Today while I was visiting the hospital, I could feel a headache coming on and felt the need for a Diet Pepsi.  I found a vending machine and put in my dollar and then when I got ready to put in my other dollar for the $1.25 drink, it would not take my dollar.  I tried again and again and again, but with no luck.  I noticed that two senior adult ladies were watching and getting quite a kick out of watching this motorcycle dude having a hard time with the drink machine.

I walked over to ask them if either of them had four quarters.  I thought since the machine would not take my dollar, that maybe it would take quarters.  I got the quarters and tried each one at least twice and they ran right through it.  I then got the idea that maybe the machine was full of dollars and could not take anymore and maybe it was full of quarters, so I asked my new lady friends if they had two dimes and a nickel for a quarter.

I tried the dime and bingo, it made it in!  Now one more dime and nickel accepted and I would be enjoying a cool Diet Pepsi!  The machine would not take another dime, nor would it take the nickel.  I ended up having to trek across to the other side of the hospital to get a refund.  I met a very nice young African-American girl and when I got my refund, I headed over to the other side of the hospital, to the emergency section, because I was sure the drink machines would work there – they did and I got my Diet Pepsi!

I sat there and enjoyed my Diet Pepsi and a pack of crackers and then headed back to see the family that I was visiting and just so happened to run into an old ministry friend.  We talked, shared, caught up and encouraged one another and we both felt better about life and our ministries, because we had the time together!

Now what is the moral of this story?  I typically would have become unglued, frustrated, discouraged and missed a lot of blessings along the way, because I would have been too focused on things not working the way I wanted them to, and less focused on everything around me!

Today I did not miss those blessings, because I stayed calm and took in every moment!  I met some nice senior adult ladies and I made them smile and they made me smile too!  I met a nice young African-American girl and had a very encouraging conversation that I think blessed both of us.  I had an encounter with an old friend that made my life better and I think made his better too!

Rather than get impatient, I stayed calm and got the most out of every moment and it was all good!  God is always at work and today, He let me see how He works in the most simple and powerful of ways.  He is interested in every part of my life and that is so very cool!  All I wanted was a Diet Pepesi and I ended up with my Diet Pepsi, a pack of crackers and a whole lot more!

My soul craves, but for what I am not sure.
I’ve tried it all and nothing seems to satisfy.
My whole life has been a quest to find nourishment.
Yet my soul never seems to get enough!

I think I know who I am, only to discover that I don’t have a clue.
I know there has to be a unique place for me in this world, but I can’t find it.
I am more than flesh and bones, I have to be.
I travel this path of exploration looking for I don’t know what.

And then, almost by accident it would seem,
I find, discover, meet up with, bump into –
The answer – a Friend, the Savior, my God!
And discover it was really no accident at all!

I want this, I need this, I crave this!
This fulfills me, gives me purpose, fulfills my destiny.
The sun is up, night has turned today.
I am ready to face whatever may come my way!

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  -Romans 12:1-3

Real worship is my acknowledging God’s great love for me, by my loving Him back with my actions and reactions!  Out of His great love for me, God has chosen to give me mercy, grace and forgiveness!  Because of all that He has done for me, I give Him my life – lived for Him and for His glory!  God has been so good to me and I want to serve Him and I also need to serve Him, so that I might express my love and appreciation for all that He has done is doing and will do for me!

Because of God’s mercy, I offer my body as a living sacrifice.  A sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God – this is my spiritual act of worship.  I give myself to God, it is a day by day and moment by moment choice!  It is not always easy, but it is necessary for me to live the great life that I was created to live – a life that gives glory to God and shares blessing with man!

I have to be careful not to conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  The temptation I face everyday is the temptation of being shaped by this world.  This is why I spend time in His Word every morning, seeking to allow it to renew my mind!  It’s not about what I can do for myself, but what God can do in, to and through me!

Lord, Help me to get my worship right!  More of you and less of me!  I love you and I am so thankful that you are in my life!