Little Blessings
Little Blessings
Thomas Kinkade in his book, Lightposts for Living, asked this question, What small things can I do today bring a blessing to someone else? He talked about small, not huge, gigantic, or enormous things. How often do we think in order to make a difference, it [the thing has to be large, or on a world-wide scale? In the rush of the world we forget the power of the “small.” A smile, laughter, a phone call, card, or your welcoming spirit can do much to transform the people and space around you. Let’s commit ourselves to be a blessing to someone else by giving away lots and lots of small things. Remember, both receiver and giver will be blessed.
Enjoy this small gift of beauty.
J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain in Missouri’s Country Club Plaza district, sculpted in Paris in 1910 by the late Henri Greber.
Living with Purpose
What I saw and experienced during those hours was the realization that as human beings we have conditioned ourselves to stay stuck in our pain, our regret, our mistakes, our stuff because we can use it as an excuse for not living with purpose and promise. Jesus said he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. But we don’t want abundant life. We would rather stay in the pain, or in our mess than seeking God and discovering the purpose for which we were created.
There are millions of hurting people seeking an answer to the question, why am I here? Our search for the answer begins not with things, people, stuff; but with God. Beloved, discover how to live your life with purpose by discovering God.
As the Deer
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42: 1-2 NIVThe desire to seek after the Lord should be constant. Our lives never satisfied with material things, needless activities and experiences. That’s why we consume more, fill our homes with stuff and go from relationship to relationship, because our souls are missing God. We need the living water that only He can provide. By drinking of the life-giving, soul satisfying, spirit filling waters of God, we find soul satisfaction no earthly pleasure can match.
All Things New
The film by Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ on earth. If anyone who has seen the film can’t help but be moved by the gruesome, horrific scenes. However, there are some poignant ones. One in particular tugged at my heart. Jesus’ mother running to get closer to Jesus as he’s carrying his cross. Followed by a disciple and the other Mary, she stopped with tears dripping down her face, frozen in time as her mind floats back to a earlier time. 
Caught between two moments in time, she remembers,when he was a child and had fallen and she ran to comfort him, and now this moment her son now a man has fallen to the ground, bloody, bruised, beaten. She runs to him again and gently touches his face when he speak to her in whispers, “See mother, I make all things new.” Sorrow and hope wrapped in precious blood surrounded by sneers, taunts, whips, angry voices. Abundant life slowly, straining with every painful step through Via Dolorosa to create a new, bright shiny life for the world-for you and me.
A Soul’s Rest
This morning the skyline was gleaming with purple light, the whole world seems to be rising quietly, softly with the dawn. I began the day with Psalm 69: 6-36, but paused on verses 30-32[KJV].
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull. The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.”
I arose with the dawn, and a song of praise upon my lips for the blessing of my Savior. His wonderful gift at Calvary has restored me, and given me a new life. My soul is at rest-secure in this knowledge.
Clarity
Scripture Luke 2:41-51
When Jesus was 12 years old, he remained in the temple among the religious leaders listening and asking questions. When his adopted father and his mother came looking for him and inquired why he had remained behind. His reply, he had to be about His father’s work [paraphrase]. Even at a young age, he was totally clear about his mission. He was engaged in the work of God. And just what was this work, and why was it so important? It was the inner work of clarifying who God is, and why we should believe in Him.
Jesus is still engaged in this work. He is still listening, addressing questions to our hearts. This major work involves clearing out the debris and filth of the sin that so easily besets us. Think about it, as beloved children of God, we too are called to listen to the sweet voice of the Savior, to inquire, to seek Him, to ask questions, and then bring the light of the message of the gospel to the whole world. It is a courageous act. Just as it took courage for Jesus to remain behind and stay in the temple listening, and teaching those much older than he the truth of God.
Thomas Kinkade, the painter of light wrote in his book “Lightposts for Living: The Art of Choosing a Joyful Life” about the day when he choose a difference path that the one his teachers told was the way to go. He said, “Suddenly I realized that the self-centered, self-serving artistic approach I was being taught was just the opposite of what I wanted my life and my art to be about. And at that moment a different philosophy began to form itself in my mind, one that has driven my life and career ever since.” He realized his art was not about him, but about the people who would be touched by the gift. Thomas Kinkade made a decision, and became clear about his purpose. And the world has enjoyed his gift, and will for many years to come.
Jesus came because he was clear about his direction and purpose. His purpose was clear-salvation for us. Are you clear about your purpose and direction? Are you about the Father’s work?
I hope so. The world needs your light.
Gifted for Leadership- Solitude
This article from the blog Gifted for Leadership is exceptional. It is written for women, Christian women who want to go further in their ministry. Check it out.
Life Eternal
Life eternal—eternal love. Nicholas of Cusa was a Christian mystic who lived during the 1400s wrote Vision of God. One quote that touched me deeply last night was “Life eternal is nought other than that blessed regard wherewith Thou never ceasest to behold me, yea, even the secret places of my soul. With Thee to behold is to give life; ’tis unceasingly to impart sweetest love of Thee; ’tis to inflame me to love of Thee by love’s imparting, and to feed me by inflaming, and by feeding to kindle my yearning, and by kindling to make me drink of the dew of gladness, and by drinking to infuse in me a fountain of life, and by infusing to make it increase and endure.”
To know love so completely that you glow with the radiant light of the Son. To feel the warm embrace of His loving arms around you in any and all situations. To see His loving reflection in your eyes, and know that all is well with your soul. That is life eternal.
Loving God with Excellence 
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