WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

SURPRISE

I'm not one for surprises...not too much anyway!   In fact, they used to drive me absolutely insane though.

 I remember when I was 15, my mother tried to plan a surprise birthday party for me.  My mom and  friend Christin were organizing a surprise party at the same time my mom was letting me plan my own party.  My mother had no idea my idea of inviting people to my party was putting together a flyer and inviting everyone in our youth group (100+ high school students).  I had no idea the value of a dollar at the time either as my parents were planning a BBQ.  Needless to say that surprise was ruined because my mom couldn't go back and tell everyone I had "invited" that the party would be the day before and so our house was packed to the brim with students that wanted free food and I that day ended up being memorable in it's own right just a few days later.

You've heard of folks in the 🌟bucks drive-thru line pay for the coffee of the person behind them.  Or the person who pays for the dinner of a family in a restaurant who has had a screaming child the entire meal and everyone in the restaurant has cursed them under their breath.  

Many moons ago there was a movie called "Pay it Forward" with Helen Hunt.  Great movie, download it if you haven't seen it.  Random acts of kindness that created a domino effect and changed a whole lot of people.   We have got to get the focus off ourselves and get the focus back on people.

People are the most important beings we will encounter in this life.  How we treat them, how we love them (or not), how/if  we show them we care reflects our relationship with Christ to them. How can we call ourselves Christians and hate people?  I have a saying that I'm sure lots of people are sick of hearing:  "Love all!   You don't have to necessarily like them but you gotta love them!"

Love them?  you may be thinking.  No way!  You want me to love them? You don't know how they wronged me.  You don't know what they said about me behind my back.  You don't know how they did...to me.

STOP!  

Go back and re-read those statements.  Each one of them had ME in it.  NEWS FLASH:   Life is not all about you!  (GASP)  Here, sit down, I'm about to get a little real.   Life is about relationships. Most often the ones you have, but sometimes the ones you've lost.  

I want you to grab a piece of paper and pen.  Yes, right now...a paper and pen (or crayon, or marker or whatever you can write with) Think of your most successful relationship.  On one side of the paper I want you to write down what makes that relationship successful.  What makes it work? On the other side of the paper, I want you to think about the relationships you've lost and write down what's made them fail.   Why didn't they work?  No really, I want you to write them down.  Because I want you to be able to visually see what  those relationships look like side by side.

What's the resounding theme?  What makes the two sides similar and what makes them different (if there are differences)  As yourself:  Is it all about ME?  Be perfectly honest with yourself,  no one else is watching.  Is it all about you?   Think about what you are seeing.  What are you realizing about your relationships?  Is there anything you want to change?

Jesus didn't come to earth, suffer and die and be separated from His Father because he liked the limelight, attention and fanfare.   He came so that when we pass from this life into heaven's glory we can spend eternity in heaven.   Jesus sacrificed his life, his perfect, sinless life.   He spilt his blood so that you could be set free.   He put you and me above what was comfortable and perfect and he choose, choose to lay down his life for you and for me.

I've known a few people who have actually given their life for a friend and several who have given their life for a colleague(s).  And even a few others who have given their life for complete strangers. The Bible says "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Are you struggling with loving someone who has done you wrong?   Are you struggling with forgiveness and mercy?   Jesus knew you would say ugly things about Him, He knew you'd talk behind his back, He knew you would take his name in vain - yet he still died for you!  I implore you, dear friends, won't you extend mercy today?   They might see the love and compassion that you are extended and realize that whatever you have, they want.  You might just be the only Jesus they ever see.

Friends Through Thick and Thin

Last year my parents and I had the pleasure of touring through Israel with  Pastor Jeremiah from Turning Point Ministries and Shadow Mountain Community Church.  Along with Pastor Jeremiah was Charles Billingsly (one of the best worship pastors I know) and  Michael W. Smith, who needs no introduction.  

Many moons ago on a planet far, far away, Michael W. Smith wrote a song....yup, that one...that we sang at the end of every church Summer and Winter camp and every time someone moved away.

Friends are friends forever, if the Lords the Lord of them and a friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end.  Though it's hard to let you go, in the Fathers hands we know that a lifetime's not too long, to live as friends.

I sat on the shores of the sea of Galilee and MWS (as his friends like to call him) sang this incredible song.   My sweet Xandy (13 yrs old) was sitting next to me singing away.   30 years later, the kids still know this song.   Why?   It's such a simple song.  They remember it not because of the catchy melody and cool key changes, they remember it for the message.

Friends are friends forever if the Lords the Lord of them:   Pray for your friends!   Be the hands and feet of Jesus! I believe my life-long friends are forever because of the daily prayers that are offered between us. We've been through thick and thin, good times and bad, sickness and health, sorrow and joy but our Heavenly Father  has been with us, through it all.

A friend will not say never because the welcome will not end:  true friends don't say next week, next weekend, next month.   A forever friend says sure, come on over or sure I'll accept those collect call charges from Los Colinas prison (jk, kinda).  I know you've worked another 14-16 hr day and all you want to do is climb into a warm bath....but remember walking in their shoes and how badly you wanted someone to welcome you in and tell you everything is going to be all right.  Don't let your welcome end.

Though it's hard to let you go in the Fathers hands we know that a lifetimes not too long to live as friends:   I've lost some amazing friends on this journey called life.   Some to illness, some to senseless acts of violence, some to war and some to silly/pettiness.  The friends that have passed from this life to heavens glory I'll see again soon!    As hard as it is to let go...I've learned to let them go into the Fathers hands and that I'll see them again on the other side of heaven.   And oh what a day that will be!    But for the ones I've lost that are still on earth, I'm reminded...a lifetimes not too long.   A lifetimes not too long folks!   Why are you worrying over a misspoken word, an opinion that might could have been kept to ones self? A missed lunch date one too many times, or a geographical move that put time and distance between you two.

Friends- a lifetimes not too long to live as friends!   In fact, a lifetime is too short a time.

So mend that broken friendship, forgive that silly mistake and start enjoying your lifetime again.

The last two trips home I've been able to spend a good amount of time with the friends closest to me! Moments in time I wouldn't trade.   Some of those friends I hadn't seen in over 10 years but the Lords the lord of us and the welcome has never ended, nor will it ever.  These are the friends who know me inside and out, backwards and forwards, upside down and right side up-yet love me unconditionally!

Is there someone today you need to reach out to and mend the relationship with?  Is the someone that wronged you but you realize a lifetimes too short so you're going to let bygones be bygones?   Do it today!    We're not promised tomorrow!    Live with no regrets!

MSW-who knew when you wrote that song in 1987 that 30 years later a) you'd still be singing it b) the kids would still be singing it c) it would still be inpmpacting lives?

I FAILED

Can I get a do over of today?

Can I wake up and start a Tuesday, 5 September again?

I'm usually one who takes a day as it comes and embraces the good and the bad, the tears and the laughter, but today...I failed.

Quite frankly I feel like I've  been slowly moving in that direction but today felt like I failed at everything.  

I promised someone I would do something by the end of the day but I ran out of time, and that email never got sent before the office went home for the day so there are still three cars sitting in the parking lot that shouldn't be.   I failed as a co-worker. 

I promised myself I would have more patience with a particular person but after a 3 hour video conference call where nothing was resolved and I ended up more discouraged than when I started...my last thread of patience was severed.  I failed as a colleague. 

Life is throwing some serious punches at people I love dearly but I was tired and frustrated and while I listened, I couldn't offer Godly counsel or sound advice because I was negotiating with God on how to fix the situation, not on my knees on behalf of my loved ones, praying for God to intercede.  I failed as a family member.  

A dear friend called me to chat about life and I unloaded on him about the woes of my day.  He sat and listened very intently and even offered some sweet encouragement and all I could muster in return was "So, how are you?"    When I sensed his heart was heavy with issues of his own I didn't prod a little deeper to try to see what need He had, I was too self-absorbed.   I failed as a friend.  

As I was driving home at 1030 at night from work, God laid a particular burden for someone on my heart and I sensed He wanted me to ask that person a very pointed question about their future.   I wrestled with God -frustrated- asking Him how/why He would lay such a tremendous burden on my heart for someone else when I needed/longed for similar direction in my life?  Who was I to encourage someone to really seek Gods will about a particular area of their life, when I needed it just as much if not more than they did?

I was almost immediately humbled by a still small voice in my heart that asked "Have you sought me? Have you longed after me? Have you asked me to guide you? Or have you been attempting to doing life on your own?"

Whoa!   Excuse me? I pray everyday. I have dialogue with my Father continuously, what is this still small voice about?   It can't judge me.   

Oh, but it can, and it does, and it will. I'm thankful for that still small voice tonight.  It brought life into perspective for me again.   Life isn't roses and gumdrops, flowers and rainbows.  There are going to be seasons of rain and mint lifesaver candies; seasons of cleansing and renewal which maybe uncomfortable and uneasy.   But don't give up.   

I remember saying to this dear friend yesterday, "I'm done!"   What?   I'm not a quitter, I don't give up easily but darkness tried to hide my light and I just about threw in the towel.   I know there is deep darkness just before the dawn breaks but today felt like dawn would never come. 

Guess what friends?  As I am writing these last few paragraphs, the dawn is breaking, literally, on Wednesday, 6 September 2017.  A new day is beginning and His mercies are new again.  

I don't get to do 5 September 2017 again but I get to start fresh and new again today with a completely clean slate and I can be the best version of who God made me to be.  It doesn't mean I won't come up short again, after all - I am human (I know, NEWS FLASH) but I will chose to approach my shortcomings differently and with renewed vigor to do better.  

Tip of the day:   Don't miss your workout, don't skip a meal, dont forget your quiet time with Jesus and don't forget to love on someone - these are key ingredients we all need to survive.   Energy comes from these sources and if you aren't fueling your mind, body and soul, it's going to hard to be a blessing to others.   Just sayin!