Friends, are you discouraged by the state of our nation?
You’re like, uh yeea-uhh.
Well, maybe not like that, but something in the affirmative.
Yep, me too.
Things aren’t likely going to get better for America, no matter who becomes President because our government is a reflection of the people. Unless the hearts of the people are changed, I expect things to grow far darker.
Even so, there’s one simple thing we can do to practice “seeing” in the darkness. You might want to get a pen and paper to write it down in big fat bold letters.
GATHER UP GOD’S GOODNESS, TODAY
That’s it. We need to gather every last speck of it, in every place we can find it. We want it up to our eyeballs, bulging out our cheeks and falling out of stuffed pockets, because the time will come when we’ll need to make some hefty withdrawals.
If we spend our days fixated on error, evil, suffering and all that is wrong, we fail to heed Jesus’ simple instruction: “Fix your eyes on Me.”
Surely, our Lord isn’t telling us to deny that there’s an evil storm brewing around us, but what He is telling us is that fixating on it will sink us. It may seem like a good thing, but focusing on what is evil is not the same thing as focusing on Truth. Be aware of evil, but not fixated.
The same is true with suffering. For Heaven’s sake, if we or our friends are suffering, the worst thing we can do is deny the pain. It’s real, it hurts and it only heals through exposure and the TLC of people. But right there in the flesh, we see God’s goodness. Focus on that. Store it up.
All those other things? You know the bad stuff that easily makes entry into our hearts — the lies, the hate, the violence, the corruption — that stuff hardens hearts and steals our faith.
Today, we can fill the storehouses of our hearts and minds with all that is lovely — not only the words written in the Bible, but EVERYTHING good. Laugh, sing, dance and let your heart delight in the fact that God created it all — and it’s good.
Look at all those flowers growing, especially those that no one planted. What beauty and cheer they bring to this dark world. Every. Single. Day. God is good and the evidence is everywhere. Wait for it. Look for it. Store it up. We’re gonna need it — not only for ourselves, but for others — to encourage and build one another up.
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” – James 1:17
That’s it for now. I’m gonna go look at flowers. I might even dance… maybe with flowers in my hair. Just kidding — laugh! =D
Your friend in life, faith & art ~ Jamie
