11 Megapixels

One day God sent me a picture, and I opened it.  It was all a blurry blob, so I closed it and kept doing what I was doing.  He said to open it again, and I did, but it was not only blurry, it was also out of focus and pixelated, and so I left the page and went back to what I was doing.  He instructed me to open it again, and this time, He also said to watch and wait.  So I did. 

I clicked the picture, and watched as a blurry blob became blurry squares, which soon clearly became thousands of pixels, which shortly fell into place to form a beautiful picture of my life at that time. 

Yup, when the Blurry Blob finally loaded, the Big Picture was as clear as can be, with perfect resolution, and no editing required.  11 megapixel resolution, Jeremiah 29 style.

Today I received another picture, and at first glance, it's just one ugly, blurry blob.  But I know my God.  I know it's another 11 megapixel picture, Jeremiah 29 style.  I'm looking forward to the Big Picture.

I Am Thankful...

...For my parents who loved Jesus enough to get me to want to love Jesus too…

...For siblings who were built-in playmates – our escapades never cease to make me smile…

...For a hero uncle who rescued a little girl…

...For a princess aunt who didn’t believe everything she heard about me, instead gently reminded me that I am loved…

...For a pastor friend who cried at the thought of not seeing me in Heaven someday, and who introduced Jesus to me; I was 10, he was…old (well at least to a ten-year-old!)…

...For a pastor’s wife who invited us to their house for lunch the first time we visited the church, and has been a great friend ever since…

...For in-laws who never saw me as a competitor for their son’s affection; rather, they see me as contributor to his success…

...For life-long friends who’ve had my back when others sought to stab it…

...For a daughter who fights for the underdog, and for her husband who fights alongside her…

…For a granddaughter whose smile lights up a room, whose laughter brightens my day, and whose hugs warm my heart…

...For a daughter who faces her fears by serving her Savior, and for her boyfriend who served beside her…

...For a son who follows his heart, and for his wife who walks beside him…

...For the boy who loved me for who I was back then, and for the man who loves me for who I am now…

...For a Savior who loved me from the start and will continue to love me without end

...For God from Whom all blessings flow.

I am thankful.

Thanks: My GPS

     I am very thankful for the built-in GPS in my car – I try not to leave home without it.  It has taken me to places I never would have dreamed of, through which I never thought to drive, (like the Antioch Bridge between Lodi and Antioch, pictured below);  areas through which I wouldn’t  normally pass; and routes which I didn’t even know existed.

     I wish I could say that car’s nav system keeps me from getting lost.  Au contraire – I am almost always lost (for this reason, I give myself an hour’s head start so that I am only half an hour late going to unfamiliar places).  My nav system merely CONFIRMS that I AM lost!

     Part of the reason for the constant disorientation is the fact that my brain has a difficult time processing left and right directions, as well as North, South, East, and West.  It might have something to do with mild sydlexia.  When The Voice says “In the half mile, make a right turn, then immediate slight right,”  for some reason the car turns left, and then I’d have to watch Sarge (that’s what I started calling The Voice, because it is so bossy) recalculate.

     Sarge isn’t without drawbacks.  After all, the system is only as good as the input.  For example, just today, I plugged in the address for Jim’s work.  It took me to an empty field across a Toys R Us warehouse.  I’d been to Jim’s work in Stockton before, and I didn’t remember a Toys R Us warehouse.  I didn’t realize that the difference between 1976 W. Charter and 1976 E. Charter was 4 miles of road, 20 minutes of traffic. 

     A 5-year old software can also cause problems.   For instance, today, Sarge told me to take the Antioch exit.  THERE IS NO LONGER AN ANTIOCH EXIT!!!  The freeway signs now say Charter.  It was a good thing I was watching the blue line on the screen, instead of the road.  I was able to take the Charter exit which was labeled Antioch on the screen.  Never mind that it took me to Toys R Us instead of Caltrans!

Still, even with all its drawbacks, I am thankful for Sarge, because I know that even with unexpected detours and other bumps in the road, Sarge will eventually get me to where I need to be.

     There is another GPS  upon which I rely – this one has no errors, no miscalculations, is never outdated, and will never steer me into a questionable direction or situation, and would NEVER put my well-being in danger.  When I was lost, it steered me to The Cross.  It gives me the direction I need, and even the routes I need to take.  It tells me that although I CAN go there (All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. I Corinthians 6:12a), I shouldn’t.  This GPS – God’s Problem Solver – is my Bible.  I don’t leave home without it.