Important Decisions

Who should I marry? Where should I live? Where should my kids go to school? What career path should I choose? How should I invest my money? When should I retire?

These are legitimate questions that oftentimes do not provide clear cut answers. So how do we approach making important decisions like these and others?

I generally try to incorporate these three guiding principles when making significant decisions in my life; pray, weigh the pros and cons, and seek godly counsel.

Prayer signifies my dependence on the spirit of God and my desire to have the steady current of my faith fueling the decision making process. The leading voice and the highest priority of my life should be God's Word. 

Weighing the pros and cons is an attempt to assure that my decisions aren't based solely on my heart and emotions. If I know me, my emotions can become misguided and blur my vision in a way that I chase people, places, and dreams that God never intended for me to pursue.

Seeking godly counsel is simply asking for others to confirm or deny what they see as my passions and pitfalls, and how making this decision could be a wise or harmful move for me to make. I know that I need accountability in my life so that I'm not constantly choosing my own path based on preferences, conveniences, or self-gratifying results.

While many of the decisions we make aren't necessarily cut and dry, black and white decisions we must learn to seek the wisdom and discernment necessary to consider the implications of those decisions. Insightful decision making will create an awareness for us to respond more appropriately when life doesn't happen as we had planned.

Let your decisions be made with God's Word, a steady mind, and the voice of trusted friends. Making decisions isn't about following your heart; it's about following God's heart for your life. With every decision made, live like it's the right decision made at the right time for the right reason. God will honor our attempts at humble, righteous decision making with loads and loads of grace.

Ready and Willing!

"Ready or not, here I come!" 

My son loves playing hide and seek. It doesn't matter if we're in the house, outside, or at Walmart. Of course I have to remind him not to get out of sight in public places. I would hate to forfeit any "Father of the Year" honors by being called on the intercom to report to the home and garden center, register nine, or the customer service desk. 

So the counting begins. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...When finally reaching my numerical destination,  I set out to discover him in the unique hiding place under the same pile of clothes I was in only moments before. 

But sometimes when I finish counting and recite the familiar line, "Ready or not, here I come," he begins to scream, "Dad, I'm not ready!" 

He's more than willing to play the game but he's not quite ready for the game to begin. So he says, "Dad, start over!" In his quest to find the most optimal position his indecisive spirit leaves him squandering in the dregs of open spaces.   

And this is the place I find myself with God. Willing but not quite ready! 

I'm convinced I need more time, more training, more clarity. I need one more fleece, one more burning bush, one more talking donkey. One more supernatural expression of His presence rather than just trusting the surge of His Spirit on my heart. 

I'm trapped between sitting down and taking a step. Trapped between fear and courage. Trapped between rebellion and obedience. Trapped between trusting my flesh and His spirit in me.

Here's what I hear God saying right now, "Ready or not, here I come!" Yes, there's uncertainty. Yes, I would like more time. Yes, I would like the path to be more clear. But that's what makes it a real test of faith. Taking the leap, making the jump, beginning the journey. 

God is at work and He's asking us to join Him. He's not asking if we're ready; He's simply asking us to be willing to take this leap of faith and trust Him with our steps!

Walk by faith

"Walk by faith!"

I've seen this phrase penned across coffee mugs. Written on bright colored posters hanging on the wall. I've even seen it tattooed on someone walking barefoot in the sand.

The problem is, for those of us who sing its praises, we rarely live up to its hype. Instead, we find ourselves walking by fear, compulsion, or apathy.

We treat life like we're walking on egg shells; full of fear and scared to death of our future. 

We treat life like we're driving a steam roller; domineering control of our circumstances. 

We treat life like we are running through a field of lilies; showing no regard for purpose and vision.

Life happening right or being good is not all riding on our shoulders. There can never be a "100% satisfaction guaranteed" warranty placed on this journey we're making from earth to eternity when we place that responsibility completely on ourselves.

God is fine with vision, ambition, and discernment. But when we abandon this truth, the belief that no matter what "God's got this," then we cease to walk by faith. He wants us to be wise and well prepared, not foolish. He wants us to be flexible and open minded, not stubborn or insincere. He wants us to be confident and full of courage, not timidly hiding in fear. 

But what He wants most of all is for us to surrender ourselves to His plan and trust Him with our steps. It doesn't have to be figured out and it doesn't have to be set in stone. It's simply placing our life open-handedly into His.

When the foreseeable outcome isn't evident then our awareness for faith, a confident hope in a proven God worthy of our trust, is heightened. So let your next step, whether big or small, simply be a step of faith. 

 

How Much Does it Cost?

New toys, new wardrobes, new cars, new houses. Each of these items bear an attraction, level of entertainment, comfort, and beauty that cause us to actively pursue them without much reservation.

Without question, our eyes become enlarged and our hearts pump tirelessly in anticipation of receiving these kinds of possessions. However, it seems instead of considering it's worth we resort to this question, "How much does it cost?"

Sure, that's a legitimate question. If we don't have the resources to make the purchase then we simply look with envy at those who do. And it's in that moment that we move from asking "What's it cost?" to "What's it worth?"

Jesus tells a story in the Bible about a man who found a treasure in a field. He sold everything he had to purchase the field because of the excitement that awaited his purchase. The worth of his new prize far outweighed the cost required to receive it.

Jesus is making a very simple request, "Follow Me." And we are forced to weigh in the balance the cost and the worth, the risk and the reward. And too often, the cost outweighs the worth in our misguided view of what we consider to be a full and happy life.

Don't be mistaken while this two phrase request is simple, it's not easy. Denying yourself pleasures, conveniences, and having things your own way. It's not a promise to remove the difficulties and strains of your finances or relationships. But it is a promise to have peace and joy to endure the circumstances that this life brings.

The beauty and worth of Jesus is incomparable to all that this world has to offer. Sure, financial stability, relational peace, and moments of entertainment are reassuring and relaxing but there is a level of trust to be placed in Jesus that this world cannot provide. Choose Jesus. He is more valuable than the treasure found in any field. He provides for you what no one and nothing else can; true life.

Stranger Danger

Last week was Halloween. And all the well-meaning, responsible adults who were premiering for "Parent of the Year" honors took time to instill two very important principles into their little costumed heroes, princesses, and zombies.

The night was adorned by little minions dressed in fine apparel running through neighborhoods collecting candy in their pumpkins, plastic bags, or pillow cases. And our words to them as they stepped off the edge of our flat-bed trailer hay ride or out of the side door of our mini van, "Don't forget to say thank you!"

I love what comedian Bob Smiley said about trick-or-treating. "I use this holiday as an opportunity to teach my kids about the government collections agency. When they come home, I take 50%. But just in case you think that's unfair, I am providing free healthcare."

Then, there's this other rule, sometimes spoken and other times assumed, "Don't take candy from strangers!" This reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skit with Edward Norton about the police officer making a school visit to teach proper trick-or-treat etiquette.

But why is it so essential to instill these two ideals; to say thank you and don't talk to strangers?

There's something inside of me that feels like I should violate the premise of both of these principles. That I should learn to be a giver more than a taker. That my vocabulary should include "you're welcome" more often than "thank you." That talking to strangers in an effort to close gaps and build bridges is more beneficial than staring awkwardly at people who don't look, act, or dress like me.

I'm a parent so I totally understand the need to provide safety and security for our children. So, I am not saying we send them out into a world full of wolves unguarded or unaware. But what I am saying is that it is my responsibility to teach my child to reflect the character of Jesus. That by serving others we want to see people from all walks of life connect to life in Christ.

Love Your Neighbor

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

Why didn't he say, "love your neighbor like you love your family, your job, your hobby, or your favorite pastime?" He could have named anything under the sun, yet he chose to say 'as yourself.'

Because He knows just how much, albeit often misrepresented, we really do love ourselves.

Think about it. We know us better than anyone else in this world; even with all the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of us, we choose to love us anyway.

We accentuate our strengths. We highlight our successes through various platforms. We give ourselves "shout-outs" and "hashtags" and place the best we have on all of our social media outlets. It's evident to those around us what we consider to be highlight worthy moments in our life.

We abbreviate our weaknesses. We often neglect mentioning our shortcomings and pitfalls. Those miscalculated efforts resulting in failure are often conveniently left out of stories at the office or dinner table. Our comparison game with others is usually made with those who we deem as inferior to our extraordinary skills.

We accelerate our passions. Passions, be it our relationships, hobbies, or other forms of entertainment, are placed on the forefront of our list of priorities. The personal pleasures we experience are constantly being placed on the mantle of our passions, praises, and prizes.

We accommodate our schedules. Busyness has become the new normal. It's as if to say that busyness equals popularity or productivity. We're constantly searching for the next measure of meaningfulness, denying one person's proposition for 'more important' invitations from new acquaintances. We're constantly making a barrage of appointments to ramp up our level of importance.

Loving ourselves in unhealthy ways can be prideful, arrogant, and selfish. But loving others with the love we once held for ourselves can create healthy, humble communities.

What God wants us to do is place others ahead of ourselves. Lift others up. Give grace to their imperfections. Make time for developing relationships. Build bridges to help them reach their potential.

We will never love others the way God intended until we first recognize the love He has for us. In the midst of His perfection lies our depravity. Yet He sees us as important. He has placed a priority on us above His own convenience. And our willingness to reciprocate His unwavering love becomes a catalyst for the new found love we can now have for others.

Like a Child

He laughs. He cries. He begs. He expects. Very seldom does he worry. The credence of this child, his innate dependence upon his father, is deeply woven into the fabric of his soul.

Where do we lose this sense of dependence and begin to wander into the world of independence and self-reliance? The place where we no longer needs others' advice or assistance. The place where life experiences have convinced, perhaps deceived, us into believing we've arrived on some stalwart plank absent of any defect.

Here's the place I find myself retreating; to a place of arrogance. As if I've become the means to my own end. A far cry from the child reaching out for the outstretched hand of his father. Or the cynicism that casts doubt over acts of kindness because of this ego-centric world where we live. That somehow everyone has become motivated by self-interests rather than risking their own conveniences for the sake of another.

And when God confronts my misplaced and suspicious tendencies to believe such lies, He leads me back to this conclusion; "How much more will your heavenly Father give to those who ask him!" In moments of desperation, knowing my soul needs to be connected and conformed to this trustworthy source, God is reaching into time and space with promises to meet me in my mess.

It's in those moments, those God-sized moments, that I'm humbled. I realize that not only do I need Him but He cherishes me as His child. I'm hopeful. In spite of my past and oftentimes even my present circumstances, I can trust Him. I'm learning to see life through the lens of unrivaled grace pronounced over me by the most amazing and loving Father I could ever know.

And, so, God is calling me to be more like 'him' and more like 'Him.' He wants me to come to Him in the way of a child, humble and hopeful. And as I continually listen to the gentle whispers of His voice over my soul I am becoming more aware of His presence and see His character taking shape in my own life.

Football Season is Here!

Football season is here! For many people in the South, football is god!

I can remember standing on the sidelines and hearing the chant, "Know what to do and DO IT!"

Players and coaches spent countless days in the weight room, watched numerous hours of game film, and trained their bodies and minds for the play calls in practice all to prepare themselves for the physical war under the "Friday Night Lights."

Every routine play and even the trick plays were rehearsed in practice. How could the result not be a 1st down? They can repeat the opponents' play calling in their sleep. How could they not get a defensive stop on 3rd and long?

Life is no different. There's a coach, a playbook, a team, and an opponent. What on earth could de-rail our team from experiencing optimal success? Two things; ignorance and apathy.

So, ignorance is simply not knowing what to do. There are many reasons a player may fail to do the right thing, but he cannot do what he does not know. Maybe he was distracted. Maybe he was absent. Maybe he just didn't understand the play being called. Nevertheless, his inability to fulfill his obligation to the team left him wavering in the ranks of irresponsible behavior.

Apathy is refusing to do something in light of knowing the routine and the results. This player knows the responsibility of the position but is choosing to act independently of those expectations. Pride, inconvenience, or a lack of self control are often indicators leading to apathy. And apathetic tendencies always lead to results that are off course.

How do we overcome two of the most fundamental flaws of any team?

It's simple; obedience. We refuse to be ignorant; we choose to learn and become a student of the game. We refrain from apathy; our responsibility to this team trumps any rights we believe we have as an individual. We submit ourselves to the authority of leadership, to the unity of this team, and to the plausibility of its practices to develop a more cohesive design for success in this game.

This statement, "Know what to do and do it," is more than the MO for a sports team; it's the MO for God's army in the war we face in life. James 4:17 states, "Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." The only way we can guarantee victory over the struggles in life is to identify the voice of our commander and obey with unwavering vigor and resolve!

All Things Work Together

How can we believe that "all things work together for good" when life seems so unfair?

Doctor's reports and death certificates all indicate terrible circumstances yet God is supposed to be working "all things together for good."

First of all, define good. Is good supposed to be comfortable? Pleasant? Enjoyable? Does our definition of good really correlate to God's definition?

Consider the rest of the phrase, "to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

What if we consider a different sequence for this statement? What if we realized that before seeing everything as working together for our good that we were actually called according to God's purpose? When our perspective for why we're here has clarity then our perspective for what's good will make more sense.

God's purpose for our lives is not just some spiritual semblance of heaven but it's a loving relationship with Him and His people on earth. And He's asking us to reciprocate that love with Him through surrendering our lives to His mission.

When our calling is clear and our love is shared then our journey, even the obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments, can be seen as a stepping stone that is shaping our character to be more like Jesus.

God's goal for our life is not for us to see good through the lens of human gratification; rather, His goal for us is to see good through the lens of spiritual transformation. Trials and triumphs co-exist to place an exclamation mark on the sovereign hand of God in our lives. He's making all things work together for good on the canvas of His eternal purposes!

Giving

He was fumbling through his sock drawer; frantic. With his mom's frustration rising, tears began welling up in his eyes as he said, "Mom, I'm looking for money to buy bricks!"

Our church's capital campaign, the BOLD Initiative, is making an attempt to build platforms to connect people from all walks of life to life in Christ. There are specific goals being generated but the end game for such a risk is the church acting in faith believing that God will be glorified by our unwavering obedience.

Considering stories from the Bible like a boy's loaves and fish and a widow's mite our church is being challenged to consider a BOLD offering that would propel the name of Christ forward and deepen the faith of its members.

The mantra of our church's BOLD Initiative is "Our boldest moments are our best moments." So, whether we're giving our money or our time how do we guarantee that we are giving God our BEST moments?

Give generously. Gratitude breeds generosity. When we're convinced we have been given much we will be more prone to give. We must learn to be thankful for what we have but we must realize that our stock is simply on loan. Loosening our grip on our most valuable possessions will always be an indicator of a life marked by generosity.

Give sacrificially. "Give until it hurts." The problem is we're not very tolerant to pain. The slightest discomfort often causes us to tighten the bolts on our pocketbooks. Financial stability is a blanket of security; the opposite of risk and sacrifice. Sacrificial giving increases our faith, utilizing God's intervention in our circumstances to advance His kingdom purposes.

Give joyfully. Gifts given begrudgingly rob us of the joy meant to be garnered for our obedience. Giving in pretense or reluctance forfeits genuine gladness of heart. When we treasure the Giver more than the gift we realize our treasure is stored in heaven, not in earthly accounts. Giving with a smile on our face will ultimately put a smile on His!

Giving money, our hard-earned money, can make indelible marks on our lives and bank accounts. Pushing back on the pressure to give makes sense. After all, it's ours isn't it? Yet, God has called us to leverage our resources for a much higher purpose than our pleasure and entertainment. Giving a gift seems to be a small price to pay in light of the incomparable riches of knowing that our faith and obedience is becoming a cataclysmic force in the kingdom purposes of God.