Do You Realize What You Have?
Back when our children were little, I changed their diapers, fed them, gave them baths, played with them, and read them stories. I did everything I knew to do, while all the time trying to run our household and be a good helpmate to Joel. At the start of a new day, I'd do it all over again. Some people would look on that and reduce it down in their thinking to average, routine, mediocre, mundane, and certainly not the pathway to a successful life. But what they don't realize is that through all those years, God was building extraordinary in me, so I can do what I do today. They don't understand that deep down in my heart I had heard the words, "Just be faithful in the small," and that pressing through the challenges of that routine taught me the commitment I would need for the ministry life that came later.
Today I want to remind you that Jesus said, "I came that you may have life, and have it in abundance" (John 10:10). He came so that we could live an abundant life, an extraordinary life, an exceptional life. But too often we take our God-given extraordinary life, and we let someone else's definition of success to determine that we're average. But God wants you to be extraordinary in your thinking. He wants you to expect more, to strive for more, to go for more, because when you're the very best you can be today, your tomorrow will be better. When you prepare for today, you'll be ready for tomorrow's opportunities. When preparation meets opportunity, it's called success. That's what happens when we have an extraordinary mind-set that expects to be full of joy, abundance, creativity, and blessing.
We all want to live an extraordinary life, but do you realize that extraordinary begins with who you are? God says you are His masterpiece, an original creation. You have callings and gifts that are matchless. Only you can do what God has called you to do. Only you were created to be you. You were designed uniquely to be extraordinary.
In the routine times, stay faithful. God is preparing you. You are passing the test. He wants to give you greater opportunities, a greater life and destiny. No matter what you face, on the other side of that difficulty is extraordinary. It is worth putting your best effort into it even when you don't see where the routine is taking you. Then you realize that you have an extraordinary job, an extraordinary family, and an extraordinary life to share with others. You may not see where it's taking you all the time, but it will lead you to extraordinary.
Today I want to remind you that Jesus said, "I came that you may have life, and have it in abundance" (John 10:10). He came so that we could live an abundant life, an extraordinary life, an exceptional life. But too often we take our God-given extraordinary life, and we let someone else's definition of success to determine that we're average. But God wants you to be extraordinary in your thinking. He wants you to expect more, to strive for more, to go for more, because when you're the very best you can be today, your tomorrow will be better. When you prepare for today, you'll be ready for tomorrow's opportunities. When preparation meets opportunity, it's called success. That's what happens when we have an extraordinary mind-set that expects to be full of joy, abundance, creativity, and blessing.
We all want to live an extraordinary life, but do you realize that extraordinary begins with who you are? God says you are His masterpiece, an original creation. You have callings and gifts that are matchless. Only you can do what God has called you to do. Only you were created to be you. You were designed uniquely to be extraordinary.
In the routine times, stay faithful. God is preparing you. You are passing the test. He wants to give you greater opportunities, a greater life and destiny. No matter what you face, on the other side of that difficulty is extraordinary. It is worth putting your best effort into it even when you don't see where the routine is taking you. Then you realize that you have an extraordinary job, an extraordinary family, and an extraordinary life to share with others. You may not see where it's taking you all the time, but it will lead you to extraordinary.