Traveling Light

This weekend we were blessed to attend a marriage conference with our fellowship group from church in Newport beach.  It was lovely.  We thouroughly enjoyed spending time together and exploring Balboa Island.  Justin and I walked along the beach, stopped at an ice cream shop to enjoy a “balboa bar,” ventured down the pier, and window shopped.  It was a wonderful time to connect while enjoying our surroundings and dear friends from church.  The teaching was wonderful as well; we pray the Lord will use our marriage to bring Him glory and be a testimony to those who do not know Him.

Recently I’ve been feeling overwhelmed as I think about all that lies before Justin and I–with various ministry opportunities, work, long-term missions, and other day-to-day responsibilities.  I become discouraged, wishing I could do more, have more time, be more prepared, and the list could go on.  Often when these anxious feelings come, I resign myself to my discouraging thoughts and don’t end up finishing what I am called to do at that moment.

Something that my mom would often say when I was younger was, “do the next thing.”  This was a quote she remembered and held onto from an Elizabeth Elliot book she had read.  She explained that when you don’t know what to do, you just do the next thing, and trust the Lord for the rest.  This wise council echoes Matthew 6:33-34.

   “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

I pray that next time these thoughts come, I will not become overwhelmed.  Rather, by God’s grace, may I be faithful and obedient in that moment.  Really, that’s what this life is made up of: thousands of moments.  As I look ahead to a life-time of serving my Savior may I be faithful in this moment trusting Him for the many to come. 

And now I shall return to what this moment holds for me as I do the next thing– cleaning the shower and making dinner :)

The other day as I was driving down a well-paved road with my windows part way down, letting the fresh post-rain air in, I was reminded of the common grace of the Lord that is seen in every area of life.  From the beautiful sunrays shining through the clouds in the afternoon– to the crunchy green granny smith apple in my lunch, I’m so thankful that God in His loving mercy allows each of us to experience evidence of His grace in our lives daily.  It’s amazing to me that He extends this common grace both to those who call on Him as their Lord and Savior & to those who do not.

Knowing that I deserve nothing but eternal seperation from a holy God, I rejoice not only in my salvation but in every moment of His common grace throughout my day.