Pay Attention

Recently I was reading in Matthew and once again read the parable of the wedding banquet. It is amazing to me that no matter how many times I read a passage something new seems to be revealed. Anyway, as I was reading verse 5 just stuck with me;

5"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

As I read this over and over, it just struck me that the business of life, the struggles of the day, the technology we enjoy, recreational opportunities, media, etc. just overwhelm us. And as they do I worry that we are not (I am not) paying attention.

Philip Yancey wrote that as a writer he is a busy person and it sometimes impacts his focus on Christ, his focus on prayer, his focus on things most important. However, he quickly pointed out he was not too busy for his e-mail, his favorite recreational activities perhaps a favorite show. You know I can really relate to that.

As busy as we all are, we must ensure right priorities; we must fight to ensure these right priorities. We must pay attention! I know it is a struggle; I know the temptations are strong; I know we can’t do it alone, but there is good news. We don’t have to do it alone.

We have a good and loving God, we have a Lord and Savior to rescue us, we have a Spirit to comfort and counsel us. Oh, how can we not pay attention!

As you know, that parable doesn’t really end with simply a call to pay attention; in fact the parable ends with a rather chilling statement in verse 14;

14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Oh, Abba Father you are so good; help us to “pay attention”, help us to recognize the wonderful invitation and to join you at your banquet for all eternity. Abba Father, we love you!

Grace and Peace!

Empty Nesters

Wow, I can't believe we moved our baby girl out of the house and into a college dorm! That was a tough thing to do both physically (Man, I am getting old!) and emotionally (Man, am I getting old?). Life does seem to move along whether you are ready or not. I was sharing how tough it was with both of our “girls” gone now and I made the comment that my wife and I will now see if we really like each other again. I was pretty sure that I would like her; I was just worried about her liking me.

Kind of funny, but there really is an emotional battle going on. Combine this battle with the busyness of life, cars in need of repair, demands of work, a struggling economy, national concerns… Sometimes I just want to scream, but wait there is this!

Psalm 121


1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Father, thank you that you are there, that you are my help, that you will not let my foot slip, that you will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. Amen.

Grace and Peace!