That One Thing

Today, a guest post from our daughter...

I want a thankfulness that freezes the moment because it delights in a present God.

 This thankfulness like the laughter of the universe, because every syllable screams worship.

It's hard to keep the gratitude flowing...but to Him who keeps the waves rolling, to this God of miracles and wonders beyond our imagining, nothing is impossible.

So as the math problem frustrates, the brother whistles shrilly, the sister messes up a tidy bed, the dishwasher beeps, and I feel hot and ready to let the world know just how bad all this is---in the midst of this, He catches me before the edge, and it would just be easier to fall, but that is not the way of the cross, of the crucified self.

So I open that gratitude journal, and my heart--write the words: "The math lesson I can't figure out", engrave them on the moment; change it thus from defeat to victory. Funny how a watermark on this instant creates ownership, not simply marks it. If He wakes me up, any moment could be watermarked for Him.

Everything seems ordinary to my thankfulness-starved heart. Aren't I about done with school? Why do I have to hang up that load of wash? Why couldn't anyone thank me for bringing up the dried bananas? And I wonder where I'm going, what I'm doing that this magic globe, this wonder-filled planet has grown old. I ask for glory, to see glory, to know glory, to be filled with glory--and He says its right here, right now. "Really, couldn't it be more exciting?" "Really", He says, "this life would be too exciting for you to bear if you knew the half of it."

This is His moment, His life, His time. He has allowed me to borrow it for only a lifetime--Father, teach me usefulness in Your kingdom so that at the end of everything Your Mighty Name will be lifted up in me, that I might grow small.

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“One thing have I asked of the LORD . . .” (Psalm 27:4)

“. . . but one thing is necessary.” (Luke 10:42)

“But one thing I do . . .” (Phil. 3:13)

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"A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing.

It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He sees only one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God.

Whether he lives, or whether he dies – whether he has health, or whether he has sickness – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor–whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense–whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise – whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory.

If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it – he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if he is consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him." (J. C. Ryle, Home Truths)