Today ended up being a very long day. I ended up receiving far less sleep than my body required (thanks to a long maintenance period for work), but was able to participate in some pretty awesome things that made every minute worthwhile. For example:
1. Meeting up with some great friends at Starbucks. It's not really about the coffee (in fact, I smuggled in my own), it's about fellowship.
2. Even though the delivery was crude, broken and unpolished, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a man observed to be deeply hurt and jaded.
3. Snuggling (if only for a few minutes) with my amazing wife.
4. Getting crazy with some raw ingredients lying around the house, to spontaneously bake some banana bread for the kids to enjoy.
5. Realizing that we're blessed to actually have electricity, water and household appliances designed to bear the burden of cleansing our clothes and cutlery.
6. Participating in a very intimate worship service at church tonight.
7. Paying for Chai Tea for my wife and I with a free coupon and a fist full of quarters!
8. Having meaningful conversation with Robbie of West Salem Quiznos. (He's a genuine human being and his customer service skills are peerless.)
9. My heart beamed with pride, as my daughter ran a full block home to retrieve a plastic bag without complaint, as to which she used to clean up the droppings left by our dog during an afternoon walk of the neighborhood.
"Thank you, Jesus for the tapestry of blessing you freely showered on me today. Even though there were also some negative things which occurred, I'm choosing to remain focused on all of the beauty you've imparted in these examples above! Amen."
I just had to come back and add these scriptures, which align with my thoughts:
James 1:16-18 (The Message)
16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)
8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Good Night
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