Category: Encourage

About today

Now — what else can I offer the universe today, of all days? It is, after all, the day the Lord has made, so I for one will rejoice and be glad in it. Of course, that could be said of any day, but the thing about days is that each one is different from all the rest, just like snowflakes or humans.

Even when you have rituals you follow day after day, each day is unlike every other day. The ones you remember are the ones where the ritual is interrupted. For example, I recall the kickoff of the Green Bay Packers game of Sept. 30, 1984, because the phone rang with a coveted job offer while the ball was in the air.

This morning I’m planning to do a little yard work before I tackle my morning web surf, because the forecast is for highs around 90 degrees and my brain starts to wilt when the temperature climbs much higher than 80.

Will this day be more or less memorable than any other? It’s hard to say at this moment, but I need to take this moment to remember that the Lord gave me another day and to be grateful about that, which brings me joy. May I suggest that you consider the possibilities, too?

Monday morning prayer

I have a song waiting to be sung. I have a story waiting to be told. I have a purpose waiting to be fulfilled. All of this waiting, and so little time.

Open the gates, Lord, set me to action. All that I can be still lies ahead — the gates open every day for as long as I live, and yep, I’m still breathing, I still feel my heart beating, and (ouch!) I still have knees to carry me forward and hands to do the work.

Let’s get busy, you and I, Lord, on what you put me here to do. I know as long as I keep you in sight and present, all will turn out for the good. I haven’t always remembered to do that, but when I do the results are clear.

My prayer is that I keep remembering the source of all joy, because I prefer joy.

The words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart please me this morning, but more important, I pray that they please my Lord and Redeemer. It’s not about me in the end of things, is it? We each have our decisions and choices, and to the extent they align with God’s will, we will be blessed.

Three signs to point the way

And the sign on the wall still says, “Be silly sometimes.”

And the sign above it says, “Today only happens once — make it amazing.”

And there’s a third sign up ahead: “Simplify.”

Something motivated me to put those specific signs on my wall. And then I forgot they were there. 

Clearly I wanted to remind myself to take advantage of every day God has given me.

I wanted to tell myself to look at the goofy side and not take myself so seriously.

And I wanted to coax myself into not making everything more complicated than it has to be.

Not the worst mission statement I’ve ever crafted. And there they are, hanging on the wall, same as they have for years. I need to pay attention better.