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Do your expectations match the ability of the Giver?
“Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves.” James 1:6 MSG
I must admit that I often limit a limitless God by bowing before him and meekly asking for minimal things and then weakly expecting. When preparing to eat I ask for the food to be blessed without asking for health, ability, mental acuity and stamina that food can deliver. As I go through the day I ask the Lord to watch over me and my family and those that I love, without asking for God’s marvelous grace and mercy to shine through me to others and for my life to shine so brightly that it would cause others to run to him, desiring what lives in me. In the evening as I thank my Father for his goodness for another day completed, I fail to see and praise him for the miracle that is my life and the miracles that formed my day.
I have a propensity to become desensitized to redundant things. The gift of water that is provided by simply turning a knob when in many cultures, women will spend 40% of their life hauling water for the families. I can position myself in the seat of one of our several vehicles and simply turn a key or press a button and be whisked away to a destination in minutes and hours that until a few short decades ago would have taken days, weeks or even months to complete. I have the ability to pick up the device in my pocket and talk with people, see the person on the other end by video, access hundreds of millions of data facts, calculate within seconds what on paper would take hours and check my vital signs. All things until 25 years ago, hard to imagine. All things to people just a few generations removed, incomprehensible.
I become desensitized to the miracle of heated or cooled air. The ability to maintain milk, vegetables, meat for days and weeks. The ability to order a need or want and have it delivered within the next day and in some cases, hours. I am desensitized by health that most enjoy and shocked when someone I love or am close to deals with sickness because modern medicine protects me from what used to take so many in adolescence or youth. I take for granted the innumerable gifts of my Father in Heaven. I am desensitized to the miracles that compromise my life.
I love the melody, “His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.” Powerful words from Matthew 6. The God of the Universe watches over you and me. He loves me and you. He created us. He assigned us a royal identity as the daughter and son of the King of all Kings. His desire to bless us limitlessly. His longing to walk with us, never ending. His ability deliver the desires of our heart, eternal. His expectation that we have only one God who is placed above all else and is absolute.
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10 ESV
I love that I have a Father who is never desensitized to my needs and who always delivers what is best for me. I love how he allows me to stumble but catches me before I fall over the edge. I love that my Heavenly Dad doesn’t mind a son who perpetually has the grime and stains of sin and is willing to wash me white as snow. I love that God has given me a life of abundance, measured by his standards and not the temporary standards of a desperate World.
I love because his Son showed a love so deep, so wide, so everlasting that never becomes desensitized towards me and all who seek him. I live because he loves.
I’m going to ask for greater things through a smaller me. More of Him. Less of me.
“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 NIV
You’ve got this.
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Would You Have Listened?
My dad became infinitely strong in my eyes, when he became most vulnerable through confession to me.
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV
I choose laughter. I choose joy. I choose gratitude. I choose to live expectantly and take the life experiences, both good and bad to shape my future. There is hope for the future that comes from the life-limiting or life-empowering historical moments that shape our future. I choose empowerment and I pray you will too.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV
When my mother was promoted to Heaven almost 25 years ago, my world was devastated. She was my rock. My greatest supporter. My lifeline. My encourager. She was my protector. And maybe, she was my enabler. Whatever descriptions that I use for my mom, she was the purest form of love that I knew on this earth. Then, she was gone.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 ESV
I remember asking my dad, “why didn’t you say anything?, when I was sharing with him about accepting God’s Grace & Mercy, about surrendering my whole life to Jesus Christ, about the realization of the Homy Spirit living within me. My dad responded, “would you have listened?” It was in that moment of that profound response by dad to my question that God opened my eyes to the value of the earthly father sitting in front of me. The truth is, ‘no, I would not have listened.’
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV
You see for decades I had chosen to focus on the failings of my dad in my childhood. I had chosen a victim’s mentality versus a mature recognition of the value of the man in front of me. My dad was not perfect by a long shot. But man o man, he was a great father. Through personal life trauma, through decades of professional disappointment, through the rejection of his son, through the loss of his beloved and cherished wife, through it all, he stayed. He was steadfast. He provided. He prayed. He loved.
“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV
So when my father asked those life illuminating words of “would you have listened,” he followed up with, “so I prayed for you.” And he had, for decades. I can only imagine those lonely days, weeks and even months where he did not hear from his son. His prodigal son. His immature, selfish, self-absorbed, narcissistic son, who avoided the mirror by focusing blame outwardly where introspection and personal responsibility was needed. Then God said, it is time.
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:13 ESV
I found joy and reconnection after the devastating loss of my mother. I miss her every day, but with joy in my heart and thankfulness that she did not have to live how her life would have been. I found purpose in her leaving through the reconnection with my dad. There I am old cliche that says “be careful or you might get what you ask for.” When I asked my dad about his childhood and life, I wept as we spoke that Tuesday afternoon over the phone for over 3 hours. As he shared, I realized that ‘my dad has been so much better than his dad, and his dad’s dad, and on and on.’ My dad was the next link in a chain of generational curses and he was doing his best to hacksaw through that chain. And he did!
“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV
For the 23 years that I had my dad after my mother’s passing, he became my best friend. He became the father to me that he consistently was while his immature boy blamed and ran. His steadfast love for me amazing me to this day. My dad went from a father, to a friend who was my dad. He became a my closest source of guidance and encouragement. He guided me as a father to young children often teaching me to not repeat the broken things of the past. He was my spiritual guide, theological source and most beautiful example of what a godly man should look like.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
Why do I write all of this? Because I work with men and young men on a daily basis whose live have been derailed. I write this because these good men and young men that I work with have and are living lives devoid of a father. Sometimes lacking a mother in their life but almost always without a father. My Father in Heaven gave me a great dad, through whose example I now express the hope of a future, the purpose of a man, the role of a father, the love of our Dad in Heaven. My dad’s example compels me to pray. To observe. To love. To walk alongside. But more than anything else, to pray.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Whatever you have been through, there is purpose. Wherever you are currently, there is hope. Whatever road you are currently traveling, the Father sees you, the Son died and rose again for you and the Holy Spirit desires to abide within you. Just ask and receive.
“Thank you, dad. I am listening.”
You’ve got this.
My dad became infinitely strong in my eyes, when he became most vulnerable through confession to me.
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV
I choose laughter. I choose joy. I choose gratitude. I choose to live expectantly and use the life experiences, both good and bad to shape my future. There is hope for the future that comes from the life-limiting or life-empowering historical moments that shape our future. I choose empowerment and I pray you will too.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV
When my mother was promoted to Heaven almost 25 years ago, my world was devastated. She was my rock. My greatest supporter. My lifeline. My encourager. She was my protector. And maybe, she was my enabler. Whatever descriptions that I use for my mom, she was the purest form of love that I knew on this earth. Then, she was gone.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 ESV
I remember asking my dad, “why didn’t you say anything?,” when I was sharing with him about accepting God’s Grace & Mercy, about surrendering my whole life to Jesus Christ, about the realization of the Holy Spirit living within me. My dad responded, “would you have listened?” It was in that moment of that profound response by dad to my question that God opened my eyes to the value of the earthly father sitting in front of me. The truth is, ‘no, I would not have listened.’
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV
You see for decades I had chosen to focus on the failings of my dad in my childhood. I had chosen a victim’s mentality versus a mature recognition of the value of the man in front of me. My dad was not perfect by a long shot. But man o man, he was a great father. Through personal life trauma, through decades of professional disappointment, through the rejection of his son, through the loss of his beloved and cherished wife, through it all, he stayed. He was steadfast. He provided. He prayed. He loved.
“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV
So when my father asked those life illuminating words of “would you have listened,” he followed up with, “so I prayed for you.” And he had, for decades. I can only imagine those lonely days, weeks and even months where he did not hear from his son. His prodigal son. His immature, selfish, self-absorbed, narcissistic son, who avoided the mirror by focusing blame outwardly where introspection and personal responsibility was needed. Then God said, it is time.
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:13 ESV
I found joy and reconnection after the devastating loss of my mother. I miss her every day, but with joy in my heart and thankfulness that she did not have to live how her life would have been. I found purpose in her leaving through the reconnection with my dad. There I am old cliche that says “be careful or you might get what you ask for.” When I asked my dad about his childhood and life, I wept as we spoke that Tuesday afternoon over the phone for over 3 hours. As he shared, I realized that ‘my dad has been so much better than his dad, and his dad’s dad, and on and on.’ My dad was the next link in a chain of generational curses and he was doing his best to hacksaw through that chain. And he did!
“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV
For the 23 years that I had my dad after my mother’s passing, he became my best friend. He became the father to me that he consistently was while his immature boy blamed and ran. His steadfast love for me amazes me to this day. My dad went from a father, to a friend who was my dad. He became a my closest source of guidance and encouragement. He guided me as a father to young children often teaching me to not repeat the broken things of the past. He was my spiritual guide, theological source and most beautiful example of what a godly man should look like. He prepared me.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
Why do I write all of this? Because I work with men and young men on a daily basis whose lives have been derailed. I write this because these good men and young men that I work with have and/or are living lives devoid of a father. Sometimes lacking a mother in their life but almost always without a father. My Father in Heaven gave me a great dad, through whose example I now express the hope of a future, the purpose of a man, the role of a father, the love of our Dad in Heaven. My dad’s example compels me to pray. To observe. To love. To walk alongside. But more than anything else, to pray.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Whatever you have been through, there is purpose. Wherever you are currently, there is hope. Whatever road you are currently traveling, the Father sees you, the Son died and rose again for you and the Holy Spirit desires to abide within you. Just ask and receive.
“Thank you, dad. I am listening.”
You’ve got this.
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God Don’t Make No Junk!
You are fearfully and marvelously made. How can I tell you that? Well, the Bible tells us that in Psalms. We’re also told that God has uniquely made each of us and knows us by name. The unique comment being proven by science through the recognition of DNA, that is unique to each of us. And BTW, we don’t need science to confirm what God has said and promised in his Word.
God is not a junk dealer but a heart healer and purpose revealer. Our Father tells us that he knew us before we were in our mom’s womb and that he had ‘set us apart’ for the marvelous plans that he has for our life. Truth! I earnestly want to help every person that God places in my path to know that they are specially created, with never-ending gifts endowed by their Father in Heaven. My prayer is they receive, believe and achieve. (I sound like a Dr. Seuss book right now.)
Think about this with me. The man that Jesus selected, taught daily for 3 years, encouraged and appointed as “the rock upon which I will build my church,” failed miserably in the hour of Jesus’ very purpose for coming to earth. Jesus’ “rock” sunk like a stone. Denying the Son of God in his hour of betrayal and ultimate death. Not once, twice but three times he denied his Messiah. And all in a matter of minutes.
“Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.” Matthew 26:69-74 NLT
This could have been the end of Peter’s story and humankind would have remembered him as yet another broken failure who in their time of greatest calling, drifted into the abyss of fear and regret. Jesus knew the heart of his rock, Peter, and that he would build his Church. He knew that the heart would only fully emerge and become the absolute protector and expander of God’s infant Church by first being exposed and broken. Peter did not disappoint again, all the way until his crucifixion upside down on yet another wretched cross.
So, you’ve failed. You’ve wandered. You’ve been ambiguous and you have doubted. So what! You’ve learned much about yourself. Much about your weaknesses because Satan’s plan is to convince you that you are not made for marvelous purpose. God says that you are. How about no more groveling in the angst of failure? How about assuming the role as God’s daughter or son that you are created to live and share?
If a stuttering murderer can lead God’s children out of Egypt. God can use you. If an adulterer can be called ‘a man after my own heart,’ God will use you. If the worst persecutor of the early Church can become its greatest champion. Isn’t it possible, just possible that God can and will use you? And further to the point, isn’t it likely that the God who knew and created you before time began, does indeed have marvelous plans for you?
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.” Proverbs 3:5-12 MSG
Seize today. You were made for this time. Your life experiences are someone’s else’s life hope. You matter. Your value immeasurable and assigned by the King of all kings. Where you are sitting right now does not define you. Your definition has already been assigned. Do you accept?
You’ve got this.
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Be A Flame
“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay” (George William Cooke, 1925)
Can I boldly ask that as children of the Most High God, loved so much that he allowed his Son’s death for us and valued so much that he sends the Spirit to abide with us day in and day out; shouldn’t we be the most joy-filled, joyful people reflecting joy daily in all things?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV
I have witnessed over decades the euphoric response to ‘giving one’s life to Christ,’ followed by a declining and disillusionment when the dopamine subsides and the ‘realities of life prior to Christ try and seep back in. An enthusiasm gap in Christianity exists and is all too real.
I had a good friend, whose relationship with me ended as I surrendered all to Jesus. He went through a succession of failed relationships and marriages. He would enthusiastically jump into these new and ‘happiness’ promising marriages and relationships, only to be disappointment and end them when the euphoria of the moment gave way to the reality of the brokenness that existed within him. He made the comment to me that “I just want every day to be like to first 6 months.” Human nature says this is how relationships should be. Spiritual nature says that the new should mature, the naive grow, the interaction should move from momentary euphoria to a new life that delivers joy in every season.
In Corinthians the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:2 “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,” ESV. Walking with and in the joy that a life surrendered to the Lord involves maturing in our relationship through study and conscious effort.
Joy is a state of mind too often confused and used synonymously with happiness. Happiness of course being an emotional reaction to a temporary situation. Joy encourages us to wake up and fulfill the promise of a new day. Happiness causes us to desperately cling to something fading into a mist of memory, then seeking the ‘next’ momentary happiness delivering thing. Stop seeking what’s fleeting and surround yourself with what is everlasting.
My daily prayer for our kids is that they fall deeply in love with Jesus. I am talking about a love so deep, so wide, so all-encompassing that the things the World tells them are important washes off of them like water off a duck’s back. Seriously, I pray that the joy that comes from being the forgiven child of the King creates in them an impenetrable barrier that denies the temporal things that tells our sinful nature ‘this is where happiness abides.’ Happiness does not abide. It comes and goes but the joy of and in the Lord lasts forever.
Steps to joy:
1) Surrender every thought, every desire, every need and every want to the sovereignty of God and trust that His plan for your life is best. Period.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV
2) Believe in the incessant plot of the enemy (Satan) to place within you discouragement, desire, restlessness and envy. Oh that evil word envy that destroys so many and causes too many to abandon trust and contentment.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NLT
3) Start each day with prayers of thanks and pray thanks throughout the day. In every situation. Thanks for needs met. Thanks for your current condition. Thanks for the hope that comes only from the Savior. Thanks for gas for the car. Thanks for old, warm clothes that most of the World can only dream of wrapping themselves in. Thanks for the stranger whose life you can forever impact with a kind word. Thanks for eternity. Satan has no impact on a joy-filled life and a joy-filled life no place for Satan to abide.
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
4) Look around and become keenly aware of the blessings God places in your life every day. The neighborhood kid “who drives you crazy,” but in reality teaches joy by waving and smiling when that’s the last thing you want to see. See how much the Father’s love for you as you are allowed to see what the blind person cannot. You hear what the deaf person misses. You learn the amazing gifts of heightened senses that the blind and the deaf person has been blessed with.
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT
5) Emit gratitude. Joy is the natural state where gratitude invades and exist.
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5 NIV
Moths are drawn to flames. Joy is a flame that this broken World just cannot understand. That’s okay. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV.
Seek and find joy. Invite joy in. Allow joy to permeate every area of your life. Recognize that joy is the gift from God that begins the process of transformative thinking and life approach. Joy is the fuel that energizes love. Joy is the embodiment of faith, hope and love. These three, but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Be uncontrolled in your joy today.
You’ve got this.
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Another Day
I’ve always been an early riser. And that does not mean that I don’t sleep in. I often get up between 3:30 am and 4:00 am and read. Pray. Drink coffee. Ponder. Write.
Years ago I read a life impacting statement addressed to people like me who ‘are not good sleepers.’ What does that mean? The comment was ‘consider moving from complaining about the lack of sleep you’re getting to thanking God for the sleep that you did get.’
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NLT
So, as I began the process of moving from angst to thanks, an interesting metamorphosis began happening in my life. I worried less and wondered more. I survived what life threw at me by surrendering my life to the truth that I am not in control. I gained by taking steps back and accepting a life plan that my Father in Heaven had created for me before time began. Recognizing that an eternal God, the ‘I Am’ has never had a beginning and will never know an end. Understanding that He, God, created the concept of time for his beloved children as they toiled under the sun.
“So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 NLT
When I was 26 years old I was asked by a mentor at the time what my 10-year plan was. Heavy emphasis here on “what MY plan was.” I had just been hired with the title of National Sales Manager for a company that had zero salespeople. (There’s an entrepreneurial lesson here. When you can’t dangle big money, award big titles.). I quickly said that I want to be a company VP within 5 years, a company president within 10 years and have equity within a company within 15 years. To which my mention at the time scoffed and said; “Good luck! Do you know how hard that is?”” I did not. And at age 33, I was president of a company with a 25% equity stake. And zero identity! I was miserable.
As I read those life-altering words that began a sea change in my life, little did I know that 25 years later the corporate boardrooms would be replaced with beautifully quiet mornings. That rushing to the airport for yet another flight leading to another fleeting deal done would surrender to the expectations of what the Father had for me this new day. That the lie of an identity of business owner/president/consultant would become the identity assigned to me before time began of God’s son; Megan’s husband; Benton, Malia & Kensley’s dad; brother to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; source of help for those seeking their true identity; lover of hope, joy, peace, grace, mercy; grateful son of however many hours of sleep my Father in Heaven provides.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:26-30 NKJV
Yesterday I received two offers to publish a book that I have written. I had a call with a national retailer who I am working with to put a strategic relationship in place. I trimmed around new doors that we installed in our kids rooms. I worked with an excavator on the next step in the process of getting new Lots sold in the development that I/we have been working on for several years. I texted with a friend going through significant life change because of losing a job. I spoke with a Fight Club Men Leader’s House resident about some health issues and the amazing steps that his life is taking because he has surrendered to God’s purpose. Then, at 7:15 pm my day became amazing as I ate leftover chili and a grilled-cheese sandwich with Megan and watched Family Feud, guessing and questioning the guesses to questions asked.
My morning greeting this new day was more marvelous than I can understand because God allowed me to wake and watch my beautiful wife sleeping peacefully, snoring a little (now I am in trouble), confirming God’s inexhaustible love for me because she is my life encourager and faithful partner.
Can I encourage you to replace the thinking of mundane with awareness of beauty today. Consider no longer toiling at what you are doing and live in the moments of joy that this life offers. See the beauty in where God has placed you. Replace despair with desire and seek those small, imperceptible sea changes that become life-altering, destination changers. When losing weight a good thought is it took years to put the weight on, it will take time, effort and lifestyle change to take and keep it off.
Similarly, it has taken a lifetime to get you to this point and the plans and purposes that God has for your life are in the future guided by a thing called ‘faith,’ that may take some time to be fully revealed. Accept and be joy-filled in the process. Each destination achieved begins another journey.
Today thank God for everything. Talk with him constantly. See him in all things. Seek him through His Word, by randomly reading the chapter that the Bible opens to when you allow it to flop open. Recognize that just like that chapter you read was not by chance, nor are the things that have occurred to this point in your life. Take control of your life today by surrendering your life’s tomorrow to God’s plan and the recognition that you were created by Him for purpose.
I am grateful for the sleep that God allowed me last night and for the 3:00 am wake up this morning. This is going to be a marvelous day because my Father has made it for me.
You’ve got this
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Preemptively Pardoned
How did you respond when hearing the news that President Biden had preemptively pardoned many people, including his own family, that he felt might be “targeted” for prosecution by the incoming administration and political party in power? My emotions ran white hot from anger and frustration to indignation and a desire to make sure my position was known to those close to me.
Now, my sister and brother, you understand the compounding anger and evil that Satan spews towards each of us day. ‘God,’he must petition, ‘how could and can you forgive these wretched and sinful people’, I can hear him saying as he roams the Heavens. And I can hear our Father in Heaven saying, “because I made them and gave my only son to die for their sins who rose from death three days later, to prevent them from receiving the death and misery that you, Satan, desire to entrap them in for eternity. I have forgiven their past and present sins and preemptively forgiven their future sins as they pursue a sinless and righteous life. I have chosen and delivered Grave and Mercy to those undeserving and loved with my ridiculous love. My beautifully broken creations can choose to accept my preemptively given forgiveness or reject this lifeline and accept eternal death deserved.”
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,”. Ephesians 2:4 ESV
As I pondered in my frustration and indignation for the purely political pardons granted on the way out, God stepped in. He took my moment of self-righteous judgement and inserted joy. Thankfulness. Incredible gratitude. I once again accepted the Grace and Mercy freely given for my sins.
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.” Daniel 9:9 ESV
So this morning I choose to look to the horizon. I choose to thank God for this new day. I thank my Father in Heaven for preemptively having forgiven the sins of my future through the sacrificial death of Jesus on that wretched cross. I choose to grow in my awareness of what causes me to sin and take steps to stop these things. I choose to eliminate the temptations of desire, envy, jealousy, comparison and on and on and turn my eyes upon Jesus. I choose to look full in his wonderful face. I choose to see that the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.
“Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:10-13 NLT
The importance of what lies in our future make the wrongs of yesterday insignificant. Choose today to reject the trap of anger and bitterness past. They are prisons that the Evil One desires to keep you chained to. Choose today to accept the wings that will cause you to soar like an eagle, offered freely by the Savior because of the plan prepared for your life.
Joe Biden, I am glad that you are gone. My human flesh wants to condemn you and your actions. The log in my own eye prevents me from meting out my flawed judgement and (in)justice. I choose to accept what God has preemptively paid for me. Eternal life and life of purpose on this earth.
You’ve got this.
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What is Your Name?
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:44-45 NIV
There are few stories in the Bible that I love more than the story of Joseph. I love this story because he is the antithesis of ‘victim,’ when the World would have more than allowed and accepted him to assume the victim’s role and identity. He was his dad’s favorite. His brother’s hated him. He was taken from a life of privilege to a life of a slave. The Bible tells us in everything that he did as a slave he found favor in his masters eyes and was entrusted with all things. He was forgotten for two years by the man he helped prepare to leave prison. In every way, he was victimized…but Joseph was no victim. Regardless of his situation, he was a victor.
I have a hard time relating to victims and often that is interpreted that I am a callous guy. The reality is that I am a crier. I am first to cry when watching a movie, hearing someone’s story of victory after trial and seeing God’s gifts in most things. I mourn when I see a sister or brother walking with shoulders down, expectations gone, purpose denied. I mourn when anyone who claims to be God’s son or daughter, walk in defeat. This behavior, this victim mentality is the antithesis of what being God’s son or daughter must look like.
Joseph could have easily told Potiphar, “no, you don’t understand, I am Jacob’s son in the lineage of Abraham whom God made his chosen people.” He could have told the prison warden, “I am not a criminal but the guy who walked around in the privilege and splendor that comes from being Jacob’s son.” When given the opportunity he could have told Pharaoh, “I am unjustly here. I was unjustly sold. I was unjustly imprisoned. I was unjustly forgotten.” All of this was true, but Joseph understood that he was God’s son and a victor because he was God’s son.
“Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstbornManasseh[e] and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Genesis 41:50-52 NIV
Even when made the #2 guy in the most powerful Country in the World at that time, Joseph accepted and acknowledged who and whose he was. He reflected on his father’s household (his past) and called Egypt ‘his land of suffering’ (his present), all the while walking with shoulders held high, purpose accepted and performed at the highest level while unjustly placed where he was living. Joseph chose victory or victim. Even when Pharaoh assigned him a new Egyptian name, Joseph knew where his identity lay, and that was at the feet of God the Father, in whom he entrusted and accepted all things.
Can I be direct with you? If not, you should stop reading now and let’s stay friends. Being unhappy is a choice. We have the power to reject unhappiness as God’s daughters or sons by simply saying “Father, I trust and surrender to your plans for me.” No one makes you mad. You allow yourself to get mad. No one causes you to be discontent. You choose discontentment over the joy that a grateful heart accepts in any situation. God always delivers to those accepting his perfect plan and purpose for their life. In order to experience this peace, joy, contentment and hope, we have to accept that our circumstances are not an accident. Nothing, absolutely nothing is ‘accidental’ to our Father in Heaven.
So we have a choice. Victim or victor. Victor being defined by our Father in Heaven versus the fleeting accomplishments, titles and stuff that Satan will deliver into our lives to sew discontent and despair if we allow him.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace”
So choose to be like Joe! Accept where you are and use every God-given ability in this circumstance. Remember, God loves and rewards a cheerful giver. In the same way, those who thrive with little will be entrusted with much by our Father in Heaven.
If you are the daughter or son of the King of all kings, act like it! You are loved.
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Jagless
NOTE: No Jaguar owners were harmed in the writing of these thoughts.
Years ago I found myself sitting in the Jaguar of Palm Beach dealership. Now this statement alone is fraught with all kinds of contradictions and raises more questions than I can answer. But there I was, sitting, observing, squirming and feeling completely out place in these halls of decadence for the wealthy. The term ‘fish out of water’ definitely fits here.
As I sat there, I watched who I interpreted as ‘rich’ people come and go, test driving these beautiful cars with some going in to offices to discuss financing options and/or sign papers for the loan on their new ‘dream’ car, destined to be ‘a car’ after the 6-month new owner euphoria wore off.
Back in the ‘90’s the joke about buying a Jaguar was ‘opt for the towing package’ when purchasing. I’ll let you figure out the rest.
So I sat there while my friend and mentor at the time took care of the finance/purchase details of his new ‘Jag.’ That’s what you’re allowed to call them when you own one. “Yeah, I drive a Jag!” At the time my line was, “yeah, I drive a Jeep Laredo with 180K miles.” For some reason, my line did not carry much weight in the ‘impress them’ genre of the wealthy and good-credit demographic groups.
While waiting, I learned a valuable lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Which has now grown to don’t judge! (Worry about the log in my own eye.). Another story. As I am in this palace of visual achievement, in walks a man and woman who I thought were homeless. Torn jean shorts, ratty shirts, flip flops, baseball cap that had seen too much sun. These people were in need.
My impression was, they’re probably here to go use the bathrooms and if they can, raid the snacks that were laid out for the customers not like me. As they entered a salesperson came running up nervously and I just knew, ‘boy they’re about to get it and be asked to leave.’ Instead and to my great surprise, they were greeted with “hello Mr. & Mrs. X so good to see you.” To which Mr. X pointed to the most expensive car in the showroom, red, top down, light brown leather…this baby was sweet, and said, “she want this one. I’ll have someone drop a check off later today. You know where to deliver it.” And out the door they went, while the nervous-nelly salesperson began the work of finalizing the sale. What just happened here?
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
As the years have passed and in moments of insecurity or questioning my belonging, I am reminded of that couple. Secure in who they were. Deliberate in their transaction. Authoritative with instructions. And kind to the person selling them the car. They had achieved a place that required no pretense or effort to impress. As God’s daughters and sons, we have achieved the ultimate security and assurance of eternity, requiring no need to impress, only a requirement to live the love and hope that is Jesus Christ.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
So I still have never owned a “Jag!” I have wasted decades desiring to drive, live in, wear and go to the places that reflect Worldly success and more sadly, deflect the brokenness of a desperate man. I choose today to reject the idea of waste and use those life experiences to encourage others in all socioeconomic conditions to reject the sin of comparison and walk joyfully and freely in the knowledge that the first on earth will be last in Heaven and the last first.
I want to present to you the Gospel of prosperity that is the hope, love, forgiveness, Grace & Mercy that is Jesus Christ. That my friend is enough. You are more than enough. You are the vessel that is someone’s hope and whose story becomes their understanding of the purpose of their life. Live richly in the only wealth that matters, the immeasurable value that you are when called “God’s beloved daughter or son.”
You’ve got this.
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Life’s Chrysalis Stage
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Remember today that the butterfly is the result of an amazing metamorphosis that involves 4 distinct life stages. The egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. I found it fascinating that the chrysalis stage usually takes between 5 and 21 days but can be as long as 3 years in harsh environments.
Whatever stage of life you are in right now, there is a purpose assigned by God. He hears you. He sees you. He is taking you through life stages for the plans that he has prepared for you. Remember in Jeremiah 29:11 that he assured ”for I know the plans I have for you.” Those plans were 70 years in the future. God’s timing is never our timing, but his timing is always perfect.
There’s a beautiful old hymn that says “trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Laying one’s life down for Christ involves trusting and obeying and is the first stage of life metamorphosis as we move toward the person of impact that God has created each of us to assume. Your ‘chrysalis’ stage may be longer than others but the beauty that is emerging through you is someone’s hope. It’s worth the wait.
Trust. Rest. Dry out. God is doing marvelous things in you. Prepare for the coming day when He says, ‘now is your time to fly my beloved daughter/son.’
Peace
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