Losing Perspective

One afternoon, a Christian journalist was interviewing astronaut James Irwin.  Irwin was on Apollo 15 and actually stepped foot on the surface of the moon.  As the interview progressed, the writer asked the astronaut, “What did you feel when you stepped out of that capsule and your feet touched the surface of the moon?” Irwin thought a second and said, “it was one of the most profoundly disillusioning moments of my life.”  The journalist quickly asked “Why?”  James explained that his whole life had been spent dreaming about the moon.. how romantic and mysterious it was... and when he got there... all there was when he reached down was plain gray dirt.

James Irwin was standing miles and miles above his hometown on a giant orbiting rock that took thousands of man hours and millions of dollars to reach and all he saw was gray dust.  Have you ever lost perspective like that?  Miss the miracle because all you can see is the mundane?   Forget the positive because of the problems?  Many do.  Never forget to be in awe of God and what He is actively doing in your life.  He provides, protects, supplies, equips, and loves all of us equally and without a single one of us being worthy of it.   When you find yourself tempted to let the uncommon become common... stop... get someplace quiet... and take inventory of the situation.   I guarantee you’ll leave that moment reminded of God’s incredible love for you... and that the ground you’re currently standing on is more beautiful than you realize.

Everything Matters

In 1911, circus stuntman Bobby Leach, threw himself over Niagara Falls in a steel barrel. Amazingly, he survived the fall. Fifteen years later, Bobby slipped on an orange peel and broke his leg in the fall. When it didn’t heal properly, the leg had to be amputated. Eventually gangrene set in and that simple accident took his life.

Our lives are a lot like this tragic story.   We think all is fine because we survive the monumental challenges.. only to damage ourselves with what we consider to be little issues:  A lingering glance at a person who’s not your spouse... a slightly higher number on a report... a “little white lie” about your past ... all seemingly harmless in their own right.  However, they all lead to the same destructive place.  Proverbs 16:17 tells us “The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.”  If we are going to live to our potential, we must intentionally keep watch for things that will throw us off course both big AND small.  And when we find one, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, we need to seek God’s guidance and wisdom to avoid it.  

Put On Their Shoes

Famed novelist William Faulkner was attending a dinner party one evening.  As the guests gathered to sit down for dinner, one of the women became distracted by her conversation and didn’t notice that her chair had been pulled away from the table by a polite gentleman.  As she went to sit, she missed the chair and fell to the floor... surprised and embarrassed.  Faulker, the guest of honor, quickly got up from his own seat and sat down on the floor beside her.  Instead of laughing... he chose the nobler route... empathy.

God calls us to do the same thing.  If we’re going to be able to help others... we have to put ourselves right where they are.  Feel what they feel.  Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  Hebrews 13:3 says to “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  The world acts sympathetic... if we are Christ-followers,  we are called to another level.   Because when we choose to put on their shoes and walk around in them... we are more like Christ.

Listen

Grayson Clamp was born deaf.  He never heard a sound in his life until June of 2013 when he became the first child in the United States to receive an auditory brain stem implant.  The device allows his brain to process sound the way a hearing person’s would.   The first thing he heard?  His father sitting over his bedside saying  “Daddy loves you.  Daddy loves you.”

Today as you listen to this devotional... maybe you need to hear the same thing.  Your Heavenly Father loves you.  He does.  He is passionate about you.  He steps in for you... protects you... provides for you... reaches out for you... and listens to you when you talk to Him.  He never moves from your side and always has His loving arm around you when you get scared.  

Don’t allow the world to cover your ears.  Some people will discourage you and convince you that you are alone.  They will make you feel unloved and remind you that you have made mistakes.  They’ll try to distract you from God’s gentle whispers with silent betrayal and painful criticism.  Don’t let them.  Take some time today... close your eyes... and let God tell you again and again... 

You are mine.

I’m right here.

Daddy loves you. 

Smudges

A story is told of a man whose children each won a goldfish from a carnival.  Not having anything to put them in... the man went to a local pet store for a tank.  As he walked past the expensive aquariums, a sale tag caught his eye.  Five dollars for a used fish tank.  Perfect.  He bought the obviously used and dirty tank and took it home for a good cleaning.  The fish looked beautiful swimming through the now clean glass.  Then they started dying.  One fish was gone by morning... one the next day... and the third?  It held on for two full days.  The man was confused... what had caused these fish to perish?  Then he remembered... when he cleaned the tank he had used soap.  A definite no-no.  Good intentions... bad way of carrying them out. 

Many times we treat our own lives the same way.  Things get dirty... polluted... difficult.. and instead of running to God’s Word to get things clean... we use far more abrasive and toxic methods.  We condemn ourselves and choose to become self-critical.  Before long, we start to believe that what we did defines who we will always be.  We see our stains as permanent and our errors as unforgivable...  And soon after, that dream inside our heart begins to die.   God has another way.  A safer way.  We need to allow Him to define us.  We call ourselves messed-up... God calls us masterpiece.  We say we’re cursed... God calls us blessed.  Ready to do some cleaning?  Don’t be harsh on yourself and abuse what Christ died for... allow His loving words about you to wipe away the smudges on your heart.  

He Never Blinks

In Wellington, New Zealand, scientists discovered the remains of the very rare colossal squid.  During their examination, they measured the creatures eyes... and were shocked!  Each eye was 11 inches across... the size of a regular dinner plate!  Can you imagine how intimidating and scary it was to those swimming through the ocean? Divers simply minding their own business being stared at by a huge undersea creature... with giant eyes that seemed to be sizing them up... ready to attack!

Tragically, many see God in a similar way...  Huge eyes glaring down from Heaven with an intimidating and judgmental gaze... ready to punish and discipline if they make the slightest move.  But that’s not the God we read about in 2 Chronicles 16:9. It says: “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”   His eyes aren’t hunting prey... they are searching for those in prayer.   He isn’t seeking someone to make an example of... He’s looking for someone to make whole again.  God’s eyes are loving... and they are everywhere at the same time.  As you start your day today... close your own eyes and thank God for always watching out for you... Thank Him that He never blinks or removes His gaze... You are His child and He is vigilantly looking for ways to strengthen you for what lies ahead.  

One Way

The late Elvis Presley was known for wearing three different religious symbols at all times:  A Christian cross... a Star of David... and a Hebrew Letter “Chi”.  When asked why, he commonly replied, “I don’t want to miss out on heaven due to a technicality.”

Many treat their faith the same way.  They want to cover their bases... believe a little of this... wear some of that... take this part of belief “A” and pair it with a section of religion “B”...  It simply doesn’t work that way.  John 14:6 tells us “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   This statement leaves no doubt.  No technicalities... no loopholes... no workarounds.  If we want to spend eternity in Heaven with God... we need to believe in and have a relationship with His Son.    While we may be tempted to create our own path... we have to remember that our spiritual walk is not a buffet where we pick and choose... it is a faith in the One who loves us enough to show us the correct road for our journey back home.