Happy Saturday, friends!
It’s going to be happy for Mrs Sweetie and me because all our kids and grands will be at our house this afternoon for a cookout.
We so love living here where we can plan a get together for a few hours on short notice and nobody has to pack a suitcase.
In the past few days, we’ve had a grandson celebrate his 9th birthday, another grandson graduate from kindergarten, and a granddaughter walk out of elementary school for the last time. Intermediate school, here we come!
Life’s a big bowl of cherries, right?
Right?
The truth is that life’s a mixed bowl.
In the past few days, I’ve also had a friend who has undergone two surgeries and is currently in ICU.
I’ve talked to another long time friend—like family to me—about some serious health problems his wife is going through.
Life is a mixed bowl.
On a larger scale, it seems that world leaders are determined to do stupid, destructive things that make the world a scarier and more dangerous place.
And well-meaning (I think … I hope) preachers/influencers are determined to look at the world and interpret the Bible through the lens of current events instead of looking at current events as opportunities to follow the Way of Jesus as revealed in the Scriptures.
The Way of Jesus is not contingent on what’s happening in this mixed bowl we call life.
It’s not fatalistic, alarmist, avoidist (that’s not a real word, but I think you might understand), or formulaic.
It’s a strategic, intentional, consistent way of being and doing based on faith, hope, and love.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3, emphasis mine).
Fixing our eyes on Jesus.
That’s a good way to begin each day.
It’s not so much what’s in the bowl, it’s how we approach the bowl that matters most.
Be amazing today, my friend.
