Posts Tagged ‘devotion’
by Monica Taylor
Life goes so quickly. We start out as children having fun, trying to learn how to handle life; and then we become young adults, making our fair share of mistakes, but inevitably learning and living our lives. As adults, we find that we reminisce about how great it was being a child or teen, having small or no responsibilities, while enjoying life and the small treasures that seem to be everywhere we looked. Now, we look in the mirror and find that the face in the mirror bears a resemblance to the youth we once were, and instead possesses a slightly less exuberant look, possibly even reminding us of our own parents a little more than we care to admit.
I say this not to be morose, or to leave you feeling sad about life. I say it as a reminder to enjoy whatever stage you find yourself in and to seek God’s will in your life. And no, I am not Pollyanna or an older facsimile of her. I am instead a lady who has lived a lot of life and expects to continue to enjoy even more of it. My words are a reminder to myself as well as to each of you that each of our lives encompass both positives and negatives. God did not promise us this life would be filled with flowers and smiles each and every day. He did say, however, that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (NIV Romans 8:28)
God is in the business of “taking care of things” if we let Him. His ways are so much better than ours, and He alone knows the ending – the perfect ending to your life story. I know He has mine planned.
I pray that you allow Him to help you find your true life’s mission, the one He called you to before you were even born, so that you may enjoy His daily blessings and truly know when you look in that mirror that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, He loves you, and He is working good through you each day, month, year and season of your life. May God bless you richly in His love.
Wanting what you already have
Posted on: December 4, 2011
by K.Paul Maurer
Have you ever met someone that just seems different? You know – a “good” different in a serene, peaceful kind of way? They aren’t acting like everyone else. They don’t seem to be rushing around distracted by all the worries of what’s to come or what was just left behind. It’s almost as if they have something that no one else does.
Honestly, these people seem somewhat few and far between. Recently as I was trying in my heart and mind to grasp what it means to live a life that says “thank you,” I realized that it’s more about what you see rather than what you don’t see. In another words, living a life of thankfulness for me is about wanting what’s around you – wanting what you have rather than always being trapped and distracted by what you’re trying to gain. Appreciating the circumstances of the day seeing them as a fresh bouquet of opportunities to live and laugh and love.
I know this probably sounds silly to some. But honestly, what if we really lived this way? It reminds me of the verse in Colossians 4:5 that says, “Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” If we really wanted what we had in every given day (notice the word ‘given’) and saw it as a chance to receive once again a day of opportunities to respond with thankfulness, I honestly believe that our world would quickly become a brighter place. And can I just say where there is light, there will also be found hope and life!
The reality for me is that the more I can get myself to a place of wanting what I have, the more likely I will not fall to the distractions of what the world tells me I need. The more I can see that my life can and should be a thank you song for our Lord Jesus, the more I will position myself to have a heart, mind and body that can stand out from the world.
Doesn’t being different sound like a better way to live? By the way, if we want what we have, we will see what we’ve already been given all the more. Our homes, our cars, our pantries, our families, our education, our neighborhoods, our churches, our safe road systems, our police and fire-firefighters, our neighbors, our trash collectors, our street cleaners, our grocery stores that always have food, our fresh water that comes right out of our faucets, our clothes that are dry and warm, our daycare systems, our air conditioners, our comfortable furniture, coffee, electricity, fresh unpolluted air, freedom, our Bibles, our spouses, our leaders, our kids, our healthcare, music… and the list keeps on going. What would you add to this list? Is your day – and for that matter, your thoughts – more consumed with what you don’t see or what you see? I sure hope that I can live today, tomorrow and even next week with a resonating “thank you” echoing in and through my heart and life.
Father, may my life carry an aroma of thanks pointing people right back to your goodness, your gifts and your love. Amen.
