The Everyday Assignment
I have 5 questions for you…then a “DO.”
Does the word assignment have a negative ring for you?
Do assignments cause you to think of work?
If you had a choice, would you ban assignments?
What if an assignment helped you to understand how to live?
What if the assignment was easy?
It is.
Now the “DO” in 7 easy steps.
1. Read this verse: “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.” Job 37:14 (Just so you know, Job was outside much of his life. He usually owned lots of animals. Care for them kept him outside every day. When Job got sick, (a long story you would like.) his friend told him to stop complaining and consider God’s wonders. We can do that.
2. Get your mind set. Look at the photos found in this blog be sure to read the words beneath. Here they are:
This tiny Hummingbird was bathing in the thin film of water on our deck railing. This bird will end up some place in central America for the winter; after a likely flight over 500 miles of the Gulf of Mexico. This is truly a WONDER! Look for the birds…they are filled with God’s wonder. Begin with feathers.
We think, this is just a stump. Nothing here, no value to life, no reason to give our attention to it. Wait…my personal guess-there are a thousand unseen things happening in and on this stump…look again! Find a stump near you…examine it for the wonders of God.
Consider the ants. As you sit or stand still, it is likely there are ants nearby. They won’t hurt you (fire ants in southern places might-but you know what they look like if you live with them.) These are yellow ants…in Minnesota. They are still inside of their nest hole because of rain which has cooled the air outside of their nest. They are keeping warm…A you consider, watch the ants.
Just say the word Monarch…it is a wonder butterfly. This butterfly, a female (no dot on the line below the discal cell.) is nectaring on cup plant. It is fuel for her flight to Mexico. That is a major wonder! Perhaps an even great wonder-she has never been there before-but she knows the way! No monarch? Watch for insects near you.
Want to see God’s wonders? Get up before the sunrise…watch the sunrise. Doing this will fill your soul-all day! Can’t seem to get out of bed that early? Then watch the sunset!
3. Go outside.
4. Find a place where you can sit, stand or lean on a tree-without someone else near to distract you.
5. Stop thinking about other things-think about what you are seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling…what’s happening around you? Be still…do this WITHOUT talking.
6. Consider God’s wonders. The word consider means to think, to study, to marvel and admire. It also means “be amazed.”
7. Go back inside…tell someone about God’s wonders. Even better write what you consider God’s wonders in your journal.
BIG Question:
Did you know you could consider God’s wonders every day? (Yes, even in rain, snow, cold, wind…these are God’s wonders!) Remember, God is infinite-we’ll never run out of God’s wonders.
What do you think might happen?
Here is a little secret: the more you do this, the better you get at it…and the more wonders you see…God’s wonders! This is a much greater thing than we think.