A Life Worthy

Tag: Trust

  • One-a-Day Monday, 9/15/14

    number 1

     

    But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more (Psalm 71:14).

    I bought a car yesterday.

    No, not because I wanted to.  I bought it—or rather, I began the multi-year process of buying it—because Coco Puff, our faithful minivan of many years and many miles, finally vroomed her last vroom.

    Those of you paying attention to such things will note that this is the second car that has died on me in the last three months.  Add to that the dishwasher and the stove, and a picture emerges.

    This guy’s infrastructure is falling apart.

    Now, this is the part where I tell you that I’m not stressed by any of this, because God is my hope and I trust him completely and so should you.  This is the part where you look at your own circumstances, which may well be more difficult than mine, and take encouragement and strength from my bold proclamation of faith.

    Except I am stressed.  Sorry about that.

    Don’t get me wrong.  My faith isn’t crumbling over some financial difficulties.  I trust him; I know he has me in the palm of his hand, and not because he is in the process of crushing me.

    Still, some days that, “I will praise you more and more” part is a real act of will, you know what I mean?

    Yeah, I’m thinking you do.

    So, today I will exercise my flabby will.  I will choose to rejoice in him.  I will choose to remember the many ways he has shown his faithfulness in the past.  I will choose to trust him today.  I will lift tired hands and heavy heart and praise him, because he is worth it.

    Because…he is worth it.

    Care to join me, Beloved?

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/16/14

    …God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory. (Colossians 1:27).

    I don’t understand how.

    I can’t fathom why.

    I just know what.

    And the what is that the Lord of the Universe has chosen to make his home in you.  Somehow, someway he lives in your heart, and that makes you completely, irrevocably his in a way that will always be a mystery.

    It is, nevertheless, true.

    And that truth is what gives us hope.  The security, the strength, the love that we can never earn is ours by right because we are his.  We are like street urchins who learn that we are, in fact, the lost heirs to the throne of the kingdom.  Vast, unimaginable riches are ours by birthright.  You don’t need to mourn the past—those debts are paid.  You don’t need to fret over the future—glory awaits.  You need only to let him live in and through you today, to let him build his home in your heart.  And that is exactly what he wants to do.  And that is your hope.

    You are his Beloved.

    You are his, Beloved.

  • Roller Coaster

    roller coasterI am not a fan of heights.

    Roller coasters most often involve great heights.

    Therefore…

    When I was about twelve years old, I got to spend the day at Knott’s Berry Farm with my best friend, Michael.  My friend knew I was afraid of roller coasters, and he decided that this was the day for me to conquer my fear.  The roller coaster of choice at the park in those days was called Corkscrew, and Michael was determined to get me on that ride.  He spoke with all the eloquence his twelve-year-old self could muster about safety records and engineering and not being a wusmeister.

    I didn’t want to be a wusmeister.  So I rode the ride.

    Thanks, peer pressure. (more…)