A New Word
I came across a new word the other day. I was reading the forward to a book, and the editor closed by writing, “22 April, 1973 Easter Day: The Festival of Great Eucatastrophe.” Is eucatastrophe new to you, too?
I learned that it was a word coined by J. R. R. Tolkien to describe his Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Literally, in Greek it is “eu” = good and “katastrophy” = sudden turn. It is a massive turn in fortune from a seemingly unconquerable situation to an unforeseen victory, usually brought by grace rather than heroic effort. A great evil or misfortune has been averted.
Using it to describe Easter? Well done, John Warwick Montgomery! Well done!
Taking it for granted…
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
This passage is about filling one’s mind with those things that are worth considering. In other words, avoiding the “garbage in, garbage out” routine. But it came to mind on a bit of a different tangent this morning.
I too often take for granted the gifts of God, and I’m thinking I’m not alone in that. Certainly, the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus which has forgiven me and promised me eternal life is frequently on my mind and always in my prayers. I’m thankful for my family as I pray for them, too.
But this past weekend, while I did thank God for safe travel to Nebraska and back, there was abundantly much more for which to be thankful. The friendships renewed, ones which have lasted four decades and more. Comfortable accommodations. Good food. The list could go on much, much further.
This morning, however, brought a new gift to light. My health. It comes to mind because I had to get a prescription filled. Okay, so the health is not flawless, but hear me out.
I gave the pharmacist tech my name and birthday. She asked for my address. When I gave it, she frowned. She asked for my phone number. Again, with the frown. She said none of it matched and showed me what they had on their records. It was our address and home phone number from Norfolk, Nebraska. We moved from there to Peoria over six years ago. I had not had a prescription filled in six years…
Thank you, Lord, for my health and well-being, and for all the other blessings You have graciously shared with me and are so worthy of Your praise. Amen.
No Need to Worry…
Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids/grandkids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.
God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.
Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world.
Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it.
Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.
He knew Daniel could handle the lions den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it!
Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime.
Rise up to the challenge.
Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters!
God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world.
He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth.
Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.
~ Unknown