I’m sitting in the honeymoon suite of a hotel in Billings, Montana. The sweet people at the hospital we’re working with this week put us up in this room on purpose. They found out that the last time Lisa and I were in Montana was our first honeymoon, a mission trip to Montana with about 50 people from our church. They wanted the second go around to be a little more like a honeymoon.
We are in between events for the day so Lisa and I came back to the room to take care of a couple of emails and check in with people back in Tennessee. The funny thing is this…with every email and phone call I find myself slipping deeper and deeper into a sense of worship. There are good reasons for it. It’s an email from my daughter, a message from my good friend in Georgia, a text from our PR director/friend (Kimberly) and a quick look at our calendar. It’s my amazing neighbor sending me pictures of a sunset from our back yard. It’s snuggling on the love seat with my wife. It’s recalling the conversations with the wonderful people from this morning.
Bottom line…I’ve got lots of reasons to worship.
So do you.
You simply have to find the reasons that are all around you. The problem is that you and I spend too much time whining, too much time complaining about our poor situations or our bad circumstances. Change your point of view and see if you don’t find yourself slipping into worship as well. Here some ideas to help…
Make a list of friends starting with elementary school and say a prayer for them.
Step out in your backyard and leave your cell phone inside. Listen to the sounds and watch the sights around you. Remember that none of it belongs to you and ALL of it was given to you.
Call a brother, sister, parent or friend you haven’t talked to in a while and let them know you are thinking of them. Remember that you didn’t choose your family. God gave it to you.
Find someone you don’t know that does a mundane job to serve you and sincerely thank them for the excellence with which they do it. You’ll be glad you did; they’ll be glad you noticed.
Thank you so much for coming to Montana, Ridley. You and Lisa are extraordinary people doing the Lord’s calling and I am thankful that He brought you both to speak to our hospital leadership. Your story and encouragement made a dramatic impact on our leaders, and me personally. Hearing your story and getting the opportunity to meet you and ask you questions and your thoughts was powerful and renewed for me a passion for what the Lord has called me to do in life right now. I know that God brought you both to Montana for a purpose, and I am excited to see what He has in store. Thank you for your courage, heart of forgiveness, and willingness to follow God’s direction. You will likely not truly know the full extent of the impact you are making on people’s lives. I truly feel we will get the opportunity to meet again and be able to work together in the future. Thanks Ridley! Lonnye