Drops of Sunshine - Daily Bread

You know when someone comes before you with no sincerity. You can even tell at times when you were an afterthought or not the original choice. It hurts because it feels like you weren't as important or wanted as everyone else. Rest assured, we were not afterthoughts for God. From the very beginning, we were a part of the plan. So we should display bolder faith in our spiritual lives. 

 We can take encouragement from the knowledge that God is creator. Period. Others may do a really good job of imitating. But when you want pure, unfiltered, and untainted, you always seek out the original, right? There is no original that can compare to who God is. That should boost our faith when we come before God in prayer.

 Reflecting on the magnitude of the love that God has for us should inspire us to be more intentional about the quality time we spend in his presence. Rather than treat every moment as an opportunity to talk about ourselves, spend a little more time thinking about him.

Once we have an understanding of true love, then we can more readily recognize the short comings. Not so much in others, but in ourselves. Those moments when we weren't so forgiving or gracious are under the spotlight. Rather than be overcome by guilt or shame, embrace the learning opportunity and strive to be a better you with each new day that arrives. 

Jesus is the reason for the season! With that in mind, it's always very humbling to remember that, in all our imperfections, his life had a price that none of us are in a position to be able to pay. This type of sacrifice was a gift and it allows us to be here today. Let's not be so focused on Christmas decorations and tangible gifts for one another that we forget to acknowledge him.

I was thinking of how when someone learns they are expecting a child. They haven't held this child in their arms yet, don't know what they will look like, or what type of personality they will have, but they love them already. Then I think of God's love. His omniscience makes it so that he knows the answer to all those things. Who we are before we're born. What life we'll live, good or bad, and the choices we make. Yet, he loves us anyway. That is matchless love! 

I've often heard that love is hard, but it's quite the opposite once you begin to understand what it is. Learning to value the love that God has for me was foundational for setting a standard and recognizing what I did not have to accept. 

 It's one thing when you are done wrong by a stranger or a former friend. It's something else altogether when it is your own flesh and blood. And yet, Jesus left us many examples of the impact that forgiveness can have when we learn to let go or what hurt us and keep moving forward. It's important to have that mindset, even when it comes to forgiving ourselves. Letting a hurt go isn't always easy, but that's the importance of relying on God. He'll make it better if you trust him to do so. 

 There is the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It's a reminder that a simple lifestyle change, like eating a little more wiser, can go along way to improving and sustaining your overall health. I like to think that a blessing a day keeps negativity away. The more time I spend thinking about positive things, the less room I have for harboring any animosity or being consumed by it. 

 I once hear someone say that the best thing you can do for an enemy is to pray that they receive salvation. Rather than disrupt your own health and well-being with anger, instead release that frustration to God and ask for the healing needed to move forward without bitterness.

 I heard a sister I know explaining how she used to always say "I did my good deed for the day" after accomplishing a positive. But her perspective shifted to instead aim higher. No one sets out with a target goal of being wronged each day. But when that happens more than once, it takes some serious faith on our parts to let those things go and learn to love our debtors regardless. It's not about being walked all over. It's about being in control of what is within your control.

People sometimes fall into the trap of wanting forgiveness from others, but not being so quick to give it. Our reality is that tables can turn swiftly. We have to learn the value of not allowing our emotions to be controlled by things (and people) that can not be changed. If we can't do that, than we leave room for hatred to develop roots which will ultimately cause destruction.

There truly is no greater love than the love that God has for us. We may feel neglected or overlooked by those around us but we can rest assured that we are never an afterthought to God. His love, grace, and mercy are benefits ready and waiting for us every day.

It's amazing how our troubles and worries can rapidly consume our thoughts. At times, they gain so much of our attention that giving God reverence begins to take a back seat. It's during such troubling times that we have to remind ourselves that God is and will always be in control. 

We're approaching a season where plenty of adults have been lecturing children about being naughty or nice. When I was younger, whether I misbehaved or not, there was still a guaranteed gift under the tree for me. As an adult reflecting on that, it shows how much my parents loved and thought of me, even if I frustrated them with naughtiness. As a person of faith, receiving gifts that I did nothing to earn compel me to want to draw closer to the God that continues to pour them out. Drawing closer to him is exactly what God desires of us. 

 By nature, people tend to be equally curious and suspicious. When we've learned not to expect anything without strings, then it makes God's grace toward us a perplexing thing. As perplexing as it may be, it's also so amazing because it reveals his love for his creation. All we have to do is accept the gift.

If you ever placed an order for anything, then you've endured the waiting experience. Some handle it with grace. For many, our patience tends to evaporate with a surprising amount of speed the longer we have to wait. But the same way we wait with expectation for the delivery of our order, we should have that same air of expectation when we are waiting for God. For sure, he will always be on time. That's what we need to remind ourselves of while we wait. Delivery of what we are waiting for is guaranteed. 

Blessings and curses live on the tips of our tongues. They can be awfully difficult to tame. Yet, we should make it our goal each day. Rather than trade evil for evil, practice saying one kind thing to others and yourself. This is one area where practice definitely puts you on a path toward perfect.

In my profession, we're taught that we should listen to understand, not to respond. Even though it's our nature to be quick with a reply, thinking before we speak can go a long way to being clear when we finally do open our mouths. The same with our prayer time. Rather than ramble off a few words, slap an amen at the end and then hop off to business as usual, it's just as important to spend time waiting to hear from God. That's a conversation. Give and take.

I often think about the many times friends and I have gotten together to vent over the years. Just having that outlet to release what we're thinking and have someone to check us has gone a long way to allowing a more productive release of anger and frustration. Better than that is our God. When you are feeling some kind a way, just have a little talk with Jesus.

 Have you ever tried to reason with someone that was being unreasonable? If so, then you know how much of a challenge that can be. So that anger, frustration, confusion, and whatever else isn't drowning out God's voice as offers us the clarity we so desperately need. 

If we cut corners or tried to take a short cut and the end result isn't as wonderful as going through the full process, we know why. Rather than attempt to best everyone else, our focus should always be on what will be pleasing to God. If every person around you claims your best isn't good enough, it doesn't matter. You should give to God your best, not mine. What you are offering is for God and it's whether or not it's pleasing to him that matters most.