God Made Mondays Too!

Today is Monday. It has been Monday all day long. Go figure.

It's not that I have a problem with Mondays. It's not that I don't like them. I certainly don't dread them. Mondays can be very good things.

Mondays can signify a new beginning. You show up at work, and look at it with refreshed, more imaginative eyes. Or if you are working at home, you may look at that pile of weekend laundry as something to dispose of quickly, immediately, right now, which is a very good thing indeed!

Mondays can also be getting back together with your co-workers and friends, or with your coffee clatches, or with people at your child's school. Whatever you may do during your week, which you do not do on the weekend, is new again come Monday. New chances, new adventures, new escapes.

OK, there's a brief synopsis of the good things about Mondays. Now let's look at the other side of that coin.

Monday can signal having to go back into the politics, stress, busyness that we appreciate escaping from on the weekend. Again, if you are home, it may mean that you have an empty nest (great reason to get a dog!). Or it may signify meetings, appointments, commitments we make to others to do what needs to be done in any situation, for anybody important to us, or not. We may worry about paying the bills, making dinner, making sure the hubby and the kids have clean clothes for the week. We may also worry about phone calls from bill collectors, or mail that brings bad news. We may just wish it was Friday. The latter part of Friday.

Now, today was not a 'terrible' Monday for me. We were to get an ice storm, again, last night, which would mean fighting the steps just to get out of my house. That didn't happen. And work was great, lots of smiles and a good feeling in the office. My only issue was that there is construction going on one floor below my office, and it sounded like a jackhammer right in my face! A bit of a headache, but I made it through...somehow! Of course, I have to also think about the positive outcome the construction will make for our company. OK, so a jackhammer can be a good thing!

When I reflect on these differing things about Mondays, I also must reflect on the one thing that may make a difference in how we feel about them. Monday is one day, and it is still the day the Lord has made. It may be Wednesday, but it still feels like Monday, good or bad. He has made it all the same. And if it is something the Lord has made, then it just has to be a good thing.

So stop, think about what the day means to you, to your family, your friends. Think about how fortunate we are to have this day. And every day. We get a chance to start over, to be refreshed, to have that second chance we all need every once in a while (some more than most!), and to make a difference for the Kingdom. See Monday through new eyes, eyes that have seen the glory of the LORD!

Blessings!

'This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.'
Psalm 118:24

From Who Comes Our Help?

'Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help.' Psalm 146:5

Often we tend to turn to people and things of this world for our help. When we are hungry, we go to our favorite restaurants. When we are in financial difficulties, we run to our credit cards. When we are lonely, we run to our friends and family.

And while these things are not 'bad' in and of themselves, they should not be our first course of action. Because, after all, where DOES our help come from?

It should come from the LORD! He has told us from the beginning of time that He is our help, He is our portion, He is our very heart. He is the very first place, the first One, we should take our issues to. He is the only One who can and will give us rest, peace, comfort in any situation.

Take the time today to read this lovely Psalm of praise to our King. The words flow with grace and rhythm, in beat with the favor and love the LORD our God so freely bestows on those who love Him, and who follow His commandments. Your heart will be lifted, your troubles will pale, and your day will begin with a lightness in your soul that will be evident to those around you. These things are what makes us happy in our internal and external countenance.

For from the LORD our God, indeed, from Him comes our help!

Blessings!

Rosebuds of Faith Series: Speak, Lord...

We had a snow storm last night, and still into the
morning. We will have more off and on throughout
the day. It is beautiful to see and to watch as the flakes
float out of Heaven and into our lives, and as they
gather together as friends on our lawns.

As I have been watching this phenomenon (and it truly
is one, here in the south!), I am reminded of God's
glory. It is everywhere we look, if we will but open our
eyes to it. Recognition is sometimes difficult for us.
What may seem glorious to one is seen as a danger, or
a threat to another. I see the beautful whiteness laying
all around...someone else may see an obstacle to getting
on with things for the day. I see it as a chance to stay in
and have some respite. To take it easy, enjoy my home, to
catch up on tasks that need to be done; to take the time
to be with God.

I started today by reading Oswald Chambers. He was
focused on 1 Samuel, from the 3rd chapter. It was
about how Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision God
had given him. It was, after all, a condemnation of Eli,
for his unfaithfulness to be obedient to God's will. He
had allowed his sons to be unholy, to be defiled, and to
steal and plunder the storehouse of God.

But Samuel had heard the Lord's voice. At first he thought
it was Eli calling him, but eventually he heard 'the Voice'.
He knew who it was. And he was fearful of what he heard,
though he was obedient.

Do you hear God's voice? Do you even want to, or are you
fearful of what he may tell you as well? I think we all are,
but oh, what a wonderful voice He has! And with the hard
things come the sweet things. He loves us, and He loves
to tell us so. When He is hard, it is for our good; not for
harm.

Oswald said, 'Speak, Lord'. Oh, I want to say this too. And
even more, I want to hear His voice. I want to be one He
talks to, who He shares His thoughts with, and then one who
will do as He tells me to. I desire complete fellowship with
Him, and I wish to see and hear Him in the world around me.
I need to be able to discern His voice. And I can do that only
by reading His Word, by learning of Him, by literally becoming
closer to Him than I can even imagine. Then there will be no
doubt who is speaking to me. And I will have no reservation
about answering.

'Speak, Lord'.....and I will hear your voice. I pray you will ask
Him to speak to you as well. What an awesome God we serve.

Blessings!