Wednesday, July 24, 2013

What's The Big Deal?

Much to the dismay of many people, we waited. Waited for news that Kate, of Will and Kate of course, had gone into labor. With baited breath we watched Facebook and Twitter and Fox News for the royal birth announcement. Would it be a boy or a girl?

"It's a boy!" announced across the news wires. 
A future King, third in line for the throne, had been born! 

As if we hadn't waited long enough, now we would wait again. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I waited four hours. Staring at a wooden door, flanked by bobbies. Four hours. Moving from in front of my computer screen, to carrying around my iPhone, lest I miss the world's first glimpse of the bundle.

It was worth every minute of the wait. Cute as can be, out came Will and Kate with the yet unnamed future king in their arms. The crowd cheered. I smiled big. I got tickled when Wills put the car seat in the back of the car, wiped his brow, and drove away.

Then the wait continued. What would they call this bundle? What would be his royal name? Charles like his granddad? Edward? James?

George Alexander Louis

The news came today. Not my first choice, but a good, solid, kingly name for sure.

So, what's the big deal? Why does any of this matter? Why are we so fascinated, mesmerized, and capable of losing ourselves in the drama of a royal family way across the pond?

I think it's because we're sad.

I think it's because we're angry.

I think it's because we're drowning in our own bad news.

I think it's because we can't turn on the TV or look at Facebook without being inundated with bad news.

We just want some good news.

We just need some hope that the world is not such an awful place.

We just need to know that while we fight and clamor and judge and argue, good things are happening.

We just need to know that we can smile again.

That every once in a while it's okay to laugh.

That every once in a while it's okay to be silly.

That every once in a while a baby is born and if that's not a symbol of hope, I don't know what is!

Hope for a future.

Hope for better than.

Hope for a different way.

Hope for more love and less hate. 

Hope for smiles instead of furrowed brows.

A time to laugh. A time to dance.

A time to embrace and mend.

A time for peace. 

God! How we want peace!

How we need peace.

Not in the sweet by and by, but HERE, in the land of the living.

Days where we live well. Laugh often. Love always.

Days where it's all right to be excited about a baby born to a real-life prince and princess.  

Days where we open our eyes and hear the birds, feel the breeze, smell the flowers.

Feel the very breath of God on our faces because He's that close.

But consumed with all our stuff, stuffed, smoldering, spewed, hurled, we don't see Him. 

We don't smell Him. We don't feel Him.

We don't hear Him say, "Unto us a child is born." 

The One True King.

The Royal Lord of All.

He will one day judge the quick and the dead. We need not.

That my friend is a very big deal.


 

Saturday, July 13, 2013



"There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy 
everywhere and of leaving it 
 behind them when they go." 
~ Jean Paul Richter 


I hope you're having a joy-filled weekend!!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

There Will Be A Day






 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 

Revelation 21: 1-4 NLT

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

A Prescription for Anxiety

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. 
(Philippians 3: 12-14 The Message)


The apostle Paul was human, just like you and me. If you have time to do a wee bible study, look at 2 Corinthians 11: 23-28. You'll see that this guy endured and suffered more than any of us could ever boast about. 

We think we have problems? 

Yet this is the same guy, who in his letter to the church at Philippi, mentioned joy four times, rejoicing eight times, and gladness three times. In fact, in Philippians 4: 4, he says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" A double dose of rejoicing! He then goes on to tell us to be "anxious for nothing". 

Don't worry. Don't be anxious. About nothing. About NO THING.

We don't have to be anxious. We choose to be anxious.

But there's another choice.

How about the next time {and there will be a next time} anxiety comes knocking at your door; when the letter comes, the report is bad, the bank account is empty, the child has got us at our wits end, how about we put into practice what we can learn from Paul (Phil 4: 9)?

Pray.
Ask.
Thank.
Think about something else.

Something true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.
(Phil 4: 8)

Prayer + Asking + Thanking = Peace
(Phil 4: 7) 

I want to live there.

I can choose to live there.

What about you?