Don't Forget about Today!

I’ve been excited the past few days thinking about my upcoming cross country flight to spend some time with my daughter and her family for her birthday…you know, spend time with the grandkids!  

Then, I had this awful thought this morning, As excited as I am to begin this journey, three weeks from today it will all be over. I will be back home wondering when the next opportunity might come along. Have you ever viewed an upcoming vacation in this light? It kind of takes the wind out of your sail, doesn’t it?

Maybe this is God’s way of reminding us about focusing too much on tomorrow. James 4:13-14 states……..

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there…You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring~~what your life will be!”

Although James is actually writing this as a warning against making (and bragging about) business plans without including God’s directions in those plans, we can still learn another principle from these words.

According to commentaries, the phrase “Come now” is based upon an interjectory colloquialism that we would understand to be equivalent to “Listen up!” James is making it a point to get the readers’ attention.

In other words: Those of you who are saying that tomorrow you will do this or that, listen up! You don’t know what tomorrow holds! Maybe you should stop and think about what God might want you to do today!

The editors of The Bible Knowledge Commentary state the following, “Man’s plans are always tentative. His plans are not his own. Time is not his own. In fact, life is not his own.”

Maybe instead of spending each countdown day as “in X number of days, I will begin my trip/vacation,” I should instead recognize and consider the blessings and responsibilities of each of those days leading up to GO time. 

Maybe instead of dreading each day as “in X number of days, it will all be over,” I should recognize the blessings and opportunities that await! Agree?

 I’m not saying you shouldn’t be excited about the rest/relaxation/opportunities God has afforded you, but don’t waste today while focusing on what lies ahead!

Now, pack your bags and enjoy today!

Debbie

5,6,7,8

Our church Ladies’ Ministry is currently going through Kelly Minter’s Bible Study entitled What Love Is based on 1, 2, 3 John.

As she was discussing the concept of the word remain found throughout John’s letters, I was reminded of Mandisa’s song “Overcomer”. 

This song has been forever engrained in my brain as it was a common music background for several cheer squads that performed at my granddaughter’s cheer competitions. Believe me, the strong parts of that song played in the strongest bass you can imagine…well, you can imagine!

As part of my granddaughter's cheer routines (she is a base-leader), we love to tease her about only being able to count to 8…usually starting at 5. That beat just becomes a part of who they are as cheerleaders….and part of those in the audience as well.

So, try to imagine that beat to that great song  4-5 times in a two hour time slot on high bass/high volume in a well known arena or convention center!

That brings me back to the I John passage Kelly Minter shared in her Bible Study. She shares that John uses the Greek word, MENO to remind his readers that we have the assurance that Christ will continue to abide, or remain in us as believers…and we have the ability to abide, or remain in Him.

Greek dictionaries state that MENO carries the following meanings:  not to depart; to continue; to be present; to be held; kept continually;…to endure. Strong’s Concordance defines the word this way, “to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy).”

Can’t you see (feel?) the confidence that oozes from these definitions? God promises to keep us continually~~to hold us! As a result, we can endure…be strong enough to go through all things (Philippians 4:13)! We can have the confidence to “to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy)” ~~to remain faithful!

As part of the Bible Study homework, we were asked to comment on what that thought makes us think about. The very first thing that boomed in my mind was, “5,6,7,8…Don’t quit, Don’t give in, You’re an overcomer!” It is written on page 76 in my Bible Study workbook!

BOOM-BOOM, BOOM-BOOM~~~BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

DON’T QUIT, DON’T GIVE IN! ~~~YOU’RE AN OVERCOMER!

Remain faithful!

Debbie

5,6,7,8