January 6, 2020

Happy Monday. I hope you had a great weekend and your time spent with other believers was uplifting. Mine was especially good. I have had a silly cold since a week after Thanksgiving. I don’t know if it’s allergies or a cold that’s hanging on but, it’s enough that I’m just a little less than myself. The holidays are over so, I’m ready for summer. I’d just as soon skip January - March and get right to April and let’s get some flowers in the ground! But alas, that’s not what happens here in the Midwest. We trudge through the dog days of winter. 


As I complain about the weather, I realize what a light weight and an ingrate I am. I am complaining about winter when I have plenty of warm clothes, a warm house, a warm bed and a warm car. How selfish can one woman actually be? I think of Paul when he was beaten, shipwrecked, in prison, thrown in a hole, chained, robbed, ran out of town, hungry, cold, weary, and the list goes on. But he tells the church at Corinth: 

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬


So, because we are being renewed, we fix our eyes on what is unseen because we understand what is temporary and what is eternal. But, it’s not so easy to appreciate that weight of glory because it’s in the future. Lots of times, it isn’t as much what we think about our afflictions but that we don't think enough of our coming weight of glory. 


When we look at the things which are seen, it’s easy just to see the winter, and then when we start to dwell in the affliction of the cloud, it doesn’t seem so light! And if we aren’t careful, we can become bitter, miserable and self-absorbed. But when we look at the things which are not seen, then we see and appreciate the coming of the warm—that eternal that outweighs it all.


Lord of the unseen, we pray that you would guide our eyes to look at the thing that are not seen and to understand the afflictions of this life are temporary and light when compared to the weight of the eternal glory you have promised to us. We believe all your promises are true and you have prepared a place just for us. As the elders who lay their crowns on the ground before you sing, we too sing ““You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Walk with us this day and we will strive to listen more intently for your voice. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one, 

Pam


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