Opportunities, Possibilities, Envy?

I've been contemplating and giving God thanks for so much inspiration to work on various projects, really to just live life in joyful service each day due to His calling, gifting and Him being Jehovah Jireh (my Provider) of opportunities. Transformation beyond where they are at in the moment.

There are SO many possibilities for each one of... of... -yes. YOU... that due to excessive focus on pain, struggle, checking out "what the other has that I don't" we often miss what God is bringing our way. Not what we don't have, but instead serving Him and others with what He HAS provided or is providing. IF we'll pay attention and get our eyes off of self.

One of the greatest blessings of my life has been to work -for- people locked behind bars. Why? Sooooo many reasons, but a massive and deep one is as I choose to trust the Lord, to actually walk in faith, hope and love He puts me in various places with a wide range of people (both inside and outside of incarceration) where I can point out possibilities and opportunities THEY can pray about and have a go with.

Envy of others seeming "success" and "position" is a locust of waste in our souls. Rather than looking up and out at others in need (hey, start with people on your block or across town or in the countryside near you...) we focus on ourselves and if not tending our own character-garden properly we can fall into jealousy and pettiness. Such "stinkin' thinkin'" plants weeds among the weeds already blooming inside us. It promotes a spiritual blindness to opportunities and possibilities we are then numb to even consider -or get off the couch of self-pity and DO something about our own life. Think for a moment what a self-destruct such attitudes are!!

I honestly don't have enough words to state how amazed and blessed I am to bring a load of possibilities, opportunities, a deep, wide and vast stack of ideas to people behind bars as to how their lives can change inside or (as eventually many will be) outside of jail or prison.

Hope happens via those of us who have found in God, His love and his calling and gifting the ability to think beyond self to helping others in genuine, practical ways. Certainly it's all about them sorting, thinking, praying, walking ideas out, trying, failing, reaching out to God and others for help and trying again... or not. And yet that He would use us to be even a small part of truly positive life-transformation in others is the most AMAZING gift of grace!

Think and think again when you're tempted to live in despair, give up, park and lock your heart -and especially when envy moves in by judging God unfair as He seems to be blessing and using others and not you. Instead, consider asking Him "What do You desire for me Father? Help me to think, hear You, see what I might do beyond where I'm at in this season of my life -in service to You and others?"

Ditch the inner or even nasty outer competition with others and serve with what you have for those in need of what you can bring their way. Quit judging and serve!!

45 years ago I had zero sense I'd be so blessed to -regularly- serve people behind bars. Over time God answered my prayers in the most unexpected ways and as I type this morning I'm rejoicing in His grace for others. Alleluia! I give Him THANKS!!

And as always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn