Just Say Yes!

Recently I shared meals with family and friends at some of the finer restaurants in the south; Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, and Buffalo Wild Wings. 

The waitress at Waffle House was shuffling duties between the cash register, drink machine, and customers' tables. Yet, in the midst of all the hustle with only two employees serving a house half full, my friend and I chose to affirm her hard work with a generous tip; we simply placed our "yes" on the table for her performance. 

The waiter at Cracker Barrel told us all about his bicycle remodeling project as he scurried from table to table delivering chicken and dumplings and glasses of sweet tea. I felt like I should offer him a chair and sit down to chat over coffee but he had plenty of tables to serve and our ticket was ready for pickup. Again, his generous service left us compelled to leave a generous "yes" on the table. 

 

The waiter at Buffalo Wild Wings had a busy shift covering tables for UFC fight night and the NFL playoffs. And this one crazy Pittsburgh Steelers fan was more than a fanatic; I probably would have left a bigger tip if they would have asked that guy to leave (or given him a free order of wings to keep him busy at his seat). Nevertheless, with a crowded room full of sports fans our waiter kept our glasses full and our table clean. Surely, we could leave a generous "yes" on the table for his performance too. 

Really, that's exactly what God in Christ is hoping to get out of our lives. Placing our yes on the table by acknowledging his perfectly completed performance on the cross. 

It would release us from attempting to prove our own self worth in a less than stellar performance of self righteous deeds. We become token tippers throwing change on the table hoping to appease any disappointment God may have with our begrudging attitudes or shameful actions. Or maybe we flaunt a few dollar bills on God's table trying to impress our fellow comrades with our deep pockets. 

And really, God becomes quite disgusted and broken hearted by our attempt to manipulate Him with some kind of payoff; temporarily saying yes for him to pat us on the back before we repeat our same selfish behavior.

God doesn't want your token tip, a few dollars in the plate, a promise to do better, your church attendance, a prayer, or reading your bible on occasion. God wants you to place your "yes" on the table; to acknowledge His superior performance, a performance that you can never match or repay. 

He wants you to sign and date the check to your life. There's no need to complete the line for what it's for, the amount, or  the memo line. He's not looking for a season of time or you working off the balance of some amount. He wants everything; he wants you to go all in. 

So, sign the check, hand it to Him, and place your "yes" on the table! 

Greetings Favored One!

Have you ever had one of those "Oh my God! I can't believe this is happening!" moments?

Imagine being a Jewish teenage girl (kind of difficult for us guys with a beard, I know) at the turn of the 1st century and hearing the voice of an angelic being, "Greetings, favored one!"

And as I scanned the rest of the story, here is what I saw unfolding from the most unbelievable news in the world.

Finding favor routinely asks, "Who, me?"
"She tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be" (Luke 1:29). We live in a 'cause and effect' world full of if-then conditions for our life. And Mary was a simple, ordinary Jewish girl. No name or resume really to brag about. No wonder she was looking around to see where the voice was coming from, why she had become the target of a heavenly calling. Yet God is routinely using the ordinary to bring about the extraordinary for all the world to see.

Finding favor may result in unfavorable circumstances.
"You will conceive and bear a son...How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:31,34). Many onlookers in the 21st century have romanticized Mary's situation, as if to say, "How lucky was she?" Really? A Jewish girl engaged to be married, now pregnant, in a law-driven world where she's destined to be criticized and shunned by friends, family, and perhaps even her future husband. Yet God is taking what appears to be unfavorable among men for the purpose of displaying His glory.

Finding favor resigns itself to the new normal.
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:31). Sometimes, whether you asked for it or not, you are handed what will become your new normal. You can't change or manipulate the situation. You must simply adjust your perspective to what now is. God is taking what was dead and creating life, what was once dark and now bringing to light, as in this case, through the presence of a newborn child.

Finding favor relies on faith in God's promise.
"For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Being asked to carry out such a task as bearing the Son of God can be, no doubt, pretty daunting. Scary. Fearful. After all, the angel did say, "Do not be afraid." And the only way that any of us can ever sustain this life God has called us to is by resting in the promises of God.

Finding favor rejoices in growing obedience.
"I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done according to your word" (Luke 1:38). God is sovereign and has set in motion a plan for all of our lives. God has also given us a choice, free will, to accept or reject the display of His grand story. And the confirmation of God's favor in our lives rests in our willingness to receive and respond in faith to this favor that God has pronounced over us.

But here's the real twist to the story; it was never really about Mary. And it's not about us! God's plan of redemption was to send His son to earth. Mary was the instrument by which God would accomplish His purpose. Ordinary, simple, Jewish teenager, Mary.

Lest we slip back into our old way of thinking that God's favor is still somehow attached to our name, talent, or entitled mind, let me remind us all again, it's not. Finding favor is grace; a free and undeserving gift! Grace in the form of Immanuel, God with us. God is finding favor on all the world. He is simply asking who is willing to conceive, in faith, the precious gift of His Son!

Making the Team

I recently had the privilege to speak to a high school basketball team. As tryouts passed, cuts were made, and rosters were posted I was asked to come and give some words of motivation and inspiration for their ensuing journey together. 

So you know what I said? 

"Work hard and good luck!" 

Really. 

How much more motivation do you need than to know that when you put that practice jersey on it will fuel the sweat, blood, and tears necessary to place talent, skill, and perseverance on the front lines every time against every opponent you face this season? 

Now for the rest of my 10 minute rant that found me re-living my glory days. 

I reminded the players how they longed to get the attention of the coaches; making every layup, meeting every pass, always in a defensive ready position. 

I told them how I knew all they really wanted was the coach's approval; good enough to contribute to the team. And they got it the day the rosters were posted.

Then, I reminded them what was coming; the apparel. Team sponsored gym bags, matching shoes, name plates above their locker. 

The Christian life is no different. We long for God's attention. We want his approval. We want his apparel. And we chase after those things just like trying to make a basketball team. Hard work, extra effort, asking God for the goods. 

But I've come to realize that the Christian life is so paradoxical. We get God's attention not by presenting our talent and skill but by making pleas of desperation, admitting we're just not good enough. We find His approval, not in our deeds of righteousness that He counts as filthy rags, but in the righteousness of His Son covering our sin-stricken hearts. His apparel is not some pair of designer jeans or a list of good fortune, rather it is being clothed with a sword and shield to declare war on the enemy's attempt at ceasing the greatest mission on earth.

We all have circumstances in our lives that at times feel daunting. God is not impressed by our attempts to prove ourselves or call on Him like some genie in a bottle. He actually does want to hear our cries for help and He really does want to aid us through the guiding hand of His Holy Spirit. Remember today that the greatest victory in all the world is choosing to advance the only kingdom that will outlast all the substitutes this world has to offer; team Jesus. 

Is God fair?

In short, "No."

You've heard, read about, or even experienced personally stories where the good guy went down and the bad guy went free. Tell me, where's the justice in that? 

 

If God wanted, He could play the role of 'cosmic cop' and stop all the injustice yet He doesn't. Why? Because God's not fair. 

If God wanted, He could play the role of ingenious 'miracle worker' and heal all the children with cancer, AIDS, and other terminal diseases to give them hope for the future. But the innocent are still suffering. Why? Because God's not fair.

And the list goes on.
 

There are so many instances in the world where God's fairness apparently does not exist and people feel they are warranted to say, "God's not fair."

Yet consider this. What if you were the villain standing before the judge? Or you were the patient who received the cure? It's easy to point fingers at God and others and scream foul until unfair treatment actually leans in our favor.

 

We want to believe, in our own minds, that we are good people. Sure, we all make mistakes. But compared to others, we're really not that bad. Or what about those of us who think, "I deserve this!" Like we brought something of worth to the table of life that was unique and necessary.

What if God being unfair was to our advantage?
 

Grace, by definition, is an act of breaking the rules; a gift that has not been earned or deserved. Undoubtedly, it's close companion, mercy, is also an unfair act of denying justice its power. Being granted the freedom to walk away debt-free from an obvious act of rebellion. 

How dare God declare us guilty? That's not fair! Yet, how dare Him pave a way to His presence through a blood-stained cross? Shall we also say, "That's not fair!"

 

We are owed our own death sentence for not being quite good enough. Yet in His unfairness, Christ declares, "Mercy!" Left to wander through life searching for our own way to wholeness, Christ declares, "Grace!"

 

God is so unfair that He forfeited His own rights to win that we may gain the ultimate victory of eternal life. So, is God fair? No. God is shouting, "I'm not fair" through the lens of mercy and grace.

Bread & Fish

Maybe you're thinking, "I've heard this story a thousand times!"

Consider this thought about the baskets of leftovers; where were those 12 baskets before the meal?

Jesus had a great following because of the eye-opening miracles and the ear-penetrating parables He told throughout the region. It was getting late in the day and one of the disciples suggested that Jesus send the crowd away.

Wouldn't you, if you were Jesus, have wanted to say something like, "Don't you realize these people are following me because I'm like a Rock Star?!!!"

So, one of the guys brought 5 small loaves and 2 small fish; a little boy's lunch. Surely some of those in the crowd had decided to follow Jesus wherever He went that day and packed their own meal; perhaps, a picnic for the whole family. Why didn't the disciples retrieve their lunches as well?

So, where did those 12 baskets come from? Were there some selfish attendees holding tightly to their baskets? Did they not want to nominate themselves as Jesus's 'volunteer of the day?' Was personal comfort more important than risking a moment of hunger?

Aren't we a lot like the people in the crowd? We want to see the show without paying the price of admission? After all, who doesn't like free? Yet, that's exactly what Jesus calls us to do; pay the price of admission!

Choosing to freely loosen your grip on what you consider to be most valuable in life is much more rewarding than God prying it from your hands! While Christ has paid the ultimate price for our admission, He has called us to a life of sacrifice and generosity.

Walking on Water

Have you ever walked on water?

I didn't think so. Me neither!

Many of us have heard the story of Peter walking on the water. The one where Peter abandons the security of the boat being rocked by the waves to risk walking with Jesus in the middle of the storm (Matthew 14).

This story often reminds me of the risk vs. reward paradigm we encounter with pivotal decisions we face in life; decisions regarding family, education, career, retirement and the like.

It's so easy to snuggle up close to the comfort and convenience of what we know rather than the risk and complexity of the unknown.

Years ago I began praying this phrase that I hoped (and still do) would become the epitome of my faith; "Lord help me to be who you want me to be, do what you want me to do, and go where you want me to go."

The real struggle has been not to limit or insinuate God's intent for my being, doing, and going. God has never scripted a 5- or 10-year plan for my life. He has simply called me to walk by faith. He hasn't given me a highlighted map of my journey. He's only pointed me in the direction of the next step; out of the boat.

Stepping out of the boat requires (1) trust, (2) hope, (3) peace. Trust is releasing all control into the hands of a sovereign God. Hope is placing great confidence in a victorious Warrior. Peace is finding calm assurance in a faithful Savior.

These lyrics have become a mantra for refueling my faith:
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
(Hillsong United - "Oceans")

While life may be easier, more comfortable, or seem more secure by staying in the boat, God is wanting to stretch our faith and confidence in Him. The greatest life worth living requires stepping out of the boat onto the surface of life's ocean calling on His name, coming to Him, and clinging to His outstretched hand. Lord, I trust you because "You've never failed and you won't start now!"

Keeping Score

My son is playing soccer but since he's in the youngest age division we aren't supposed to keep score. Yet I can't help but press the button on the scoreboard of my mind every time they score a goal. There just seems to be something intrinsic about tallying the score.

Each time my son's team scores I find myself celebrating inwardly or aloud, high-fiving the players and telling them "Good job!" And every time the opposing team scores I find myself becoming enraged at their lack of defense and intensity.

Then I'm forced to remember, "They're four!"

It's so easy to keep score in the daily routines of our life. Those moments we feel a win coming our way because of our good deeds, the sacrifices we make, and the moral aptitudes we display for others to consider our greatness.

But the real test comes when others violate the rules of the game. When someone breaks the rules by lying, cheating, betraying, stealing, gossiping, and so on. They've done that one thing that has sparked unforgettable and unforgivable anger and resentment. We've tallied the score and feel defeat knocking on the door.

Now we're forced to continue playing by the rules or consider bending what we know to be right to catch up, tie the score, and move ahead. All because we've been trained to keep score!

Keeping score can be exhausting. If we're constantly counting the punches thrown by others we will eventually feel overwhelmed by the countless opponents demanding our attention. 

Rather than experiencing the frustration of tallying the score, we must learn to find the ultimate victory in showing mercy (James 2:13).

Stressed Beyond Belief

Stressed. Anxious. Worried. Not enough time. Not enough energy. Not enough...

Just fill in the blank with what you consider to be your maxim of stress.

A laughable phrase that I often share to lighten the mood of the stressed out type-A's in my life is "Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow!" A far cry from the age-old, "Why put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today!"

In this microwave world of immediacy, there's this problem; you CAN'T do everything today. Deadlines. Demands. Delusional thinking that it all must be done right now. The pressure builds until the crockpot of our body, mind, and emotions eventually implode.

Why?

Because we live in a world where as one guy said, "Life is like Twitter, we show the best and hide the rest!" In an effort to compete and comply with the world's demands we build our own little castles made of sand only to see them decimated under the weight of such fragile self-efficacy.

So what causes the stress that is ripping apart the fabric of human design? It is ultimately attached to a lack of control. Recognizing our own inabilities. Experiencing the frustrations of unmet expectations by others. Feeling the vulnerability caused by the strain of our own environments.

And where do we find the remedy for dealing with such demands of worry, stress, and anxiety? In short, Jesus. But we all know it's easier said than done when high levels of stress sabotage what we know to be true; when we are stressed beyond belief.

Change what you can; accept what you can't. How well we adapt to the various seasons of life will be the seed bearing the fruit of making us better or bitter.

See the immediate in light of the ultimate. Recognize that our decisions in these seasons of life will reflect foolishness or maturity; a progression of worry or peace.

Remember the Master is always displaying a masterpiece. These moments of stress are really pivotal moments to lean more directly into the Potter's wheel of refining a complexion of faith in us.

Jesus made these principles clear in the Sermon on the Mount as He spoke to the crowd by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 6:25-33). Not even the wisest and richest in the world can make guarantees and provisions like that of the Lord. Rightly seeking the kingdom of God will put everything else in perspective; helping us to see that worrying only distracts us from seeing the change Christ intends to make in us.

Oh Taste and See

If you've ever had a savory and appetizing meal you know how difficult it is to settle for its substitute. It's hard to outdo the Chic-Fil-A chicken sandwich. There are people who swear by the Brazilian steaks of Fogo de Chao. Pick your choice of cuisine; Italian, Mexican, Japanese, or seafood restaurants. Replicas, knock-offs, and generic brands will never match the flavor of such insatiable desire.

So what do you do when your appetite is using your stomach as a punch bag for a savory meal?

Remember the children of Israel starving in the wilderness during the exodus and God showed up and fed them manna from heaven (Exodus 16)? How about the Hebrew boys that chose vegetables and water instead of the king's choice foods (Daniel 1)? Or that time Jesus attended the wedding feast and turned water into wine (John 2)? Who could forget when Jesus fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish (John 6)?

Just taking a glance at those stories, here's what I realized; God used ordinary people in ordinary places to do extraordinary miracles to provide hope and reason to simply taste His goodness.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good." This passage in Psalm 34:8 describes the essence of tasting true life that can only be found by faith in Him alone.

In Him we find pleasure for He is good. In Him we find protection for He is our refuge. In Him we find provision for there is no want. In Him we find peace for He calms our fear of lack. In Him we find promise for He will remain faithful.

Our greatest satisfaction in Jesus will only come when our deepest desperation is for Him. If Jesus is one of many treasures, He will really be no treasure at all. We often try to remedy the tastes of our desires in life with generic substitutes. Jesus will not allow Himself to be one of many ways to satisfy the longings of our soul.

Passing the taste-test of Jesus is to see that in Him we will not be found wanting. Tasting Jesus will fuse our God-given desires to His all-satisfying goodness of grace. If you're jumping from one substitute to the next looking for what will completely satisfy your thirst, look no further than Jesus Christ. He's been tried and found to be true. He's trustworthy and to be treasured above all others. "O taste and see that the Lord is good!"

 

It Will be My Joy to Say

Much of my life has been relatively easy. Comfortable. Convenient. Low risk. Not much sacrifice. But along the way, there have been moments where my faith has been tested. Where I've had to let wrestle the fleshly and spiritual parts of my being. And in those moments there has been an internal bleeding of the soul because of the declaration of war for my life; God's will or mine.

As a Christian for more than 25 years, I've heard (literally) hundreds of songs pertaining to faith and God. And of all the songs I've read, sang, or hummed, the most difficult has undoubtedly been, "It will be my joy to say 'Your will, Your way.'" (Lay Me Down - Chris Tomlin)

Some may wonder, "What's the big deal?" And, to be honest, that was me, at first. Just living in the moment of raised hands, mindlessly singing amid the smoke and lights filtering the room.

Here was my reality; my theology was colliding with my experience. When what seemed to be more overwhelming than the joy I thought God could bring I found myself singing the song in one breath and ultimately denying it in the next. In church. Lying in church. Talk about a hypocrite! And it was crushing me!

But somewhere along the way, I found the gem of God's relentless grace. I have seen God's unconditional love taking me through every season of life to make me more like His Son, and I know that He has the power to produce the joy that can only be experienced through knowing and doing His will.

Will we soon believe that joy, real joy, God-produced joy can be experienced in all seasons of life? Not until we realize that God is greater than our struggle. Greater than our past. Greater than all the blemishes we are trying to hide. Greater than our sin. Greater than the life we are trying to create for ourselves in our own strength. Greater than the grip of the lying, deceitful, God-opposing enemy who is offering the goods that many will settle for as a cheap substitute of God's grace and goodness.

If your season of life seems unbearable, if you're thinking about giving up, if you're questioning if this whole "God thing" is worth it, know that it's absolutely worth it to press on. Life will produce sorrow but joy will come with the morning (Ps 30:5). Life will make us weary but the joy of the Lord will be our strength (Neh 8:10). He will make a way for you to sing "It will be my joy to say Your will, Your way, Always!"