Glory Days
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, September 12, 2013
"I'm bored," complained my oldest son. "I don't have anything to do." Normally, those words created images of countless tasks to give my son during our homeschool day. However, today I sensed the Lord asking me to teach a lesson from His Word instead.
"Mountaintop experiences don't happen every day," I said. "You'll find that life is usually 80% ordinary and 20% extraordinary. Most of your life will involve being faithful in the normal everyday routine, but when God chooses, He will give something that changes your life forever."
Exciting experiences can be bought in this life, but the life-changing moments that give true satisfaction and fulfillment come only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who faithfully lived a quiet life until the angel Gabriel told her she would give birth to the Savior. Joseph became ruler over Egypt after years of suffering and separation from his family. Moses met God through a burning bush after 40 years of isolated living as a shepherd.
Looking back on your life, how many extraordinary moments have you had? Faithfully serving God in the ordinary makes you a candidate to serve God in the extraordinary. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21).
Father, help me to remember that You have a special plan and purpose for my life. May I be found faithful in the everyday things, so I am ready for the extraordinary moments when they come. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(10 comments)
MOLLY W 09/13/2009 04:28:27
I sat down for a quick moment yesterday to read my e-mail. I was having one of THOSE days - full of discouragement, frustration, and impatience. I almost didn't even take the time to read this quick devotion, but I am so grateful that I did carve out that moment. It was just what I needed!
ELISHA H 09/12/2010 02:29:58
Just want to say thank you! I needed this reminder, God is so gentle in His correction!
MARCEE R 09/12/2010 09:10:15
I love each morning when I can drink coffee and read Daily Focus! Todays devotional really spoke to my heart. Thank you:)
Leslie-Ann B 09/12/2010 10:09:15
Thank you. Please let those two words speak multitudes about my appreciation for this devotional inparticular, but really all of them.
MELISA D 09/13/2010 18:18:38
Wow this devotion reminded me of the extraordinary thing that happened to me. I went to tennessee with my dad. We actually went to Toby Macs studio. He is an awesome Christian music artist. We went and come to find out my favorite band was their Barlow Girl. I got a picture with the drummer. After that Mandisa walked in! It was really cool. I always thought it was cool but now through that devotion I realize that was a gift from God. I can use that as a great conversation starter and use that experience to witness to other people.
Thank you so much. I pray that God continues to use you to encourage people. God Bless :)
LORENA C 09/12/2011 03:44:42
Thanks again for another wonderful devotion. My heart is always blessed when I read the Daily Focus.
TERESA G 09/12/2012 05:23:16
God is always right on time! I needed this confirmation and here it is in today\'s devotional. Thank you for allowing God to speak to me through the words he gave to you.
CHARITY C 09/12/2012 05:50:45
Awesome!!! I so needed to hear this today. I love the extraordinary...and live to find it every moment I can get. Going to continue to live in the ordinary moments of life until I see another extraordinary moment with my Jesus. Thanks for this devo...right on time!!!!
MARSHALL W 09/12/2012 06:12:44
This is our 1st year to home school, it is a larger task than we expected. We have 3 girls ages 13, 14, 15, they are my wife\'s nieces. They were taken from their mother because of neglect and abuse when the oldest was 9, we have been raising them since. They could not read, write, and had no math skills at all. They have come a long way even being in public schools, mostly because of our active involvement, but as they entered junior high we noticed they weren\'t bringing much homework home and they were not allowed to bring their textbooks home for us to help them. During a parent, teacher, student progress meeting I directly asked why they could nto bring their text books home and also why they were getting excellent marks in all subjects when I would test them at home using elementary math, history and science questions and they would fail miserably. They said they were being evaulated on their level of understanding. I asked so are you going to let them graduate, even though they are clearly still far behind their normal grade level. The answer was, yes they would do the best they could for them considering their handicap, but they would graduate at whatever level they were able to attain. When I demanded to see their text books especially science and history, I lost my cool. They teach Darwin\'s theory of evolution as fact even though modern discoveries have proven it is not even a theory. They have re-written American History to say that our founding father\'s were mostly diests, who may have believe in God and placed no importance on Christian ethics, as the foundation of our government and laws. They founded our country because it was good business practice. I could not let it continue, so we are home schooling. It is a struggle, the girls had it much easier in public school. They really weren\'t having to work at learning, it was mostly just a place to socialize with their friends. But as the focus says God has a plan for all of us, I guess mine is to do this as best I can at 63 years old. I am sure the reward will be worth our effort. Pray for us as we pray for you all who are home schooling. Marshall W.
KATHY S 09/12/2012 07:13:43
Marshall W.
It sounds like you and your wife are doing something extraordinary for God by Caring for and teaching your neices.
I cannot think of one good thing to say about our Public school systems, and your testimony just was another confirmation as to why.
I give you and your wife so much credit for what your are doing, it is a big job. May God be with you and your wife, and help you through the upcoming years.
Sometimes our daily homeschooling, our daily life and routines can be extraordinary for the Lord when there are special circumstances. My son is \"Special\". So each day that we go through is packed with patience, love, and alot of extra special help and moments. So to me, I feel as though God has given me an extra special job already. But, If he has another, I will be excited to see what it is! Thank you God for any and all jobs that you have given me, may you always give me the ability to complete them. Amen.