Thanks

Landscape with snow From Dælivannet, Bærum Photo by Randi Hausken

Good morning, friend,

The beginning of the second semester of school officially begins tomorrow. GRIN. Today is get back to reality day. This day has many possibilities but I know it has to begin with Jesus. It has to start with the Lord, acknowledging His presence in this house, His Spirit, His guidance. Doesn’t every day hold that possibility? Can’t every day hold the chance to be a gift waiting for us to open?

I’m thankful today for my husband. He’s up and out to work. I’m thankful for his job and for our provisions.

I’m thankful for my little man that came home safely from his retreat, had a great time and is now snuggling with me.

I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for these past two weeks of rest and retreat for the craziness of life. It has been a good, deep breath.

Why not take a moment and write out or say out loud three things you are grateful for this day? Start this day with thanks.

A snowrabbit. Taken in a private garden in Oxfordshire, England on 24th January 2007

[ A Call to Holy Living ] ·So [Therefore; For this reason] ·prepare your minds for service [prepare your minds for action; or, be alert; L gird the loins of your mind]and ·have self-control [be disciplined]. ·All your hope should be for [Focus all your hope on] the gift of grace that will be ·yours [brought/given to you] ·when Jesus Christ is shown to you [L at the revelation of Jesus Christ].1 Peter 1:13EXB

We have a call, friends, to live holy lives. To live for Him…and Peter tells us how…

1. Gird up the loins of your mind…to be prepared:

“…a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt.” Greek Lexicon, blb.org

So rather than just flying into our day, not prepared, not thinking, Peter calls us to think differently, respond differently. Prepare.

2. Have self-control, be disciplined:

1. to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit

2. to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect Greek Lexicon, blb.org

3. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be ·yours:

1. to hope

   1. in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence

2. hopefully to trust in Greek Lexicon, blb.org

So this is my first week back, yet, I begin anew this day. I begin with thanksgiving. I begin with a plan for my day. I ask the Spirit of God for a calm, collect spirit, to have discipline this day. (No matter, how this day ends, Jesus is with me.) And finally, I look to the hope, a future hope that awaits all believers.

Pray on. Pray on.