Happy I’m-watching-it-snow Saturday, friends!
A few minutes ago I heard from a friend in Wisconsin who said he was watching it snow. I suspect our experiences are not identical. Especially since the expected high temperature for tomorrow is 60 where I live.
Last Saturday, I was in Orlando, Florida walking around the Kennedy Space Center in short sleeves
and then having dinner on the patio in Cocoa Beach.
Mrs. Sweetie and I just did a short getaway to kick off the new year before the schedule ramps up.
Have you ever done an “unconscious bucket list” activity?
I don’t mean that you were unconscious while doing it, but that you never really thought of it as bucket list until you were in the middle of it.
And then you knew you’d always wanted to do it.
I had that last Friday.
Ever since I was a kid growing up in dry and barren west Texas, I thought the airboats I saw on “The Everglades,” “Gentle Ben,” and “Flipper” were so incredibly cool!
When we found out on Friday that there was one only 45 minutes away that advertised wheelchair accessibility, we jumped on making reservations.
It was every bit as awesome as my preteen self imagined 60ish years ago!
Flying through (not around) the weeds/reeds, turning on a dime, stopping to see the gators—man!
I’m reminded that life—and every moment it contains—is a gift from God.
Sometimes we get surprised by blessings that we immediately enjoy.
Sometimes we only see the blessings in hindsight because the circumstances are tough in the moment.
Some blessings we won’t recognize until eternity.
Psalm 16:2 – “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
James 1:16-17 – “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Just when I think I deserve or have earned or accomplished something good, I need to remember it’s all grace.
And whenever I get to experience something special, God invites me to do something with it that reveals His grace and goodness.
That’s why Sweetie and I have made it our constant prayer to “wear Jesus beautifully” wherever we go.
That prayer changes our approach to every situation. It removes any sense of entitlement. It guides interactions and conversations. It builds bridges.
If someone who interacts with us does not believe they have been blessed by their interaction, either we’re doing it wrong or they are refusing to receive the blessing offered.
And I’ll let you in on a little secret: Sweetie is WAY better at it than I am. (If you know her, you can confirm that).
Friends, let’s pray that prayer before we walk out our doors every morning.
Can you imagine the difference it would make in our culture if followers of Jesus prayed to wear Him beautifully?
Can you imagine the difference it would make if we approached our walk with Jesus as an amazing journey to share rather than a war to win?
Be amazing today, my friend.
