"You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."
So reading those words, how blessed do you feel? I really had to stop and ponder...are my heart and mind right? I know that when I look at this world, I see so many miracles! As I sit at my kitchen table and sip my morning coffee the sun rises to my left. I didn't tell it to do that each and every day but yet it does. I pick up my cup and somehow without much thought or effort the coffee reaches it's destination - my lips.
How did He come up with the notion that our brains would work the way they do? I think and it happens. I am so blessed to know Him and see Him in all things. From the tiny yellow bird that landed on my finger a couple of months back to my eyes seeing and my mind knowing what is seen and what to do with these thoughts and images. God is in our world everywhere.
What do you see when you look at this picture?
Most people see two dogs...but if you look closely, the one on the left is really a pig. I took this on a mission trip a few years ago. We were delivering food sets to families and we saw the animals coming down a hillside. We figured it was two white dogs following the kids coming to get food. It wasn't until they were very close that I noticed the difference in them and I actually had to point it out to the rest of my group. I admit that you don't often see a dog and a pig that are friends wandering here and there. It made me think of this wonderful world that God has prepared for me and how much do I miss?
There is a beautiful song that has a line in it, "...open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you." What wise words to want to see God in the world we are in!
The rest of today's reading continues:
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."
Anyone that has ever been a mom and had a play date know you have to be in charge and help the little buggers share. Most times sharing is not a natural thing. More than once when my kids were young, I had to keep World War III from breaking out. But to be a Godly peacemaker with adults often requires a totally different approach. We can't really put our family and colleagues in time out! You can try but you will probably find your friends will quickly decide to quit spending time with you!
And anyone who knows me knows that I'm just not one for confrontation. I love it when life goes smoothly and everybody is happy. I am a people pleaser so this scripture just goes against my grain. In fact, reading it makes me want to ask God if I can't just skim over that one and continue in my own sweet little world. But that's not how it works. If I believe the Bible is truth, I have to believe it all.
Jesus taught best by example. There will never be a greater lesson learned than the one of His gift of salvation. He sought only our greater good and showed us that we didn't have to be the top dog always. Showing humility and letting our spirits be happy with not always being in control can most often be the best teacher of His love. The Bible tells us that we are to be known for this love of one another. The more we seek Jesus and study His life, the more we will realize that He loves us with a love that never ends. He goes to the trouble to know how many hairs you have on your head, so He must be interested in us. Because of Him, we can know who we are and whose we are.
We can set an example by putting an end to angry words before they even begin. Being the example can often be the best way to teach. When's the last time you let a friend win an argument just for the sake of keeping the peace?
This is the season most of the world talks about peace on earth. Maybe one of the best ways we can be the gift this season and this coming year is to look for God in our surroundings, to not take for granted how blessed we are, and to share Jesus.
Be a peacemaker and pass the peace that passes understanding on to everyone you meet!
- SusanWhite
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