GlocalNet

This morning I watered my plants around the house.  The sprinkler gets most of them, but in the Texas heat you have to help your flowers out if you want them to make it.  I have a beautiful basket of petunias over my porch and in that hanging basket a cardinal has made her nest and has 3 little eggs.  I water very carefully because I want those chicks to hatch and make it. 

For years, whenever my wife sees a cardinal, to her it’s like a promise from God that his blessings are always present.  Something as profound and as bright as a cardinal in a hot bland Texas summer really adds color and light.  There is research that says the most successful people are also the most grateful people, they don’t walk around like everybody owes them, but they receive what they have as gifts from God and are grateful, not despising what they don’t have or what hasn’t happened.  That makes sense. 

I get discouraged like anybody else.  I feel like things are too hard.  They take too long.  People are too hard to lead.  I don’t understand things.  The headaches keep coming . . .  I’ve also learned if I stay there and dwell on those things NOTHING GOOD IS GOING TO COME OUT OF IT.  I get grouchy, moody, frustrated and God can’t speak and work when we focus on what we don’t like.  But when we focus on who he is - no matter what life throws us - and we focus on all he’s done for us and all the promises he’s made us, and we recount all that he’s done - how can we be discouraged? I don’t think we can. 

1.  The Father has created me and allowed me to live.
2.  The Son, Jesus went to the cross for my sins & redeemed me.
3.  The Holy Spirit has filled me with his presence.
4.  My family loves me.
5.  The Body of Christ surrounds me and supports me.
6.  The Bible instructs, guides, encourages, and teaches me.
7.  Nature is all around me.  God created the mountains, oceans, deserts, plains - and I get to enjoy them as if they were mine.
8.  History is headed towards reconciliation and peace - whether I can see that at the moment or not.
9.  I have everything I need for every situation I face today because my Father is taking care of me.
10.  I have purpose and direction in my life.
11.  Add another 25 things . . . . .

Will we get discouraged as Christians?  You bet, we’re human and we’re flawed.  It’s normal.  Should we stay there?  Not at all - not if God is who he says he is and not if he can work in our hearts to change us as he says.