It’s a Brand New Day

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but this day is the day we have an opportunity to practice recognizing God’s blessings in everything – even in the things we don’t especially like! It’s a big deal to wake up to a new day, because yesterday was the very last day on this earth for many.

It’s a brand new day with potential and possibilities! It’s also a brand new day to posture ourselves with a “can-do-anything, all-is-well” mindset. At the beginning of each day, we step into the world and, if we’re intentional, we’ll avoid the news and the bickering and the sensational soundbites. That will be a good thing. We can be on purpose in avoiding the yuck of this world so that we are clear-headed and clear-hearted.

It’s a brand new day. We are still here, and God has a reason for it! We keep reminding my almost 98-year-old mother-in-law of that when she says: "I'm done. Take me home, Lord!" We know there's a reason for her life AND yours and mine. Life is a matter of perspective. No blessing is too small or unimportant. And even if this day comes with some unwelcome surprises, we remember God has a master plan in place….and, if we’ll look, we’ll even see the blessings tucked in-between those surprises. We take the good with the bad, and God is gracious to give us both as a reminder that every good and perfect thing starts with Him. (James 1:17)

Take heart, my friends. It’s a brand new day and we can lift our hearts in praise and thanksgiving for it. All is well. Let’s take deep breaths…because we can. We aren’t on ventilators. We aren’t bed-fast. We aren’t in prison. We aren’t on a street begging for bread. We aren't a lost cause.

So what can we do well today? We can do our part. We can fight the good fight. We can work for justice and freedom. We can offer grace to those who need God’s grace and He can use us to give it to them. Let’s move about with mercy and understanding and even though folks can’t see us doing it through our masks – let’s SMILE. That smile radiates in our eyes that twinkle with God’s love. Folks will “eye” it. Let’s be kind. Let’s love.

It’s a brand new day. Clean slate. Let’s make new memories, celebrate life and all its many thrills – after all, this is the last day we have today.

This is the Day the Lord has Made

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)
I sing this scripture as a song and I use it in expressing my gratitude. It’s not unusual to read it as a text message when a friend or loved one has a birthday. I say “This is the day the Lord made you and I’m rejoicing and so glad for it.” And, for you and me, this is the day the Lord made for us.

Notice that scripture isn’t talking about tomorrow and what may happen tomorrow. The psalmist is putting an emphasis on THIS day! That reminds me of another scripture. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)

We have had plenty to worry about, haven’t we? As if the pandemic wasn’t enough, now it seems our country is at war with itself Oh, how we need unity! We ponder about the future and what it will look like My friends, two who are pre-school teachers and the other is a special needs teacher, were talking about what school is going to look like come August. Too often, we set ourselves in a whirlwind of worry and anxiety about what tomorrow will hold. Especially during these times: If we are concerning ourselves with the future, we are overthinking. That’s opposite to the point the psalmist was making “THIS is the Day” to focus on, to rejoice in whatever this day holds.

Remember when the disciples said to Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray!” And Jesus gave them the template for all our prayers. “Our Father…..Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.” He didn’t say “give us today and next month’s bread.” This DAY! Can we trust Him for today’s faith – today’s daily bread?

Each day is a blessing from God. He has blessed us with a new day to live it to the fullest, doing the necessary tasks for this day, loving and helping one another and discovering new things about life and about ourselves. Being present with God Who gives us wisdom for today, may be the game changer we need for what tomorrow holds.

No matter what kind of struggle we are facing, we can be secure in knowing that if we do our best in this day to make progress and trust our tomorrows to God -- He will meet us there tomorrow like He does today. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

God is love and everything He does in the world is out of His love for us. He can turn this day’s struggles and suffering into blessings for us if we run to Him and trust in His promises to us. But, how, Lord? And He responds with these words:
"'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'" (Isaiah 41:10).

Living Life as an Exclamation Point!

In the spur of the moment, I hit the road to Austin on Sunday for just a 24-hour stay. What is that about? It's about living with no regrets and seizing the moments to living my life as an "exclamation point". I had the opportunity to see my 14-year old grandson pitch nearly his entire baseball game, followed by surprising my sweet grandson's wife (my granddaughter, Ruth Hays Wuerch) by getting to celebrate her birthday. Ruth is a triplet and it's so beautiful that her sister lives and works in Austin and we were able to celebrate both girls, while the 3rd triplet is a Navy Officer stationed in Corpus Christi. It was especially exciting to be in Austin to celebrate their upcoming move from Atlanta to Austin. Yay! My "Wuerch" men will all be living in Austin in just a couple of weeks. Lots more opportunity for exclamation points!

James 4:14 "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James gave us a "spoiler alert"! He said our lives would be like a vapor that appears and then, just as quickly, vanishes! That's a reality check -- especially for those of us who, in our 20s -- looked at the old folks (in their 50s) and thought, "They are so old!" Now, we are past our 50s and "old folks"don't seem so old anymore! LOL!

The fact is -- the length of our lives isn't based at all on quantity, but it's based on quality. This gift of life, however brief, should be spent living in such a way that the very One who created us will always look upon His investment as a "creation....well done"! Rather than looking at how fast time goes by, wouldn't it be more productive to think....."How can I make the most of the time that I have?" What if we put an exclamation point on every day we have? An exclamation point is reserved for the accomplishments that excite our spirits and set our hearts on fire. Living a humdrum life doesn't get an exclamation point. Spending precious time complaining, whining, worrying, being cranky and cynical doesn't get an exclamation point.

Getting an exclamation point has everything to do with how we wake up each day. Getting an exclamation point has something to do with "hitting-the-ground-running" each day. There's just no time to be thinking about the good old days. I love my memories. I love all of my old photos. But if I want an exclamation point at the end of each and every day, I need to wake up saying "What can I do TODAY to leave a mark and a legacy?" Here's what "Exclamation Point" recipients look like:
They have a life to live so they live it… exclamation point!
They have an assignment to complete…exclaimation point!
They have work to be done….exclamation point!
They have a victory to achieve….exclamation point!
They have a devil to defeat….exclamation point!
They have a storm to calm….exclamation point!
They have a prayer to pray…exclamation point!
They have a promise to claim… exclamation point!
They have a habit to conquer…. exclamation point!
They have a temptation to overcome….exclamation point!
They have an enemy to love…. exclamation point!
They have a burden to lift…. exclamation point!
They have a friend to help….exclamation point!
They have a race to be won...exclamation point!

On a gravestone, it shows a date born, then a hyphen, then the date of death. The hyphen represents all the in between birth and death -- what that person accomplished in their lifetime. Quite frankly.....I'd like for mine to have on it:
"DONNA LIVED.... EXCLAMATION POINT!!"

Christmas Traditions Continue.....With Technology

What precious joys and delights I've had with my sweet kids here in Washington!

All four of our boys have been home and we've savored every moment

-- from enjoying the sight and sounds of downtown Seattle, Pike's Place Market, RN-74,

visit to see Santa,

indulging Nana by seeing "Annie" (yes, all 7 of us (big & little boys and their Mom & Dad -- all in a row) -- "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya' tomorrow!", Christmas Eve at City Church

 and then home for Family Skyping with the Wallace's. 

Brennan had worked diligently on an amazing Power Point Presentation describing his "take" on presents and sharing, and the true meaning of Christmas,

Payton & Alexia's song,

 then the highlight every year is our Christmas story read by Uncle Ryan. This year's story was even better as it was spontaneously accentuated with props -- both families used the characters from their nativity sets to demonstrate the story. 

We sang. We laughed. We prayed together. Traditions continue....just in a new and high tech way -- so thankful to be alive in this day and time to experience leading edge technology -- sure makes the distance seem not so distant and separated after all. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Thankful. Thankful. Thankful.

Jesus, Take the Wheel

Have you ever felt like you're in one of those hamster wheels going round and round, but getting no where at all? Sort of like one of those stationary bikes -- you pedal and pedal, but you don't move forward, even an inch! At this earth-shaking moment, you have an epiphany, and you realize you have two choices: keep going in circles or stop and ask for directions. It's our nature to want to be in control and we try to convince ourselves that if we just keep trying, that we’ll eventually find our way. But if we’re ever going to progress any further on this "life" journey, we must come to a screeching halt, let go of the controls, and consult the ONLY ONE WHO truly knows the way. Circumstances can take us by surprise. Sometimes life just deals us a bad hand. So, how do we survive through those times? We get out of the driver’s seat. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t ask us, or even wants us to know where tomorrow’s turn is. All He asks is that we hand over the wheel to Him. And, one thing's for sure -- He WILL NEVER steer us wrong. Let's get out of the driver's seat, get comfy in the passenger seat, and enjoy the trip! It certainly promises to be over-the-top exciting.....and most importantly, eternal! Jesus....take over....take control.....Jesus take the wheel!