Unpacking Boxes

And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Luke 11:2 ESV

On mornings when I struggle to know what to pray I go back to the beginning of this prayer. Because we ate still unpacking from our recent move it is easy to think our “Real life” will begin once the final box is emptied. But just as Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread He also has a daily will. Waiting for when the boxes get unpacked, the graduation ceremony or the new job misses the point that today matters most to God.

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We feel overwhelmed with the things right in front of us today. But if Pastor Rick Warren or some famous TV show host, called and asked to do an interview we would find time. God is on the line right now calling us to open our m tumultuous day to Him. Because how we praise, have patience or think of the people around us matters to Him. His kingdom coming this morning means our King wants to come and help us unpack every box today for His glory!

The Garden of the King

It is finally really summer and my Tiger Lilies and Shrub Roses are busy giving God glory with their soundless shouts of praise. They do not worry who has been planted near them or what could happen to them tomorrow. They are simply delighted with each day given. I believe that it is because somewhere written in their DNA is the knowledge that they are blooming in the garden of the King!

My Song

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation Psalm 118:14 NKJV

What I miss most about childhood is baseball.  I loved the summer memories of trying to catch, pitch and the challenge trying to hit the ball. Only once can I remember hitting a home run and it happened while wildly swinging with both eyes closed!

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But this story isn’t about baseball; it’s about music and while the thing I loved most was baseball, the thing I loved least was daily music lessons. I hated not being able to play with my friends till my clarinet lessons were done. I hated sitting trying to remember that every good boy does fine (EGBDF). I hated split and bleeding lips from the clarinet reed. I dreaded sitting Saturday mornings with my music teacher squeaking and squawking through my lesson. But gradually music grew to be less like an unwelcome intruder and more like a family member. Clarinet blended into piano and then guitar. One summer I learned to sing and then music which had always been a part of my life became my song.

 

It is the same way in our relationship with the Lord. Every day we squeak and squawk through the notes to His song. Sometimes it seems like it would be fun to just run off to do our own thing. But if we commit to Him a little every day we will find that slowly we are being changed. Little by little, note by note He begins to teach us the musical score which He has created just for our life. Learning that melody by heart changes His music into our daily strength and song.

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