Today during Rodney's sermon we read scriptures about Andrew and Philip. The text was about Jesus feeding the 5000. Philip could only see the reasons why these people couldn't be fed and Andrew found Jesus a way to get it done.
One disciple was negative and not very helpful, one was positive and, very much, helpful. Do you know people who are negative like Philip? Me too. Hey, sometimes I feel that way, myself. It makes for a very sad day when I am. All I can do is feel grouchy and sorry for myself.
When we are being so negative we tend to miss all the blessings we have around us. We don't see the beauty in the world. We don't see how wonderful our families are. We don't see how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends. We don't see that God has given us so much. All we see is that others have more than us. That even though they may not even believe in Christ, they seem to be doing so much better than we think we are doing.
In the scriptures we can read that the author of Psalm 73 seemed to feel just like us........Psalm 73:1The Message (MSG)
73 1-5 No doubt about it! God is good—
good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.
The author realized that he almost missed all of what God had given to him.
He realized that his focus was on the wrong thing. He realized that he was being far from positive.
How sad it is that we can be just like him. We waste so much time and effort looking away from the good around us. Looking away from the miracles God gives to us everyday.
Let's all of us try working at staying positive this week.
I bet our days will go so much better if we keep our eyes turned toward all the goodness of God. I know that we will definitely have better days. Maybe we will even be surprised at all the wonderful things we find in this world. Maybe we will be surprised at the energy we have because we are not wasting it worrying about what we cannot do anything about.
People will see smiles on our faces and not frowns. They will see God shining through. Then, just maybe, they will want the same smile on their faces too!
Here's to a great week!!!
Blessings
Wow, it has been awhile since I have gotten to sit down and write a blog. I apologize for that, but life has been so busy for my family lately. I understand that that is really no excuse because we tend to make time for the things we really want to do. I guess I have chosen to just be with my men when ever a moment has opened up because lately, with the thrift shop, the craft shows and the activities at church, not many moments have.
Life with my family is wonderful and being away from my men so much has made me a little frustrated and I'm sure left them feeling neglected, somewhat too.
Rodney, my husband, has started a sermon series about the sayings from Clarence, the second class angel, in "It's a Wonderful Life:, with Jimmy Stuart.
As a side note, it amazes me how Rodney can let God use him to take words that are spoken from an old movie and make them into a sermon in which God's words from the scripture become more real and really speak into our lives. But don't mind me, I just love the boy.
Anyway, last night we had movie night at church, with popcorn and everything, and instead of just seeing a few clips on Sunday mornings, we watched the whole movie.
Throughout the movie George kept fighting the life he had been given. He wanted to travel and get out of the small town he had grown up in. But that was not the plan for him.
He ended up taking over his father's business and marrying a hometown girl. He felt sorry for himself and kept wishing for things to change.
When trouble really came he just wasn't equipped to handle it and was contemplating taking his own life when God stepped in and rescued him. In the end George realized that his life had been wonderful after all.
Everyone came out from the movie thinking and talking about the same thing. We all have wonderful lives even if things aren't going exactly the way we want them too. Our living is a gift from God and should be delighted in, as this scripture from Ecclesiastes points out....
Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
The Message (MSG)
We can pout and fuss and wish for a different life or we can find joy in the one we have been given. If we realize that God is there through all of it we can feel supported and strong whenever this world really takes a whack at us and sets us back a bit.
My wish for you through this Christmas season, and through out the year, is that you love the life that has been given to you and feel the comfort and strength that comes from the one who has given everything to give it to you.
Blessings!
