The ancient prophet wrote, "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 NIV What an image that is!

 

Making God smile requires more than words. It calls for action: empowering us to see what HE sees, and to act like HE would act.

 

Bona fided faith faces roadblocks, stumbling blocks and mental blocks with confidence. Wimpy faith is trapped by them. Is your faith bona fided, or wimpy?  

 

Do you look for adventure in life? Are you willing to risk, to take on the impossible and see the invisible? Do you see good in people even before they see it in themselves? Do you see what they can become and do you tell them what you see? 

 

Genuine faith refuses to stay hidden in the background, it's not a private matter. It's a very public "God Thing" with no pretending, or posing. Although there are flashes of insight and revelation; it is mysterious, unfinished, and constantly flipping pages. 

 

Faith is not really about religion or theology, it's about real people and real life and real transformation. The faith that makes God smile lives outside the walls of church. It transforms doubts, fears, and frustrations into strengths and blessings and hope. And it becomes your story…your testimony, your holy moments, your divine appointments, your unwrapped surprises. 

 

Do you have a faith focus? Do you have eyes that can see the invisible and ears that hear God's voice? Or, do you watch from the sidelines  criticizing the players, but never actually getting into the game? 

 

Your faith journey changes you, it morphs you from a believer into a follower. And along the way you learn to get past yourself and bring out the best in others, to give more than you get, and you learn to leave tracks and ripples that show others the way. Before you know it, you become a walking demonstration of Jesus in action. 

 

No one can do it all, but if you want to make God smile, you will DO something.

 

Eight-year old Garrett loves his bike, football, swimming, and video games, not necessarily in that order. 

 

He has been known to jump high enough on his bed to have a close encounter with the ceiling fan, leaving his head temporarily tattooed with stitches. 

 

Not long back he attempted the world record cul-de-sac bike jump for 8- year olds. Now he needs a new bike. 

 

A few days ago, after having his arm fit with a bandaid to protect his latest injury, he returned to his mother for a bandaid adjustment. It was hurting when he moved his arm. So, as mom unwrapped the new bandaid, Garrett said, "I hope this works, this is one of my favorite arms." 

 

I will always be thankful for 8-year olds who have innocent and genuine way that make me smile. 

 

I wonder what it would take to make God smile this week.

 

The spirit of Thanksgiving deserves a little touch up, don't you think? 

 

God loves thanksgiving, it brings out the  best in HIS creation. So this is the perfect week to be the story. Make HIM proud, make a ripple, take a risk, Look for Jesus, forgive like HE did, comfort like HE did, Set people free like HE did. 

 

Ask God to surprise you with just the right moment. Then....