Perspective

[image error]Lately, I’ve been getting my inspiration for my posts as I sit on an exercise bike in the gym. Today, it was once again as I was sitting, but this time behind my computer at work. I am a CPA in a public accounting firm, which means I am very busy now with the crunch of April 15th being 3 weeks away. It is easy to focus on ones own troubles when you are stressed and tired. I went into work after church today and turned on my Jesus music pretty loudly to get some uplifting vibes. Earlier this week I posted about Miracles which came to me after listening to Jesus Cultures song, “Miracles.” Interesting title. What I didn’t hear was the speech snip-it right before the song which spoke of how the writers wrote the song. The song was birthed during the time of their child’s death to proclaim that God is still good and can still perform miracles, even if the outcome wasn’t the way they hoped and prayed.

Let’s just say, after hearing that one minute sermon, my perspective flipped. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at my job, I felt blessed. I have a job when so many people in this world do not. I have I job that I actually wanted and went to school for. I have a job that pays me well enough to have a checking account, which signifies that I am in the top 1% of wealthiest people in the world. I’m not saying that to boast, because if you have a checking account, guess what, you are in the top 1% as well. It is so easy to wear a negative hat, but it’s also very easy to take off that veil of defeat and wear a crown blessedness.

I had a friend a few months ago that commented about a book she was reading on how to train yourself to look for things to be grateful for. She mentioned how she started keeping a journal and writing down her blessings. I remember her say, “At first it was easy, God I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my home, and so on, but after weeks of coming up with different things it started to get hard.” She said, “I started to write down anything, God I’m thankful for Oxygen that allows me to breathe, I’m thankful for the moon that I can see at night, I started straining to find things, but there was always things to write.” Sometimes I wonder do we quit looking for the blessings? We get so accustomed to our blessings that we quit calling them blessings even though that is what they are even if we don’t identify them as such. How spoiled I have become.

We complain about the rainstorms, but doesn’t every cloud have a silver lining? What if the rain is just a healthy means of cleansing off the dirt in our life? Or what if the clouds are used to shelter us from the suns unknown harmful rays of contentment and lukewarm attitude? What if the glass is only half full because it only takes a couple of teaspoons of water to drown and God knows that all we can handle or need is a few drops right now?

We all know the expression about lemons and making lemonade, but it hit me today driving home from work. What if there is more to it than just making lemonade? What if God gives us lemons in life to make lemonade, but instead of us enjoying a glass alone, He wants us to share our pitcher with someone else who is thirsty? What if every thing that happens in life can truly be used to share His grace with others?

I love the line by Martin Luther, “We are all mere beggars showing other beggars where to find bread.”

Life can be summed up with this line by Martin Luther. We all have drama, scars, regrets, deadlines, and gunk in our life that weighs us down. No one is exempt. Sorry. Sometimes it takes someone else to point the direction we need to go to find some hope. Usually, when they point the way they will also walk it with you if you want some company.

Ginny Owens sings about this on her album Long Way Home on the song “Fellow Traveler.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ygj3IS7buWA

I’m not here to brag and boast about myself, I’m just a man trying to point other travelers where they can find hope. He is my Hope. He is my Joy. He is all that and so much more and I hope this little blog of mine points towards only His glory and not mine. The only reason I have these words is because He first said them to me. So now, let me point not to myself, but to Him. The Giver of Hope.

Peace