“Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:17, The Message Version
It’s the small things.
The little moments of mundaneness.
Little packages of wonder filled with gratefulness that come to us through what Jesus has done for us.
He brought the good news of heaven into lives of all who live on earth: you are loved, precious, valuable and through His sacrifice for you, reconciled to God.
That means that you can do a cannonball into the ocean of God’s love for you every day, in every way, down to the details of your life.
Dive in deep into His all encompassing love for you and allow this great love to drench what you say, what you do and overflow onto others.
Jesus said how you see the world around you, impacts you:
How you look at the world around you impacts how you experience the world within you.
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!”
Matthew 6:22-23 MSG
Have you “dropped the blinds” and given up?
If so, you are in a dark place.
Jesus came for you.
He came to unleash heaven’s light and love in you.
He came to heal the hurts and tend the wounds that fester distrust and fear.
He came to restore wonder.
He came to restore you.
My prayer for you today is that you will open your heart to be filled with God’s love and let it open your eyes to see yourself and the world around you in a new way – the way He does.
Hebrews 12:28 reminds us that, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.”
When we worship God and fill our hearts with gratitude, we open our hearts to be filled with the unshakable kingdom of God.
A kingdom not of this world but one that heals it, changes it, transforms it.
Worship fills us with the wonder of heaven and an awe for the one who left heaven to rescue a lost world.
When we worship Jesus, He fills our hearts with His love and our lives with His power.
My friend, may we be so full of heaven that it overflows into moments of awe in the mundane moments of our day and make them…heavenly.
“Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:27-32 The Passion Translation
When Simeon took the babe Jesus into his arms, he was gazing tenderly on the promise of salvation given thousands of years to his people.
As he held the babe, he gazed into the power of the universe in human form, knowing that it was not just a gift for his people but for people – Jesus was given for the salvation of all nations and all nationalities.
Christmas is a thousand stories of revelation, joy, courage and hope when the truth of who Jesus is, is revealed to the soul. He is embodied love, uncontainable light and the majestic glory of God Himself sent from heaven to live vulnerable, speak truth, challenge lies and free the soul from the bondage of sin forever.
Somehow, through the traditions of Christmas in every nation, the gift of love and hope remain. Whether people realize it or not – Christ has not been taken out of Christmas, it is His heart that beats through it all, for all, until all know His eternal love.
Hebrews 12:28 reminds us that, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.”
When we are worshipping God and filling our hearts with gratitude, we are opening our hearts to be filled with the unshakable kingdom of God.
A kingdom not of this world but one that heals it, changes it, transforms it.
Worship fills us with the wonder of heaven and an awe for the one who left heaven to rescue a lost world.
When we worship Jesus, He fills our hearts with His love and our lives with His power.
My friend, may we be so full of heaven that it overflows into moments of awe in the mundane moments of our day and make them…heavenly.
Whenever you feel lost and unsure of how to start up again, go back to the basics.
So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character,spiritual understanding,alert discipline,passionate patience,reverent wonder,warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.
2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG
Basic Faith – the first step, the abandoned sin, throwing of oneself upon the mercy of God and walking forward into the unseen with the belief that you are not alone to develop.
Good Character – staying true to what you believe in the little things and letting those small choices of integrity overflow into the big things as you grow.
Spiritual Understanding – the moments you can’t explain, but know are true.
Alert Discipline – not allowing time, tiredness, busyness, past baggage, old excuses erode right habits, receiving grace and energy from God.
Passionate Patience – being able to expectantly wait for one thing while wholehearted working for another. Choosing to focus on being obedient, not on the results of being obedient.
Reverent Wonder – the awe of seeing God with the wide eyes of a childlike heart.
Warm Friendliness – the smile, the hug, the gentle knowing atmosphere of those who are confidently walking in their purpose.
Generous Love – being able to love those closest to us without fear or conditional embraces and the ability to love those we barely know with an authenticity that only comes from intimately knowing God.
These are my own definitions of the list in 2 Peter 1:5.
These are not a to-do list, this is a Jesus-help-me-be list.
May you find your way back to the basics and thrive by the grace of God in each one today.
“But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. – Luke 2:10-11 TPT
I imagine that the morning after Jesus’ birth was quiet for Mary and Joseph.
I’m sure they were tired.
They probably didn’t sleep well.
How long did it take for the shepherds to find them?
Did they come before or after dawn?
What did Mary and Joseph think as the shepherds told them of the angels who couldn’t keep the news to themselves? What did they think of heaven’s declaration that a rescuer was born and he was the Lord Yahweh, Messiah?
I don’t know what your Christmas Morning has looked like today but I pray that hope steals it’s way into your heart like the light broken through the darkness when the multitude of angels burst into celebration the night Jesus was born.
Jesus came to bring you hope.
To love you, to know you, to save you, to heal you.
Today ask for His help when you need it.
Jesus will never run out of grace and mercy – He is the eternal supply.
Jesus said how you see the world around you, impacts you:
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!”
Matthew 6:22-23 MSG
How you look at the world around you impacts how you experience the world within you.
Do you see the world and the people in it with wonder and delight or in fear and distrust?
Have you “pulled the blinds” and given up?
If so, you are in a dark place.
Jesus came for you.
He came to unleash heaven’s light and love in you.
He came to heal the hurts and tend the wounds that fester distrust and fear.
“But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.”
Isaiah 30:18 MSG
You can’t see what God is doing “behind the scenes” in your life but I know He is working.
You don’t know how He is going to meet your needs, but I know that He will.
You don’t have to worry about the whys or hows. You can rest in the truth that He knows them.
God is not finished with your life. He has more for you.
Jesus took all that separates God from you so that you can receive all He has for you.
I am praying that today you will experience God’s matchless, unbroken companionship while you wait. While you wonder what is going to happen. While you worry about the unknown future.
I am praying that you will experience His victory, favor, love, peace, and joy, while you wait.
I believe that God is preparing things for you right now and that they will be right on time (maybe not your time but in His time).
While you wait, trust.
While you trust, worship.
While you worship, rest.
Have an amazing day enjoying what you have while you wait for what God is preparing for you.
Cindy Grasso 