Ordinary Days

Today was just an ordinary day. Oh, I know God was working miracles all around me, I know that every day is an EXTRAordinary day. What I mean is that today is a day with no big ups and no big downs.

In my team meeting today during our devotional time we discussed Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

How many hills and valleys do I come across on race. It is so many, that I think to have an ordinary day... running on the flat land... feels so strange.

So many areas of my life fall into the hills and valleys pattern, requiring perseverance until the very end.... My job.... the desire to start a family.... building a marriage that will last.... helping my family through their struggles.

With so many ups and downs in this thing called life, I am grateful that the writer of Hebrews brings me back to what is most important. FIXING THESE WANDERING EYES ON CHRIST!

I can run fast or I can run slow. Up hill or down hill. No matter what, when I have my eyes [That is my everything] focused on Christ I can have joy. The joy that Christ had when he faced death in the most gruesome way known to man.

"I stand and lift up my hands for the joy of the Lord is my strength." - Chris Tomlin

Praising God for an ordinary day today. A place where I can catch my breath before the next hill.

Your Faith Has Made You Well

I have been thinking more about faith today. How it, in it's true form, is so motivating for the one who possesses it.

In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus' robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When no one stepped forward, Peter said, "But Master, we've got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you." Jesus insisted, "Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me." When the woman realized that she couldn't remain hidden, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed. Jesus said, "Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!" - Luke 8:43-48 The Message

Likely there were others who had touched Jesus that day, brushed up against him in the crowd, but none of the others had the experience that this woman had. Her faith compelled her to reach out and touch Jesus, because she knew he could make her well.

It makes me think of my own situation, how many times have I sought Jesus, but not worked up the courage to really reach out. As Clint and I have gone through the struggles to try to get pregnant, how many times have I ran to other things rather than running to Jesus... So many "cures" I have sought for an ailment that just can't be found. Oh, I talk to Jesus about it all, but I don't think that I have ever approached Jesus about our situation the same way that this woman reached out to him. She was full of confidence, driven to reach him, KNOWING above all if she could touch Him she would be healed.

Father, Spirit, Jesus - I pray that I would have that kind of faith, the kind that would pursue you at all cost, and not just pursue you to hear if you have the answer, but pursue you because I know in my heart and soul that you ARE the answer.

Amen

Faith

I have been thinking a lot about faith lately.

Faith is being certain of what we do not see, yes. But it is also being sure of what we hope for.

After pondering the lives of the faithful mentioned in Hebrews 11 I am struck by the fact that faith always, in every one of those circumstances, requires action.

Faith is not still.

Any faith that does not command the one who holds it is not a real belief. It is a pseudo belief only. - AW Tozer

It also strikes me as crazy that Christ said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, that kind of faith would be mountain moving... tree uprooting kind of faith.

So how do I get that mountain moving faith? Is it as simple as listening to God's voice through scripture and those he puts in my life and then start moving? Is it just taking small step after small step leading towards him?

I have always thought of mountain moving faith as big. You just needed a little of it, but when you got it, it was larger than life. I am beginning to wonder if mountain moving faith is really found in the simple things. The feet moving in unfamiliar patterns, one step at a time. Following. Following. Unrelentingly Following Him.

Do you own them or do they own you?

I read a phenomenal book last summer. It was called “Same kind of Different as me”. Picture this:

A wealthy art dealer has taken a homeless man out for coffee. The art dealer sets his keys down on the table. The homeless guy asks if the wealthy man owns something for every one of the keys. Wealthy man supposed he did. Homeless guy asks “Do you own them or do they own you?”

Very thought provoking question…

I had one of those days today… you know, one of those days when your stuff owns you. My Blackberry gave me a permanent error yesterday. How frustrating, so I went without a phone for a few hours until my chip could be transferred into an old phone. Today our IT guy was in the office and assisted in wiping the thing clean of all data and reloading all programs. Though I was in the office until 7pm trying to get the thing rebooted…

Talk about frustrating!

It does raise the question, do I own this wonderful piece of technology… or does it own me? I am not sure I have the answer to that… it did aid in a bad attitude for several hours.

Not sure why I let these momentary troubles get me down. They are so silly and trivial. I was reminded how much I have learned to depend on the blessings that God has given me. I don’t always see their true value, that of a blessing.

How much of my life is spent on maintenance and fixing or repairing things that are broken or have stopped working?