Thursday, December 31, 2015
I was talking with a church member last Sunday concerning her particular situation and reminded her that we should live one day at a time. As I thought of my advice to her I realized it also applied to me and everyone else in my age bracket. I quickly took the piece of paper I always carry in my shirt pocket for the purpose of writing notes to remind me of certain things I would like to do. In this case, I was considering writing a blog about living one day at a time. It also reminded me of Cristy Lane’s hit song “One Day At A time.” Then last night I got the confirmation. While eating at our favorite Chinese restaurant my fortune cookie message told me that something very special is going to happen to mein three months, to wait for it. I thought to myself: “I don’t even know if I’m going to be alive tomorrow, much less three months from now.”
Going back to the Cristy Lane’s song, it was almost not released at all because most record companies thought it wouldn’t sell. Not only were they wrong, it became the number one song in country music in 1980. Who would have ever imagined that today, the Spanish version of the song is still being sung just about everywhere, especially by many Mariachi groups. Besides that, it is now a standard tune which is sung in Mexican funeral and graveside services. One of it’s stanzas expresses the exact sentiment I shared with you a few lines ago. It says: “Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus / Andtomorrow may never be mine ‘ Lord, help me today, show me the way / One day at a time.”
Many who have sung this song probably don’t realize how biblically correct it is. Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mt. 6:34) Proverbs 27:1 says: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” James 4:13-14 also confirms that truth.
What about you? Are you worried about tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year? Being that we are at 2016’s doorstep, this is a time when many of us are thinking that way. By all means, plan ahead. It is not a sin to set goals for ourselves; we all do it. Life is like looking out our windshield when we’re driving on the highway; we must watch to see what’s in the distance but we must focus primarily on the things that are practically in front of us. Lets live one day at a time and make the best of each new day the Lord gives us.
Memory verse for the week: (Romans 12:15) “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
PS: I hope to visit with you this coming Monday, God willing. Meanwhile, may you, your family, and loved ones all have a happy new year.
