Psalms 73:23-28

Psalm 73:23-28 

English Standard Version 

  I'm traveling for a bit, so I'll be taking the next two weeks off and will pick up later.  I'll leave you with these words of wisdom from the Psalms.  Whom in heaven do we have besides God?  Everything else around us may fail.  Everything else within us may fail.  But God will never fail nor forsake us.  God is faithful, and we can take comfort and peace knowing that God abides with us.  May we pray for the wisdom to make the Lord our refuge, that we may shelter in the grace of God and go forth to tell the world about the gracious God we worship.

1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12 

English Standard Version 

  I've always loved this concept in Scripture -- that we receive the good news into which angels long to look.  We take it for granted, because we've heard the good news proclaimed so many times, but it's a precious, precious gift, and we ought to treasure it each time we hear it.  It's not one taken lightly, for the prophets spent their time and energy inquiring carefully as to the heart of the message.  So may we receive it and give it the consideration it deserves -- to invest our time and attention into it, pondering it like Mary treasured the Good News that was delivered to her.

Endurance

  I'd heard about the exploration of Antartica in 1914 led by Shackleton, but I never had more than cursory knowledge of the trip.  I finished Alfred Lansing's Endurance last week, which is the full story of the incredible voyage, and it's one of the most remarkable true stories I've ever read.  I have absolutely zero interest in a polar expedition, due to my strong desire to not lose limbs to frostbite, but I admire the courage and determination of those who lead and participate in such journeys.  

  Shackleton's journey took a turn for the worse when he and the 27 members of his crew became stuck in the pack ice, drifting at the mercy of polar ice for months before their ship was eventually crushed by the ice.  Then they were left to try and hike as far as they could before taking to the boats, eventually landing on Elephant Island, an inhospitable spot in the midst of an angry sea.  Once there, 6 men set out in a small boat to navigate 800 miles across the violent Southern Sea, one of the most ambitious feats of navigation in recorded history.  Then, once they somehow landed on South Georgia Island, three of the six men had to hike 29 miles across mountainous/blizzard conditions to reach help.  

  Somehow, Shackleton didn't lose a single crew member.  Every time I turned the page, when I thought things were as bad as they could get, somehow they got worse, but the crew persevered.  It's amazing to think of the obstacles they overcame.  In the final voyage to South Georgia Island, it seemed like every minute brought potential calamity, but they solved each problem, one by one, and they were all rescued.

  It makes me think of Lamentations 3, when we're told that God's mercies are new every morning.  We so often have no idea what we'll face each day.  When they first got snared in the ice, if you'd told Shackleton and the crew what awaited them, they might have given up.  But they didn't know what awaited them, and they simply dealt with the challenges, day by day.  They found a way to manage.

  A very wise woman once told me that worry is negative prayer.  May we trust in God that we'll have the strength to manage what's in front of us, and let the future take care of itself.  We don't know what awaits and we'll only discover the resources when we get there.  

1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9 

English Standard Version 

  Our hope in Christ isn't simply static.  It's a living hope, which means that it's resilient.  No matter what happens in the world, our hope doesn't fall down in defeat -- it's alive, and it's adapting.  The despair you may face?  Our hope can adapt to that.  The fears you have in the world?  Our hope can show strength in the face of these.  

  Peter reminds the exiles that their inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  No matter what the world threatens, the inheritance we have with Christ cannot be stolen away, even in the face of the gravest threats.  We often shrink back in fear, uncertain of what to do next.  In those moments, may we take a deep, deep breath and remember that we are guarded by God's power.