1-6-2019

Good Morning All,

         Psalm 92:4; “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

     Do you have times in your life when it feels like someone put itching powder down your back?  You always seem to have a heightened level is discomfort.  Sometimes it is in the whole family.  Everyone is just a little snippy at each other.  Most conversations end in a growl or a bark.  The level of ire is raised to the “red alert” level.  It seems like when you talk to your spouse you need a helmet to stay safe.  It just feels like there is an edge in the air and we aren’t sure how to deal with it.

    Some may think it is the early January cabin fever blahs kicking in but you can get these spells in the summer or spring or fall.  They usually occur about the time we have experienced a disappointment.  I think we get it this time of the year because the Christmas hype is finally shot.  The new toy or gadget that we thought would be a godsend is either broke or stuffed in the closet.  As you watch that gift that you gave go to the bone pile; you have just received the third or fourth credit card bill for it.  We pay the bill and grumble something about “ungrateful no good no accounts; never appreciate one thing I do for them” and we go from there.

     Therein lay the problem.  We spend all of our time looking at what isn’t instead of looking at what is.  We spend all our time focusing on what isn’t in the house rather than what is in the house.  Maybe you don’t have the 60” TV with surround sound but you do have a warm bed, plenty of food, family and friends.  We have all these gifts from God and we always wonder why we don’t have more.

     At a recent Bible Study, we watched a DVD and the presenter said that what we don’t have today; we don’t need today.  If we needed it; God would provide it.  There is a lot of truth in that.  God provides for our needs; we just have to separate the wants from the needs.  We need to step back and be glad for what God has given us.  We need to have the joy that we feel when we look at what we have.

    So if you ever feel this way and you want a plan to change it; start a praise list.  Everyday write down a few things you are thankful for and post it where you and the rest of your family can see it.  You will be surprised what you have to be thankful for if you stop and look.  You have a job, a place to live, food, family, friends, and so much more.  Then when you look even harder at the things that bring joy to your life, the neighbor’s children who make you smile, the neighbor who keeps your road or sidewalk cleared, the friendly face at the drive-through, the warm welcome at the coffee meeting, the teacher or coach who spends a little extra time with your child, the person who sits behind you in church who can really sing.  It is these little things which bring us joy.  It is these little things which God gives to us.  So be glad for the work of the Lord and sing for joy at the works of his hand.  We have so much to rejoice over, look for it and then see if the itching powder doesn’t go away.

Dear Father, your mercies roll over us like a flood and yet we do not see it.  Forgive us as we focus on what is not there rather than what is there.  We give you thanks for all the blessing that we receive.  We especially give you thanks for the forgiveness of sins which we have through Jesus n whose precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret