "God, you are good. I need help. They need help. Thank You."
Today Howard and a helper worked in our basement cleaning and organizing it, discarding some of the partially empty boxes from our last move. I made a pot of potato soup and a chocolate cake, of which they ate heartily when they were almost finished.
"Don't be going up and down the stairs since you just ate," I cautioned my husband, who has been known to get a little short of breath if he exerts himself after eating. Naturally, he didn't pay any attention but went down and did some more. A little while later, I noticed him being extremely quiet and preoccupied in his easy chair.
He admitted he was having some discomfort and asked for an Alka-Seltzer, but just wanted to rest, and I was more than a little concerned. "Get me the Scripture Keys book," he requested. He went to the section on healing scriptures and asked to be left alone.
A little later, I noticed he was looking like his old self, and he said brightly, "God answered my prayer! I have been healed!" What a relief! Praise God!
Then he said, "And something else. I was thinking a few days ago about a book I used to have." He described the book to me, and I remembered he had referred to often when we lived in Mississippi several years ago. "I prayed that I would find that book, and would you believe I found it in the basement today!" He went on to marvel that "God answers my prayers!"
Part of the discussion last night was that some people seem to have the gift of prayer. They can pray long, effective, heartfelt, beautiful prayers. My husband is one of them. He is conversationally gifted. He can talk and talk. While others pray more simply and to the point. I am one of them. I tend to speak in the same manner, directly and even abruptly. It seems we should pray in a manner comfortable to us. Oh, and I have my prayers answered, too!
After the meeting, several people said they had been feeling guilty about their prayer lives for not praying longer and more proper prayers, but now they were reassured that God hears all our prayers, no matter how halting or faltering they may be!
Jesus said in Matthew 6:7-8, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8)Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
2015
New Year's Day had dawned cold, bleak and grey with ice pellets in the forecast. I had bought black-eyed peas to cook, along with other of our traditional foods for our meal that day. It would be just three of us, including our son for dinner, as his family was away on a trip to the East Coast. Then he told me he planned to work all day at his farmhouse on a computer assignment for his company.
On sudden inspiration, I said, "Well, we could just bring dinner out there!" He protested that he didn't want to put me to that trouble, but I insisted it would be fun! I set to work, putting the peas on to cook with pork hocks to give them flavor. That done, I remembered I had chocolate chips for cookies and pecans left over from Christmas, so soon cookies chock-full of them were baking in the oven.
Cabbage and other vegetables went into a pot next, and when the cookies came out, in went the cornbread I stirred up. Howard made a gallon jug of tea while I found a basket to hold everything. We bundled up and set out with our "picnic," braving the cold and the fine mist in the air.
Greg had a roaring fire in the fireplace to welcome us, and the food was delicious! The change of scene and eating away from home made the day exciting and fun. It also pulled our son away from his work deadline for awhile as we sat on his couch in front of the fire and chatted away. The little bit of extra effort had brightened his day and ours and was worth it!
On Sunday morning when we settled into church near the front after our Sunday School class, I turned to Howard and said, "Look who's on the front row!" It was our friend and former pastor from a different church, no doubt the speaker today while our pastor was in Thailand.
He began his sermon by referring to a visual on the wall of the Lord's Supper with the words, "Anno Domini 2015, The Year of Our Lord." He asked how many wanted this to be the year of our Lord, and what that would look like. Would we only want the blessings? What if there were sad days ahead as well?
Taking his text from Hebrews 12 about the great cloud of witnesses, we were soon led back to the heroes of faith in chapter 11. Many great feats were accomplished by Moses, David, Samuel and the prophets. But what about those in the following verses who did not receive deliverance, "destitute, afflicted and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy."?
The minister pointed out that faith does not always mean we are exempt from the negative things in life, but that God may take those hard experiences and use us to comfort others who may be going through the same thing.
We have faced things this past year that we have never faced before, but through them we have learned to empathize more fully with those who have experienced them. May it truly be the Year of Our Lord this year!
On sudden inspiration, I said, "Well, we could just bring dinner out there!" He protested that he didn't want to put me to that trouble, but I insisted it would be fun! I set to work, putting the peas on to cook with pork hocks to give them flavor. That done, I remembered I had chocolate chips for cookies and pecans left over from Christmas, so soon cookies chock-full of them were baking in the oven.
Cabbage and other vegetables went into a pot next, and when the cookies came out, in went the cornbread I stirred up. Howard made a gallon jug of tea while I found a basket to hold everything. We bundled up and set out with our "picnic," braving the cold and the fine mist in the air.
Greg had a roaring fire in the fireplace to welcome us, and the food was delicious! The change of scene and eating away from home made the day exciting and fun. It also pulled our son away from his work deadline for awhile as we sat on his couch in front of the fire and chatted away. The little bit of extra effort had brightened his day and ours and was worth it!
On Sunday morning when we settled into church near the front after our Sunday School class, I turned to Howard and said, "Look who's on the front row!" It was our friend and former pastor from a different church, no doubt the speaker today while our pastor was in Thailand.
He began his sermon by referring to a visual on the wall of the Lord's Supper with the words, "Anno Domini 2015, The Year of Our Lord." He asked how many wanted this to be the year of our Lord, and what that would look like. Would we only want the blessings? What if there were sad days ahead as well?
Taking his text from Hebrews 12 about the great cloud of witnesses, we were soon led back to the heroes of faith in chapter 11. Many great feats were accomplished by Moses, David, Samuel and the prophets. But what about those in the following verses who did not receive deliverance, "destitute, afflicted and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy."?
The minister pointed out that faith does not always mean we are exempt from the negative things in life, but that God may take those hard experiences and use us to comfort others who may be going through the same thing.
We have faced things this past year that we have never faced before, but through them we have learned to empathize more fully with those who have experienced them. May it truly be the Year of Our Lord this year!
Monday, January 5, 2015
Jesus, the Light of the World
Saturday I spent the day taking down Christmas decorations, boxing them up and handing them down to Howard to store in the basement. I had left them up as long as possible, enjoying the way the colorful ornamentation and bright lights lit up corners of the room, bringing cheer to the dim house during sunless days and cold nights.
"There!" I said when we finished, "All traces of Christmas have been removed!" Of course, I meant just the trappings of the holidays, not the Reason for the Christmas celebration. Jesus and His light are always with us! He guides and takes care of us every day!
Just today, the phone rang with the news that my husband had had a flat tire on the truck. He wanted me to drive to where he was to bring him the lug wrench that was in our car. "Where are you?" I questioned. Since he was in the parking lot of an auto supply store, I suggested he try to borrow a lug wrench from them. When he didn't call back, I assumed that's what he did.
A good while later Howard called and said that all had been taken care of. "Did you borrow a lug wrench?" I asked, to which he replied, "Yes, but then the jack was too short for the truck!" I wondered what happened, and he said a friend was passing by and saw him there and happened to have a farm jack! A coincidence? No, I prefer to think it was God's guidance! Why else would this friend (whom we hadn't seen in months) just happen to drive by at that moment, just happen to look that way, and just happen to have what was needed?
Due to job changes, child care arrangements have had to be made in our youngest son's household for their one-year-old, while the bigger children will trade homeschooling for public school. As much as I wanted to fill in for them, distance and circumstances prevented it, and I spent many moments of concern about the change.
I was reassured and surprised to learn that little Isaac had been spending time without Mommy in the church nursery. When I asked his daddy how he was doing with that, Jamie told me he had adjusted just fine. "If another toddler cries, Isaac goes over and pats him and offers him a toy," he said! What a mature little 13-month-old! The peace of and light of Jesus is surely upon him!
I was touched today when I heard a phone interview of the man who answered the door to the bleeding, crying 7-year-old survivor of a plane crash. Asked how he thought the little girl found his house over a quarter mile away in the dark and through ravines and brambles, he said, "Well, I have a security light outside in the yard, and I think she just followed the light."
Jesus said, "Follow Me." There is safety and security provided for us if we just follow the Light.
"There!" I said when we finished, "All traces of Christmas have been removed!" Of course, I meant just the trappings of the holidays, not the Reason for the Christmas celebration. Jesus and His light are always with us! He guides and takes care of us every day!
Just today, the phone rang with the news that my husband had had a flat tire on the truck. He wanted me to drive to where he was to bring him the lug wrench that was in our car. "Where are you?" I questioned. Since he was in the parking lot of an auto supply store, I suggested he try to borrow a lug wrench from them. When he didn't call back, I assumed that's what he did.
A good while later Howard called and said that all had been taken care of. "Did you borrow a lug wrench?" I asked, to which he replied, "Yes, but then the jack was too short for the truck!" I wondered what happened, and he said a friend was passing by and saw him there and happened to have a farm jack! A coincidence? No, I prefer to think it was God's guidance! Why else would this friend (whom we hadn't seen in months) just happen to drive by at that moment, just happen to look that way, and just happen to have what was needed?
Due to job changes, child care arrangements have had to be made in our youngest son's household for their one-year-old, while the bigger children will trade homeschooling for public school. As much as I wanted to fill in for them, distance and circumstances prevented it, and I spent many moments of concern about the change.
I was reassured and surprised to learn that little Isaac had been spending time without Mommy in the church nursery. When I asked his daddy how he was doing with that, Jamie told me he had adjusted just fine. "If another toddler cries, Isaac goes over and pats him and offers him a toy," he said! What a mature little 13-month-old! The peace of and light of Jesus is surely upon him!
I was touched today when I heard a phone interview of the man who answered the door to the bleeding, crying 7-year-old survivor of a plane crash. Asked how he thought the little girl found his house over a quarter mile away in the dark and through ravines and brambles, he said, "Well, I have a security light outside in the yard, and I think she just followed the light."
Jesus said, "Follow Me." There is safety and security provided for us if we just follow the Light.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Men Ought Always to Pray
"I hope you don't mind," I heard from a neighboring booth at a restaurant. Looking up, I saw a woman was talking to me. "I included myself in that prayer," she smiled.
When our waitress had brought our order, she asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" to which my husband surprised me by saying, "Yes, would you ask the blessing over our meal?"
The friendly waitress said she'd be glad to! And she prayed a beautiful, eloquent--even anointed--prayer! Not only did she ask God to bless the food, she asked him to bless the cooks and other diners, and thanked Him for a new year, closing in the precious name of our Lord Jesus! No wonder the other diner wanted to be a part of the prayer! Of course it was alright!
How refreshing to know that there are believers and hungry people (not only for food) all around us who believe in prayer. God is such a prayer-answering God! Recently I had felt confused and frustrated over a situation. I had responded to something recommended on the internet and signed up for a product.
As soon as my order was complete, information came on that I was placed on a waiting list, and the only way to get off the waiting list was to advertise the product on my Facebook page and solicit orders from friends!
What an awkward predicament! I felt used and tricked! The e-mails I received from the company seemed irrelevant when I questioned this, as though they were standard form responses. I lay awake worrying and pondering what to do and couldn't go to sleep that night. Finally, I turned it over to God and fell into a peaceful slumber.
The next morning I opened my e-mail to read,"Your order has been cancelled." Praise the Lord! I had not requested that, only inquiring about the cancellation process! But I felt so relieved that God had taken care of it in the night. Looking at the date, though, I saw the e-mail was sent before I had prayed!
I thought of the scripture in Isaiah 65:24 that says, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
I had been concerned about traveling plans one of our sons had for this week, since bad weather was predicted. His father and I prayed many prayers of protection for him and his family. This morning I was startled to learn they had narrowly averted what could have been a horrendous accident. Our son said he was trying to make sense of red and yellow lights he saw ahead on the two-lane road they were traveling, when suddenly he came upon a tanker truck stretched across the road, evidently trying to turn around. He managed to brake hard and quickly from his 65 mph speed. Thank God, they were safe! I've no doubt God sent His angels to guard them! God answers prayer!
When our waitress had brought our order, she asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" to which my husband surprised me by saying, "Yes, would you ask the blessing over our meal?"
The friendly waitress said she'd be glad to! And she prayed a beautiful, eloquent--even anointed--prayer! Not only did she ask God to bless the food, she asked him to bless the cooks and other diners, and thanked Him for a new year, closing in the precious name of our Lord Jesus! No wonder the other diner wanted to be a part of the prayer! Of course it was alright!
How refreshing to know that there are believers and hungry people (not only for food) all around us who believe in prayer. God is such a prayer-answering God! Recently I had felt confused and frustrated over a situation. I had responded to something recommended on the internet and signed up for a product.
As soon as my order was complete, information came on that I was placed on a waiting list, and the only way to get off the waiting list was to advertise the product on my Facebook page and solicit orders from friends!
What an awkward predicament! I felt used and tricked! The e-mails I received from the company seemed irrelevant when I questioned this, as though they were standard form responses. I lay awake worrying and pondering what to do and couldn't go to sleep that night. Finally, I turned it over to God and fell into a peaceful slumber.
The next morning I opened my e-mail to read,"Your order has been cancelled." Praise the Lord! I had not requested that, only inquiring about the cancellation process! But I felt so relieved that God had taken care of it in the night. Looking at the date, though, I saw the e-mail was sent before I had prayed!
I thought of the scripture in Isaiah 65:24 that says, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
I had been concerned about traveling plans one of our sons had for this week, since bad weather was predicted. His father and I prayed many prayers of protection for him and his family. This morning I was startled to learn they had narrowly averted what could have been a horrendous accident. Our son said he was trying to make sense of red and yellow lights he saw ahead on the two-lane road they were traveling, when suddenly he came upon a tanker truck stretched across the road, evidently trying to turn around. He managed to brake hard and quickly from his 65 mph speed. Thank God, they were safe! I've no doubt God sent His angels to guard them! God answers prayer!
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Throw It Out!
Help! I'm addicted to playing a game I can't win! Saving leftovers! I can't bear to throw out perfectly good food, so I place foil over it and save it. Maybe we will eat a little of it, and maybe we won't. I transfer it to a plastic storage container for another day and usually forget about it!
Tonight I made a (almost) clean sweep, taking out the L.O.'s and mercilessly putting them down the garbage disposal. My husband had inspired me when he cleaned out the freezer section of the fridge today. Some of them were leftover leftovers that I had disguised as a new dish. Mashed potatoes had become potato salad. Beans had become chili. But enough's enough! I will start the new year with a clean plate (er, slate).
When our kids were growing up, I never had that problem. There were no leftovers with six hungry youngsters cleaning their plates. It's hard to downsize, when soups and stews keep growing with every added ingredient.
Sometimes I think we hang on to leftovers in other areas of our lives, too. So many people reminisce and dwell on how it used to be, especially about church. They only want to sing the old hymns and live on past spiritual experiences. It's true, revivals were fervent and frequent in our youth but we can't live in the past. God has fresh manna for us every day if we will gather it!
We may hang on to the memory or the loss of past relationships, leftovers of yesteryear that haunt us. Or we remember missed opportunities and nurture thoughts of "If only..." Paul said in Philippians 3:13, "...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those thing which are before."
Psalm 96:1 admonishes us, "O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord all the earth."
God is a God of new things. His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23)They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Some of the recollections we have are in reality not so great as we remembered them. Like refrigerator leftovers, they may not even be appetizing if we experienced them again. As the new year begins, it might be well to discard regrets, putting them down the garbage disposal, and looking forward to the new things God has in store for us!
Tonight I made a (almost) clean sweep, taking out the L.O.'s and mercilessly putting them down the garbage disposal. My husband had inspired me when he cleaned out the freezer section of the fridge today. Some of them were leftover leftovers that I had disguised as a new dish. Mashed potatoes had become potato salad. Beans had become chili. But enough's enough! I will start the new year with a clean plate (er, slate).
When our kids were growing up, I never had that problem. There were no leftovers with six hungry youngsters cleaning their plates. It's hard to downsize, when soups and stews keep growing with every added ingredient.
Sometimes I think we hang on to leftovers in other areas of our lives, too. So many people reminisce and dwell on how it used to be, especially about church. They only want to sing the old hymns and live on past spiritual experiences. It's true, revivals were fervent and frequent in our youth but we can't live in the past. God has fresh manna for us every day if we will gather it!
We may hang on to the memory or the loss of past relationships, leftovers of yesteryear that haunt us. Or we remember missed opportunities and nurture thoughts of "If only..." Paul said in Philippians 3:13, "...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those thing which are before."
Psalm 96:1 admonishes us, "O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord all the earth."
God is a God of new things. His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23)They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Some of the recollections we have are in reality not so great as we remembered them. Like refrigerator leftovers, they may not even be appetizing if we experienced them again. As the new year begins, it might be well to discard regrets, putting them down the garbage disposal, and looking forward to the new things God has in store for us!
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