Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Today is Labor Day and it doesn’t just mean a day off work; for me it is a holiday that represents the coming of the end of the summer and the beginning of the fall season, which leads into Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since I have always worked full-time, I usually had something fun planned for this particular three-day weekend; it would either be a weekend getaway or an invitation would go out to friends and family for a barbecue or pool party. But things in my life are much different now. I’m no longer married and my disabled son now resides in Heaven, I’ve moved from San Diego to a rural town in East Texas and it is days like this that cause me to feel isolated. I have never minded living alone, but holidays are always hard when my entire family have lives of their own and live in different states. I try not to look ahead and just enjoy the day off, but if I’m honest, the thought of facing another holiday season without solid plans with a significant other or my immediate family is just agonizing for me.
Isaiah 45:3 says, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” As I open up God’s Word this morning, He reminds me that I am not alone and that this is not just another amazing day in the beautiful life that He has given me. Yes, it may be that today represents the end of one season and the beginning of another, but so it also is with the seasons in my life. Each new day, each new chapter, represents hidden treasures, riches that are stored in the secret places of my relationship with the Lord and in the moments He allows me to be of service to Him and to others. All I have to do is to recognize what those treasures are and I am immediately reminded of who I am and why I am here on this earth. My life is to be an act of worship to the audience of One and instead of looking at what I don’t have at this very instant or in the near future, I will trust God’s will and plan for my life.
As I turn on some praise music, those feelings of loneliness disappear as I offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to my Lord and Savior and just like that, His Living Water flows into my heart and soul and the fullness of His Spirit causes me to have an attitude of gratitude for this extra day off and for the person of Jesus who has blessed me so richly and when I share that gratitude with another, I know that He is pleased.
-- Melody
