Thought for June 25

History:

• 1630: The fork introduced to American dining
• 1672: First recorded Quaker meeting in America
• 1678: Elena Piscopia is first woman to receive a doctorate degree
• 1867: Barbed wire patented
• 1876: Battle of the Little Big Horn
• 1910: Stravinsky’s “Firebird” premiers
• 1931: Al Capone indicted on 5000 counts
• 1938: New law requires 25 cents per hour and 44 hour week
• 1941: Racial discrimination in the defense industry prohibited
• 1950: North Korea invades South Korea
• 1951: First color television broadcast
• 1962: Supreme Court rules school prayer unconstitutional
• 1975: Barry White releases “Can’t Get Enough of Your love, Baby”
• 1977: Roy Sullivan is struck by lightning for the 7th time
• 1978: First use of the gay pride rainbow flag
• 1982: Bladerunner released
• 1984: Prince releases “Purple Rain”
• 1996: Independence Day released
• 2020: 20 million Americans infected with Covid
• Born: George Orwell, June Lockhart [Lassie], James Meredith, Willis Reed, Carly Simon, Jimmie Walker, Phyllis George, Anthony Bourdain, Ricky Gervais, George Michael
• Died: George Custer, Charles Starkweather [killed 11 people], Johnny Mercer, Jacques Cousteau, Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Bill Dana [Jose Jimenez]

Thought:

I see that it's Carly Simon's birthday, so I might listen to "Anticipation" today. Carly said she wrote it while waiting for Cat Stevens to arrive for dinner, but it always makes me think of Heinz Ketchup. Weird! The song begins, "We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway."  What do you think about the days to come? Do you worry? Are you excited? Do you dread them? As a follower of Christ, we should look forward with anticipation--what opportunity is God going to give me today? How is God going to show Himself today? Lord, keep me is constant anticipation that today may be the day of Your coming. What if it was today? Are there things on your spiritual to do list that need attention? I'm checking mine.

Looking at John 1:35 and Jesus calling of His first disciples. I am struck by the way John the Baptist introduced or identified Jesus to two of his followers [we know one was Andrew and most commentators think the other was John, the author of this gospel]. Behold the Lamb of God. John does not say behold the King, behold the Lord, behold the Messiah. He says behold the Lamb. Hearing that, the disciples follow and Jesus asks, what do you seek? I am amazed by their answer--where are you staying? But Jesus, who knows the heart, says, come and see. Think about that encounter this morning

• Someone points the way. John the Baptist points his friends to the Lamb. Who do you know who needs to be introduced to the Lamb?
• When people turn to Jesus, He is waiting and asks, what do you seek? Maybe He is asking me that this morning, Larry, what is it that you are seeking today? Comfort, help, encouragement, assurance, strength, power, wisdom, joy, peace, love, purpose, a future, hope? Or are you in hot pursuit of wealth, fame, the praise of men. I can learn a lot about myself by simply asking that question--what am I seeking today? To be like Christ? To be His instrument? Read Ephesians 2:10--we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. As I have said before, the word "workmanship" is poemia or poem. Reminds me that my life is a poem being written by God. What will today's stanza look like?
• Jesus invites us to come and see. Try Him for He is the answer to every question, the sufficiency for every need, the abundance for every weakness. Psalm 34:8 invites us to "taste and see that the Lord is good." 

This verse turns my heart back to Sandi Patty singing We Shall Behold Him by Dotty Rambo. Put that on this morning: 

The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance; the stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise.

The sweet light in His eyes shall enhance those awaiting, and we shall behold Him then face to face. 

Now there is some anticipation!

Blessings

Larry