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!!!

I Waved Farewell to the Past

The Word of the Day: PAST -- no longer existing. Remember the Von Trapp Family in the "Sound of Music" singing "So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, good-bye"? That's what I did on New Year's Eve." The PAST is now the PAST. And, what a way to say farewell than in a predominately African American crowd at Potter's House - North Dallas! I'm talking "HIGH PRAISES" as we lifted our voices, hands, hearts and even our bodies in joy and gratitude for God's amazing grace that brought us through another year and now a new year of great HOPE (that was the word spoken) for the GOOD things that our God has for us.

We bid a fond farewell to the PAST and we closed the door to its many ups and downs. The door burst wide open to 2018. Isaiah 43:18 says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the PAST."

I want MORE than ever before in 2018. I'm not talking about things, but as I live in the "God with us" mode, at any time and place, He may come with expectations OF me and surprises FOR me. 2018 will bring a milestone birthday to me, so rather than looking at the PAST, I’m looking ahead. I’m very aware, by now, that life is short. I know that I have less time ahead of me than behind me, so each day I will purpose to live with an eternal perspective. The things that once “bugged” me have very little import to me now. Some quirky people with quirky little ways that annoyed me before, don’t bother me as much now. I can zip my lip instead of needing to have the last word -- so much more intentional than I was before. Now, I’ve reversed that “easily-bugged-mentality” to “In the light of eternity, does it really matter?” Maybe it’s because I’m becoming less attached to this side of heaven than ever before. The Apostle Paul said, “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind (the PAST) and straining toward what is ahead. I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” Phil 3:14

As I pondered 2018, these words came to me: multiply, enlarge, maximize, escalate, magnify, stretch, increase, press. All those words express my desire in knowing God more – experiencing His presence more – taking on His character more. I’ve been harping on “God with us” – Emmanuel -- in several of my posts lately. I think I’m getting it. I desire my love for Him to multiply, to enlarge, escalate and maximize. I want to magnify (make larger) His presence. I want my faith to stretch and increase. I want the PAST to be the PAST and, like St. Paul, I want to PRESS toward the goal for which God has called me.

Whether you are someone who thinks you have more years before you than behind you, or you are like me and you know you have more years behind you than before, maybe it’s time to consider “What if 2018 is my LAST YEAR, here?”

Before we declare this is the year we climb Mount Everest, ride an elephant on a safari or become gluten-free, let’s pause. Maybe our desires for this new year should trump all the rest – to be aware of God’s grace and presence with us than ever before. So, "Farewell, PAST!" Seeing the UNSEEN in 2018 -- in every facet of life -- just may bring us the best year and YEARS EVER!

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?