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September
15, 2006
You
Can't Judge a Can by Its Label!
"Well! I've never seen that before," Brittlea exclaimed
as she opened a can of "green beans." "Green
Beans," it said on the label, but when the lid came off,
our "green beans" were carrots! We were stunned that
what was supposed to be in the can was not what was in the can!
Those
deceptive green beans reminded me of how our days are as moms.
We plan our day thinking we know what is going to be in it,
but when our head hits the pillow at night, we are often surprised
by everything that actually happened since we last slept. We
don't get all the things cleaned we intended to, kids got sick
(how can you plan for that), spills happen, attitudes happen.
There are sleepy, slow moving kids in the morning, deadlines
that weren't met, and a forgotten peanut butter and jelly sandwich
that the ants discovered in the back seat of the car! We can't
always plan for what is going to be in our day.
Psalm
118:24 says, "This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it." It doesn't say,
"rejoice and be glad when everything I have planned happens
in it." No. In this day, whatever it brings, we have reason
to rejoice because God is in it. He made the day, so no matter
what happens in our often spontaneous, unpredictable waking
hours, God is still in control, He stays the same…He is
in it. Rejoice! The main thing we need to plan is not to forget
the praise. When we turn our hearts to the Lord, He can keep
us from flipping out that when we find that crayons melt when
exposed to the heat of a Whirlpool dryer ruining a load of laundry.
When we look for things to be thankful for, we can find Him
even when our car has to visit the car doctor…again…and
again.
Some
of you are facing big things right now and it's hard to rejoice.
Hold on to Him. Rejoice in God when you can't find anything
to smile about in life. He is constant even when your days are
full of surprises. We have a choice. We can look for something
to be grateful for, or we can wallow in our struggles.
God
made this day…the one you are in as you read this devotional,
and He has a plan for you in it. Right now, in it, whatever
your "it" is, thank Him for being there with you.
He is walking through it with you. No matter what surprises
you might find in the hours ahead, you can be sure that nothing
can surprise our Lord.
Lord,
You are all knowing, so even though my days rarely go as I had
planned, you know exactly what will happen on every day of my
life, including today. I pray that You'll help me live "in
it" today even when I'm surprised by what this day brings.
Help me keep my eyes focused on You. I rejoice because of You…because
you loved me enough to send your son to die for me, because
you loved me enough to send your Holy Spirit to be "in"
this life with me, because you promise to give me eternal life,
because you gave me this day…I will rejoice and be glad
in it. In Jesus' name, Amen…
-Sharon
"Mama
Drama"
1.
Read Psalm 113 or 118 aloud.
2.
Rejoice this day by listening to praise music on
the radio or a CD. Rejoice with a thankful heart today…talk
to Him as you go through your day. Ask Him to help you
remember to live "in" the moments that He
has given you.
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