Tag: bigger

Audience of One

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

“You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

Pulled the chicken out of the oven and assembled the many dinner plates.

Peas, macaroni & cheese, and chicken on my blue dishes looked appetizing.

As I said out loud to thin air, “Good job, Amy”, I knew at that moment God had heard me.

I felt His smile.

Then it hit me.

I work for God.

Who do you work for?

Ok yes, your boss who signs your paycheck.

Your sweet spouse as you help each other tackle life.

Can’t forget the little people who depend on you for continuing their very existence.

We could add friends, church, volunteering, and society.

Let’s face it – we work for many.

Lots of people depend on us.

Too bad the amount of work we do doesn’t equal the thanks flowing to our ears.

What?

Most of what we do is unnoticed.

Unsung.

No thank you’s.

And that’s ok.

Why?

Because God sees it.

He notices.

And He’s the One we work for.

Every time you pull dinner from the oven

Fold sweet smelling laundry

Wipe up spills you never created

Greet a lonely neighbor

Go the extra mile at work

Cut out box tops for your child’s school

Soothe a crying baby

You are noticed.

Next time you do something for someone, remember God is well pleased.

Very pleased.

You helped God smile.

And that, in the end, is all that matters.

Because we work for an audience of One.

“….but as we go on in grace, we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute.  If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways….”  Oswald Chambers

Photos by Ogulcan Ercal, Andrés Gómez, & Daniil Silantev on Unsplash

Rising From the Dead

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Not literally rising from the dead.

I’m talking about spirit crushed, gut wrenching grief.

When you are overcome with grief from the very depths of your soul and you cry until you cannot cry anymore.

That kind of dead.

Times like those are when you feel like dying yourself.

Life really doesn’t matter anymore.

What’s the point of living when life is so gut wrenchingly painful?

Or maybe you’re dead in other ways: spiritually, emotionally, selfishly, or you’ve become callous towards life.

What’s a person to do to gain freedom from these prisons?

Turn to Jesus for healing.

Restoration.

Sounds simple enough.

But here’s the catch: you must reach out to Him.

He gives us free choice.

We can choose Him or not.

God wants to free us from a life or season of pain, but we have to reach out our hand to His forgiveness and love.

His healing touch.

Remember the man in the Bible with the withered up hand?

Jesus healed him.

But first the man had to stretch out his hand.

The man had to take the initiative.

He had to choose to obey.

Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand”.

As soon as the man did that, Jesus healed him.

Set him free.

So we have a choice.

Do we want to rise from the dead things in our life or not?

Do you want Jesus to fling wide the doors of your prison walls?

Just ask.

Be willing to do the work of whatever He asks of you.

And He will be faithful to heal all of your wounds.

How fast?

Not sure.

But I can promise you God will be faithful to you.

He’s done that with me over and over.

Sometimes I walk right back into those prisons.

Willingly.

Stupidly.

But every time I ask, every time…God shows up and frees me.

Every time.

Photos by Eric Ward, James Cousins, & Floreser on Unsplash

God Is Bigger

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

Way bigger.

Than everything, big or small.

Life changing things.

Little annoyances.

He’s bigger than the problems of today.

What do I mean?

God can do anything.

And He will.

He’s promised to protect you.

To carry your burdens.

To guide and direct your very steps when you love Him.

When a mountain seems too impossible to climb, remember God is bigger than any mountain.

He created them.

He can handle it without a second thought.

He has ways around that mountain you cannot even imagine on your own.

And if you must climb it, He’s gonna carry your backpack.

And bring the water for the journey.

What if you’re watching someone you love climb their mountain?

And you can see easier paths but they refuse to listen?

That’s tough.

Hard to see loved ones suffer unnecessarily.

But they must turn to God.

Ask Him personally for help.

Sure we can intercede for others.

We must.

But in the end, we all have a decision to follow God or not.

God loves our loved ones even more than we do.

Hard to believe, but it’s true.

Since God is bigger,

And He loves His children more than we do,

Take your peace and rest knowing God’s got this.

Be faithful in your actions and words and wait.

It’ll happen.

Photos by Dave Hoefler, Joe Dudeck, & Michael Bryant on Unsplash

 

Need New Glasses?

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:5

walking_away

How do you choose to view things in your life?

Ugly things

Beautiful things

Uncomfortable situations

If you look at a challenge through worldly eyes, fear will be in control.

You’ll worry

Fret

Obsess

However, if you look at that same challenge through godly eyes, you’ll see an opportunity for God to use you.

For God’s hand to remain in control.

The challenge will become a blessing.

Blessing?

Choosing to let go of a child is a blessing?

Searching through piles of help wanted ads?

Choosing to love the unloving?

Yes.  Because you know God is here.

Present.

God loves that child more than you and your part is to seek God’s will and obey.

He’ll find that job, give you HIs love for that unloving person, and anything else you ever need.

Blessing or curse?

Fear or faith?

Which eyes will you filter your life through?

Photos by Luca Bravo, JOHN TOWNER, & Bud Helisson on Unsplash