Posted on by jwlozano

Be the One

In Luke 17, Jesus healed ten men who were suffering from leprosy. What stands out to me is that the healing did not happen immediately. Jesus told them to go, and the Bible says that as they went, they were healed. It took faith for them to start walking before they saw the miracle.

Can you imagine being one of those men? After years of isolation, pain, and rejection, suddenly your skin is restored. Your life is given back to you. Your family, your future, and your freedom are all restored.

Yet out of the ten who were healed, only one came back.

When he realized what Jesus had done, he turned around, ran back, fell at Jesus’ feet, and thanked Him. Jesus noticed. “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17).

As I read this passage, I found myself asking a simple question. Which one am I?

I want to be the one.

I want to be the one who notices God’s blessings and takes time to thank Him for them. I want to be the one who chooses gratitude instead of complaining. I want to be the one who sees the good in people instead of focusing on their faults. I want to be the one who speaks life, encourages others, and looks for reasons to be thankful.

Our world is full of criticism, negativity, and complaints. It is easy to join the crowd. It is easy to become one of the nine who simply move on to the next thing. But gratitude sets us apart. It changes our perspective and reminds us that every good thing we have is a gift from God.

Today, let’s be the one.

The one who says thank you.

The one who chooses kindness.

The one who sees the good.

The one who gives God the glory.

Because while ten received the miracle, only one returned to worship the Miracle Giver.

Posted on by jwlozano

A Trip Around the Sun

Today, I’ve completed 37 trips around the sun. I’m a numbers person so considered a few things that have happened since I last completed this trip. 

I’ve had over 700 cups of coffee. I’ve hugged my kids at least 3,600 times. I’ve watched over 1,000 sermons and messages. Oh, and I’ve survived 1 global pandemic. 

This time last year, my husband and I went to a restaurant to celebrate. We opened gifts and had cake, unaware that the upcoming year would bring changes neither of us would have ever expected.

This may be counted as blasphemy, but for me, the last year wasn’t a disaster. I’ve heard people say they want to forget 2020 and never look back. 

Considering the devastating loss of lives all over the globe caused by the coronavirus pandemic, I do understand the desire to lock 2020 in the trunk of a car and drive it off of a cliff. 

But I’ve learned so much this year. This year has taught me how to depend on God. It’s taught me that regardless of what’s going on around me, I can rest in the peace of God.

I actually understand how “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

It is my desire that through this blog, you will not simply read about the promises of God for your life, but live them. Every day we have an opportunity to receive God’s new mercy (Lamentations 3:23) and live our best life despite our current circumstances.

Today, I want to celebrate not just my birthday, but all that God has done for me and through me this year and I believe this is only the beginning!