July 26, 2007

Channel surfing


Have you ever had a bad day? That's really a rhetorical question because if you're heart is still beating and you have a pulse...then my bet is that you have. It doesn't matter who you are...a nice person or a bad person; we've all had bad days.



Here's the thing, what you do about those bad days is totally up to you. You can stare at them and watch them grow, (even if the problem or situation hasn't changed). Or you can change the channel. The choice is yours.



This morning I was awake way ahead of my almost normal time to get up. No matter what I tried I couldn't go back to sleep. You see I went to bed last night weighed down with a situation, (and in case you're wondering if I'm a bad person my answer is no...) we all have our moments.



Well I got up... because laying there wasn't doing me any good, I went to the kitchen, turned on the coffee and then headed to the living room to spend some quiet time and prayer. (Prayer if your unfamiliar with that term; is a conversation with God) As I prayed, I was still frustrated about the situation from last night, so I talked to God about it. (Get it...prayer)



I was directed to turn to Psalm 19; and because I know prayer is two way communication, I opened my Bible and read;



"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies, yet the message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world."



This verse continues and if you want to know more please check it out... Psalm 19.



Well I went out side, coffee in hand and sat in my back yard. A few minutes later, the sun was rising and there were some low clouds, but as I watched; the bottoms of the clouds were changing from a gray to a beautiful red and orange color. Within minutes they changed colors again then in no time, it was a completely different picture.



God was at work, and this whole process took my focus off me and my situation to a beautiful picture that was being hand painted before my very eyes. Does God care...you bet. The heavens tell of His glory.



When your focus is on your problems...situations or whatever, it's easy to miss the glory of God. To often we get so wrapped up in ourselves that God is speaking but were too busy to change the channel, and we end up missing God in action.



Psalm 23:2 (NLT) "He lets me rest besides peaceful streams. He renews my strength."



"He lets me rest," By changing the channel it allowed me to quiet my anxious heart and also allowed me to rest my emotions. The best part is this; "it renewed my strength."



God is closer than you might imagine and He is trying to calm you down from all the calamity in your life; but you're going to have to make a choice. You can lie on the couch of discouragement or you can get up and change the channel. (No fair reaching for the remote) Get up!



If you change the channel; then sit and listen to what God is telling you, you'll notice that your problems that you made so huge were just a minor irritation, not a major crisis.

It all up to you, why not channel surf and see what else is on!
S.M.I.L.E.
Silent
Miracles
In
Life's
Experiences


God still loves you

Jim "DoughBoy" Brady