There’s nothing I enjoy more than being on the ice, figure skating. The freedom of movement, the cold air, gliding to music, I find invigorating.

While skating, I am immersed in the moment, the rest of the day put on hold.

Yet I didn’t always experience this pure enjoyment.

For many years I took lessons in ice dancing. A group of us adults would take tests, working to move up the ranks of the sport. In my drive to excel, I sometimes deprived myself of enjoying the day’s practice—by focusing on my paucity of progress, or comparing myself to someone else.

During these times, a wise man at the rink often would say, “Enjoy the journey.”

Likewise, we should enjoy our journey of faith each day, without mental distractions. 

God gives us 24-hour day-tight compartments to live in.

My thinking of tomorrow is limited, not knowing what it holds.

God is limit-less.

When we accept the limitations of living one day at a time, life takes on a beautiful simplicity. We’re free to live in an awareness of His presence and can experience His partnership in all we do.

Yet how easily we rob ourselves of this oneness by encasing our thinking in the past or the future—as either a pleasant or fearful thing.

For some, the past is:

A sanctuary: Always thinking of the good ‘ol days; the past always looking better. 

A jailer: A prison that enslaves, causing condemnation, regret, and mental bondage; feeling like victims of past suffering.

For some, the future is: 

A daydream: “I will be happy when I have ‘such and such’, or achieve ‘such and such’.” 

A fear of the unknown: Living with anxieties about what is ahead and can’t be controlled today.

These ways of thinking constrain us, causing us to miss fully living in the now.

In contrast, living in the now—in the presence of God—eliminates worry and increases faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God knows what we need, and today is enough to take care of. 

London’s Waterloo Station houses a huge 4-faced clock hanging in the center of the main concourse. It’s known as one of the city’s most famous rendezvous places.

Imagine this large clock—with no hands!

“What time is it?”

“NOW!”

Like a clock with no hands, the word of God and the presence of God is our past, present, and future.

Our eternal now.

Our lives are in His hands, therefore our hearts can be at peace and take joy in His presence—every moment of our now.

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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Spring has sprung—except where I live.

Here in northern New York we still have nearly a foot of snow on the ground, although moderating temperatures are bringing the drip drip drip of melting.

Us locals know spring doesn’t really arrive for another month. Yet it will come!

As the sun warms the earth and winter’s glory fades, it’s always amazing how plants in the yard that looked dead return to life. Tender shoots appear, soon to burst into lush green leaves and colorful flowers.

Our lovely lilac bush, nearly buried by recent storms, appears dead and forgotten—but two months from now will be blooming in full glory!

The Old Testament book of Isaiah prophesies of the coming of Christ, comparing him to a tender plant, yet how his life would ultimately be despised and rejected:

“My servant [Jesus Christ] grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” (Isaiah 53:2,3 NLT)

The Son of God was crucified, fulfilling the prophecy that would make a way to restore relationship with our Creator God once again. The sacrifice of Jesus’ life would pay the price not only for the sins of all humanity, but also for our physical healing.

“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6) 

Yet the story doesn’t end there!

After burying Jesus in the tomb, three days later the words “He is risen!” echoed throughout the land.

For those who place their trust and hope in Jesus Christ—like the promise of spring—life begins anew: a life not free of trouble, but one of victory, of purpose, and of HOPE.

There is a blessed Hope before us—of one day reigning with Christ on a new and regenerated earth—where there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain.  

As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, what a glorious time it is to remember not only Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf through his death and resurrection, but also the blessed Hope we have in him of life eternal.

May your heart be filled with the joy of His presence—for HE IS RISEN!

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

Featured photo credit: 3john2wellness

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Nothing is as satisfying as a good meal when you’re hungry. Most of us are blessed to have full refrigerators and stocked pantries. It’s easy to grab a snack any time of the day the stomach growls.

But what about spiritual hunger?

Jesus said if we believe on Him and go to Him we would never go hungry, for He is the “bread of life.”

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35) 

Any time we find ourselves spiritually malnourished and wanting, we need only call upon Jesus and He will give us all we need.

It’s easy to feel “full” after a great spiritual experience—a church weekend, an inspiring sermon, Christian music, or an exciting time of seeing God at work—but do we mistakenly go on thinking radio broadcasts and big weekends alone will satisfy our hunger? 

Some, when spiritually hungry, quickly run to the phone to talk with a friend. Or, they try to feed their hunger with other things—time at the day spa or gym, chocolate, or some other relaxing or feel-good activity.

While all of these things may have value, none replace our need for daily time with the Master, the true “bread of life”. 

In the Old Testament, God had the children of Israel wander in the wilderness for forty years in order to learn to humble themselves, trust Him, and hear His voice. (Exodus 16, Nehemiah 9:15)

During this time, God rained manna (bread) from heaven every day to feed them. If they tried to save some of the bread for the next day it would go bad. They had to rely on God’s provision for physical bread one day at a time.

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) 

Likewise they had to learn to seek and trust God daily to experience His presence and hear His voice. 

This record, being a model for Christ, corresponds with Jesus’ words after He was tempted in the wilderness for forty days:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [Greek = rhema: speaking] that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4) 

Just as the children of Israel and the Son of God learned to rely on God for daily sustenance, our spiritual nourishment—through time in His Word and conversation with Him—like the manna, is something we must seek daily.

Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus is the bread of life. In His presence we will never go hungry.

Have you dined at the Lord’s table today?

Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Elton

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Years ago scientists conducted an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two groups of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. Researchers left one set alone and discovered within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second group of rats swam for over 24 hours.

Why?

Not because they were given rest breaks, but because they suddenly had hope! The rats somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat for just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should its effect be on our lives?[1]

The simple reality is we cannot live without hope.

Hope adds anticipation and joy to daily living. It often shows up in small, meaningful, personal ways, giving us something to look forward to, to “hope” for. Hope also serves as motivation to do the things we need to do, knowing that something more desirable lies head.

All day a young boy eagerly anticipates Dad coming home from work to throw the ball with him in the yard…

After a busy workweek a young man and his fiancé look forward to meeting for dinner on Friday evening…

An elderly woman living alone waits for her daughter to come and have lunch with her, the highlight of her day…

Without hope, life loses its zest and we lose our sense of purpose. Hope keeps us going, especially during difficult times. When something hoped for comes to pass, it is energizing and life-giving. When it doesn’t happen, it disappoints our hearts.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

Each day we can bless the people around us by simply offering them a glimmer of hope through something we do or say. 

Who can you extend the blessing of hope to today?

Copyright © 2014 Cheryl Elton

[1] Story told in Today in the Word, (Moody Bible Institute), May 1990, p. 34.

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