Being thankful =)!

So my devotions yesterday was based around Isaiah 42:10-16 but what got my attention initially were the preceding verses; 1-9. The first 9 verses were about being His Chosen Servant (referring to His Son Jesus) but also applies to us.

Every single person on this earth – in all the billions that there are – has been chosen and called to do a specific thing on this earth. How totally mindblowing is that???? No matter what part of the world we happen to be born in, no matter the background, God has a plan for every single living breathing person – but it’s up to us to make the choice of whether or not we will follow Him and go where He wants us to go!

Ok, so what about those who are born into poverty (e.g. Africa or parts of Asia, South America …), how can they choose to live for God when they can actually barely live due to famine or disease? An interesting and sometimes highly debated thought but if parents or those who are caring for them are living as God has called them to live and showing His characteristics (love, grace, mercy, help, giving hope), then God will move, He will touch their lives and then they can choose to make a difference about what is happening to them.

God always hears those who cry out to Him – He will never forsake them, nor us – therefore it is as equally as important for us who have been blessed to be living in the ‘first world’ (as it’s deemed by the UN) to be praying for and assisting financially as much as possible. Maybe, even volunteering in these regions – getting out of the comfort zone of your everyday life!

And yes, do I actually walk what I talk? Well, I have been on mission trips that have actually made a difference to communities – helping teach English, repainting schools after savage floods have decimated the village, planting lychee plants to help the local community etc and I sponsor a child which gives me endless joy (although, I must pick up on my letter writing skills). What always brings a tear to my eye is when I look at the picture of my sponsor child and her family and remember the dream she has for her life: she wants to become a doctor to help cure her older brother who is autistic and has epilepsy. Although young kids always have these kind of dreams … “I want to be a doctor, I want to be a policeman, I want to be …), for her to be so specific as she was at the age of 6 ... well that blew me away and her resolve hasn’t changed in nearly two years. How can I ever turn my back on that or even contemplate disregarding her dreams. Elis has been such a blessing in my life, a privilege that I never want to take for granted!

Now, back to Isaiah 42 – verses 10 to 16 are about offering a praise to Him for all He has done and all that He will continue to do. Do our lives offer Him praise in all that we say, do and think? Can people ‘spot the difference’ when they see us, speak with us or even hear about us? Are people challenged to go to the next level when we’re in their company or happy to just stay where they are … stay in the land of mediocrity?

Are we only thankful when we get all the ‘stuff’ we want? New handbag, new shoes, new game system, new car, new clothes, new appliances, new furniture, pay rise????? God is not (and either am I) saying that these things are bad, He is just wanting to make sure that we praise Him for everything and in any situation. Our bodies are a temple and God wants us to take care of ourselves but it really is what is on the inside that makes the difference – no new handbag from Oroton or LV will change our character; no new C & K or Milano Blaniks will make us a better person; another outfit that we will probably only wear once or twice will not attract more people to us(initially probably but unlikely for a real friendship); complaining that we have put on another kilo or two WILL NOT actually matter if Jesus came today. Ouch … yes, harsh but you know what, as it says in 1 Samuel 16:7 “…Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

I love God and for all the blessings He has poured into my life, but you know what, the ones that I’m truly thankful for are the ones that cannot be measured by money – my family, the House I am planted in, my friends and really life in general. I have an awesome opportunity to have ‘self-adopted’ myself as my friend’s older sister and I’m having a blast – being a pain at times (as only sisters can do!!) but also being able just to say hi every now and then makes the day a little less tedious! (and forever checking up on him with his thesis … ah ha ha!!). The people in my urban life are AMAZING! I’ve really only met them in the last couple of weeks but really see so much greatness in them – am so in awe of God for guiding me to this group.

All in all, yes, there are some things in my life that through my own bad decisions I must ride out the circumstances but they are nothing compared with all the phenomenal things I’m discovering God has in store for me today and in the future!!

xoxo