Our family has had a lot of special moments lately. With Bethany graduating from college and now preparing for a wedding, our family is about to change again. , I think the storage on our phones is nearly full due to all the photos that have been taken. There has been little time to contemplate or be sentimental. There's always the "next" thing to do or attend. Such is life - an unending series of tasks, events, trips, and deadlines. Some weeks I feel I am on the roller coaster that never stops. Through it all, I try to remember that these are moments we will always look back and appreciate. 

There's a common saying today - "Live in the moment". While there may be different interpretations of what that means, here's my take. Don't be distracted by your phone, social media or tomorrow's demands. Don't think about yesterday's failures or the challendges of the future. Enjoy the moment that God has put before you and savor it. This can be hard to do. We are a distracted culture and it's hard not to be caught up in it. I have often said that when I go on vacation I can turn my ohone off byt it's much harder to turn off the mind from thinking of so many responsibilities. 

Jesus taught us the importance of "living in the moment." Matthew 6:25-34 is a great passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches us to pray rather than worry over our needs, and to trust our Heavenly Father. We are not to have anxious thoughts for tomorrow (v. 34). Paul teaches the same thing in Philippians 4:6. God provided manna in the wilderness daily and Jesus prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6-11). 

Yesterday's gone,
Sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord for my sake, teach me to take One Day at a Time - Kris Kristofferson and Marijohn Wilkin

                                                                                                                                                                        -Pastor Carpenter