God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
That verse was part of my reading this morning. This year, I’m reading my way through the New Testament and Psalms. Rather than doing the whole Bible (which I’ve done and will do again), this gives a little more time to think and consider the words.
I don’t believe in coincidences.
Forty-five years ago when I was traveling with a ministry team from Asbury College (now University), we’d
Elizabeth, Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms was born on this day in 1926. She died on September 8, 2022. She reigned for 70 years.
just ended a difficult week in Michigan (nothing against Michigan by the way, just a trying time), when I got the call that my father had passed away.
Arrangements were hastily made by a teammate and the University. All I know was that I was handed a ticket and taken to the airport.
Two of my best friends were with me that morning when I got the call. One I’m taking an Old Man Bucket List Road Trip (OMBLRT ™) with to the Grand Canyon in August. The other gave me the above verse for the journey.
It is no exaggeration to say that’s how I made it home, and how I got through much of the weeks and months that followed.
I don’t believe in coincidences. Of course that was the scripture I read this morning.
As I noted yesterday, this week I traveled to Georgia so say goodbye to my cousin Larry. What I didn’t tell you was that, way back in 1978, I took a slight break from our tour and went with my parent’s to spend time with my cousin and his family in Florida.
Choking back tears at the funeral, I told my cousin’s wife that Larry was with me the last day that I saw my father alive. I tell the story here.
After that brief visit in Florida, I returned to the tour. Looking out the window of the bus was the last time I saw my father alive.
There are no coincidences.
The verse has been a comfort over the years and that scripture has helped me through many struggles.
Following my first round of cancer when I was in my 30s, the scripture came back to me, but it was a later verse.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10
It was a time that I found, like many times in my life, that I was too busy. I had too much going on.
I had a career in event planning that was taking off. I was heavily involved with a local association to advance that career. I was a newly-minted deacon at church. I was volunteering as a tutor at our Neighborhood Learning Center. And I was still a new father.
Through the counsel of a mentor, I realized that I needed to take a step back. I put a pause on everything I was doing, except the day job and taking care of my family and my health.
Over the years, I’ve realized that I was given a gift. Life is always crazy, but there are times when it is overwhelming. But in those times, God helps me see that perhaps it’s time to take a step back.
Time to realize that I can’t do everything, and I don’t have to.
I know, you look at the list at the bottom of this post and ask “he’s not trying to do it all?”
You should see the list that got away.
Here at the end of the week, I am overwhelmed by many things. Some I have set aside.
While I may not see the solutions, I know that God does.
My faith tells me that God has already solved the problem. He’s already taken care of my needs.
I may not see it. It may not be the solution(s) that I would have liked.
But, another song we occasionally sang on that tour was…
“We win, we win, I know we win. I looked in the back of the book and we win.”
It’s been a hard week. Losing Larry was hard. The funeral was hard. The trip was hard and I’m still dealing with the effects of that on my arthritis.
But it’s all there in Psalm 46.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Sometimes I need that reminder.
I don’t believe in coincidence.
RANDOM LINKS OF INTEREST
Report: Many Chicagoans Fleeing City For More Peaceful Places Like The Middle East
The Babylon Bee
A new report indicated thousands of people who lived in Chicago have moved to places like Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan in search of a more peaceful place to live.
The Hunter Biden whistleblower
The Washington Examiner
The Justice Department has been investigating President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden for a long time. The inquiry began in 2018, before the elder Biden even decided to run for president. It is now in its fifth year. Hunter Biden has not been charged with any wrongdoing. The investigation continues.
BREAKING: Louisville bank shooter left manifesto stating anti-gun motive for massacre: report
The Post Millennial
The now-deceased 25-year-old, who suffered from myriad mental health issues, stated that his decision to gun down his former colleagues at the bank was based on a number of factors, not least as a way to show how easy it was for someone like him to obtain a firearm.
BuzzFeed News to shut down
Politico
Peretti said in the memo, shared with POLITICO, that the move is part of a 15 percent reduction in BuzzFeed’s workforce — about 180 employees.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
One of my projects last weekend was adding two sets of printable digital images to my ETSY shop. More to come. I’ve been trying all week to add some more. If you read the post before your got here you know why I haven’t…yet.
Rehearsals continue for:
June 22 – July 14, 2023
And of course, many of you have already ordered, but you can order and share with friends. More adventures of CAT and PIG are on the way. Stay tuned.
BORN ON THIS DAY
American actress and singer, Patti LuPone, was born on this day in 1949.