April 19, 2024

Today Is Beautiful

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Sometimes the day won’t ever end
Sometimes you just throw up your hands
It’s the little things sometimes

Sometimes the world has just gone dark
Sometimes your praying for a spark
It’s the little things sometimes

But if you lift your eyes
See it in a different light
Just a cloud up in the open sky
Let the rain fall away
‘Cause today is beautiful

Right now it feels so hard to breathe
Right now you’re asking God why me
It’s what you can see right now

Cause right now there’s a greater truth
Right now there’s a bigger view
Than what you can see right now

If you see more than what’s in front of you
You might see more of heavens view
If you see more than what’s in front of you
You might see more of heavens view

Singer/Songwriter David Dunn (written with Sam Tinnesz, Blake Bollinger)

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It’s all about perspective.  When you’re standing too close to a painting or a picture, you miss out on the whole picture.  You can only see a small piece of the painting. That’s how it is with life.  When we are standing in the midst of our story, and the rain is falling and storms are raging, all we can see is the water in our eyes.  But if we step back under a walkway, out of the rain, we can see sometimes what had to be.  Oh, there will be things we will not understand on this side of Heaven.  But one day, our eyes will be open and we will see the view from Heaven.

Your life is beautiful because He made it.  Sometimes we are so focused on what we are going through…maybe our heads are down because we don’t have the strength to look up.  All we have to do is ask and God will deliver.  All we have to do is look up—and see there is light, there is joy, and there is hope.  At the end of that day that you thought would never end, there is a promise that joy will come in the morning.  At the end of the rain, sometimes you can even see a rainbow.  If you look hard enough, you will see that there is beauty all around us.

Our Creator made sure that we would be surrounded by His goodness.  His artwork fills the earth.  The sun is shining and the stars are singing His praises.  The ocean knows where to stop and the fish of the sea have their own song of praise.  The Bible says that even the rocks will cry out in praise.  Luke 19:40 says, “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  And we, as His chosen people, have the ability to sing His praises in the middle of whatever it is that we are going through. Just close your eyes, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see this life in His light.

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.
Because of His great power and incompatible strength, not a single one is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

And because of His strength, you will be empowered to keep on!

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Let us pray:  Dear Lord, You are amazing.  You are the Creator of this amazing place, and You are Holy.  You made the stars and the moon and the sun all for our enjoyment, and we are so grateful.  Thank You that we can see things so differently when our eyes are on You.  That life is just a little brighter when we look up to the heavens for our help.  This world can be so hard, but You went before us to prepare the way.  Thank You for the rain.  For when the sun comes out, we are so grateful.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Quiz Your Thanksgiving Attitude

It is the week before Thanksgiving, what is going through your mind right now?

  • Who will be at your house?
  • All you have to do.
  • Who you plan to avoid?
  • How will you get it all done?
  • You fill in the blank….

For me, I am thinking how will I get it all done, especially when I have planned to be out of town the weekend before Thanksgiving. I have to put it all in perspective and focus on what is important…my time with family and friends and truly being thankful for all God has blessed me with this year.

What has Thanksgiving been like for you?  Not having the right perspective can send you into a tizzy—not to mention out of control eating.  To stay in control and actually enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Am I focusing on what is important (or worrying about the wrong stuff)?

Make a list of the things that are really important to you.  Then make another list with the things that worry you or consume your thoughts.  Do the lists match?  We spend so much time worrying about things that just do not matter in the long run.  If still unsure, ask yourself if that “worry” will matter next year, or the next, or the next?

  • Do I get mad easily?

Life is too short to let every little thing upset us. Let this year be the year to LET IT GO.

  • Am I willing to ask for help when I need it?

Never think you have to do it all yourself.  I am sure there are others who can do just as good of a job and want to help. What can you delegate today or ask for from a friend or family member?

As we begin the week, I pray that we all keep a perspective on what is really important and not focus on the food, everything that has to be done, or worrying about the wrong stuff.  A good reminder for me is Colossians 1:1-2

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

No matter what is going on in our life, we can see God’s blessings all around us if we stop long enough and meditate on His goodness.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

In Good Health,

Crystalfamily 2012

 

“I Am” Chapter 2 – Day 3: People Around Us Will See God

Perspective.

That word just grabbed hold of me during my reading of this section and it is just rattling around in my brain incessantly.  How we view our life circumstances and, more importantly, how we react to those situations and struggles will either reflect God’s saving power in our lives or show that we do not truly trust what He has done for us.

It is not easy to walk through this life. It can seem downright impossible sometimes. There are multitudes of things to worry about. It is difficult to see an unbeliever reaping what seems to be every earthly reward while you are suffering through heartbreak and distress. Why is this person getting everything they want or need and you are hurting so much you can barely get through the day? Doesn’t God care? Doesn’t He see?

Yes, He cares. Yes, He sees.

Girlfriends, no earthly reward will ever compare to the ultimate reward we have in Jesus Christ. There is nothing in this world that will ever compare to Him. No matter what goodies your neighbor gets, what new gadget your best friend has, or how much money they make, the only reward worth fighting for is the relationship you have with your Lord and Savior. Nothing is more important. Nothing.

How do you react when someone gets an earthly reward that you coveted? Now consider it from God’s perspective. Does your reaction, internally and externally, reflect the Lord’s power working in your life? Does it show that you fully trust Him with every decision, every moment, even if it does not go your way?

One of God’s many promises is to provide us with safety and security when we acknowledge His lordship over our lives. What is your vision of safety and security? God’s plan for you may make you very uncomfortable. It may pull you out of your comfort zone. It may not make you FEEL very secure at all. But, when God is fully in control of your life and you allow Him to lead you in the path He wants you to go, your relationship with Him deepensYour trust in Him increases. You trust in His protection and in His sovereignty.  You know that His plans for you are perfect and without fault.

Ladies, the Lord is calling you by name to walk the path He has set before you. It may only take a change in perspective to see the bountiful blessings He wants to pour out on your life.

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Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today asking  for Your divine help. Our perspective on certain situations and decisions may be very clouded. Lord, please open our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to Your guidance. Let us be open to a change of thought. Help us to see things from Your view and to focus on You instead of the situation that is plaguing us. We know it is difficult to walk this life, Lord, and we can only do it with You right by our side. Guide us, Lord, and give us eyes to see You and ears to hear from You. In Jesus’ Name we pray.

Amen