devotions and reflections

I set the alarm at half past eight so I could go to church early. Last night I prepared my gifts to a friend’s daughter so I won’t forget to take it to church. I made sure they were in my bag. With all my morning rituals, I didn’t get to go to church until about quarter past ten. Anyway, I was glad to have caught up with the Sabbath School lesson half-way through. Although I didn’t hear the first part but I still benefited so much. Well, I could have had more if I were not late.

Anyway, they presented a video of the mission work in China, Mongolia, and Japan before collecting the thirteenth Sabbath offering. That’s when I realized I didn’t even bring an offering. I felt guilty to have remembered the gift to a friend’s daughter but not my offering. However, I found a penny in my bag and thought of the woman who gave her last 2 coins. I thought that I was in the same situation. Even if it was just a penny that’s all I have and I’m giving it all. But then I realized that that’s not really all I have. It’s just that I didn’t carefully plan about it. What a shame!

I have always been supporting mission work as I was a missionary myself several years ago. But how can it have slipped my mind?  I am getting laxed about my spiritual life. Not reading the Bible, no praying before going to bed and when I get up in the morning. Not reading the Sabbath school lesson anymore. What has happened to me? Why am I suddenly abandoning these things which I learned to do when I was growing up?

Lord, I have drifted too far in the sea. Help me get back to the shore.