Sometimes life feels a lot like cold, rainy, November Thursdays, doesn't it?

Gloomy, not yet the weekend, and a little colder than we'd like.

Do you ever feel like that?

I sure do.

But God's been giving me a new lens.

A lens to see those cold, rainy, November Thursdays through His eyes.

It started at World Race Training Camp,

when all I was responsible for was watching Jesus do His thing

and documenting it with my camera.

And now, (don't laugh)

The Holy Spirit's been showing that His eyes are a lot like...

Instagram.

Yes, Instagram.

In fact, His eyes are more like Instagram than professional photography.

'Cause when we see through Jesus' eyes,

We don't have to set up a tripod. Use a light meter. Or pose perfectly.

When we see life through Jesus' eyes,

We snap a picture of our coffee cup, add a filter, and post.

We notice how the normal things in front of us can be beautiful.

We add a filter to choose to make normal things beautiful.

So, on cold, rainy, November Thursdays,

Do we just ignore photography and lenses and filters?

Do we just pass over today, seeing no joy or opportunity?

Or do we Instagram?

Do we take Holy Spirit snapshots and choose to see beauty?

So on your cold, rainy, November Thursday,

Do you see this?

Or will you choose to see this?

In the hard times, the boring days, the dismal lonliness,

Will you choose to catch the beauty in your day?

Will YOU choose to document how God notices you,

To notice how He pays attention to you,

and to pay attention to how He brings you happiness,

even on a cold, rainy, November Thursday.

So pay attention to His little gifts.

Will you just ENJOY things like Starbucks cups?

Will you choose to document white Christmas lights?

Will you continue past simply noticing the already beautiful?

And will you CHOOSE to see beauty?

Will you give beauty to dead trees?

Will you show off the rusty pick-up trucks?

Will you stop and enjoy your red shoes before you walk in the front door?

Choose to see life through His lens.

Don't wait until the lighting is perfect and the tripod is set up.

Just Instagram.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 (The Message)

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto.

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning

Don't skimp on colors and scarves.

Each day is God's gift.

Make the most of each one.

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!

This is your last and only chance at it.