Obviously, today's post is late.  From the beginning today has gone a bit differently than I anticipated.  It started with the snow, which was expected, but at the same time a more significant than I thought it would be.  When we planned our house, we thought a long, winding driveway would be nice.  (We planned the house in the summer, and built it in the fall.  The 283' long driveway seemed like a great idea---when NO SNOW was on the ground.)  This morning, as a handful of other times over the past few winters, it didn't seem quite so nice!  I didn't mind the challenge of clearing the driveway with only our Subaru Forester and the hand-me-down snow blower my father-in-law gave me, but it did take some time.  So, the day started a half hour later than usual---Worship set up began at 8:15 instead of 7:45.  The drive to pick up the guys from DA, who help with set up was more than challenging since when I hit the Summit  Township line the roads had not been touched by a snow plow.  I like driving in the snow, but it was a bit more challenging than I needed given I was already running late.

Set up went smoothly, and after that, it was off to Butler with Nancy to pick up supplies for the Sundae Sunday tomorrow.  We enjoyed the time together, but as the morning moved to afternoon, I got a headache, a nasty one.   I used to get them regularly, but haven't been nearly as much since adjusting my eating habits over the past six months.  We came home from Butler, empty the car and then headed to Dave's Meats where the ice cream for tomorrow was being stored.  The head started pounding--I'm sure at least some of you have experienced that.  After, picking up the ice cream, a couple more stops, one at the barn where we store extra plastic where to get spoons for tomorrow, and then at the church property to pick up a couple of large serving bowls, which Nancy will use to put the ice cream cups in tomorrow and then home. 

As we drove by the neighbor's house, they were out with their ten month old son, Cooper.  We hadn't seen them for a while, so we stopped to see how they were doing.  By the time we unloaded the car again, I was feeling pretty "puny" as my Dad used to put it.  I decided to take a quick nap to see if that would help.  It was about 5:00 p.m. at 5:40 the doorbell rang, and it was Brad stopping to pick up the computer we use for Media Shout on Sunday mornings.  I went downstairs to get it and it hit me:  I didn't write the post for the blog!

Saturday's post is usually titled, "Preparing for Worship..."  As I sat down my head wasn't pounding, but it was still hurting.  I thought of the day's activities and realized­---preparing for worship is sometimes more reflective and sometimes more active.  Today, it was more active!  All week we've been focusing on the source of hope and how our trials and sorrows produce hope, which strengthens our character, which builds our HOPE.  As I thought about that I realized that today has been a trial of sorts.  When you're head is pounding and things have to be done, it's a trial.  It's not the kind of trial a major illness brings, or the kind of trial a broken relationship brings.  It's more of a "blip" on the radar screen of trial than a major incident, but it's a trial.   I realized something else.  Throughout the day, I've been doing the next thing that needed to be done.  It didn't feel good--nothing has felt good today, since early this morning.  But I am grateful for the opportunity to prepare for worship for everyone who will be coming to worship and glorify Jesus tomorrow, and to use the time today for a purpose bigger than I am.  I didn't do anything life-changing today, or at least it didn't seem so, but my life moved closer to Jesus as I prayed for Him to touch the pain, as I sensed His presence as I went through it, and as I had the opportunity to do something for others--probably a LOT of others.  It's in the little doing the next right thing, regardless of feelings that character grows, and hope builds.

I don't know what you've been doing to prepare for worship tomorrow.  Whatever it's been, I hope it felt good.  If it didn't, I hope you endured, because I KNOW that endurance is the first step to an enduring hope that won't disappoint us!  I hope to see you in worship tomorrow!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for being with us no matter how our day has gone.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live with patient endurance in the trials and problems we face in life, and  that we may enjoy the good times even more.  This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.