How do you SEE God today?

Are you looking at your circumstances and then looking to God to persuade Him to do it your way?

Or are you seeing God first and then looking at your circumstances?

Have you thought lately about how big God is?

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?  Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?”    Isaiah 40:12 NIV

"”Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”             Isaiah 40:26 NIV

He measures the waters of the earth in his hand and calls each of the stars by name!  That is astounding…and we worry about what might happen tomorrow.  He is the Great I Am!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV

He upholds us with the same right hand that He uses to measure the waters of the earth.  What reason do we have to doubt Him?  To think that He doesn’t have it all under control?  He deserves praise and honor for what He’s done for us and we usually burden Him with our sins and offenses (Isaiah 43:24-25) and He still chooses to blot out our transgressions and remembers our sins no more.

So take today to set aside your worries and concerns, VIEW God for who He is and what He’s done – then look at life’s circumstances. Allow Him to use YOU to bring Him glory no matter how you feel things ought to be.  Trust in Him, He knows exactly what you need.

Thumbs Up!

It all started last fall…Judah was attending a tumbling class and he had done a somersault, jumped up from the mat, looked at his dad on the sidelines and gave him a huge thumbs up.  So, ever since then, it has been a means of encouragement around our house.  When the kids are trying to show me something that they’re doing, I can show my approval by giving a thumbs up.

About a month ago, during our homeschool lessons, I gave Hosanna a thumbs up regarding what she was working on.  She gave me one in return and took it a step further.

She gave me what she called ‘a high five thumb’.  A smaller version of a high five…so cute.

And another time, it was this: ‘A hug thumb’ – an even sweeter way to give a thumbs up.

These are just a few ways we demonstrate encouragement at our house.  We all need it and it’s especially important to give kids a thumbs up to reinforce their positive behavior.

Give someone a thumbs up today…add a high five thumb or a hug thumb if you’re so inclined!