This week, I sat beside an elderly man while he told me that his brother was being put on hospice that day. The tears that threaten to escape his gray eyes were choked back. A knot lodged in my throat as well.

Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. -Unknown

Last year I was involved in three weddings in a five month span. Many plans were made. There were hours and hours at the piano preparing the music pieces. Smiles were ample. Nearly two-thousand miles were happily driven. My heart was filled with joy as three of my close friends were united with their perfect ones.

“Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” – Unknown

Today I’m anticipating a summer full of ministry and personal plans while I finish the mountain of laundry, make meals, and iron church clothes for tonight’s service. There’s very little I can do today about tomorrow. But there’s a lot I can do about today.

I can thank God for another day to live and the health to enjoy it.

I can embrace the Spring breezes and find pleasure in the beauty of wild flowers.

I can smile as I think about the little people that got to go out side yesterday and dirty up their clothes.

I can be grateful for my family and friends that enrich my life.

I can choose to find purpose in the mundane.

Ordinary days may mean that nothing exciting is happening. They also mean that tragedy isn’t visiting today. And that’s something that makes me smile. 

Wherever you are – be all there. – Jim Elliot

What are you most thankful for today? Please comment!

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Last time {Read “Help: I’m Still Waiting”} we talked about that first phrase: wait on the Lord. If you haven’t already, notice the punctuation our verse.

“Wait on the LORD <colon>”. This signifies that the next phrase is going to further the initial thought. That’s what we’re going to look at now.

With the idea of purposefully waiting on – focusing on and listening to – the Lord, we are reminded to be of good courage. This phrase and its like are found twelve times in Scripture (KJV).

The opposite of being of good courage implies being of poor courage: discouraged.

The enemy uses this tool all too often with great success. If Satan can get the child of God to be discouraged he can render them useless.

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Humor me with this illustration.

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.”

The legend embodies sober truth. Discouragement is a dangerous state of mind, because it leaves one open to the assault of the enemies of the soul. -More Illustrations

Has the devil ever whispered doubt and fear into your weakened heart? He has mine.

So many times I fail to recognize his tactic to disarm my faith; I tremble, yielding my heavy armor to the weight of inner defeat.

Be of good courage, with hope in God ever burning! Make it a willful choice (there’s that autonomy again), to reject discouragement.  When you’ve done all you can to stand, stand! It’s here – at the point of faith – that God steps in.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart…”

Someone has said, “Faith honors God and God honors faith.” Our faith does not obligate God to be our “genie,” instead it opens our hearts to His desires. Our privilege then is delighting in God, standing on His word, and receiving His strength.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

As any well prepared message, Psalm 27:14 ends where it began. Wait on the Lord.

Remember: if your eyes are on the Lord above, your chin will be up.

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