Gettin' Right with Jesus!

One of my many goals for 2008 was to "get right with Jesus". The last couple of years have really been a time of growth and reflection but it has also been a very selfish time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions based on feelings and wants instead of "needs" and "shoulds". So anyway, I had my first quiet time in I don't know how long last night and I wanted to share a story:

Long before the days of hopping on a plan to get to another country, we had to rely on traveling by boat (imagine that- a month long trip on a darn boat). So there was this poor man who longed to travel to another country. He saved for months and months and finally he was able to save enough money to purchase a ticket. Since he only had enough money to purchase the ticket and didnt think he could afford meals on the ship, the poor man filled a large suitcase with cheese and crackers. Night after night the man would sit in a corner and eat his cheese and crackers as all the other guests dinned on fine food and drink. He would savor the smells of the food and he often daydreamed about what the food must taste like. One evening during dinner another man from the ship approached the poor man. He said that he had witnessed him eating his cheese and crackers night after night and he wondered why the poor man did not eat in the dinning hall with all the other guests. Somewhat embarrassed, the poor man responed that he only had enough money to purchase the ticket and did not have enough money for food. The other man just laughed and said " didn't you realize that when you bought your ticket, that it included the meals?"

This story really spoke to me because I realized that so many times we limit our blessings. We are so blind to what God has for us that we cannot see our gifts even when they are right in front of us. God has already paid the price for us to have everything that He says we can have....we just have to be bold, have confidence, and take it with authority. So guys- don't miss out on your blessings. Even when you think you don't deserve it- take it- then turn around a be a blessing to someone else!