“Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
“Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
1 KINGS 1-2
9Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
11Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”
15So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
17She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”(1:9-21)
LUKE 22:54-71
54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
JOURNAL
Often living in the moment is a terrifying ordeal. Reading this morning I really was compelled to think about both of these situations and the doubt, fear and worry that must have gripped Bathsheba, Nathan and Peter. Their future looked completely in doubt. A betting man would have put the odds that this was the end of the road for them. All looked dark and dreary.
This is the challenge of living in the moment. Often the present moment is scary. Often it doesn't seem to match the desires of our heart. It is in these moments that we can take comfort that God is always up to something good. We may be in the midst of hell on earth and it may seem dark and scary, but God is still up to something good.
Trusting that and finding the joy in the present is the challenge and the essence of faith. I must remember and take hold of the truth that God is in today. He is no longer in the past, nor is he in the future. He is here now in the present. Therefore it is here that I find courage, joy, hope, peace and love.
Often living in the moment is a terrifying ordeal. Reading this morning I really was compelled to think about both of these situations and the doubt, fear and worry that must have gripped Bathsheba, Nathan and Peter. Their future looked completely in doubt. A betting man would have put the odds that this was the end of the road for them. All looked dark and dreary.
This is the challenge of living in the moment. Often the present moment is scary. Often it doesn't seem to match the desires of our heart. It is in these moments that we can take comfort that God is always up to something good. We may be in the midst of hell on earth and it may seem dark and scary, but God is still up to something good.
Trusting that and finding the joy in the present is the challenge and the essence of faith. I must remember and take hold of the truth that God is in today. He is no longer in the past, nor is he in the future. He is here now in the present. Therefore it is here that I find courage, joy, hope, peace and love.
This is the challenge of living in the moment. Often the present moment is scary. Often it doesn't seem to match the desires of our heart. It is in these moments that we can take comfort that God is always up to something good. We may be in the midst of hell on earth and it may seem dark and scary, but God is still up to something good.
Trusting that and finding the joy in the present is the challenge and the essence of faith. I must remember and take hold of the truth that God is in today. He is no longer in the past, nor is he in the future. He is here now in the present. Therefore it is here that I find courage, joy, hope, peace and love.
31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MATTHEW 6:31-34
MATTHEW 6:31-34
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