There are things in our past that sometimes continue to cause us problems. The pain of losing those near and dear to us often lingers and emerges in our present to cause pain. The anniversary of a death or even a special time sadden us. But there are also wonderful memories of the past and joy from previous times. We have a rich heritage of family and faith to enjoy remember. Most of all we remember that God loved us so much that at a specific time and place in history he revealed himself through his son Jesus. We also have his written word in many translations easily available. Check out biblegateway.com to compare the wording of scripture passages.

We live now in the present. Today there are red and yellow tulips blooming in my yard. I saw the dogwood trees and forsythia blooming as I drove to church. I can only enjoy it today. Next week or so I can enjoy the green leaves that will follow. The past certainly affects my present, but today I have unique opportunities. I will strive to "seize the day" and appreciate it as a gift from God.

The future lies ahead. At times it seems very scary. When I glanced at the gas stations I also passed this morning, I was amazed at the high gas prices. Who knows how how high they will go and what affect they will have on our everyday lives. There are many things that concern us about the future. But those of us who follow Christ also know that he will be with us through all the difficult things that lie ahead. We can also trust him to provide much joy and blessing.

Christ's assurance of being with us always sustains us whether we are thinking about the past, dealing with the present, or planning for the future.