Smoothies and God

Nearly every morning without fail during the work week, my wife pulls out the blender grabs fruit and all the ingredients needed to blend smoothies and lovingly prepares them for my son and I.

While making them, we are being told how healthy they are for us and how we really need to drink one to get our fruit nutrition for the day. She tells us how good and fresh these are, how our bodies need all the good stuff contained in them, blah, blah, blah. We almost ignore her, but she is persistent and pushes them for our own good.

Funny, how God speaks to us sometimes. I walked in the kitchen after taking my son to school and looked at the full blender still filled with rapidly warming smoothie and suddenly, the Lord spoke to my spirit saying, "This is how people respond to my grace and mercy towards man."

"I have lovingly taken the time and prepared it myself with tremendous sacrifice for your good to ensure you are made healthy and whole, and many times it's ignored and unappreciated."

I drank a large glass of warm smoothie and said, "Thank You Lord."

The Perspective of Life

Gratitude. If ever there is one thing we can lose sight of in our daily lives, it's this. Many of us are ashamed to admit we are ungrateful. Let one precious thing be nearly lost, see one blessing go away, realize something you once held is now gone, and you begin to see gratitude more clearly.

Having gratitude can completely alter your perspective on life. You elevate the little things in importance. You understand nothing should be taken for granted. No wonder God takes this so seriously. He has been showing me my own ingratitude the last few weeks. How do you fix it?

Let me list a few ways in which he has helped me.

Pick up that dime that you usually drop and leave and next time say, "Thank you God"

When you look down at that 1/4 of a tank of gas, say "Thank you God"

When an annoying friend shows up on your caller ID, say "Thank you God" for the friend (and the phone!)

When your eating what's left of yesterdays meal for lunch today, say "Thank you God" for the left-overs.

When you're shopping and prices have gone up from the last time, be grateful you have full and overflowing shelves of food from which to chose. "Thank you God"

The next time you pass a cemetary, take a deep, fresh breath of air and say, "Thank you God"

The next time you see a veteren amputee missing an arm or legs, wiggle your toes and say, "Thank you God" for for that man/woman, for my freedom and my toes.

The next time you pass a church stop, pause for just a moment and look at the cross.

Be grateful that Jesus paid the price for your sin. Look at your hands and "Thank God" he took the nails for you.

A Thundering Locomotive

It's coming. While we go from day to day and live according to our own rules and our own dictates, its on its way. While we falsely claim to hold the keys to our lives and our future, its coming. When we ignore God and the precious gift of forgivness God offers us in Christ Jesus, its coming. As we arrogantly push Gods Word and his goodness out of our nation, its coming. While we welcome things God hates and thumb our noses at him, its coming. When people not only condone evil, but practice it and declare it wholesome and healthy, its coming. When we mock Gods laws and his standard of righteousness, get ready..its coming. As people ignore Gods loving patience and mercy in allowing them to turn away from wickedness, its coming. Yes, its coming and nothing can stop it! It will be right on time, his time and when it arrives, many will experience incredible terror and curse its sudden and inescapable arrival....its coming folks, God's Judgment is coming, like a thundering locomotive. It's coming.