Teachings From An Ordinary Day
Yesterday was a beauty of a day, even though the gusts of the wind blasted against me as I walked. After administering my last final exam for the semester, I took my leave from Carter Hall. As I looked out the windows from the third story, I saw the sun and the warmth of the day. One step outside helped me see the reality of the truth; the sun’s warmth competed with the fierce wind whipping against me as I walked toward my parked Subaru.
Sun & Wind.
Snow & Frigid Cold.
Peace OR Turmoil.
Love OR Indifference.
After placing my personal supplies into the Subaru and returning a rented textbook, I considered a last walk across campus.
If you know me, then you know I am currently plagued with chronic back pain, and recently I have gained a rash on my legs, treatable with an antibiotic. However, now my body has suddenly reacted against the healing antibiotic to break out my body with a whole new rash (a reaction to the antibiotic, no doubt). Lucky me. Right?!!!
Yesterday was not the best day for a final walk across campus (for the above reasons) because everyone I passed may think I had the plague (if they could only see my face and body.
Thank goodness for my COVID-19 mask &
Thank goodness for God’s gusty wind creating a need to cover my body with long sleeves against the cold.
As I walked in the sunshine, I discovered my thoughts turned to this past semester of school and the many relationships God has given to me.
Thank You God for others.
Thank You God for students.
Our walk through life may be much like yesterday’s walk across campus.
Maybe we have been plagued with difficult situations, ones causing us to kneel and pray, trusting God because we know our strength is spent, totally gone.
Maybe we have needed to walk through painful situations, moments of despair, teaching us how we must rely upon God’s mercy, realizing deep inside how His mercy is new every single day.
In God’s Word, Solomon reminds us of God’s leading. Read with me.
“The mind of man plans his way,
(Proverbs 16:9)
But the LORD directs his steps.”
Thank You Jesus for dying for us, for creating the way to know God.
Thank You Jesus for rising from the grave early that Sunday morning, overcoming death so we can also receive eternal life.
Sunshine & Gusty Wind.
Back Pain & Steps of Faith.
Snow & Frigid Cold.
Turmoil and Inner Peace.
Indifference toward Others OR A Demonstration of God’s Amazing Love.
Yesterday was a day of great reflection, and eventually I returned to my vehicle for the drive home. It was there on my drive that God revealed another lesson. The sun reflected through the window, the breeze touched my skin through the rolled-down passenger window, and the landscape was before me as I drove across the highway. There, out my front window, was a large bird, swooping, tossed by the gusty wind no doubt. The bird glided for a moment, peaceful, and then immediately plummeted toward the ground, only to find its wings and begin to flap as it arose, struggling through the difficulty, the pain, and the harsh gusts to regain its peaceful glide.
The Bible talks of how God cares for us. God uses His creation to reveal Himself to us. Read with me.
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they.”
(Matthew 6: 26)
Thank you God for your creation of birds and wind and cold and sunshine, given as a way to learn Your Truth.
Thank You God for body aches, body rashes, and health turmoil experienced as a way to learn to trust You.
Thank You God for Snow and Frigid Cold and Steps of Faith.
Thank You God for Your Peace, despite our Life-Struggles and Turmoil.
Thank You God for Your Great Love, even when the world seems Indifferent.
As I reflect back over my ordinary day, I see how my God cares for me and for you.
All of my students are traveling home to their families for Christmas, some as far as 5,000+ miles. Prior to their final exam, I prayed over them, for their safety in their travels, for God to grant them rest during the next few weeks, for His guidance as they completed their exam, and to thank Him for bringing them (these beautiful students) into my classroom.
The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage Preacher Timothy in his work. Read God’s Holy Word with me.
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me [Paul] His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.
(1 Timothy 1: 8-11)
But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.”
Thank You God for relationships.
Thank You God for You.
Lead us; even when we plan our way, help us see that it is YOU, the LORD who directs our steps.