Psalm 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

I had the privilege of visiting triplet baby boys the day after their delivery. They were so tiny, just above three pounds each. As I looked at them through the glass of the isolettes, I marveled at the details of their features, from their toes to their fingernails, their adorable noses and beautiful lips. I had to keep my emotions in check as I didn’t want anyone to think I was saddened by all of the tubes and machines. It was pure joy and awe, not sadness, which engulfed me. I prayed for each child and for their parents the whole time I was at the hospital, and continue to do so, not only for God to give healing, growth, and development, but also to guide them and their parents as they embark on this new adventure of life.
If you have the opportunity to visit a mother in the hospital who has just given birth, don’t hesitate to do so. Hold the baby if you are able to, pray over the child, and marvel at God’s handiwork. For they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

James 4:13-15

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

As we step into the new year of two thousand eleven, we gaze ahead. For me and my family, we look toward the remainder of the school year and then into our summer: vacations, camps, activities, and so forth. Do we seek the Lord’s will when making these plans? Do we pray for wisdom when deciding what to do or where to go? I typically reserve asking God for wisdom on weighty decisions like career, spouse, children, and educational choices. However, this verse (and Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand) remind us that we should seek the Lord’s will for all our plans, not just the hefty ones. Are they godly? Will they bring Him glory? When our plans become altered, do we adjust and accept the changes? These questions and verses offer me much to ponder, and pray for, this coming year.