Greater Things Will You Do!

What a day to be alive!! I keep saying that when I see yet another new electronic game, toy, machine or gadget is introduced to the market. And, no sooner does it make its debut, that that item is sold out because we just can't wait to get our hands on it.
nds on it.

I am so amused as I watch my two youngest grandsons enjoy their high tech Christmas gifts. Of course, the 2017 Madden Football and the 2017 NBA video games were Brennan's attention getter, but the one that grabbed Bryson's attention the most was his remote controlled fishing boat.

Though he tried it out in the swimming pool first, he wouldn't settle until we took it down to the creek to try to catch a fish with it. With all his effort, those fish were just not attracted to a buzzing fishing boat with cheese on the hook to lure them in. LOL!

The other gimmick toy was the biggest bubble ever. Long gone are the days of those little bubbles we blew from the tubes and tiny straw. These giant bubbles are strong enough to sit and read on them! LOL!

My big boys enjoyed the video games and without much encouragement, they got some fresh air and exercise on the basketball court.

But, back to all this new technology and innovations. Wonder if that was what Jesus had in mind when He said, "And greater things than what I do, you will do." John 14:12. Goodness gracious -- Jesus walked everywhere, he was so in touch with others that He knew what they were thinking, his eyes were looking to see what He could do or help someone in need. He was multi-tasking all the time. What a day it is to be alive to experience so much innovation, witness brilliant minds coming up with such creativity (I love "Shark Tank" where week after week people are coming up with innovative ways to do things.)

We heard the song, "Mary, Did You Know?" so many times over the Christmas season, and I think about all the Mamas out there who could have been asked similar questions "Mrs. Ford, DID YOU KNOW that your son would invent the car?" "Mrs Wright, DID YOU KNOW your boys would invent the first airplane?" "Mrs. Gates, DID YOU KNOW your son, Bill, would be a world leader and innovator in computer technology?" Mrs. Zuckerberg, DID YOU KNOW your son, Mark, would create Facebook?"

Sincerely, we are the only one who can put limits to what we can achieve. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said "I am telling you the truth: It's good for you that I'm going away. If I don't go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) won't come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you." John 16:7. How awesome is that? He is in us, and greater things, greater results and greater accomplishments we can achieve because our CREATOR, came to us as the Baby in the Manger. Oh, but He grew up and opened the door for our creativity and our freedom of being and doing anything we set our minds to do. After all, He Who knows everything about everything lives BIG in us! EMMANUEL -- God with us!

Are You a Control Freak?

That was our discussion at Life Group last night. After hearing a most compelling message on Sunday about "surrendering our need to control", it seemed all of us, in one way or the other, realized we just might have some "control" issues. I didn't think of myself as being a controller until the example was used of "having to have the bath towels folded in a certain way". Oh me! That's me. I get a little frustrated when I see someone folding towels with the tag up and the ends are all different on every towel. I told the girls "I heard that message and remembered how, at James Mission, when we were sorting and folding clothes, I would go behind the other girls and refold what they had already folded. What in the world? Who knew? But after hearing that message, I was pegged as a "controller"!

Maybe you are a "control freak" or least live with one? Maybe it's better to say "have control issues". You know -- the one that MUST be in charge of the remote control. Or the one that is telling the driver how to drive and where to turn and how fast to go. Or how about the helicopter parents (the overprotective parents) that hover over every move of their kids. That's considered a "control freak". Pastor Craig admitted to being a control freak too. He said there are days that the fingerprints on their back windows and doors really freak him out, because he wants that beautiful view of his backyard. But, he came to realize that the day would soon come when all the kids have left home and on their own, that he'd long to see those little fingerprints again. I wanted to whisper in his ear...."Oh, you will -- when the grandkids show up!"

Bottom line.....it's time to let go of having to control. It's time to choose "surrender" over "control". Submitting instead of controlling. I think God's Word says it best in Proverbs 3:5-6 (my favorite verse -- and one I need to practice more and more) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways, SUBMIT to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

May God help us loosen our grip on control. May we surrender all to He Who knows best, guides best, and guides best.

Retirement -- Not a Word in my Vocabulary!

We all have treasures inside of us -- there's skills, talents and potential that God put there, and it's up to us to grow and develop them. If we don't, we'll find that "rocking chair" or "couch" -- "just switching channels on the remote control" -- becomes "that's all there is" to us. We will have stopped growing and when we do, we'll start dying to ambition, risk-taking, living life large, and refusing adventure and excitement. Did you know the wealthiest places on this earth are in cemeteries -- where there are businesses that were never founded, songs that were never sung, books that were never written, potential never realiized?

As for me (and, Judi Dench).... I'm going to keep learning new skills, reading books, taking internet courses, going to seminars, gleaning from mentors. I refuse to coast through life. I don't use the word "retirement" in my vocabulary. Retirement isn't a word found in the Bible (my source of inspiration and how to live life). However, we can read about re-firement many times over. And, that's me. I'm purposing to make the moments count -- I'm going to keep on KEEPING ON....I am going to LIVE and GROW ON PURPOSE....and help a lot of other folks GROW ON PURPOSE with me!!!