A day in the life

Do you ever have those moments that you realize you've made a major blunder but by the time you catch yourself there's just no going back? No pretending you didn't just do what you just did? You know what I'm talking about. Yeah... I had one of those memorable moments today (and yes it was witnessed and obvious).

The scenario played out something like this:

I was at work this afternoon, when all of a sudden a guy I know walks past me on his way to the bathroom. So of course I smile and wave and say a loud, "Hello!" Well... it turns out I was wrong. This guy was not who I thought he was. Now, bless him, he tried to play along and make my life a little less awkward by waving back but by this time I'd realized my mistake and proceeded to erase all of his kind attempts by saying (again, loudly), "Oh, funny! You totally look like so-and-so!" And then to the people around me, "Hey, doesn't he look like so-and-so??" By the time I was finished making a fool out of myself, the poor guy was practically diving into the bathroom (probably hoping to hide from me and my never-ending awkward moment).

Oh geez.

Needless to say, when he exited the bathroom I hid my little face and minded my own business as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened. Nope, I've never stuck my foot in my mouth in public... who me?? No, never!

Oh ya know, just a typical day in the life...

Silly me,

B

Brand New Day.

"It's a brand new day

The sun is shining

It's a brand new day

For the first time

In such a long long time

I know

I'll be ok

...

This cycle never ends

You gotta fall in order to mend

It's a brand new day

It's a brand new day

For the first time

In such a long, long time

I know I'll be ok."

-'Brand New Day,' Joshua Radin

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

I LOVE that exclamation point at the end of that verse.

It's like Paul is saying, "YES!! And don't you EVER forget it!"

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, 'the Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.'"

Lamentations 3:22-24

And so, I think it is pretty true-- "You gotta fall in order to mend."

He is my portion,

B

Utterly Amazed

It's been a season- a pretty tough season lately. But I know those are the times I grow the most. Always. I was reading the other day and my team was heavy on my heart. The Lord brought his words into my mind and opened the pages of my Bible to just the right passages (funny how he does that...over and over and over....)!

"If a house is divided against itself,

that house can not stand."

Mark 3:25

No ifs, ands, or buts about it!

That's just how it is- plain and simple, I think Jesus makes himself pretty darn clear. And yet how often have I believed with all of my heart that I can do it best alone... or at least that I have no other choice but to try? Wrong.

Our team verse this past year was-

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15:5-6

Unity.

Such a foreign concept.

One that I usually think is impossible, at least for me. And a concept that is even harder for me to fathom as I sit in Waynesboro apart from the rest of my team as they lead our camp trip at Saranac Village in New York. How can there be unity when I am separate?

But then God whispered goodness into my listening ear--

"Look at the nations and watch-

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe,

even if you were told."

Habbakuk 1:5

I would not believe what God has planned even if I were told...

"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'"

1 Corinthians 2:9

-and that's just it- it's HIS plan, not mine!

So I will just ABIDE. Another hard, hard concept (I always related to the lyrics of The War's song "Never the Same," when it says, "I have too much pride to abide"), and yet God promises that it will bring blessing and goodness.

"...and see if I do not throw open the floodgates of heaven

and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Malachi 3:10

And so, I'm praying for you, team. See you Saturday!

Amen.

B