Further Considerations: Teach us to Number our Days

So teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. PSALM 90 NIV

As I reflected on Psalm 90:12, I was impressed with the importance of enjoying each day as God gives it. We only have today. Yesterday is gone and we know not what tomorrow brings, yet how often have we been so distracted by the hurts,offenses and failures of yesterday and the fears and anticipated uncertainties of tomorrow that we have allowed those musings to assassinate the blessings that God has wrapped up in Today?

Perhaps someone said unkind things or did absolutely atrocious or abusive things on yesterday. Perhaps a childhood was consumed as one saw, heard or experienced too much too soon. Perhaps we have experienced pain and cried buckets of tears on yesterday, but God saw fit to rescue us and preserve us for Today. Not to minimize anyone's experiences for I know that my past helped to make me who I am today, but God is blessing Today and I don't want to miss it.

He is sending people to show us love, to appreciate what life has taught us-- even through adversity. He is creating in us a sense of love for the community of faith. He is giving opportunities we don't deserve and opening doors we had no idea needed opening. Thank God, He is closing doors we often don't have sense enough to know need closing. He is providing for our needs, just like He said He would. He is letting us see new sunrises and sunsets and enjoy gentle breezes in our hair. He allows us to taste delicious foods, even some that we did not have to prepare. He is continually forgiving us for our sins and conforming us to the image of Christ as we walk in Him.

Each day, the Lord, Our God, is sending new mercies. How often do we savor them, smile about them, or tell others about them? How often do we share today's blessings with our children and ask them how God is moving in their life?

"Lord, life is so short, help me to value each day that you allow me to see. Help me to use it to your glory and to the furtherance of your kingdom." Forgive me for looking backward at yesterday and failing to see what you have so lovingly placed in my lap to enjoy Today. Teach me to number my days."

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90 KJV

Lord, teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may gain in wisdom.Help us to value the importance of each day so that we don't take our days for granted. Help us to see each day as a gift from Our Creator to be used to further His plan for our life and to give Him glory. Forgive us when we have acted as if we were the captain of our own ship and failed to appreciated Today.

I had no idea when I went about making my plans that I would be in the hospital for ten days this fall, and a second time before the month was over to correct an error in diagnosis and a resulting error in the prescription of medicine. It was not in my life's goals, nor in my Church planner nor in anyone's Blackberry and yet there I was lying on my back; sick, fearful and many times feeling alone.

I saw others come and go in the same condition or worse, and most of us had other things that we thought we would be doing. The jaunt to the hospital was inconvenient, expensive and worrisome, and yet it was a reality for a sizable portion of my month.

During this time, I had plenty of time to reflect. I learned many unasked for lessons. I got to see myself from a different perspective and learned aspects of God's loving kindness that I had not before encountered.

One such reflection centered on the fact that we never know what tomorrow holds. I was impressed with that thought that since this is true, I needed to do whatever God has put in my heart to do Today. That might start with just saying "Yes, Lord", and yielding to His wishes. It may be a series of small decisions all leading to His final goal. It might begin with the preparation to be able to do what He has asked. Many times obedience entails a number of baby steps rather than one dramatic and immediate finish. For me, obeying God may start with prayers for guidance, asking others for help with the parts I am not sure of, talking up my courage, or getting an accountability partner to help eliminate false starts and no follow-through.

Since I doubt if we get points in heaven for almost obeying God or for thinking about doing so, I figured out that I needed to do those things I have already heard Him say do and stop adding them to my list of things to do when I have time. Transformation comes decision by decision, step by obedient step and act upon act.

The truth of the matter is we have Today. Wiser folk than I have said, "Don't put off for tomorrow the things we can do Today."
"Lord, thank you for using even an unexpected, unpleasant occurrence to teach me to number my days for I truly want to gain in wisdom."

A Walk On the Wild Side

My companions and I decided that today's activity would be a drive to Beaufort and a ferry over to one of the islands that are a part of the Southern Outer Banks. There we would see the wild horses of North Carolina, credited with tracing their DNA back 450 years. Though the charge for the excursion was a bit costly, the adventurer in each of us was game. (and besides... the cost included a special bag for shelling on the deserted beach.)

We drove 20 miles or so to the dock, arriving in time to meet our tour guide, Larry, who retired to the island 10 years ago and vowed he'd never leave. Confronted now with the reality of the trip, I then asked, "Do you think I'll be o.k.?" I had been struggling with a flare up of arthritis and being a bit stiff was not as nimble as usual. "Sure", Larry said. "After all, I am 71 years old, so I go slow. Besides, I only have one lung. Just be sure to wear your sunscreen. The sun is hotter than you think out here."

Thus assured, we continued to enjoy the perfect day, not too hot too cold; gentle breeze blowing. At the appointed time we bought our tickets and got on board with about a dozen other hardy souls, armed only with sunscreen, sunshades, a bottle of water, a camera and of course our "special" non-recyclable plastic bags from various stores in the area. We were warned, once aboard, that there might be "a little ocean spray" as we went over to the islands and if anyone was "made out of sugar" they might like to leave now. Foolishly undaunted, we all laughed, seeing ourselves as tougher than that.

However, out in the sound, we were told to cover all electronics. Then the boat picked up speed and the waters were very choppy. We all got drenched! Water splashed our arms, legs, hair and face. By now one child clung to her mom, another whispered, "I don't think this is a spray." By journey's end, every stitch of clothing was soaked. "Hey, that wasn't ocean spray; that was a baptism!"

When we arrived at the island, we began to sense that we were in trouble when the captain nonchalantly said, "I think the best way to get off is to sit on the edge and slide off...a drop of more than a foot. This said, as the boat continued to pitch and buck, like one of the wild horses we imagined we'd see.

My friends, younger and quicker than I, went on ahead. As I gathered myself to stand, I was horrified to see one of them lying at the foot of the boat. As the captain just stood and looked, others of the passengers and her two friends, rushed over with concern. Meanwhile the boat continued to advance upon her. "I heard something pop", she said. This was confirmed by an EMT that God had secreted among the passengers. He tried to help and bravely by God's grace and sheer will power, she stood. "I'm o.k.", she said, as she dusted sand off and stood.

Since the show must go on, the tour guide gave instructions and set off, as if falling off a boat was routine., Within minutes Larry's "slow" pace had me wheezing and struggling to keep up. Eventually, bent over coughing, I waved the group on and decided that I could see what appeared to be horses in the distance just fine. "Get good pictures," I said to my compadres hopefully. Larry yelled back,"Go to the ye low pole, the ferry will return at 11:15. Looking at my watch I saw that it was only 8:45 on an island with no bathrooms, no vendors and no benches to sit on to wait. I could stand and look at the water or pick up a few shells in my nifty bag or I could set out, like pioneers before me,going it alone-at my own pace. I chose the latter, singing a song that had stuck in my mind on my 14 hour drive to N.C. from MO..."all things are pos-si-ble for me..."

So one foot in front of the other, my eye on the group about a half mile ahead, I persevered and finally made it! I stood with the group, among the herd as they enjoyed a short talk and photo opportunities. This herd consisted of the dominant stallion, a colt and a few mares. We quietly took pictures until the stallion became uncomfortable and decided to move the group on. One mare, very pregnant and lying flat on her side as if dead, was reluctant to let go of her grassy knoll. It wasn't until the stallion flattened his ears back and bared his teeth that she struggled to get up, knowing that the next move would be a bite on her bottom.

Knowing that this phase of the trip was over, we asked what was next. Larry said, "I am going to take you up on the highest point on the island. The view is spectacular, but don't worry; it's not too steep too climb" "Yeah, right," I thought cynically. This time reason won out and my injured friend, 2 others on the excursion and I decided to be satisfied with what we had already experienced and we set off for the yellow pole.

We shelled a bit, put our feet in the water, and took more pictures, some of which I hope you will enjoy in the slide show. Eventually, our friends returned, as did the ferry. Adrienne, the one who finished the course set out before her, said she had walked about" 3 1/2 miles and that the climb to the view was steep and narrow.We had made a good decision.

This time upon his return, the captain had a ladder, the waters were not as choppy and the ride was not as wet. We got back without incident, satisfied that we had had an adventure, made many memories and would probably do it again.

Upon reflection, I decided that:

Age is just a number. Larry's "71" didn't mean the same to him as to me. He was fit and active, able to take large dunes with a single climb.

Injury, disease and disability have as much to do with the courage of the person,the support they receice and God's grace as it does with the type and severity of the condition.

As for the wild horses, they were wild in that they were natives of the island, unchanged for 450 years. They had not accepted the bridle of domestication and pretty much lived life on their own terms, driven by their appetites and the world around them.Their behavior was motivated by hunger, power plays of the stallions, sex, the environment and fear.

For whatever reason, I thought of Jeremiah 2:23-25, where God compared His people to wild animals , doing their own thing, driven by passion-seeking satisfaction from false gods and rejecting fellowship with their loving Creator.

Every since the Fall in the Garden, mankind, like the horses, has had a wild streak. We too, can be isolated, unprotected, unpredictable, pushed and pulled by the "cares of the world and the lusts of the eye"- doing our own thing. Yet our Father has not been content with leaving us in our natural state, but drew us to Himself with cords of love. He has offered us grace, love and security through His Son who died for us. Praise God for Jesus! Because of Him, we can have joy, love and peace. He will take care of us and guide us beside still waters. He will comfort our souls. Because of Him we are no longer isolated, alienated and left to go it alone. He raises us as His own, lovingly cared for and we are no longer "wild".

To God Be the Glory

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV God surely does reveal His majesty through His creation.

I am enjoying my beach retreat with my sister, Terry, and my daughter, Adrienne. The ocean is one of my favorite places to unwind, to take a step back from the business of life and all its busyness. It's my place to savor the moments of beauty and majesty that our Savior has sprinkled along life's journey like seashells along the beach. I can step over them-not seeing them- not appreciating them or I can pause long enough to let my eyes feast on what God washes up on the shore of life TODAY. I choose to open myself to all of His wonders.

At the beach, my greatest responsibilities are the care and preservation of my body, maintaining the environment entrusted to us and enjoying the presence of family. My greatest decisions are whether to take the kite to the beach, the ferry to see the wild horses on Beaufort Island or to walk through historic Swansboro.

Here in God's wonderland, I have splashed in the water, laughing like a child as the water chilled me, trying to stay upright though pushed and pulled by a shifting ocean floor.

God's world is awesome, and I am captivated by the rich textures, vibrant colors and diversity of species that God has spread across the canvass of His world.

Did I say I love the beach with its wonderful gift of time? It's my time with God, time with family and time with myself: time to stop worrying about doing and a time to enjoy being.

Glory to God. As I have stepped away from demanding routines and hectic schedules, I have learned lessons in my beach classroom that will never be forgotten:

Taking time for oneself is not selfish, it is necessary if one is to have the energy and compassion needed to serve others.

As I simplify my life I see my priorities more clearly.

Savoring the moment frees me from the worries of the past and the uncertainties of the future.

Spontaneity reveals more aspects of who God has made me to be.

Changing focus energizes and renews.

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart. Psalm 86:12 NIV