Keep Looking Up

How many times in the past month have you taken the time to just lift your head and look up? Especially at night? When is the last time you have taken a look at the stars and really looked more than just to say at yourself “yep, there are sure are a lot of stars tonight.” But today I want you to ask yourself a question. Do the stars matter?

After having taken a long break from writing and thinking on the page I was reading about a group of guys who must have looked at the stars every night. The reason I know this is because they knew that one particular night there was a difference in the heavens. It says “We saw his star when it rose…” They knew something was different and that there was a meaning behind it. These men later found out that this new star was a fulfilling of a prophecy of long ago. Of course, you know the story as the Christmas Story and these men who came to worship Jesus and bring gifts were the Magi from the east.

So, right now you’re wondering what this has to do with you or me???? Right…

Well, what this has to do with you and me is that there are signs all around you that mean something. It could be a star, it could be a word from inside yourself, or it could even be a word from someone else. It’s really not a matter of if you are going to get a sign but will you recognize it and will you do anything with it… I am talking about your ethos and purpose in life. God has uniquely positioned you in the right place at the right time with the right gifts and abilities for such a time as this. Just like He placed a star in the heavens for those Magi to follow, God has placed you right where you are on purpose. Yep, I know the argument you will have with this and you’re going to say “but Bryan, I’m not where I want to be or even where I should be.” and I can agree with that….kinda.

Just like the Magi, they were not where they needed to be but they were where they were. (boy, that sounded profound) I think like many of us we get caught in two different battles. One, we don’t pay attention to what God is doing around us, for us, or in us and two, we think that just because we are not where we think we should be or where we want to be then we are not useful. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The first thing we need to do is understand a little better who God is and therefore who we are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) God loves you and wants the best for you. God made you different than he made anyone else. You have a different look, a different style, a different set of gifts and preferences and skills. All of this comes together to make the best version of you possible.

Ok, I know I haven’t explained everything to the end but I will start to do this in the next few posts. For now, I want you to take a look at who you are and what God has put together in you. Then we can take a look at the world a little differently. We can look at the world through the lens of what God has put you here for and not just what others want you to do… I think God wants you to look at the stars and marvel in His expanse, His majesty, and His personal love that he has for you today. Then, just as the Magi did all those years ago, we can start our own journey toward the star that God has for you.

God bless and we will talk soon

Bryan