This Day Belongs to Him

I recently read and am now re-reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He gives some good advice for beginning each day in a way that that dedicates our day to the Lord:

For Christians the beginning of the day should not be burdened and oppressed with besetting concerns for the day's work. At the threshold of a new day stands the Lord who made it. All the darkness and distraction of the dreams of night retreat before the clear light of Jesus Christ and his wakening Word. All unrest, all impurity, all care and anxiety flee before him. Therefore, at the beginning of the day let all distraction and empty talk be silenced and let the first thought and the first word belong to him to whom our whole life belongs [emphasis added].

This is my first day, post-chemo. The treatment went well yesterday. As did my appointment with the oncologist. As it stands, the plan is to complete the full 17 rounds of chemotherapy. That puts my last treatment on December 24, Christmas Eve. I began on December 22 of last year.

I am very excited about beginning the new school year. Each day, I try to do a little bit of planning for each of the six courses I will be teaching. It is a lot of work to plan for six different courses, but I like the variety. Each class period brings something new. I have missed the daily interaction with my students and the joy of working together with other teachers dedicated to seeing our students grow in Christ-likeness.

I am also very excited about getting more involved with church ministry - new member classes, teacher training and evaluation, small groups.

God has been very good to me in the past six months. He has provided for every need (usually through generous brothers and sisters in Christ) and has taught me many lessons through His Word and through the trials I have encountered. No matter what happens in the next six months - whether or not things go as I have planned - I know that He is in control, that His plan is perfect, and that I can trust Him completely. Not only is this true for the next six months of my life, but for this day as well. This day belongs to Him. And I belong to Him, who created me and redeemed me for His glory.