Every Morning

His mercies are new. And I am so thankful!


Some mornings I wake up with the world on my shoulders. Do you know the feeling? As soon as you wake up, your mind is flooded with the list of things that must get done in that day and the burden even makes you stand a little lower. Certainly it doesn’t feel like there is energy to make it to lunch, let alone the activities after dinner.


I had a morning like that this week. I had slept fairly well the night before but upon waking, the burdens of the day woke with me and lodged themselves in my mind.


On my drive to work I remember listening to a discussion about worship. I can’t remember anything from the talk except for this phrase: “His mercies are new every morning.” As I mediated on it in my mind and heart, I turned my thoughts from not being able to handle the agenda for the day to the fact that God gives His strength to handle the day. I don’t have to do it alone. Immediately I felt the stress trickle away like water in a sieve, while at the same time joy and thankfulness replaced the anxiety. His mercies are new, and today, right now, they are new. Not recycled from yesterday, or only what is left over after last night, they are new: in full and with strength and power. That is good news. And I stood taller and lived better because of that truth.


What are you facing today that has you slumping, or unable to get out of bed? Are you carrying around extra emotional weight because it seems you are alone or that if you don’t worry about it, who will? Take a moment to remember that God’s strength is able, and when Christ is in You, His strength is available to you: new and fresh. Every morning.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

Things I Love!

1. A quiet evening at home on the couch with hubby, perusing cell phone options on line.


2. Mornings when both Justin and I are home and getting ready to go to work!


3. Afternoons, just hours before departing for a mother/daughter reunion in another state.


4. Brisk walks over the lunch hour in dressy slacks and tennis shoes.


5. Answering questions about my Christmas card photo taken in Uganda.


6. Packing light in my new Vera Bradley (on sale) duffel bag.


7. Knowing sweet husband will pick me up at the airport when I return.


8. God's blessing, over and abundant beyond anything I can ask or think!


9. His Word and time alone with Him.


10. Peace. That passes all understanding.

(And I wasn't trying for ten...just came out that way :)

The Path of Life

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence..." Psalm 16:11

There is peace in knowing what is to come: for the day ahead-the hour at hand. We take courage in making plans for the future, and filling our agenda to be sure we get everything done.

I love planning. I am most productive when I have a list made of everything I need to accomplish, and a time line of when it will all happen. And in doing that, it is also easy for me to overlook anything (and sometimes anyone) that is not on my list for that period of time. Granted, I'll get a lot done, but maybe that isn't the point.

The Psalmist reminds me that in Christ-our Lord and Savior, and Heavenly Father-we have a very simple agenda. "The way of life," as he put it, while often a deeply sought after mystical answer in the mids of some, is grounded in the source of Life: Christ Himself.

We are told to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. That is the path of life, and God blesses obedience and provides His joy. Not just when things are going well, and everything on my list is crossed off, but also when I'm ill, when I want to be grumpy, when finances are low, when the house isn't clean, when my friend is hurting, when I cannot understand: His joy can prevail.

The result of our obedience and its effect on others may never fully be known to us. God has laid down a narrow path, but does not restrict the way our example of trust, obedience and joy will bless others. That is the other part of His plan: to use our obedience to bring others to Him, to show people He cares, and that they too can know the path of life.

May I work to always put Christ first on my to-do list, with all my heart, soul and mind, so that the things that do get accomplished each day may reflect His joy, bless another's soul, and make others want to know Him more.