ON THE TABLE
I can imagine that on the “tabletop of your life”’ there are preoccupations with the past, anxieties over the future, and not to mention today’s realities. Am I right? If so, that’s a lot to deal with. How does the Lord want us to handle all of that? In short, to focus on today.
GET TODAY ON THE TABLE
But in order for this to happen, it requires that we identify what our past preoccupations and future anxieties are, and then remove them off the tabletop of our lives, how? By learning not to expend energy of thought or concern about our past, or future anxieties, but rather to develop the habit of maximizing today! It has been said, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. So let’s begin!”. This means that even if you need to make changes in yourself and your environment, don’t worry about your past, or expend energy on projecting future concerns, focus on today!
TODAY
So, what does God’s Word tell us about today?
Today… be teachable: listen, learn and grow! (Heb. 3:12-13, 15).
Today…be diligent: “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Pr. 12:24).
Today… be assured that the Lord’s promises are true! (Luke 23:43).
Today… be a worshipper: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).
Today…be a lover of God and your neighbor (Luke 10:27).
Today…“Go forth” in Jesus name! (Matt. 28:18-20).
Today is when everything that’s going to happen from now on begins!
I’m so bored of little gods
While standing on the edge of
Something large
While standing here, so close to You
We could be consumed
What a glorious day
I give up, I lay down
Rest my face upon this ground
Lift my eyes to Your sky
Rid my heart of all I hide
So sweet this surrender
Chorus
How great Your love for us
How great our love for You
That grace could cover us
How great Your love
How marvelous, how brilliantly
Luminous, You shine in me
And who can fail to give You awe
To fear You, God, so sovereign and strong
What a glorious day
What a wonderful day, today
What a glorious day
What a wonderful day, today
Glorious day
Words and music by David Crowder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouGxgagKM4M
Think Biblically; when Things Fail, Focus on the Love of God’s
“The thought of my pain and my homelessness is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, so in him I put my hope.” (Lamentations 3:19-26 TEV)
Sorrow was gripping the hearts of the citizens of Jerusalem (Lam. 1). The glorious city was in ruins and the people were facing exile. God’s majestic Zion had fallen to the Babylonians.
The destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC was the result of God’s judgment on an unrepentant people. Because we too can find ourselves wondering how to return to fellowship with God after failing Him, the lessons learned by those downcast citizens are worth heeding.
For the defeated people of the Holy City—and for us—the hope of restoration is given in Lamentations 3. It begins, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope” (v.21).
We have hope because of God’s character, which is marked by these traits: His mercy and compassion (v.22), faithfulness (v.23), goodness (v.25), and salvation (v.26).
Although we cannot understand completely the sadness of the displaced Jerusalemites, we do know how empty life becomes when our sin cuts us off from fellowship with God. Yet we can be restored because He will forgive us when we repent of our sin. His compassion’s are “new every morning” (v.23). He alone gives the refreshment of hope, and therefore we too can proclaim, “Great is Your faithfulness.”
No one is hopeless whose hope is in God. He is always faithful “today”; and He can be found today if we search for Him with all our heart!!!
If you will look, the Lord is walking beside you to comfort you.
The Lord walking above you to watch over you.
The Lord walking behind you to keep you safe.
The Lord walk before you to show you the way.
All of this today if you will just look with all of your focus today!
I’ve known for years now, that my foundation in Christ was cemented by Pastor Chuck Smith’s vision, compassion, reach & dedication to God’s word as it was written. From gathering with so many on Sunday evenings at CC, Costa Mesa, to praising God on Friday nights in Newport Beach as your own ministry was launched. We “sheep” some lost, some guided, & watched over by our great Shepard will continue to be touched by the foundation set on this earth by Pastor Chuck Smith’s vision & unwavering dedication to God & His Word. I rejoice that he is finally home, and am certain that the host of angels + millions more rejoiced as Pastor Chuck Smith crossed the threshold and entered his new home.