Today I found an old photograph of me, as usual, looking up at the sky. There was so much wonder in watching the seagulls soar higher and higher until they were specs in the glassy blue of a summer afternoon. As a child I was always looking up, knowing that something better was around the bend; and I am sure that many adults will remember feeling the same way as a child, but when did that stop? Today I had a disappointment that felt like a kick in the chest and I found myself saying, “that’s because it can’t happen, this is one thing God will never provide.” As I walked through the day my head was low and I was looking at the ground, filled with my discouraging, self badgering thoughts, and then I found that photograph. There I was staring at the sky with my eyes fixed on possibilities. When did I stop doing that? Why was one small thing making me feel like God had packed up and left? God hadn’t changed from yesterday when I was running around the yard laughing with my dog. I had. This simple disappointment had made me doubt God, it had made me watch the ground instead of the sky. God is always there for us no matter how we feel. He may not have provided for us what we desired today, but He will someday. My grandfather always says, “take sustenance from the hope of things yet to come.” I don’t know if that’s an original statement, but it’s one I hold dear and sometimes have a very hard time applying to my life. But it’s true, and feeling down and worrying isn’t going to change the outcome of what has or has not happened, it just makes us take our eyes off of God. He is the only one who can provide and satisfy. So when we desire or need we must fix to God and not be shaken off by discouraging thoughts. We need to be happy in who God is and in what He will do. Someday.
Author: carriedinthecross
I am a young woman who grew up in British Columbia. In BC was all I ever wanted; I had my poodle (Max) and all my friends, Saturdays at the Vancouver Aquarium and Sunday afternoons at one of my favorite beaches it was paradise. But God had a different plan for my life and my dad's job landed us in Alberta and now where I remain, in small town Souris Manitoba. The transitions from paradise to prairie were difficult and I will admit that now 10 years later I still refer to home as Abbotsford BC. Through this crazy pathway trek across Canada I have had one true constant, God; and though none of it was easy, everything that has happened in my life has formed in me a true lasting friendship with the one I call Immanuel. Because no matter how far from home we are God is with us, and thanks to God I have found an almost completely over looked beauty in Manitoba. If you open your eyes you will see that God has planted wondrous things everywhere you go.
Learning to follow Jesus
When Jesus said ‘ drop your nets and follow me, ‘ it was a no-brainer for the disciples to follow the prince; when I think about it I imagine that I would follow willingly. Would I though? Would you?
I have known Jesus so long that I can’t imagine life without Him, but what about the disciples? They didn’t know Jesus, they may have heard the prophecies, but they couldn’t have known who this man was.
The Spirit caused them to follow Jesus. But without the Spirit would they have?
If we didn’t know Jesus, would we drop everything and follow him?
Without the Spirit would anyone follow Jesus? Or would we, out of fear of the unknown, choose to ignore the man on the shore. ‘There would be no greater shame than to return to Narnia knowing I had turned away from adventure because of fear’ -Repichipe.
To follow means to trust and in trust there is no fear.
More than anything else
And now, what does it matter? It matters more than anything else in the world.
When C.S Lewis said these words in ‘Mere Christianity’ he really hit the nail on the head. Even now in our era of high-tech, high-society, live the way you want ‘democracy’ God still matters more than anything else in the world. Then He was big but shrinking, now He is shrunk, but like a daisy in the snow is still trying to push himself back up. He is there when we cry out, He hurts when we do, even if you don’t believe in God, God still believes in you.
In our fast paced, rat race life where does God come in? Do we have time? Does he even matter?
God doesn’t come in He’s already here. Make time, He makes time for you. And He matters more than anything else in the world.
We are special to someone
I have started this blog to provide original devotionals to be helpful and uplifting. One of the most important things to know in life is that we are special to someone; the ‘someone’ I am meaning is Jesus. No one will ever love us more than He has or does. It does not matter if you are a new Christian, an old pew bender, or just wondering what all this Christianity stuff it about, Jesus loves you and that is what this blog is here to say.
Carried in the cross 