Right In Front of Us

I read a story of a man who played the violin in the Washington DC subway.   On this particular cold and blustery morning, very few people noticed the man on the platform… playing skillfully on his instrument.  They were scurrying to make their next train… looking over their newspapers… pressing their faces close to their phones while they checked Twitter.  After a little while, a lady stopped and placed a one dollar tip in his violin case.   But the recognitions were few and far between.  After about 45 minutes of playing, the man had made $32.00.   After finishing his last piece, to the deafening silence of no applause, the man placed his violin back in its case and headed home. 

What the people passing didn’t know… this was Joshua Bell.  Violin virtuoso.  One of the most talented players in the world.  In fact, just two days before, Joshua had played to a sold-out concert crowd in Boston… where the average ticket price exceeded $100.  

Sometimes greatness is right in front of us and if we aren’t careful, we’ll miss it.  

Tonight we celebrate Christmas Eve… the night before the birth of Jesus Christ.   The night where Mary and Joseph walked the streets looking for a place to rest… and the innkeeper turned them away to the caves…   The night when angels prepared to sing, shepherds stared into the starry sky in anticipation, and God smiled knowing that His plan for salvation was about to be unveiled.  It was the night when greatness and perfection lay waiting as a human child in the womb of a young virgin… eager to open His beautiful eyes in a world desperate for His presence.  

Greatness was about to appear to the world.  Yet many would miss it.   To some it was just another night… just another star in the sky… just another young boy.  

To some it was just another birthday.   

This Christmas… don’t miss it.  Don’t allow the busyness to get in the way of the beauty of His birth.   Don’t miss the chance to worship Him… giving your greatest gifts to Him… sharing His story with those that might otherwise walk on by.  He is the greatest single human being ever born… and, at the same time, every bit God.   His knowledge is as vast as the sands on the beach… and His compassion is unequalled.   He IS God.  He is greatness personified.   He is our Savior.  And tonight… on Christmas Eve… let’s celebrate knowing that He was born with the ultimate purpose….  saving the world!

How Royalty Travels

In 2007, England’s Queen Elizabeth II decided to make a short 6-day visit to the United States.   While most people would pack a couple of suitcases… the queen travelled much heavier.  In fact, it was estimated that her gear weighed in at two to three tons!    What could she possibly have brought that weighed so much?  The list included clothes, a diamond tiara, her gowns, her crown, gifts, paperwork, and up to 50 pairs of white gloves.  In addition, her personal affects included several framed photos of her family, her favorite tea and teapot, large quantities of favorite brand of water, and special medicines that she required.  Planning and packing took eight months.  

All for a six day visit. 

But not all royalty travels with such fanfare.  Over 2000 years ago, a little child entered the world that would forever change it.  He would grow up, heal the sick, raise the dead, teach the masses about God’s love, serve those He created, allow Himself to be crucified, and resurrect back to glorious life.  All while maintaining very few possessions, keeping a selectively small circle of close confidantes, and having a low profile.   Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came out of Heaven that Christmas morning…  not weighed down with stuff… but burdened with the sins of the world.   In a couple of days we will celebrate Christ’s royal arrival… and as we observe Christmas.. let us never forget that Jesus travelled light for a reason.   It was so that He could spend His time intentionally… not worried about bringing everything with him… but making sure He didn’t leave without us.

Merry Christmas!

Faster?

The other day I read that the earth spins 1000 times faster at the equator than it does at either one of the poles.  In fact, that’s why rockets are launched closer to the Earth’s midline than further away.  When a spacecraft is launched from around the equator, it is already traveling at a considerably faster speed… thus making it more fuel efficient and quicker to enter orbit.  

Isn’t that true in our lives as well?  The closer we are to the center of things…the faster paced life is.  Some thrive in the environment… while others do whatever they can to retreat to the slower pace of the poles.  But what speed does God want us to live?  

Galatians 6:9 tells us: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  We have to remember that It’s not about the speed of life…it’s about staying at it and not quitting.   There will be times in our lives where we’ll sprint…and others where we’ll jog.  What God is concerned about is our priorities and our perseverance.  At whatever speed you’re living… are we putting Him first?  Are we loving and serving others?  If so… run on.  Don’t give up on the dream that He’s put in your heart long before you were born.  And whatever you do… in whatever season you find yourself in… at whatever speed life is coming at you…. don’t quit.   Breakthrough is coming… and God has big things planned for you!

Our Deepest Hurts

Isaac Brown looks like any other five year old boy.   He’s learning to read, do basic math, and all of the other things a boy his age would do.  But all is not what it seems…  because Isaac lacks what so many of us take for granted… the ability to feel pain.  He can unflinchingly touch a hot stove, break a bone without knowing it, or step on broken glass.  He knows that when he sees blood, it’s not a good thing… and he needs to seek help.   This extremely rare genetic condition, if not kept under watchful eye, could lead to accidental death or disfigurement due to the lack of a built-in survival mechanism.

Ironically, many in the world envy his circumstances…. they would love to go 24 hours without a single bit of pain.  And not just physical pain… people want to block out emotional and relational hurt as well.  What they fail to realize is that pain is useful.  When we touch a hot stove, the nerve endings signal the brain to remove the hand… thus preserving the skin and our health.  That pain has a purpose.   And no matter how badly you hurt today… yours does too.  Maybe you find yourself going through some other type of pain… a breakup… a loss… a memory of someone who used to abuse you… I want to challenge you to think of that pain differently today. James tells us in Chapter 1, verse 2, that our pain should be a source of joy.  Joy?  We should be happy when things hurt?  Why?  Because we know three things:  God will walk with us through that pain, we will grow as a result of hurting, and that our experience will help others in similar situations in the future.  So today, don’t just wish for the pain to subside… ask God to help you leverage it for growth… knowing that it is through our deepest hurts that our greatest and most life-changing lessons are learned.  

Advice From A Tree

Nature enthusiast, Ilan Shamir wrote a wonderful passage called “Advice from a Tree.”

Stand up tall and proud.  Sink your roots into the earth.

Be content with your natural beauty.  Go out on a limb.

Drink plenty of water. Remember your roots.

Enjoy the view!

Looking through these words of wisdom, I can’t help but see the Biblical parallels.  God has called each of us to live confident lives.. to stand tall in Him.  And as we read His word and begin to grow deeper roots in the truth... we begin to see ourselves in a new light.  We are masterpieces already...right now... the best God can do.  We’ve been created intentionally...to live confidently...to see life as a series of learning experiences even in times of trial and failure.  He is the Living Water... and when we drink in the magnitude of His perfection...and accept His sacrifice on our behalf... our eternity is secure.  We were put here to give glory to Him.  To honor Him.  And when we accomplish what we’ve been sent here for... we’ll prayerfully hear the words from the One who sent us... “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  

I don’t know what you are going through as you listen to this... but I know God does.   He cares.  And He’s never going to leave your side through a second of it.  Stay strong as an oak, as flexible as a palm, and know that your best days are just ahead.  I’m praying for you..  

Training

According to the UK Mail... heir to the throne Prince William prepared for the birth of his son in a unique way.   While most dads thumb through simple parenting books, the Prince turned to a book written by former Commando and father of three, Neil Sinclair.  The title?  Commando Dad - Basic Training, a handbook in the style of Basic Battle Skills .  The contents of the book read like guidelines given to new army recruits... it’s pages filled with survival techniques and strategies for soldiers on the front lines.  

While parenting can seem like a battle sometimes, there is a far more effective book to get us started... the Bible.  God’s word instructs like no other... it’s wisdom, clarity, and insight is all we need to raise children that will grow up to be God-honoring adults.  Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”   Parenting isn’t about being perfect... or battle-ready... it’s about being intentional.  Teach children who God says they are... tell them how loving and graceful He is... share with them why obedience is important to Him... and great things will happen!  We may not know what to expect when we’re expecting... but by turning to and following God’s handbook... we’ll be ready to equip our children for anything.  

Scarecrow

There’s a great scene in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” between Dorothy and her straw-filled friend, the Scarecrow.  As they meet for the first time, the Scarecrow confesses, “I haven’t got a brain... only straw!”  Dorothy thinks for a moment and asks, “How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?”  He replies, “I don’t know... But some people without brains do an awful log of talking... don’t they?”

There’s a very short distance between our mind and our mouth... and all too often, if we aren’t careful, we engage the latter before using the former.  Speaking without thinking is not only foolish... but unbiblical.  In Ecclesiastes 5:2 it says “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God...”  Everything we share should be intentional and well-thought through... encouraging, uplifting, God-honoring, and purposeful.  Once they come out of our mouths, we can’t take our words back... so let’s think about each one... and use the brain God gave us to brighten the world. 

Real Self Help

Throughout history, people have tried thousands of ways to improve themselves.  Some  are philosophical, some religious, and others scientific.  After 2000 years of self-help, those ways can be boiled down to three common themes.  The first.. if we want to change... we have to alter our surroundings.  Just being in a different space can improve our outlook about ourselves and others.  The next is to watch ourselves carefully.  When we keep track of what we say and do, we increase awareness of what’s not working and can make the necessary shifts.  Finally, the third most commonly used self-help tactic is accountability.  When we partner with others, and ask them to point out what needs fixing, we are more likely to make the adjustments and improve our lives.

It’s no wonder why these seem to be the ways that work the best... they are Biblical!  Proverbs 4:14 tells us to watch where we hang out... “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men”.  Lamentations 3:4 challenges us to watch ourselves at all times...”Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD”  Finally, Galatians 6:1 tells us to set up accountability so that we can become self-aware. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”  Feeling the need to make some positive changes?  Don’t turn to the huge self-help section in your local bookstore... open the cover of the book you spend time with each morning...the Bible!  God’s word is filled with wisdom to help us keep good company, see ourselves accurately, and include others in our walk as we work at becoming who God created us to be.  

Feeling Ordinary?

Author Philip Yancey wrote about a television show he watched about survivors from World War II.  On the show, soldiers talked about how they spent a particular day in the foxhole.  They described it as ordinary... a German tank drove by and they shot at it... they played cards... a few got involved in some firefights... just a typical day.  Later, they learned that they had just participated in one of the most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.  To them, it didn’t feel decisive... they were doing what they always did.  But because they held down their position...just miles away, their fellow countrymen could take new ground.

Maybe today started out a lot like those soldiers.  You hit the alarm clock, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  Just an ordinary day.   But your day is far from ordinary.  God’s is in this day... and He’s making things happen.  You may not see the big picture...your position may seem inconsequential to you... but have no doubt... you play a critical role on this planet.  What you are doing matters.  You matter.  There are no small responsibilities when it comes to serving God and all of our efforts add up... no matter what we’re doing for Him.

Yancey finishes that chapter with this statement “Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks...”  Winning this world for Christ is a team effort.  Be the best you that you can be, honor God with your words and actions, and remember... everything matters...even the things that seem ordinary.  When we live that out, before long, the victory over the enemy of this world will be complete.  

Live On Purpose

62 year old John Brandrick was given a grim diagnosis.... pancreatic cancer... 6 months to live.  John decided that he was going to go out in style!  He quit his job, stopped paying his mortgage, emptied his savings accounts and sold all that he had.  He lived lavishly... enjoying expensive dining, entertainment, and travel.  Problem is... 6 months passed and Mr. Brandrick’s health remained the same.  No deterioration.  No pain.  A follow-up scan revealed that he didn’t have cancer at all.  He never did.  He had been misdiagnosed.  And while relieved, John now faced financial ruin due to the error.  

John lived carelessly because he feared that he was dying.  Some of us live exactly the opposite... we live carelessly because we feel we’re going to live on earth forever.  We build wealth without being generous... avoid a relationship with God because we think we’ll have the chance later... and spend a majority of our time on things that won’t come with us when our life is over.  If this is you... it’s not too late.   Ask yourself... How would life change if tomorrow were my last day of breath?   What would I tell the people in my life that I hold most dear?  What would I do about my eternity?  Scripture tells us in James 4 that we shouldn’t think we know what tomorrow holds... So why not do those things now?  Today?  Secure your place in Heaven by allowing Christ to lead your life.  Tell those around you how you feel about them.  Invest your money in eternal things through the local church.  Make the choice to live with purpose and intentionality... knowing that life truly begins when we prepare ourselves for what happens when it ends.  

His Verdict

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

A Bigger Mess

One day a young boy was eating potato chips and had made a terrible mess on the floor.  His father entered the room, noticed the mess, and told his son that he would clean it up for him.  The boy quickly replied... “No dad, I’ll do it!”  The dad thought a second and said, “No, if I let you do it, you’re going to make a bigger mess.”  The boy protested... “No I won’t!”  So the father relented and let his son clean up the chips.

The result?  As expected, the boy made a bigger mess.   

When we hear this story, we can be too quick to dismiss it as something only a child would do.  But take a second and think about it... don’t we do the same thing with God?  Time after time in scripture He tells us that He will take care of things for us... revenge, provision, fulfillment, peace.. and so much more.   Yet, we tell God all the time... “I’ve got it!”  And the result, a bigger mess.  Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart”   God knows best... and when we try to help Him handle our lives, we typically just make things more complicated.  Make the commitment today to take God at His word... Let Him do what He says He wants to do for us... and praise Him when you experience the blessing of His loving care.   

Surgery

A surgeon by the name of Dr. Kane was looking for a candidate for a very routine surgery.  He wanted to prove that an appendectomy could be performed under local anesthetic...and that a patient didn’t need to be asleep during the process.  After finding his volunteer, Dr. Kane numbed the area and skillfully removed the appendix.  During the surgery, the patient was wide awake... even able to talk with the nurses the entire time.    Recovery was over after a couple of days and the patient was released from the hospital.   That brave patient’s name?  Dr. Kane.  He had removed his own appendix.  

Self-surgery seems absurd.  What would drive someone to cut into and remove something from themselves?  But the Bible talks about one such surgery in Ephesians 4:31.  It says “All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.”  Here’s the truth... only you can remove these things from your life.  Only you can eliminate your bitterness and anger... and every great sermon, every self-help book, and every deep breath can only calm you down temporarily.  Scripture tells us these things must be cut out completely from our everyday behavior.  How do we do it?  Decide to.  And when you feel like being bitter or angry... dwell on today’s verse.  Remind yourself that God has a plan for your life... He’s given you a destiny that anger, bitterness, malice, and slander will just sidetrack.  Ready to make lasting change?  Scrub up and get ready doctor... your patient awaits!

The Speed of Pain

The other day I read that as a pane of glass breaks, the cracks travel faster than three thousand miles per hour down the length of the glass.  Hard to believe anything could cause that much damage so quickly...  As I was thinking about this piece of trivia, one thing came to mind that might be comparable...

Our words.   What we say can cause widespread destruction in very little time.  A sarcastic response... a jab.. or maybe it’s more directed pain.  Maybe it’s bringing up the past or a hurtful memory... perhaps it’s tearing someone apart just because we seek revenge.  Whatever the circumstance, words can wound deeply.  Scripture tells us in Ephesians 4 that we shouldn’t let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths.  Any.  Why?  Because as much as we might want to, once words come out... they can’t go back in.  The person is hurt...the relationship over...the damage done.   God-honoring speech is a conscious choice... and no matter what a person’s background, environment, upbringing, or influences are...they can still decide to honor Christ with their words.  Make the choice... and commit to using words for lifting up and not lashing out. 

The Old Way?

What do the letters QWERTYUIOP mean?  They are the letters on the top row of most modern keyboards... and why they exist might surprise you.  When the typewriter was first invented, the keys were in alphabetical order.  Typists could write letters quickly and efficiently.  They were so fast, in fact, that the typewriter keys were sticking together and jamming. In an attempt to remedy the problem, it was decided to place the keys in uncomfortable and challenging positions.  The result?  Slower typing and fewer stuck keys.  

The problem with this theory is that people figured out how to quickly type with the new configuration.  Yet, I find it interesting that the keyboard never changed back.  What we type on today is an old format and is less effective than it could be.  If we’re not careful, we’ll do the same things in our own lives.  We will create rules for ourselves that may work for a season... but before long we get stuck doing things a certain way when better methods come along.  That’s why it’s so important to follow God’s guidelines for our lives rather than creating our own.  His ways are consistent, have held up to the test of time, and are designed with our well-being in mind.  Today, if you find yourself doing things the old way... maybe it’s time to do things God’s way.  It may not be a simple transition, but it will be one that you will never regret.