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You're listening to the My Morning Devotional podcast, episode 1430. Today's episode is called look above. Hey there. We're the Alessies, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time.
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That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. Hello, everyone. My name is Lauren Alessi and I am your host for this week. We've talked about all certain things. I announced that I'm engaged. I was talking about the Christmas week and making it all about Jesus and being present in the moment. But more than all that, you guys have stuck with me through my sinus infection. So I want to thank you guys. I can't imagine what I must sound like right now. I have a diffuser going next to me, I have a tissue box next to me, and in between recordings.
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Yeah, I feel like it's just. It's crazy. So nothing screams wintertime and Christmas more than congestion. So I just want to say thank you guys for really hanging in there with me. I so appreciate it. And I'm sorry also that you had to listen to me like this. I don't wish that upon anybody. Well, I'd like to read the verse of the day and it says this. James 1 17. Every good and perfect gift is from above. When I read this verse, it really reminds me again, we're talking about contentment, being present in what God has given us, our blessings.
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And in case I didn't share, I shared a little bit of my story of how I met my now fiance, Daniel. But the truth is, we met in a very crazy way. You usually don't meet people organically anymore unless it's like at church or friends setting you up. And you usually don't meet a fellow Christian like a real Christian person at the gym. But we met while working out together at the gym, had no idea we were Christians, had no idea we both believed and loved Jesus, started talking, and from one moment to the next, we both realized, oh, wow, we both are Christians. But not only that, we're both real believers and are Christians and. And we both serve in our churches. Oh, wow. And. And we both knew of each other's churches and we had mutual friends that attended each other's churches.
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And we just got to talking and. And it really just became this crazy moment of how did we. In today's day and age of dating apps and usually meeting people through DMs or online or friends setting you up or you meet somebody in church. How did we meet at the gym? How did I meet a fellow good guy? Not just a good guy, but like a good Christian guy at the gym. How did this happen? And that's something I will always think of. That's something he will always say. That's something my family and his family and our friends will always say is, how did we meet each other in such crazy circumstances in today's day and age? And something we always go back to is, it was all orchestrated by God. Because the truth is, we weren't supposed to meet. That's not supposed to happen. That doesn't happen. But God orchestrated for us to meet in that way, in that timing. And that's what this verse reminds me of, that every good and perfect gift comes from God. And I will tell you every time I doubt, did we try to orchestrate this? Did I try to manipulate this? Did I somehow try to force this? I'm reminded that God orchestrated this beautifully because there's no way this could have happened if I forced it. Because in the past, I tried to force it and it never worked out the way I wanted to. This only could have been done the way it happened, because God was involved in it. So let us be encouraged that when there are things in our lives that we know. I could not have had this spouse if God did not bring them to me.
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I could not have had this child in if God had not brought it to me, that house, I could not have had it that job.
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There's no way I could have had that if it wasn't from the Lord, if the Lord did not orchestrate that. Because every good and perfect gift comes from above. So what does that teach us?
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It teaches us to look above. It teaches us to look up. It teaches us that in times of doubt, when we're like, God, how are you gonna do this for me? How are you gonna provide? How are you gonna make a way in. In a. In literally a world of dating apps and everyone meeting online. And here's the crazy part. Okay, side note, I don't have social media. Neither does my fiance. We both got off social media several years ago.
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So, like, another crazy side note, there was no, like, no way we were going to meet each other on social media. We couldn't social media stalk each other. So there was only one way for us to meet in person. And God orchestrated that so beautifully. But again, let that be a Reminder of we don't serve a God of. It's slightly possible and I'm going to make it possible. We serve a God of the impossible.
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He loves to make the impossible happen. He loves to work miracles. And every good and perfect gift comes from above. It doesn't come because you orchestrated it or because you forced it or. Or because you applied for that impossible job that you weren't supposed to get. No, every good and perfect gift comes from God. So look up to him when you need that prayer answered, when you need answers, when you need help, look up to him. He loves to work miracles. He loves to make miracles happen. So step out of the way, look up and let God work. And when it comes, remember to be present in the blessing. Don't be on to the next.
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Don't be waiting. Okay, I've prayed for this husband. Now I got the husband. Okay, now, now when am I getting married? Now when I. No, no, no. Just be present in the blessing that God has given you and look above for every season. Look above. Guys, it's been a pleasure hosting you this week and I hope you guys have had a wonderful Christmas week. Let's pray. Dear Lord, we thank you so much. Lord, I just thank you for every person who tuned in this week. And God, I thank you that they could have really just said, it's the Christmas holiday, I'm not going to tune in. But Lord, they wanted to get the word of God in their system this week. So God, I pray for every person listening. Whatever they're going through, Lord, whatever they're facing, God, I just pray that you touch them right where they're at. You bless them right where they're at, Lord. And Lord, I just pray that all of the gifts we receive, Lord, not the physical gifts from Christmas, Lord, but the blessings we receive from you, God. Lord, they're from you. And we thank you for that, Lord. But whatever we are facing, teach us to look up, God.
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Get us in the habit of looking up to you, God. Because you're our provider, Lord, and you love to make miracles happen. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. So there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotional empower you to take on your day.
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If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend. Leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow. We pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.
