"Christianity 101: God the Father"

A great deal has happened since the last time you read one of these.

Sara Diemer’s white blood cell count dropped, so they didn’t start up the chemo regimen that they’d planned on last week.  That turned out to be wise, because she picked up a secondary infection mid-week that landed her in the hospital--literally one floor above Nancy Schultz, who was there for her own physical issues.  OSF was able to deal with Sara’s issues and send her home, but all of the tests they took made them decide to change the regimen and do something else, which will actually now start up next week.  Please keep Sara and her family in your prayers.

One floor below, Nancy’s body was giving up on her, and she finally went home to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon.  She held on long enough for all of her children and grandchildren to be able to be there with her at the end, and the family spent a large chunk of the afternoon singing some of their favorite hymns and choruses together.  Please keep Nancy’s whole family in your prayers as well, as they process her passing.

For that matter, the whole country is trying to process the sudden death of NBA MVP Kobe Bryant, who retired in 2016 after a 20-year career with the Lakers.  Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were killed in a helicopter crash, along with the seven others, and millions feel utterly lost and broken by the news.  As one young teenager put it, “Basketball was my life.  Now I never want to watch another game.”  Senate Chaplain Barry Black tried to put the tragedy into perspective in his opening prayer ahead of President Trump’s impeachment trial, saying “Lord... as millions mourn the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and those who died with them, we think about life's brevity, uncertainty, and legacy.”

The fact is, none of us knows what tomorrow will bring.  Nancy knew that she was ill, but she didn’t really know how ill.  Sara knows that she has cancer, but her actual health changes from week to week.  Kobe Bryant and his daughter were on their way to a tournament, but then--suddenly--they weren’t.  You and I formulate many plans, or percolate many fears, or cogitate on many possibilities, but we have absolutely no idea how many of those plans or fears or possibilities will ever come to pass.  I’m reminded that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). 

Fortunately, the Lord is very good at that.  As we discussed in our message this week, our God is not only the omnipotent and infinitely perfect Creator of all things, He’s also our perfect Dad, who genuinely cares for us and sincerely wishes to be in relationship with us.  God always walks with us, and when we walk with Him in return, we can trust that the path He sets before us is the one that He knows is the best.  As Nancy reminded me, “Following Christ is not always a painless activity--but following Him is what gives everything in life (including our pain) meaning and purpose.”

Take a moment today and remind yourself that you really don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so trust God more than you trust your own ideas about what’s coming next.  Then remind yourself to live today the ways that God wants you to live, because you don’t know where you’ll be tomorrow.  And then make sure to do that again tomorrow...