Thursday

Have you ever had a day when you just thought you were going through the motions and it flew by seemingly without purpose?

Today has been one of those days. 

Now I know there were moments of purpose today.  Telephone conversations with friends that are struggling, Upward basketball practice, a good workout and some quiet time this evening are all wonderful and meaningful events.

Some days I just feel like I only exist. 

Reality says that it’s not always how I feel.  Satan wants it to be all about how we feel sometimes.

God has a purpose and what may seem insignificant to me, may be full of HIS desire and purpose.

Our verse for Upward this week is found in Luke 1:37  “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Even during our thoughts and feelings if impossibility, HE makes things possible.

He makes it possible to teach the game of basketball, minister to a friend, teach His word to children, encourage fellow brothers and learn from brothers in Christ.

When there seems to be no way, he makes the way.

When you look back on a day that FEELS wasted and useless, you can see moments.  Those moments that are small enough to ignore, yet big enough to change your life forever.

Sorry for rambling, just a very interesting day.

Father God,

Thank you for the blessings of this day.  Thank you for blessing me with a wonderful, loving wife, 2 awesome children, a great work environment, a great Upward team, wonderful brothers in Christ and all the other blessings I fail to acknowledge.

I praise you for the opportunity to live and minister in these moments.

Static…

How clearly do we hear from God?

Sometimes it feels like I am tuned in and I am hearing clearly.  Other days, it’s like a radio that is not tuned in….there is a lot of static.

Is it a matter of faith?   Is it a matter of focus, or lack there of?

In John 6, there were at least 5000 people who needed something to eat.

Phillip proclaimed the obvious….”Eight months wages could not buy enough bread for each on to have a bite!”

Andrew spoke up…”Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will the go among do many?”

I think Andrew had the faith that a miracle could happen, but the obvious presented itself again when he thought about the large number of people.

After Jesus blessed it and fed everyone, there were 12 baskets of leftover barley loaves.

Scriptures move on to Jesus walking on water, but I wonder what the disciples were thinking.

Were they perplexed?  Were they amazed?  Were they upset with themselves for their lack of faith?

Did they have static in their mind about this situation?  Were they focused or not?

The key is not the reaction or faith of the disciples……the key is that Jesus needs to receive the honor and glory for his actions.

I may have static and it may be frustrating, but I CAN GIVE HIM PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY!!!!!

God Bless

Frustrated?

One word that would describe a good portion of my day is…..frustrated.   

My girls went for a walk this evening and I just stayed home and enjoyed the quiet.   As I was unwinding, I realized something.

True joy can only be realized as we overcome our challenges.  

Taking time to be quiet and focus on my purpose helped me unwind and overcome.   Joy floods my soul!!

John 20:29 says “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We receive blessings by believing and re-focusing our lives.

At the end of this chapter, verse 31 says “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Believing in HIS name and trusting in HIS presence and re-focusing our purpose gives us “life in HIS name.”

So, the frustration is gone and JOY overwhelms me. 

Praise God for answered prayers.  Praise him for is faithfulness and abundance.

May our walk be filled with grace, joy, healing and revelation!

God Bless!