Ignore

I don’t know why so many people dislike their birthdays. Birthdays are to be a celebration of birth to one’s life. Yet, a lot of people want to ignore their birthday, ignore their age, and ignore any celebration. I heard someone on television talk about how much God sustains us during a year. I thought that was amazing and something (again) we often ignore.

If you look at your life right now, I’m sure you could list a couple of things to be grateful for. If you spent a few more minutes thinking of things to be grateful for, you could probably have a nice little list of gratitude. I would encourage you to write a list of gratitude, but first let’s continue reading.

Think about your birthday. That is the day God wanted you to enter the world. God knew that was your day, and he knew this was the day he wanted you to start contributing to the world. However old you are right now, think about how much God has given you.

If you are reading this, then that tells me a few things about you. If you are reading this, then you are able to read. If you are reading this, then you have a computer. If you are reading this, then you have eyes to see. If you are reading this, then you have electricity to power your computer. If you can read this, then you have access to the internet. Don’t ignore the little things, for they are things to be thankful for too.

Think about the daily things that God does for us to keep us going. He provides so much inspiration, creativity, wisdom, love, and protection. He keeps are hearts beating. He keeps are ears hearing. He keeps are nose smelling. God has breathed life into you. You are on God’s mind all the time. Remember his goodness. Remember the daily things you get to do because of how well he is sustaining you.

For example, have you ever hurt your index finger? You probably never give thought to your index finger. You know your index fingers are there and it’s no big deal; However, the moment you hurt your index finger and it’s not functioning like normal, you start to realize how much you use your index finger. Your index finger helps you with almost everything, and now you have to be resourceful, figuring out ways to do things that your index finger did on autopilot.

Did you see my point in the example? You never know how important something is until it’s not working or is no longer there, or is no longer serving us the way we want. We take things for granted. Worse…we take people for granted. Worst…when we take God for granted.

God is taking care of you. God is watching over you. God is sustaining you. Don’t ignore the little things. Don’t slink back into another year thinking it’s no big deal. Let this year, this birth year be a mark on how well you’re doing…how far you’ve come…how well you're made. With that in mind, I’m going to go slice a piece of birthday cake for myself and celebrate. Why? Has it been my birthday recently? Why yes, it’s something I just can’t ignore.

Watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYUYVGTpjL8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYsEnISr7KU

Please watch these two videos. Amazing beyond words. The goodness of God. The power of hope. The breakthrough that can happen at any time. The prayers that can be answered at any moment for all of us at any time….when we keep our faith in the Lord!

January

I heard a question, “What’s the best part about January?”

Truth be told, people who answered did not give good responses. Some people think there is nothing good about January, because the holidays are over and there is nothing exciting to do this month. But isn’t this is the month that we reflect, set goals and resolutions? How can growth and improvement be nothing? Poor January, maybe one is the loneliest number.

January is a month of…hope.

Don’t you feel inspired and lightweight at the beginning of this new month to a new year. This month sparks hope and wonder of great things to come. People are wishing you many blessings for the upcoming year (I’ll take all the blessed wishes I can get).

 January is a month of…new beginnings.

Who doesn’t like the thought of having a new beginning? It can be adventurous and exciting. No matter how last year looked, January washes it clean with an attitude of expectancy.

Hope and new beginnings is spread so thick in the air, you could cut it with a knife. If only this optimism stayed in our hearts all year long; it will if we personally allow it. These feelings should be stirred up every day, because every day is a gift, every day is a new beginning.

"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's." – Henry Moore

January is not nothing…it’s epic. What does January say to you? I think it’s early enough in the month for the question to have a do-over.

The best part about January, is the unknown beginning to a new chapter in my life. That doesn’t sound like nothing to me.

♥♥♥

Miss Elle needs to be shown some love

Hungry?

With the holidays just finishing up, many of us can confess that we ate too much. As I type this with a way too full holiday stuffed tummy…I start to reflect on hunger.

We may stuff our faces with a holiday buffet, but have you ever stopped to think what you are really hungry for? Now, this is not a recipe question. This is not a, let me browse the menu to my favorite restaurant question. This isn’t even a question related to food.

What are you hungry for? What are you hungry for in your life? What do you crave? What are you thirsty for? What is it that will feed you, so you feel satisfied?

Reflect on this for a moment?  How would you feel if you were full? How would your life look?

Sometimes we chase things, titles, experiences, thinking that will fill us up, but the reality of it is…they do not.

What do I know?  God did not leave us earthly peace, but his peace.

Everything you are searching for can be found in the comfort of knowing God and following him.

John 14: 27 “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Rest in God. Rest your loneliness in him. Rest your sadness in him. Rest your worries in him. Let God fill your heart. Let God love you into wholeness. Feed yourself on God’s promises.

Reflect, as I go grab a tums!

Quote

"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."

~ Bertrand Russell

Look for the Small

I think we get lost in BIG experiences. We want BIG breakthroughs, BIG miracles, BIG rewards. We’ll stretch our ear like a chia pet to hear someone’s BIG testimony, hoping it will ignite our faith.

God can do BIG things…absolutely! Don’t just live for the BIGGIES in life. There are so many wonderfully small insights and blessings that God wants you to pay attention to and enjoy. God is so in control, that sadly we forget his magnitude. He has your best interest at heart. God wants the best for you. God really does have the best plan for your life. God has designed you with purpose and a divine plan.

I have had two small experiences recently that God used to remind me how good he is…even in the little things. In both experiences, I had to wait. The two experiences had nothing to do with one another, but they produced the same outcome: God is good.

I was educating myself in both situations, so I could make good decisions….that took time.

I was meeting with people…that took time.

I was waiting for people to come back from vacation…that took up time.

I was put on hold because of the holidays…that took time.

All of a sudden, I was shown the beauty in the waiting. My waiting seemed out of my control, but that’s only because God is the one in control. God arranged all that waiting time so that I could get the best outcome. The first situation turned out better that I could imagine. If I had gone through with the deal in the second situation, just two weeks earlier…I would have missed an even better deal.

It’s a reminder that God does care about every detail of your life. You don’t always have to wait for the BIGGIES in life to start enjoying it. Look for the little ways God is helping you out, and arranging things in your favor.

God is good. When is God good? All the time. You’ll see his hand helping you…just wait.