198

Proverbs 10:22 (nkjv)

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."

It's good to be happy about your life. It's good to feel good about things. It's good to be in love, it's good to have nice things, it's good to have friends you adore, it's good to be close to family (or the people you have made family), it's good to laugh and it's good to make other people happy. It's good to feel the presence of the Lord and His insane abundant blessing throughout your day.

We have all been taught that the one certainty in life, the one thing every human on the planet is sure to encounter, is change. So enjoy the place you're in at this moment. Enjoy it on the way to where you're going. I guarantee that soon enough you will be in a new season and things will change and the season you're in will be a memory. Be present where you are. Don't be absent. Ask the Holy spirit into each moment of your day, and be confident that God is in your midst always. It is He who makes your life perfect, rich and beautiful.

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197

Psalm 27:10 (The Message)

"You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in."


Feeling disappointed by God has got to be the worst thing ever. It's the worst because to you and your heart He is the one you want to count on and believe in more than anyone or anything else in the world to not let you down and disappoint you. And those moments (slash days, months and years) when you feel like He has played or is playing a trick on you, letting you down and disappointing you, are awful and horrifying times.

But here's the truth. It's not Jesus who lets you down. It's really not. He doesn't work like the rest of the humans. He doesn't hurt people and He doesn't leave people. It's not Him. It's this world and the messed up broken people who live in it. I know I have not solved the age old question of "why me, Lord?" I have, however, traced back enough of my disappointments with things in my life to their roots and it seems to stem back to a couple common denominators: stupid, broken and hurtful people (people who are full of pride on power-trips), along with my control and insecurity issues, and thinking that I can make it all work on my own, those are the things that hold me where I am. It's you and it's me and it's the people who break us that disappoint us in the long run.

When you feel the most disappointed by God and by life, run straight into His arms and sit there for awhile. Because the problem is not Him, it's life in a fallen world. It's living a life that sometimes gets hard and disappointing. Run to Him and He will bring you back to life.
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196

Mark 16:17-18 (The Message)

"These are some of the signs that will accompany believers... they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."

It's no secret we live in a touchless society. We have more or less allowed even the word "touch" to become perverted and guilty. And in some ways we have lost the art of touching people to allow the Holy Spirit to heal them - to really touch and fix their broken places. We rarely touch someone on the shoulders, arms, head to pray for them to be okay. We don't wrap our bodies around friends, give them a huge bear hug, while asking - begging - God to heal their sick and broken down body, tormented and tired mind, unbalanced hormone levels, or angry soul.

Jesus said that these will be the signs that we are known by: people around us (and us) being free and whole and happy and at peace. It's time to bring praying with someone until they get a release (even just a little one) back into the church and into our lives. It's time to sit with someone on the couch, hold their hand, shut your eyes and wait for God to come and heal the broken parts of their body, mind and soul.
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195

Ephesians 5:4 (the message)

"...Thanksgiving is our dialect."

I am thankful for my toothbrush. I am thankful for my 'L' mug. I am thankful for my boot collection. I am thankful for the few people I have who make me feel like I'm needed by someone and on the planet for a reason. Life is a bit funny/weird: some days are filled with tangible goodness and blessings and we are overwhelmed with how undeserving we feel for all the stuff that is good in our lives. Other days we have to start with the small things (toothbrushes, mugs, socks etc.) and work our way up to remembering what exactly we are thankful for in this life.

But we must always be thankful, and we must always realize there is a continual flow of goodness (from Jesus to us) to be overwhelmed about. Paul wrote that those of us who love Jesus and know Him in our hearts have no place for gossip or negativity, but rather we must speak in the universal language of thankfulness. Actually, if thankfulness is truly our "dialect" it should pretty much be a natural thing that flows out of our mouths when we speak - thankfulness and praise.

Think of ten things (trivial or not) you're thankful for. Acknowledge that they are from Him (because every good and perfect thing comes from Him - James 1:17), thank Him for them, and be happy today because your life is rich. Start with your toothbrush if you must, but be thankful.
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194

Matthew 11:2-6 (the message)

John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side..."

So it's all on - Jesus has arrived and he is certainly in full force. Everyone's talking and no one can get enough. He is too good to be true. Everyone's lives are being changed.

And then there's John: the weird and wonderful and adoring-of-Jesus John who has been waiting for His beloved Messiah, the one who will come and finally, finally, save the people and be their Lord. John has heard the stories that have leaked out about Jesus, and I bet John knows deep in his heart that it's Him... maybe the savior has finally arrived! John is in prison and sends a disciple to ask this man if He is the one they've all been waiting for. And this is how Jesus responds (in a nut shell): Go and tell John that people's hearts are being healed, bodies are being fixed and the good news is bringing people hope all over the place. Tell Him the facts.

So maybe we need some signs and wonders after all. Maybe we need a little power. Maybe then we wouldn't have to talk people into believing that Jesus is God, we would just heal their bodies, mend their hearts and bring life back to their souls... It's hard to argue with hard tangible evidence.
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193

Psalm 23:6 (the message)

"Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."

There are moments in life when we have the chance to look behind us and remember that the goodness of God has followed us for years. We get to meet old friends, visit old places, reminisce memories we've shared, and talk about how Jesus has been there every step of the way. Some memories are make us laugh til we cry, and some just make us cry, and we're desperate to forget. In the unpleasant memories we can take our minds and hearts back, picture Jesus in the room with us, and slowly slowly slowly the pain can be healed. And then we have the beautiful memories, in which it's so nice to take the time to look behind us and be so thankful that His goodness, beauty and love has truly followed closely behind us every step of the way.

We have to always be looking ahead to where we're going and what God has in store for us - this is 'hope'- but part of looking forward is taking the time to remember the road we've walked that has brought us to this point in our lives.

Call or write a note to an old friend and thank them for the memories. Pray for an old pastor or mentor or employer. Whatever moves you right now, or whoever comes to mind - be thankful. God and His ridiculous goodness, beauty and love has been chasing you, and will continue to for the rest of your life.
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192

Matthew 8:1-3 (the message)

"Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body. Jesus reached out and touched him..."


A friend inspired me to write this.
There are people in life who the world will leave behind. You know who they are. Maybe you grew up with them or went to school with them; maybe you teach them or work with them; maybe you're related to them, maybe you avoid them or maybe you are them. They're the neglected people - the people that have hearts the size of planet earth, but have minds the size of one of the peas in a pod, can be annoying, have learning disabilities, don't seem to take the hint in a social setting, and you know they aren't going to be able to keep up with the rest of the people they started the race with.

And then there is Jesus, perfect and lovely Jesus. Oh my, how beautiful and loving He is. He doesn't leave anyone behind. He doesn't think anyone is a waste of space. As cliche as it sounds, He really has a plan and purpose for every human soul on the planet, including the ones left behind. The small and seemingly insignificant people. He came to earth and loved everyone, He spent time with everyone who wanted to be with Him, and he looked into their eyes and saw the incredible potential and heart inside of them.

Don't leave people behind. Love all. Imitate Jesus.
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191

2 Corinthians 2:14

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ..."

He will always bring you out in front. In whatever you find your hand doing or working at; whomever you find yourself taking care of; whatever job you are trying to beat; whatever the piece of art it is you are trying to create; the person you are trying to love; God will always make you successful in it. I think it's a balance of two things: letting go and trusting that God will do what He needs to do through you; and working hard to be the person you need to be and do the job you have to do to in it, be the most successful.

The good news is: despite the blood, sweat and tears you put into your day to day work, despite the heart wrenching agony of trying to love someone or be a good spouse or friend or employee, despite the years of study and research to have the best mind and brain you know you can have - as you honor God in all that you do, make Him look good on this earth, and make His name a source of hope to this rotten world - God will always bring you out in the lead. Amen!
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190

Philippians 2:14 (nkjv)

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world..,"

All things? Wow. Is that even possible? To be sweet-hearted in all things, content in all things, peaceful and lovely in all situations, all contexts and all relationships has to be the biggest call ever asked upon the human race. I could rattle off the names of five people I could complain about with no effort whatsoever. I don't have enough clothes, enough money, I don't want to have to work some days, and quite frankly, some days I'm sick of the sound of my own voice with it's complaints and wants and disputes.

Yes, the truth is, it's ugly, isn't it? It's worse than the sound of most other things. It's worse because it goes against everything that Jesus stood for and everything that He completed as He walked on the earth and finished when He died on the cross. It's worse because complaining and arguing causes damage to the human soul, and brings darkness to the world (and there is enough darkness in the world for now). Jesus completed everything, so we are not lacking anymore.

Don't complain, it's ugly and dark. Do everything with a sweet spirit and a positive attitude. You will shine bright like the sun and be perfect and complete.