Magnify -- to Make Larger

Magnify -- to Make Larger

Is it just me, or have you also been noticing that the fine print on bottles and cosmetics has gotten smaller? It's common for me to pull out my trusty magnifying glass to make those words larger.

My word of the day, and my personal word for this year is MAGNIFY. We make choices every day. We can MAGNIFY the problems and circumstances or we can MAGNIFY our gratitude and the bigness of our God with whom nothing is impossible. What we MAGNIFY, is what we will get more of. We can choose to magnify that one hurtful comment someone made to us or we can magnify the thousands of encouraging and loving comments.

This photo of the frozen waterfall entrance to my community was taken by one of our residents during our frigid temperatures over the last several days. The resident who took the photo posted it on our Next Door app and he received many positive comments. But, then there was one guy who said, "Pretty. Can't wait till the pipes break and they raise the HOA dues again!" Oh me! Do you know which comment our photo-taking resident will dwell on? Hopefully, he MAGNIFIED all those positive comments and not the ONE -- who had such a negative attitude.

We can be MAGNIFYING agents. We can MAGNIFY someone's self-confidence by complimenting them. We can MAGNIFY our spouse by letting them know how much we appreciate them for what they did or we can MAGNIFY what they didn't do. We can make them stronger or weaker. We can MAGNIFY our children's good qualities or MAGNIFY what they're lacking in. Remember -- what we MAGNIFY gets larger. Do we magnify what they're not or magnify what they've got!.

When I think of the word MAGNIFY, I think about the wonderful Christmas Story we just heard many times. When the angel informed young Mary of her destiny as the mother of Christ, she asked a few humble questions and then moved straight into acceptance. Later, her unbridled praise is what strikes me with awe: "My soul MAGNIFIES the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior”. (Luke 1:47) Just think about that young girl whose life was was turned upside-down by God Himself. The Christmas carols make it seem all tender and mild, but who could believe such a cockeyed story that she had NOT been with a man. Her reputation could have been completely ruined. At the very least, her fiancé could have her put away. Mary could have MAGNIFIED her circumstances and her troubles, but instead, she MAGNIFIED Him who should be magnified during our best AND toughest times. .

My life (and yours too, I suspect) is a beautiful hodge-podge of triumph and trial, dreams and disappointments, laughter and tears. I believe MAGNIFYING God’s character will help us keep a healthy, holy perspective no matter what we're going through.

Maybe we are needing the larger print Bible these days to make reading easier, AND we could sure MAGNIFY the words God speaks to us more. If we start MAGNIFYING all that is good, all the blessings, and all that He is, situations and circumstances might just shrink in size and eventually be the NOTHING that is impossible with God! Remember -- what is magnified just gets larger. Let's start here: "Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. " Psalm 34:3

Lord, be MAGNIFIED in my life. I don't want to miss a thing!!!

Is THIS Magnifying Glass Big Enough?

Day 72 of Photo Inspirations:  Is THIS Magnifying Glass  Big Enough?
This is a photo of the top of my grandson's chest of drawers -- an opened Bible with a jumbo magnifying glass on it, and a ship that says "With God all things are possible."

The objects aren't really bigger, but a magnifying glass makes things appear larger than the are.   But in this case, magnifying (focusing on and relying on) the Word of God in our lives, will cause us to dwell on the possibilities that come through trusting in God and His Word.  It will cause us to never doubt that God is BIGGER and GREATER than any of our problems.

This verse says "Oh MAGNIFY the Lord with me and let us exalt His name forever."  Psalm 34:3 -- magnifying (making larger) the goodness and greatness of God in our lives.

Just think about Mary's plight -- she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but who would believe THAT unbelievable story?  She could have been stoned to death for such immorality.  At least that's what the townspeople would want to do.   She WAS pregnant and WHO would believe such a cockeyed story that she had NOT been with a man. Her repution could have been completely ruined. At the very least, her fiance could have her put away.  Mary could have MAGNIFIED her circumstances and her troubles, but instead, she MAGNIFIED Him who should be magnified during our best AND toughest times.  Mary's words in Luke 1:46 Expressed her attitude during her worst of times: "And Mary said, My soul does MAGNIFY the Lord, and rejoices in the God of my salvation,"

We don't need this jumbo magnifying glass to make the Word of God bigger, but if we would MAGNIFY all that is good, all the blessings, and  all that God represents in our lives......then just maybe, those impossible situations and circumstances might just shrink in size and eventually be the NOTHING that is impossible with God!

What Do You Say and Think Each Day to Encourage YOU?

Who do you hang around with the most? YOU!
And guess what, YOU are your own role model and mentor and encourager..
What do you say and think each day to encourage YOU?

Being aware of what we say -- really does make us feel better.....or worse. Do you de-value yourself by saying..."I'm so stupid. I'm so fat. I'm so sick and tired. I'm so sad. I'm so lonely. I'm so afraid." Then, that's probably your reality.

Don't you love to hang out with those people who encourage you and make you feel good about yourself. You probably have a natural, encouraging response to others -- so why not do that, today, for YOU!

Believe me, I am my own greatest cheerleader. I have a wonderful family, and very special friends.....but they are busy with their own lives. So depending on them to be my 24/7 cheerleader, would be ludicrous. I encourage myself DAILY, and here's how!

I do it like David did. "David encouraged himself IN THE LORD." 1 Samuel 30:6. David sang "Oh, magnify the Lord with me." "Magnify" means "to enlarge or make bigger in perspective." We can't make God any bigger than He already is—we can't increase omnipotence—but we can magnify our perspective of God. And, perspective has everything to do with whether we are encouraged, or discouraged.

We can magnify God by speaking of His greatness, His power, His might, His love for us. And, bottom line, when we make God bigger, we make our troubles smaller. Indeed, as David sang his songs of praise, a change came over him. A spark of faith brought a glimmer of hope, and David could feel himself becoming encouraged.

And it's the same for you and me. When we encourage ourselves in the Lord, we recover our joy! I'm not talking about a surface joy, but a deep, abiding joy, that can be present even in the middle of sorrow. I promise you.....I know that JOY, because I get encouraged everyday by my closest friend.....ME! AND, YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND, too......YOU! Now, get your pom poms out, and create a pep rally FOR YOU! "I've got spirit, yes, I do; I've got spirit, how about YOU?