His Mercies Are New Every Morning

Every day for the last year and a half, my granddaughter and her Boppa have made coffee.  It has become the morning ritual and no morning can begin until this has been done.  This is not because my husband can’t begin the day without coffee but because Boo can’t begin her morning without helping Boppa.  If he starts grinding the coffee without her and she hears him, she will succumb to tears or yell rather loudly “Wait, Boppa!!!” as she runs into the kitchen.  He will apologize all over himself for such a mistake.

The ritual was repeated this morning.  And, as has happened for the last year and a half, Boo jumps up and down like crazy when Boppa pours his coffee from two feet above his coffee cup.  She always requests a ‘tall’ one, unlike a short one that is poured right over and into the cup.  This intensifies the jumping up and down.   Then she has to have  a peek at the freshly made cup of coffee and of course, following that she is handed two jelly beans from Boppa.  He now has his cup of coffee, she has her jelly beans and all is well.

Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

I asked my husband what he thought it was that caused Boo to jump up and down each morning like that.  He said maybe it’s like God’s mercies being new every morning.  For Boo, it’s making the cup of coffee that is ‘new’ every morning.  I think she just likes making coffee with her Boppa.

However, it made me wonder what it would be like to live those verses found in Lamentation 3.  To recall to my mind the promises of God – that His mercies are new each and every morning.  His mercies for today are not leftovers from yesterday or the rations of tomorrow stolen for today.  His mercies are the right amount that we will need to get through the day and the struggles that vie to consume us.  Why?  Because His compassions fail not. If He had no compassion, He’d have no concern over those things that try to bring us down.  He’d have no mercy toward us because He just wouldn’t care. However, He has a brand new bunch of mercies ready and waiting for us each and every morning. His compassion never runs out, it is always in abundance and overflowing, and readily available.

I have  a friend who is going through a major struggle in her life regarding her youngest son.  He was diagnosed with major food allergies when he was about 3.   He was diagnosed with  Type 1 diabetes   this past year and now he’s at the age of seven and the family is awaiting the results of whether he has Celiac disease.  As they wait, she is sitting at the throne of God begging the results are in her son’s favor.

How much more can a mother endure when it comes to her child(ren)?  How much more can she bear?  Great is His faithfulness.  It is only because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed and drowning in a sea of sorrow and pain.  He is our lifeguard.  He doesn’t just throw out the lifesaving ring – He comes after us with a fervency to pull us out and get us back on our feet.  Why?  His compassion never fails.  Ever.

Here’s a perfect example…  the friend I told you about?  They got the results this afternoon.  The diagnosis?  Negative.  No disease.  He knows what we are able to bear.  He knows my friend is having a hard time with all that’s on her plate right now.  It is when we recall to mind the promise of God that saves us from not being consumed by the pain of this world.  His mercies come to us new every morning and sustain us throughout each day.  His compassions will never fail and in these promises we find our hope.  And it is in our hope that we can say, Great is Your faithfulness Lord, unto me.

The Ducks on the Golf Course

yellow columbineI am sitting outside on the patio at my in-laws, watching five female mallards frantically eat something in the lawn of the golf course that butts up to their back yard.  I have watched them, on and off now, for about thirty minutes.

A couple of them are laying down eating.  Yet, their speed is the same as the other three – fast and furious.  It’s as if they are going to starve if they don’t eat their share.  It’s as if they are going to be caught in darkness if they don’t eat quickly as the sun sets.  It’s as if they don’t want to let anyone else enjoy the feast they have found.  It’s as if they know something I don’t.

That final thought is what occurred to me as I saw them, without warning of danger, without any movement to frighten then, scamper quickly off to the side of the third hole and head for the bushes. Within ten seconds, the sprinklers came on.  I laughed.  They did know something I didn’t.

It reminds me of two things…

God takes care of us: Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26

We are of more valuable than the birds that fly through the air or scavenge the earth for something to eat. Sometimes it can feel as though we are walking this path alone – foraging for a job, hoping to be healed of a disease, seeking restoration of a relationship.  If God cares so much about a duck in the grass that He has provided for his (or her) every need, won’t he do at least that, if not more, for you?

To be alert: No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! Mark 13:31-333a

Perhaps those ducks were frantic because they were on guard.  They somehow knew that soon the water would pop from the ground and burst forth and didn’t want to be caught without their umbrellas.  They knew they must hurry.  They knew their time was at hand.

A farfetched idea, but you get the point.  I wonder if I am so alert and on guard.  After all, ducks don’t know how to tell time so that they know when to exit the greens.  But, I do believe they just might detect the rushing water coming closer and know it’s a sign to make haste.  Just maybe.

Maybe enough to paint a picture for me to be reminded that I want to live so that I am not anxious about tomorrow because I know by Father in heaven cares more about me than the ducks he takes care of.  And maybe enough to paint a picture for me to be reminded to be on guard and alert to His Son coming to take me home.

Yes, I will rest in knowing that while we wait for our glorious exit, He will continue to care for us and meet our every need.