Preoccupied with Getting or Respond to God's Giving?

I always find it interesting that there are just as many sales AFTER Christmas as before. We are so "preoccupied with getting". It's returning the gifts because the color is wrong, or because it wasn't really want you wanted, or you decided something bigger, smaller, or whatever, would be better. 

"What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 

Matt 6:31-33 (The Message)

So often we find ourselves preoccupied with what we WANT, that we ignore our needs, or miss out of the gifts God has for us.

Often God has a gift for us

that is greater than we could comprehend.

Need an example? My grills. 

God provided a nice small charcoal grill in July 2010. I was so happy! It was small but the food sure tasted great. I was extremely happy just to have a grill, the size didn't really matter. 

But God had even

GREATER gifts in store for me. 

In Oct 2010, God gave me a HUGE 4-burner grill. This grill was SO LARGE that it didn't fit on my balcony.

Did God make a mistake? He gave me a very small grill, than an EXTRA LARGE grill.  

NO, He did NOT make a mistake!

Rather He had a greater  plan in mind.

He wanted to give multiple gifts so that I in turn could pass along His gifts! I gave the large grill to friends and they in turn bought me a smaller electric grill. The electric grill is much easier for me to use, since it's higher than my old grill. And I don't have to use charcoal or gas—just plug it in and enjoy!

So, instead of ONE grill,

God gave me THREE—

small, large, and "just right". 

I had wanted a grill for several years. I priced them and in fact almost bought one several times. However, each time I considered making the purchase, I knew that spending the money on a grill was not the wisest thing to do. I had to change my thinking from being preoccupied with getting and allow God to GIVE, in His time in His Way. 

As I look back over the past few months and how God worked out all the grill details, I am so thankful that I allowed God to give me His gifts. If I had purchased a grill, I would have missed out on so much, not to mention my friends wouldn't have been blessed with their new grill. 

This year (and beyond), I want to continue to evaluate my motives and my desires.

Am I preoccupied with getting?

Or am I focused on God-reality,

God-initiative, God-provisions?

If I focus my thoughts and actions on God and His will for me, He'll supply my needs in His time and in His way. And often He gives some unique and wonderful gifts too!

Creating a positive day

is not about focusing

on the things I need or want,

but rather focusing on God

and is loving care for me.

New Years Recipe

New Years Recipe

 
Take twelve whole months,
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy,
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.
 
Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or
thirty-one different parts,
but don't make up the whole batch at once.
Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.
 
Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience, one part of courage,
and one part of work.
 
Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer,
one part meditation, and one good deed.
Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cupful of good humor.
 
Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness.
 
You're bound to have a Happy New Year. 
Author Unknown

Wonderful Christmas!

It's a wonderful Christmas! 

Enjoyed a white Christmas this year. The above picture was taken from my balcony this morning. A beautiful sight to begin the day.  Read Luke 1-3 from my new "The Message Bible". And took time to thank God for His gift of salvation. 

Opened gifts from family and friends. God has blessed me with some of the most amazing people. I'm very thankful they are part of my life.

For Christmas dinner, I used my NEW ELECTRIC GRILL! It's so easy to use and the food tastes GREAT!  The menu consisted of: Grilled and hickory smoked onions, peppers, portabella mushrooms, tomatoes on a Brown rice Pizza crust with homemade pizza sauce. YUM!!!

Onions and Peppers starting to cook.

Onions finishing up and tomatoes starting.

Portabella Mushrooms smoking.

The grill fits perfect on my balcony and the hickory smoked smelled wonderful.

Pizza's finishing up on the grill.

Christmas dinner. YUM!

Hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas Day! Wishing you a POSITIVE 2011!

Merry Christmas!

Max on the Phone

One thing I enjoy about Max are his "human" antics. 

His newest place to sit is on the CD remote next to the phone. But he doesn't just sit there, he "talks" into the phone! He chats and chips, and there are even some "pretty bird" and 'happy" chants. As I watch him, it makes me smile and at times I even giggle.

God knows how important laughter

and giggles are to creating a positive day!

Max waiting for a call.

Max talking on the phone.

Max listening intently.

"Excuse me! I'm on the phone!" I asked Max who He was talking to, and he gave me this look!