All We Need For Today

We feel so blessed to have so many praying for us and helping us keep our focus. We can feel your support and it is wonderful! Ted's first round of cancer treatments were found to be very effective. His smile has returned and his energy will, too (as soon as he can grow some more red blood cells).

A journey like this helps us remember to rely on God for our every need...our daily bread. If we could, we would be tempted to do it on our own, but we can't. We need Him and He is there for us. We rely on Him for strength, wisdom and peace.

Sometimes on a significant journey, I find myself pondering the path of "what if." You know? It's the path that leads straight to worry, with anxiety around the bend. But that is the route of the evil one and it's not where God wants us to be! He tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything..."; we can have the peace of God that transcends all understanding. (Phil. 4:6-7) He longs to give us that peace when we let Him direct our paths. All we need to do is keep our eyes and hearts on Him.

Jesus taught His disciples to fully rely on God. He told them to pray: "Give us today our daily bread." (Matt. 6:11) That is, all we need for today. All we need... All we need... All we need for today! We needn't worry about tomorrow because God can do all kinds of things between now and then.

He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19) He knows our needs, even better than we know our own. Maybe we needed this bump in the road to help us rely on Him for our daily bread. He knows what necessary growth it will bring.

And when we feel overwhelmed, we can ask for wisdom, because God gives it generously to all, without finding fault. (James 1:5)

Can you think of anything that hasn't been covered? It sounds like we have all... we need... for today.

Thank you, God, for giving us our daily bread, for supplying all our needs. We surrender to You because You have everything under control. Give us the peace You so long to give.

Write a comment. What needs are we trusting Him to supply?

Our Journey Begins, Again

Three days ago, my husband began chemo treatments again. It came upon us quickly. I saw him wrestle three sleepless nights, trying to find comfort in any position -- bed, couch or recliner. He spent more time wandering than sleeping. And with no rest, he wasn't his jovial self. He barely had energy to talk or smile.

Thank God that the cancer (CLL) is a slow-growing type. Yet we were hoping not to be here again so soon, having just completed treatments in March of '09. This time, the doctor wants to approach it more aggressively to keep the cancer at bay a bit longer.

So our journey begins, again. We trust our doctor and his treatment plan, but more importantly, we trust God and all that He is doing in our lives. We press in to God, hold on tight and learn a new way of abiding in Him. He is all we need. We take things one day at a time and make the most of life every day. Isn't that the way we should always be living? Every day I have thanked God for this wonderful man, who is my best friend and the greatest blessing in my life. Now is my turn to be there for him.

Really, we're in no different place than many of you. We all have great needs to trust to Our Loving Father. We all have times we feel we are standing at the edge of a cliff, but lovingly invited to walk in faith. We don't know what's on the path ahead, but we can trust Him to walk it with us, direct us, guide our steps and provide what we need, in any situation. He must become greater, we must become less (John 3:30 NIV). We must trust more in His agenda than our own.

Whatever uncharted territory you are facing today, whether it be health-related, financial, relational or other...I pray that you would use this to allow God to become greater in your life.

Lord God, may Your strength be with each one calling out to You today. Thank you, Father, for You have blessed us with wonderful and supportive family and friends -- another sweet example of how You provide what we need. 

Give the doctors and health professionals wisdom and finesse tomorrow. May your peace and presence be with Ted. Give him a good tolerance for the surgical procedure and a brand new drug.

Thank you, dear ones, for your prayers. What can we pray about for you?

A Fresh Perspective

With vacations in peak season, we have a wonderful (and, for some, rare) opportunity to "get away from it all." How can we think "outside the box" when we are living in cubes and offices so many of our waking hours?

Last Monday, I returned to work after a week of thinking "outside the state" (traveled in four states) and even "outside the country" (traveled four Canadian provinces). And if the jagged and majestic mountains of Montana don't clear the cobwebs, what will?

It took a few days to stop thinking about the usual details, but when I did, my mind was free to see what's beyond my realm, and to dream of what could be.

Whenever I get away, I notice the creative juices start flowing again. (Does that happen to you, too?) I don't know where it all comes from sometimes. I make new goals and I become eager to put my ideas into action. I see colors more vividly and even my dreams are much more fun!

Getting away helps me gain a new perspective of what life is like beyond my normal scope. Seeing the beauty of God's creation reminds me of how He has every intricate detail under control -- always did, always will! And what a peace that gives me. I remind myself to just stay close, stay connected, to abide in Him and be part of His big plan.

So as our vacation came to a close, with a fresh perspective I began thinking of the responsibilities awaiting me "inside the boxes." I have new energy to approach the challenges, new ideas to implement.


O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9 NIV)



Photo: Jackson Glacier, Glacier National Park, Montana

Through the Storm

As we drove through the vast, flat plains of Saskatchewan a couple weeks ago, we saw black storms raging all around us in the distance, yet our road remained clear and dry. We thanked God for lighting our path and keeping us out of the storm, for now. I thought of the storms some of my dear friends are now suffering in their lives. I ache for them as they are overwhelmed by the torrential rains and floods in their lives -- trying to make some sense of the loss of their child, find joy amidst a myriad of health problems, or remain hopeful in a painful relationship.

Then the next morning, the rain was upon us as we drove near Lethbridge, Alberta. By the looks of the weather forecast at breakfast, we thought we would be able to drive through the storm and back into sunshine by the time we got to Glacier National Park, Montana, our vacation destination.

It made me think of how a storm in our lives might make us slow down... or even stop, rather than pushing through. Isn't it our natural inclination to be extra cautious, to hesitate or to fear? But if we would slow down or stop and wait for better weather, we would actually be in our storms longer! Instead, by casting all our cares on Him, we can take God's hand and move through the storm to the clear skies that are awaiting beyond the storm. It was a perspective that gave me hope. Hope I want to pass on to my beloved friends.

A little while later, I opened my Bible. Funny how it was only minutes and the sky turned blue again. I guess we shouldn't be surprised how our Lord calms the storms when we turn to His Word!

Later we saw some of the most brilliant rainbows we'd ever seen. The picture above was taken in the foothills just outside of Glacier National Park. What a beautiful reminder it was of God's promises!

Whether you are in the midst of a storm or are helping others face their storms, take heart:

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV)

You came near when I called You, and You said, "Do not fear." (Lamentations 3:57 NIV)

For I am the LORD, your God,
       who takes hold of your right hand
       and says to you, Do not fear;
       I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)


Lord, I pray for all those in the midst of a storm. Would You take each one by the hand and lead them through it? Give them Your peace, Your direction and Your strength to move ahead.

Every Parched Thing

You may have noticed, I've been having a dry spell. Blogging is one of my favorite things to do, yet my flowing words have come to a slow drip.

I haven't published in a few weeks, though "the experts" advise regular posts to keep the conversation going with loyal readers. I have started with an idea many times, only to have it dry up on me. Will it sound too preachy? self-righteous? judgmental? I don't want any of those things.

Maybe I've been too eager, putting too much emphasis on getting something accomplished, putting too much weight on a self-imposed deadline. Maybe I'm trying to run ahead of God. Trying to do, do, do, instead of just "be." I need to listen, I need to wait, I need more practice with abiding in Him.

If I break the "bloggers' rules" then so be it, but nothing comes before God -- not even a blog talking about the wonderful things God has done!

It's not about my effort, or my timetable -- it's not about what I DO to please God... I realize, once again, total dependence on Him is what's essential. From my every breath to my every creative thought to my direction on what's next. They're His messages, His words. I'm just the scribe privileged to write them on the page.

I got a great picture of total dependence a year ago in May when my husband and I visited seven national parks in Utah. We traveled many hundred miles through deserts with gorgeous rock formations of every hue and texture. The signs posted often warned about flash floods, though there was not a drop of water in sight! But, that's just the way life is in the desert. Water comes eventually, but you have to wait.

When the rains finally come, the water pours down the mountains and gushes through those dry gullies and every parched thing comes alive again! Every dependent creature praises the Lord!


Lord, You will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. (Isaiah 44:3 NIV) Let my roots reach to the water! (Job 29:19 NIV) Nothing matters more than unity and relationship with You. I look to You in total dependence. Thank you for teaching me more about abiding.

A Human Doing

It had been a particularly productive day and I was pleased with all the work I had accomplished. I got to cross so many items off my list, and completed some things that weren’t even on it.

My dear husband told me to sit next to him and take a break. "You are a human being, Love, not a human doing," he said.

I thought of one item that got carried over each time I made a new list. It was a project begun with several others who didn't give it much urgency at all. I had tried every way I knew to motivate them to act, but no one else made it the priority that I wanted to make it.

Reluctantly, I continued with the work, as best I could, without the help of the others. I felt driven to complete what had been started... even if it meant doing it alone.

Eventually, I was able to sit back and reflect on what I had painstakingly accomplished. It felt good, but I missed the satisfaction teamwork would have brought.

I imagined God saying to me, "(Martha, Martha), you are worried and upset about many things (Luke 10:41) . It's good what you have accomplished... But the emphasis isn't really on doing. It's not about productivity...

How did you treat the people you viewed as obstacles?"

Oh, Lord, forgive the taskmaster in me! I am concerned about many things -- and I do not eat the bread of idleness (Prov. 31:27 NIV), but let me never forget how important the people are! Please help me to model your great love and patience throughout all my interactions with others. Help me to more often make the choice that Mary did.

The Garden of My Mind

On my knees in the soft ground of my perennial garden, I pushed my trowel down deep to uproot each thriving weed, removing the entire unwanted growth. Looking back over the ground I had covered, I admired my work. It would be so rewarding to have a garden free of weeds (at least for a few days)!

But as gardeners know, early in the season it can be hard to tell which are weeds and which are new perennials just starting to show. The cunning weeds often sprout near similar-looking plants, camouflaging themselves and crowding out the more desirable plant species.

Rather than risk pulling out something that I want, I find it safer to let the young plant be until it has grown enough to know for sure what I am uprooting. (I once pulled out my lemon thyme ... until I smelled the fresh lemony fragrance on my hands and quickly replanted it!) I started to think that I should study weeds so that I could accurately identify what needs to stay and what needs to go.

I quickly decided against that, remembering what I had learned about how the Royal Canadian Mounted Police train "the Mounties" in anti-counterfeiting work. Instead of studying the counterfeit, they carefully study the "real deal" -- a genuine twenty-dollar bill -- so that if a counterfeit appears, they immediately recognize that it does not measure up.

So it is in the garden of life. I focus on what I want to grow, not on what I don't want to grow. In the same way, I prefer to study God, not the enemy. If what I see does not measure up to God and His Word, I know it is not of God. The weeds in my life (superficial things that "pose" as authentic and significant) can be just as cunning as the weeds in my garden. How they can grow and spread before I recognize they are not the quality I desire. And if I'm not careful, they will crowd out the more beautiful things I want to grow.

Rather than dwelling on the enemy or what he might be doing, I choose to focus on what God is doing. I focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and/or praiseworthy! (Phil 4:8 NIV)

These are the things I want growing in the garden of my mind.


Lord, You are all good and my eyes are on You. Lead me in Your truth. Let me not waste a moment in distraction.