Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“We have this treasure (Jesus Christ) in jars of clay (those who believe in Christ) to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are handicapped on every side, but we’re never frustrated; we’re puzzled, but never in despair; we’re persecuted, but never stand alone;
We may be knocked down, but we’re never knocked out.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (The Living Bible)
“Look Gran, they gave me a blanket and pillow and a bottle of water!”
My younger Granddaughter, Ellie Kate’s, amazed voice painted the picture of what she found neatly placed in her seat as we boarded the plane the other day to spend a few days in the mountains with her Mimi. Moments later she received her first Sprite while waiting to take off. Not too long after those experiences, she would discover the tray table in the arm of her seat, and when airborne, cover it with an array of snacks and drinks as she looked with wonder at the clouds billowing just below us.
Then as we drove up the mountain, there was a required stop for the long-awaited introduction of her Granddaddy to “Goats on the Roof.” It really was a joy to watch Ellie Kate pedal a stationary bike which sent a quarter’s worth of pellets in a tin cup along a pulley system to four well-fed goats waiting on the top of one of the roof-tops of this “must-stop” roadside attraction.
And then, as she came out of the bedroom last night to say goodnight one more time to “Gran,” we talked about what we would do tomorrow (today). “Well,” I responsibly began, “I first have to do my ‘…early morning thoughts…’ in the morning, and then I have some other things I need to work on.” “But Gran, you’re supposed to be on vacation—and we need to go to our ‘Secret Place’ (sliding rocks in a nearby creek) again.”
She had a point. And I had a change of attitude.
We have wars going on around the world and in our lives. The economy is—for the moment—in the tank, and more and more folks are losing jobs. As a nation and world we are in the midst of cultural and spiritual battles for the soul and future of our nation—and even our world. We’ve got so much on our plate that we get to the end of our days exhausted and unsatisfied.
We get caught up in an attitude of trying to keep up with our neighbors and the value of “more is better” our society touts as the path to happiness. Stuff still happens to us; things change and people come and go, in and out of our lives. Things get confusing, people misunderstand us and relationships become strained. Fear may grip us and we become resigned to an imprisonment within the walls of our lives, stand ready to throw our hands in the air, walk away, or just sit and do nothing. We’ve been whacked too often with disappointments, heartaches and tragedies that have brought us to the point of despair.
But as that great scripture verse above from the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“We have this treasure (Jesus Christ) in jars of clay (those who believe in Christ) to
show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
And then, of course, there’s that great philosopher, Kermit the frog, and his words of wisdom about our approach and attitude toward all we face in life, when he proclaimed:
“Who said that every wish would be heard and answered,
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it;
and look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing,
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the Rainbow Connection;
the lovers, the dreamers, and me.”
My dear friends, that “rainbow connection” is here for each of us today, and that connection—Jesus Christ—leads to God and to the presence of His all-surpassing power and amazing love.
Look, I care what you’ve been through in life. I care about the pains and heartaches that have been forever etched into the memories of your life. I care what burdens you carry today that often bring you to the end of your day exhausted and despairing, mixed with a seemingly never-ending presence of anxiety toward tomorrow.
But, honestly friends, in the face of my younger Granddaughter’s outlook on what is important, and those reminders by the Apostle Paul and Kermit the Frog—of the treasure of Jesus Christ within us providing us with His all-surpassing power and amazing love—why do you, why do we, worry? Why do we worry when we can boldly claim that:
“We are handicapped on every side, but we’re never frustrated;
We’re puzzled, but never in despair; we’re persecuted, but never stand alone;
We may be knocked down, but we’re never knocked out.”
Airplane rides, Goats on the Roof, Secret Places, other stuff—and Jesus Christ.
And Ellie Kate is just now waking up with today’s “…early morning thoughts…” already done.
Why worry? Indeed.
In His Name—Scott
