Relax

Many years ago, one of my responsibilities at my church was that of Vacation Bible School Director. It was always a big job, especially the recruiting of volunteers, but I loved it.

I loved it because VBS was a favorite summer activity of mine since childhood. My older cousin took me along with her and together we enjoyed these summer week long mornings of learning about Jesus. And, when I was a teen, I had the experience of helping.

Directing Vacation Bible School takes lots of work and creativity AND lots of prayer. One year, I was stressing out a bit over putting it all together. On my way to the church, my attention was drawn to a rental house that at one time had been a lovingly cared for family home. But this summer, it was abandoned and unkempt. The lawn was a scraggly field of weeds—large weeds. In fact, many were thistles, which in my area grow as big as bushes. The little goldfinches love to use the soft thistle blossoms for nesting material, but farmers and others are not a fan of this stickery, annoying, and hard to get rid of plant—it fights back!

As I passed the house, I let a prayer slip to God that someone would mow the lawn and just tidy up a bit. You know, love the property a little. And then I forgot my prayer, that is, until days later when I passed by again and was amazed to see that someone had trimmed the lawn and flowerbeds from the sidewalks to the fences, edge to edge. The difference was night and day. I was amazed!

Then, I was reminded of my prayer. It was as if the Lord was speaking to me, "Relax. I took care of this from the curb to the house to the fence. And, just the same, I've got VBS covered, framed in from edge to edge with My loving care."

And so He did.

What do you need taken care of? What in your life or your child's life needs framed in from edge to edge with God's loving care?

Relax and remember Who your God is. That's what King David did.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. … The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. … The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

Selections from Psalm 145 (NKJV)

Relax and prayerfully put whatever it is in the loving care of the Lord your God.