Your Daily Crossroad
Spilling Through My Fingers
After I clumsily knocked over my glass on the restaurant counter, the spilled beverage began to cascade over the edge and onto the floor. Out of sheer embarrassment, I tried to catch the waterfall with cupped hands. My efforts were largely unsuccessful; most of my beverage rushed through my fingers. In the end, my upturned palms held little more than a meager tablespoon each, while my feet stood in puddles.
My life feels similar on many days. I find myself scrambling to solve problems, oversee details, and control circumstances. No matter how hard I try, my feeble hands are incapable of managing all the pieces and parts. Something invariably slips through my fingers and pools on the floor at my feet, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. No amount of contorting my hands or squeezing my fingers more tightly together makes me able to handle it all.
Yet God can. Isaiah tells us that God can measure the globe’s waters—all the oceans and rivers and rain—in the hollow of His hands (40:12). Only His hands are large enough to hold them all. We needn’t try to hold more than the tablespoon He’s designed our hands to carry. When we feel overwhelmed, we can entrust our cares and concerns into His capable hands.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to hold everything in my hands, but instead to trust my needs and concerns into Your perfect care. Amen.
When I recently read this I felt it was fitting for this day, Monday, for many it’s the beginning of another work week and despite what kind of weeks past or weekend you may have had, when we feel overwhelmed we can entrust our cares and concerns into His capable hands. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Your source of strength comes from above, look up!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 40:9-17
BIG PICTURE, small steps
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:22-23)
He also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord’ (Matthew 25:22-23).
Sometimes we can become overwhelmed by the “BIG PICTURE” of life: big dreams, big opportunities, big decisions, big transitions, and big questions.
One of the biggest questions regarding the big picture that we often ask is “What is God’s plan for my life?” The key to answering this big question is actually found in taking what may seem like small steps.
The servant with two talents had no idea what the big picture was, just that he was to take care of what his master had given him at that point in time. We only begin to see the big picture become a reality when we’re faithful with the relationships, opportunities, and obvious needs God has already placed right in front of us.
Often we pray for God to give us a big opportunity to share the gospel when we have not been intentional with the existing relationships in our lives. We pray for God to show big ways we can serve Him when we have not taken initiative with opportunities that exist within blocks of our own home.
We want to meet big needs and make a big difference, yet we often don’t realize this will require small, messy, risky steps of faithfulness with no fanfare- much of what may seem very different initially from the big picture we dreamed. We can easily forget that the big picture begins and continues to develop as we take small steps of faithfulness, following Jesus one step at a time.
What opportunities, relationships, and needs has God placed in front of you today? How can you display faithfulness with these?
I recently read this and I felt it needed to be shared. What truth!! Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things. Let’s seek to be faithful over what may seem like little things and the big picture will continue to develop one step at a time. Be faithful with a cheerful heart.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 25:22-23
A Thousand Years
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
I recently read. When I was younger, there were events throughout the year that I just “could not wait for.” I marked them on my wall calendar with a countdown of the months, weeks and days. I delighted in crossing off each day, bringing the ‘event’ closer to fruition.
But by the time the event came, it passed so quickly… I spent months waiting and within a few hours, it was over.
So often, we wish away the time in anticipation for certain events, so much so that we miss what each day and moment has to offer us.
In 2 Peter 3, people who didn’t believe in Christ were starting to taunt the early church saying, “Isn’t Christ coming back? Aren’t these the ‘Last Days?’ WHERE IS HE?”
“With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day…” In other words, it’s not about the length of time. God isn’t measuring eternity and the ‘age to come’ according to a moment in time. He’s not saying to Himself “WOW, we’re running out of time, I’d better go back…”
He waits. Listens. Breathes. He’s patient. He allows us to journey. He doesn’t have a gold calendar hanging on His wall where He impatiently marks off each day as if it doesn’t matter in anticipation for His ‘Come Back’. Every day matters. As does all who fill each day. And while there is a spiritual urgency that can be felt, it relates more to authenticity than a countdown.
There is space and time. Don’t be hasty, don’t rush wishing away the time. Breathe through each day, cherish each moment…
ALL moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.
What a way to look at each day. Instead of rushing through each day wishing away the time teach me Lord to breath through each day cherishing each and every moment for every moment is a key moment, help me to Live every moment, Love every day! I can so easily become distracted and loose sight of what truly matters, each moment. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Peter 3:8-9
Painting a Portrait
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
The National Portrait Gallery in London, England, houses a treasure of paintings from across the centuries, including 166 images of Winston Churchill, 94 of William Shakespeare, and 20 of George Washington. With the older portraits, we may wonder: Is that what these individuals really looked like?
For instance, there are eight paintings of Scottish patriot William Wallace (c. ?1270–1305?), but we obviously don’t have photographs to compare them to. How do we know if the artists accurately represented Wallace?
Something similar might be happening with the likeness of Jesus. Without realizing it, those who believe in Him are leaving an impression of Him on others. Not with brushes and oils, but with attitudes, actions, and relationships.
Are we painting a portrait that represents the likeness of His heart? This was the concern of the apostle Paul. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,” he wrote (Phil. 2:5). With a desire to accurately represent our Lord, he urged His followers to reflect the humility, self-sacrifice, and compassion of Jesus for others.
It has been said, “We are the only Jesus some people will ever see.” As we “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (v. 3), we will show the world the heart and attitude of Jesus Himself.
Father, please build the heart of Christ into my heart that those around me will see Him clearly and desire to know Him too. Amen.
When I read this just this morning I knew it needed to be shared. To some we are the only Jesus some people will ever see, how are you portraying Christ? When others see you and your life do they desire to know Him too? Every single morning I encourage my daughter to show The Love of Christ in all she says and does. My prayer is that I do just that in my attitude, actions and relationships. Help me today Lord to show Your love, even in those challenging moments.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 2:1-11