April 3rd, 2006
What a refreshing weekend we had! Since this was Tyler’s first long car ride I wasn’t sure how he would do so I drove my own car up to the mountains with Missy and Michaela keeping me company. We left an hour before Bobby and Ty did with the seniors because I knew we would have to stop a few times. Tyler did amazingly well and actually slept most of the way. We had a pretty adventurous drive up and a wonderful time there.
It took us nine hours to get there because of some traffic and the extreme weather conditions. It was pouring most of the way and then snowed the rest. Neither my Explorer or the van Ty and Bobby were driving had chains, but by the time it was snowing there was nowhere we could buy some. It was so scary to be driving up a windy two-lane mountain road in the dark with it snowing! I started noticing how the right side of the road didn’t even have any railing, and it was so dark I had no idea how far it dropped off. Before I could get too nervous I just started singing Godsong’s–”You are my God, my times are in Your hands…”–over and over in my head! The Lord provided a safe way for us when we caught up behind a huge Safeway.com truck that made a steady path for us the rest of the way there!
I thought Bobby prepared some excellent devotionals for the weekend. Seniors in high school are usually looking forward to the future–moving away from home, going to college, preparing for a career, hoping to meet that special someone–but it can be easy to get overwhelmed. I really liked one of the devotionals where Bobby addressed two main heart attitudes that people have about their future–boasting or worry. He pointed out that both of these sinful attitudes about tomorrow are prideful. I would probably have thought of worry as a passive or weak attitude and boasting as the prideful one, but I can see how both boasting and worry reflect a heart that is trying to do it on it’s own and not trusting God. This of course, is rooted in pride.
We looked at James 4:13-16 which admonishes us not to assume that we even have tomorrow let alone arrogantly brag about our plans. Instead James encourages an attitude of humble submission. We can be responsible in planning and looking ahead but always certain to keep our hearts subject to the Lord and His will for us. Then we read Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus teaches on the futility of worry. We don’t know if we even have tomorrow so there is no sense wasting today being anxious over it. God provides all that we need and we can expect that He will continue to be good as we are faithful to trust Him.
Instead of boasting or worrying about the future, Bobby encouraged us all to do what we know for sure God wants us to do–which is obeying Him. We can obey Him by seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) And also by being ready to do good works for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Let me not think that life is mine
For I belong to Your design
You make all beautiful in time
You are my God
My times are in Your hand
You are my God
My times are in Your hand
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