More Than Needed

If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

If your kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even pagans do that. – Matthew 5:41, 47

I met a friend and his wife at McDonalds.  He is a retired pastor and God uses them both to mentor me.  We sat in the back talking and  drinking our coffee. In walked these 3 young guys. They were hanging out.  These guys were loud and obnoxious.  One of them came over and asked if he could have $1.  I had no cash.  But Steve did.  And he gave him $2.

The demeanor on this young man’s face changed.  I have to believe that not too many people have been this kind to this young man.  And in a little while after that it opened up for Steve’s wife to talk to these young men who gave her their attention.  She spoke truth into them.  I believe that young man was affected by the overflow of generosity. And it opened him up to listen and he was aware that someone cared enough.

My friend showed Jesus to the young man by giving him more than he asked for.  And my friend did it with a smile on his face.

I believe it made an impact.  The young man shared with Steve’s wife of quitting school, been in jail: no job, no future.

The extra $1 got this young man and his friend’s ear.  She got to tell them that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.  She encouraged them.

What impact can we have if we go over and above what is required?  How much more do we show other’s God’s love by giving even more of ourselves?

It is a habit that can be fostered through being intentional about sharing; giving of yourself.

How much was that young man blessed by just an extra $1.  I have to believe more than we might think.

I want to encourage you to pleasantly surprise someone when they ask for something and you give them even more.

Isn’t that exactly what Christ has done for us?  Not only does he save you but gives you blessings upon blessings.

Sounds like Steve and his wife were Christ today.  And that is exactly what God would have us be.

Intentionally, today……and every day…. give, over and above

Build

You’re familiar with the old written law, “Love your friend” and its unwritten companion, “Hate your enemy”. I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for then you are working out your true selves, your God created selves. That is what God does. He gives His best- the sun to warm and the rain to nourish-to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the loveable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

In a word, what I am saying is GROW UP! You are Kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message

I walk this road, with a hammer and fiery lantern

With this hand I’ve built, with this hand I’ve burned

– Bruce Springsteen, Leah

Incredible power that we hold.

Power to build up, power to tear down

Power to bless, power to curse

Power to give, power to take

Power to love, power to hate

We hold a hammer that can build; be constructive. As well, however, it has power to inflict pain, hurt; destruction.

We hold a light. A light that can burn things, and people, down. As well as a light to make clear the path. It can bring warmth and visibility in darkness. A darkness in someone else’s life. maybe your own.

We can believe we have every right to dish out punishment, judgment and spew anger, resentment and bitterness.

But you most certainly have a choice.

Don’t let your feelings and emotions, your pride and ego, get in the way.

Let the unconditional love of God to you, direct you.

Always keep in mind and heart that you were undeservedly given Jesus’ rightful righteousness and blessing and He took your sin and curse.

Build others up, not tear them down.

Add to others, not diminish from them.

For whatever you choose, you too add or diminish from yourself as well.

Intentionally, today……and every day…. exhaust yourself of grace, mercy and love

Integrity

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. – Matthew 23:13-14

 

A few years ago my wife and I were in Charleston for the weekend.  We were in a gift shop.  As we were browsing around these two older couples went up to the register to check out.  The teenage girl gave them the price for the items when one of the men asked for a senior citizen discount.  The young girl replied sorry that they didn’t have a senior citizen discount.  The two men scowled at her and said to her, “You wouldn’t be lying would you?”  “No sir, I am not” They replied, “Are you sure, do you know you will go to hell for lying?!”

My wife and I were now very much focused on this interaction.  I was about to say something when this young teenage girl replied, “Sir, no I am not lying.  But furthermore, no, I would not be going to hell – I have been saved by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

With that they were silent – and paid full price!  As they turned to leave my wife and I – in unison – said, and were very aware the couples would hear us, “Good for you! Right on, girl!”

The irony is that they lied to her to try and get what they wanted.  Shame on them.  But, also truth be told, shame on us if we aren’t very careful.  For it can be easy for us to smudge truth a little to gain an advantage.  Little “white” lies to get us out of a jam. Telling half truths is telling a whole lie. Or/and to manipulate by using scripture out of context.  It can be easy to do.  Satan used scripture that way 3 times while tempting Jesus in the wilderness.  He turned a truth into a lie to get Eve to take the fruit.

Yes, these two men flagrantly and shamefully lied to try and get what they wanted.

We must be careful we don’t do the same with very subtle temptations.  It is easy to rationalize in our own mind.  The world we live in justifies it. Be set apart from the ways of the world.

Intentionally, today……and every day…. Integrity

Stay The Course

When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?”

 

“I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

    -1 Kings 19:9-10

 

Do you ever crawl into your cave and rant at God?  You’ve done everything right and still all the whack jobs have all descended upon your workplace, your home and even infiltrated your head.

Like Elijah, it all can seem hopeless.  Hopeless to the point you just want to throw your hands up in the air, quit and join them.

Because if God isn’t going to help you out then what’s the use?

Throughout the Bible many of the people that God calls get to the point that Elijah gets to.  I know in my own life I have crawled into my own cave.  I have questioned God.  I have doubted God.  I have ranted and screamed at Him.  I have begged Him.  And many a time I heard nothing.

And then, just as Elijah, Jeremiah, Moses and so many others the ever present, ever observing, ever listening God, speaks.

I didn’t call you to success, I called you to obedience.

The call on Elijah’s life, my life, and on your life, is one that has great reward.  Staying the course, we will be reinvigorated, replenished, energized and grow in our faith – our faith in His faithfulness to us.

One aspect of the aforementioned scripture is the exaggeration of Elijah.  When we get in the mindset of “everyone but me” we allow it to fuel our emotions in a destructive mode.

Staying the course, we will be reinvigorated, replenished, energized and grow in our faith – our faith in His faithfulness to us.

With Elijah, and with us, God gives a true perspective of our situation and ultimately shows that He will be glorified on our faithfulness.

In the movie The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington-  The task he had in doing as the Holy Spirit led him was strenuous and incredibly difficult.  Every day it seemed everyone was out to get him.  He felt like he couldn’t go on.  But each day when he picked himself up he sensed the Spirit guiding, providing and protecting him.  He was faithful to endure and arrive at his destination.

The reward was that it was revealed to him “why” his journey.  With that he realized how impactful and powerful it would be for countless others.  His great reward was incredible satisfaction and God’s immeasurable peace.

Intentionally, today……and every day….Stay the course

As Intended

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.  You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!  You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

 

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!

• Psalm 139:13-18

In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest goes for a run.  And he keeps running and running and running….When he looks back at his long run through a couple of states he remembers the awesome sights of creation.  The sunrise and the sunset.  The streams, rivers and the ocean.  He notices the mountains and the meadows.  It was so beautiful.

I and a good friend have been going surfing early in the morning.  The water is therapeutic.  And then the, never gets old, incredible sunrise’s.  Dolphins racing by, remarkable clouds and illuminating lightning on the horizon.  It is awesome.  I have lived on the beach for all but of three years of my life.  I, now, am really appreciating it.

But my focus has sharpened to the creator more than the creation.  And to think, you and I are His greatest creations.

How much healthier, friendlier, joyful and empowered we would live if we had this truth clear in our mind all day?

And how much healthier would your relationships and interactions be when you had these truths about other people as well?

Listen to who God says we are:

His masterpiece – Ephesians 2:20

Apple of His eye – Zechariah 2:8

Cherished – Ephesians 5:29

Chosen – 1 Peter 2:9

Set free – John 8:31-32, 36

Blameless – 1Corinthians 1:9

Not condemned – Romans 1:8

Valuable – Luke 12:24

MADE IN HIS IMAGE – Genesis 1:27

Intentionally, today……and every day…. LIVE as you were created to

Chain Reaction

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.  Now teach these truths to trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 

  -2 Timothy 2:2

You may not believe it, but here’s how it happened.

One fine summer morning….a little bug sneezed.

Because of that sneeze, a little seed dropped.

Because that seed dropped, a worm got hit.

Because he got hit, that worm got mad.

Because he got mad he kicked a tree.

Because that nut dropped, a turtle got bopped.

Because he got bopped, that turtle named Jake fell on his back with a splash in the lake.  Because……..

   -Because a Little Bug went Ka-choo!, Dr. Suess

Well, you get the picture.  Many were affected by this chain reaction started with a sneeze.

That little bug had no idea, and could care less, that his sneeze affected Jake the turtle. Reading to the end of the book you see it affects everyone in the whole town

Experts estimate that even the most introverted person affects 8,000-10,000 people in their lifetime.

Each of us has a powerful legacy.  The power to affect other persons lives in the most subtle of ways.

An awesome privilege and responsibility that we shouldn’t take lightly.

Be conscientious of your words, tone and posture towards others.  We can so easily throw destructive words that affect others.   Especially our loved ones.  Who in turn throw them to others.  I encourage you to be intentional in going out of the way to compliment, encourage and lift others up.  In turn, those who are exposed to your words and good attitudes will pass them along.

Because as we see with the little bug who went ka-choo! It can go a long long way.

Intentionally, today……and every day…. Start a great chain reaction

 

Serve

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped off the boat, and He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  –Mark 6:34

 

I don’t know about you, but when I see a big crowd all I focus on is how to navigate to get where I want to go as fast as I can.  Compassion usually doesn’t describe how I feel about people who are in my way preventing me from getting where I want to go.  How about you?  When you are in a hurry and you are in a traffic jam, do you give one iota of a thought about the other people stuck in the traffic?  They all are the reason I’m in this traffic jam!

To have the mind of Christ….

He saw

He had compassion

He acted upon, for their benefit, not His own.

It was His identity.  It was who He was.  So are we too.

Practice makes permanent.

What you practice is what you become.

We must make an advanced decision to focus on serving others, trusting God for ourselves.

Intentionally practice:

Kindness

Listening

Loving

Helping

Seeing the person in the crowd.

Taking time to be of service when you can.  And do it with a smile and a grateful heart!

Ask God to open your eyes so that you can see who He sees.

Every day there are moments that we can easily let go by because we are looking past to where we want to be.  Being like Christ is staying in the moment,  seeing and taking action.

Love is a verb.

Get your verb on!

Intentionally, today……and every day…. See individuals, and serve