This is so true of us.
Lord, help us to be humble with these gifts.
Send us Your Spirit of thankfulness in our hearts.
Albert
“Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy”
Better Tuesday
Today was a good day. For some reason, every Tuesday seems to be better. Unless, of course, you’re coming off a Monday holiday. Then it feels like the day before.
Try chewing on that for a second.
So what went well, you may ask? I guess I should name a few:
- Made good progress on my work and the supervisor seems happy with how I’m contributing.
- Moved up my weekly In-N-Out lunch fix to today and made some good conversation with a friend/co-worker. It’s good to hear how he spends time with family on weekends.
- Downloaded the Passion 2010 Glimpse video. Touching flashback to an experience that turned my world 180 degrees.
- Able to make a refund on a TV my mom didn’t want. Walmart, you’re still on my good side.
Not too bad. I think I’ve come to realize it’s really just the simple things that make the day better. And it’s not hard. Just be still and look back with a grateful heart.
Please Switch
So the funny thing is I have been a loyal PC person for most of my life. Heck I even built a monster computer in hopes of conquering the living world with all my gaming, TV-watching, even serving coffee. All in the name of Christ.
Then when it finally kicked the bucket a year ago, I saw the light.
I was changed.
I’ll never be the same.
If I can’t convince you otherwise, maybe these pictures will.
You’re welcome,
Albert
How water plays a bigger story
I was swinging by Costco for lunch today. I got my pizza slices, say a quick prayer and took a bite. Delicious. I was thinking, “Man, wouldn’t a Coke or Berry Smoothie be about awesome right now? I mean, seriously. You know, a little citric acid or fruity drink to help down this sucker? Such a nice day in the 80s, and I’ve been working hard all morning.”
I was about standing on my feet and thinking really loud. The old ladies next to me were shifting away from this maniac.
“Come on, I SO NEED a COLD DRINK NOW. BRING IT!!”
Okay, I may have exaggerated that last part. But the thirst was still there.
Let me explain. I’m participating in this cause called 40 Days of Water. It’s really simple. For the season of Lent, you drink only water as your beverage and 40 days later, you donate all the money you would have spent on beverages to help build clean water projects for communities in Uganda.
Simple cause with tremendous results for good, but not so easy to start. My throat was whining for something else. Something more satisfying than the water in my tiny cup.
In the midst of my self-centeredness and complaining, I felt like if I listened to God, if I told Him how I was feeling, He might say something different. He might say:
“Not easy, is it? You’ve given up things in the past, but they were all for YOU. I’m going to use this cause to help you see Lent differently. You’re gonna see the bigger story I’m telling through people who can’t even afford clean water to drink. In fact, in anything you do, it should be part of a bigger story than yourself. The only kind I would author and make perfect.”
I think this is true. I think that when we give up things solely for ourselves, we’re missing out on the bigger picture that includes other people. After all, Jesus didn’t came to be sacrificed only for himself. It was for the greater world that was once sparkling and clear, and now redeemed in His love.
I don’t know if/what you’re giving up this Lenten season. I don’t know if you’re giving up a bad habit or TV or Facebook (some might consider this to be a three-way tie). But I’m starting to think that our sacrifices are really opportunities we have to reach out to others. Less of us, more of God and touching people’s lives.
That afternoon, I finished my pizza with cold water. And it tasted pretty good too.
Restarting a Beginning
Oh the irony. One of our favorite things is taking something good that we discontinued in the past for a (usually) bad reason (laziness, for me) and try to breathe new life into it. Case in point, this blog that you’re reading right now.
And I love it.
Why? Because it’s like giving ourselves a second chance. That one more opportunity to make things right. To pick up where we left off somewhere along way and finish the race with perseverance and heart.
It’s very much how God loves us. He is a God of second chances.
I don’t know how this race will turn out and it would be great company if you join me. All the twists and turns. Some serious, some less so. But hopefully all real. And maybe we can make some friends along the way.
Looking forward to it,
AL
