Holy, Holy is The Lord!

Good morning all-

What are you doing this morning?  Did you wake up and run?  I did.  I'm at the laundromat with five washers full of my clothes.  My three year old washing machine died and this is the second week I'm here and all I could think about was, "Thank you Lord for the ability to go to the laundry mat."  It takes me back to when I lived in an apartment and didn't have money to wash my laundry.  It would pile up in a closet until I could scrape a few dollars together.  I would carry it to the facility and bring it home wet to hang because I didn't have the money to wash and dry. Fast forward to now, I have the luxury of my own laundry room with three year old appliances and even when one went down, we were able to go out and buy another one and it will be delivered next week.  I hadn't thought about the days of old when I couldn't afford to wash my clothes for a very long time.  It got me to thinking about how I lack appreciation for all that God has provided and I feel ashamed in some ways.

Life is easy when you can pay your bills, spend money on frivolous things and go to work.  But what about when you couldn't? Just this week, I found out that a basketball player in a Wichita High School lost his mother.  Hunter played with him on a competitive team and his family was not wealthy.  I tried to see if there was a trust in her obituary but they couldn't even afford to put an announcement in the paper.  How lucky we are when we have more than most.

My point today is not only to go back to a time long ago or even to bring sorrow into today.  It really is to remind you and me that we are lucky and that we should wake up calling on Your Holy Name. He is our provision and when He provides in a way that allows us to have our needs met; we should look for ways to meet others too.  It is not a coincidence that you can put food on your table or pay your bills.  The money has been provided to you and He is expecting us to give of it in return.  I'm humbled by my past but I'm more humbled thinking about how the King of Kings took me from nothing to something and wondering, "Have I given enough to His cause?"

This time in America is crazy.  People are out shopping and spending thousands of dollars on toys, electronics and more.  We have forgotten to put Christ in Christmas.  This will be the last year I have my entire family together and I am going to pray that each one of us thanks our Lord for His sacrifice.  I am going to give my sons cards and ask them to write down what God has done for them this year so that later we can all look back on His provision.

Please take a moment to pray for the children that have lost their parents young.  I have no idea how this will impact the teenager Hunter played with.  The odds are against him.  His grades were not good but he can play basketball and for now, he has that.  Also, take a moment today to remember your past and look at all the things God has orchestrated and ask Him to cast a vision for your life.  It's time we all call on the Holy One  and ask, "What am I to do for you?"  May the Lord of Israel call upon His people as we approach the celebration of His birth.  We are blessed!

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. “ ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God. “ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God. “ ‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people. “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. (‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭2-10‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord, I pray that we would be reminded of your sacrifice and that we would look upon You all our days.  We have been provided for eternally and we should call on You daily with praise and reverence.  Thank you for reminding us all that You are the only thing we need.  You are Holy and worthy of praise.   As we approach the celebration of your birth, help us to be reminded that You were born not to live a kings life but to live the life of a carpenter.  You were a craftsmen and a wanderer with one purpose, to save nations.  Please forgive us of our sins and help us think of others, not just during this time of Advent but every day.  Thank you for providing us with food, clothing and housing.  We pray for those that are less fortunate today.  We especially pray for the children that have lost their mothers and fathers.  They are in need of a healer.  Please bring provision to them.  We pray this in Your Holy Name, AMEN!