Pathways Press.com

MEDITATION:

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his book “Learning to Live Together.”

My daughter and I boarded a 1:00 a.m. flight in Tel Aviv which would carry us back to the States. Traveling is always hectic, but that night it was especially bad. The plane was packed, and we were delayed because of extra-tight airport security. As we boarded, I realized that our seats weren’t together. We were separated by an aisle. With no time to seek help from the front desk, I determined to persuade the fellow sitting next to Jenna to swap seats with me. Surely, he’ll understand, I thought. He didn’t. He was already nestled down for the ten-hour flight and wasn’t about to move. “Please, I begged, “let me sit by my daughter.” He leaned up and looked and my seat and leaned back. “No thanks,” he declined. Growl. I took my seat and Jenna took hers next to the thoughtless, heartless scoundrel. As the plane prepared for take-off, I dedicated my mind to drawing a mental sketch of the jerk. Wasn’t hard…By the time the plane was backing up, I was plotting how I’d trip him if he dared walk to the restroom during the flight…I turned to intimidate him with a snarl and saw, much to my surprise, Jenna offering him a pretzel. What? My daughter fraternizing with the enemy! An even worse, he took it! As if the pretzel were an olive branch, he accepted her gift and they both leaned their seats back and dozed off. I eventually dozed off myself, but not before I’d learned the lesson God had used my daughter to teach me. In God’s house we occasionally find ourselves next to people we don’t like. If we could ask them to leave, we would, but we aren’t given the option. All of us are here by grace and, at some point, all of us have to share some grace. So, the next time you find yourself next to a questionable character, don’t give him a hard time…give him a pretzel.

PRAYER:

Written by Callie Logan, a contemporary teacher and writer.

Father, we ask today for Your hand in our lives. We pray for the restoration of our lives by Your process. That process may not look like what we would think or plan, but we know that because You see all that is, was, and is to come…that ultimately, You will do what is most compassionate and best. Father, today we come before Your Holy throne to ask for Your restoration in our lives. We submit ourselves to Your ever-loving Will and kindness throughout.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Make Me a Blessing:  Performed by The Haven of Rest Quartet.

George Shuler and Ira Wilson were roommates at Moody Bible Institute in 1924. They combined their talents to write this hymn. Wilson wrote the lyrics and Shuler the music.