Every one is anxious about something. What is nagging at your soul? Maybe you are anxious about work, your children, or your messy house. The other day I was reading a familiar verse, Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  How are you doing with that? I took out a index card and wrote down all the things I am anxious about. I was surprised how long the list was. Then I asked myself, “How many of these items am I praying about? Which of these am I taking to the Lord in prayer?” I realized I was not seeking God with regards to these things. I now have my card with all my anxious items I am taking to God in prayer. God wants us to be prayerful instead of anxious. So, I encourage you to do this exercise. Write down everything thing that has you anxious. Begin to take these to the Lord in prayer. It may not change your situation, but it will certainly change your attitude toward the situation.

My house is full of unfinished projects. I have windows that need to be replaced. A few picture frames still contain photos that came with the frame. I recently spotted a family fun night kit on a book shelf. It contains recipes and games for the entire family. Lori and I bought it several years ago at a marriage conference. It still has not been opened. I am sure you have your own list of unfinished projects. We have good intentions, but never follow through on things. Maybe we don’t have time or energy. Maybe we like the idea of something rather than the reality of it. Maybe we still plan to get to it one day. The day never seems to arrive.

I think these little projects are a reminder of life. We will never complete every task we set out to. We will never fulfill every dream. We will never check every box. When we die, and are put in a box, we will leave behind a list of good intentions and a pile of unfinished tasks. That is why it is so important to do what really matters. Let’s not neglect the most important realities of life. We better not neglect our faith. We better not abandon leading our families in the ways of the Lord. We must not fail to point others to Christ. Let your unfinished projects remind you of the brevity of life and what little time you have to do what matters most.

I just served time at Angola Prison. I was not there as a prisoner of course, but a servant of Christ. AWANA Ministries sponsored an event called Returning Hearts. It is a day of celebration when children reunite with their fathers. It is the only time many of the prisoners see their children all year. I am not one who usually cries, but I teared up when I saw the children running full speed to give their father’s a big hug and kiss. I was reminded how blessed I am to have my own children, whom I have the freedom and privilege to see everyday. My friend and I were paired with a family of five children who were reunited with their grandfather. We served as chaperons for the children. The dynamic was weird at first. At lunch things changed. We all sat down to eat, and it felt like we were all a real family. I really had nothing in common with this family. Yet, it felt like we had a common bond. Towards the end of the day I especially bonded with one of the teenage children. She was asking me numerous questions about God. This experience reminded me of the blessing of service. Christ has called us to serve others. It is time consuming. It is not always easy. It is always a blessing. I was also reminded of the freedom we have in Christ. Many of the prisoners were free inwardly because they follow Christ. Some of them are more free than many of us who are not incarcerated. Enjoy your freedom in Christ and use it to serve others.  

Jason Collins, an NBA player, has come out of the closet. He is the first openly gay player in major team sports. After expressing his homosexuality, the media has gone gaga. He is being lauded as a hero and likened to Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball. Police officers and soldiers are heroes. Men who are faithful husbands and fathers are heroes. Jason Collins is no hero. He is openly living in sexual sin. I do not fear homosexuals, but I do fear God. It doesn’t matter what Jason Collins, or culture says, God says homosexuality is a sin. It is a sexual sin just as is adultery and fornication. Christians are not to throw stones at or hate homosexuals. But, we are not to embrace or approve their sins. Would someone be applauded for being the first NBA player to rob a bank? Would the media salivate over someone being the first athlete to admit beating his wife or not paying child support? Yet, people are excited and encouraged by Jason Collins openly admitting his sinful lifestyle. We are told to be tolerant and accept everyone’s personal views, yet people will not tolerate a Christian’s choice to obey God and call sin a sin. Society is “tolerant” of everyone’s views, except those based on God and the Bible. God help us as a nation.  

For most serious runners, running the Boston Marathon is the ultimate goal. It is the marathon par excellence. I have completed numerous marathons, but none have been Boston. Though it has been a dream/goal of mine. When I heard the tragic news of the attack it made me pause to think and consider. What if I did run Boston this year? What if that were my family or me harmed by the explosions? Some were not so fortunate. A few lost a loved one in the tragedy. For others, their lives will never be the same. Some of the runners, who love and live for running, will not be able to run again. It is a sobering reminder that earth is full of pain and sorrow and sin. Regardless of how civilized or protected our society may be, evil still lurks. The only solution is Jesus Christ. In Him, we have been freed from our sin. In Him, we have victory over sin and Satan. In Him, we have hope of eternal life. While we cannot be guaranteed safety and security here on earth, we are guaranteed eternal life. I pray the events in Boston will draw our nation closer to God. He is the hope of our nation and the world.

The alarm goes off. How do you respond? I confess I often hit the snooze button. It gives me 10 more minutes! Sometimes I hit the snooze button more than once. 10 minutes turns into 20 or 30. Sleep is good and a gift from God, but we can become lazy and unproductive. I am reminded of Proverbs 24:33-34, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” An extra 10 minutes here and there can rob you of precious time. What if you took back those 10 snoozing minutes over the course of one week? You would get back 1 hour and 10 minutes. Just think of what you could do with that extra time. You could spend time praying, catching up on the news, or enjoying a cup of coffee with a loved one. Do you really need 10 extra minutes of sleep? Redeem those extra 10 minutes. Stop snoozing and start living!