“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”” 

James 4:14-15

This big guy came to visit me on the Mississippi River last week. At first, I was a little alarmed at his size, but as my curiosity arose, he kind of brought me joy as I studied the creation in front of me. He was ordinary in the fact that his color was mothlike, but those big fuzzy antennae intrigued me. And as I researched the Polyphemus (or eyespots) Moth, I discovered this was a rare sighting as this moth only lives for up to a week. But even though his life is short, he knows what his purpose is. His sole objective is to find a mate with those radar antennae of his. I’m awful glad that he didn’t decide I was a good mate, but I’m glad that he came to visit because our brief time together has brought me many hours of enlightenment.

And it makes me wonder, what impact does our brief presence leave behind? Do we live on purpose each and every day as to enlighten and encourage others, or are we so focused on tomorrow, that we miss the opportunities to sow what’s expected of today?

When Moses was leading the Israelite’s to the promised land, they would follow the fiery cloud. It would either move them forward or keep them camped where they were. And sometimes the cloud would settle above camp for two days, a month, or even a year (Numbers 9:22). During that time, they were expected to live for the moment, doing what God asked them to do. But as it’s our natural instincts to always be moving forward, they complained, just as we complain. We want to know what’s next! And we want to get there as soon as possible.

Camping out and letting God use us where we are often brings dissatisfaction because we are searching for identity and purpose in the things that lie ahead.

But in reality, we really have no control over what’s next. Just as the moth had no idea when his last flight would be, we have no idea when our last breath will be breathed.

And as it is good to think and plan for the future, we must also realize every day that life is short, life is fragile, and life is unpredictable. Our identity and purpose is being defined every second of every day. And even though we may not be able to wake up and know exactly what God’s purpose is for us that very day, we should be inspired to live each day with meaning right where we are.

One way to do that is to trust God! We don’t have to figure things out on our own. Ask Him to guide you as you trust Him with all your heart for every moment of today (Proverbs 3:5).

Another way is to serve others. If all else fails, serving others will re-direct your focus from “my plans” to “God’s plans”. Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28), and when we follow His example, it satisfies our souls in ways that nothing else can. AND it leaves a trail of joy and gratitude behind.

Investing your time in the right things. We are inclined to invest our time in money, fame, or things that don’t last (Matthew 6:19). But investing in relationships, whether they are personal, spiritual, or business, when done in the spirit of the Lord, will elevate the impact you make as you exemplify fishing for men (Mark 1:17) for the glory and Kingdom of God.

And being grateful that every day is a gift from God. We often see today as just a link to the things we must accomplish tomorrow. But “this is the day that the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24), and when we face each day with the recognition that God has entrusted us with His gift, we can see and be thankful for the good things that He has for us today!

Everyone has a legacy they want to leave behind. But as we strive for that ultimate goal, let us also live in the moment, knowing that the moment we are living right now could very well be the legacy that will be recognized the most.

Saturday Soul Search

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.”

Psalms 139:13-14

How do you measure success? Success can be defined in many different and healthy ways, but we often look at others and what they have accomplished to measure our own success. But our success should not be characterized by what the rest of the world is doing. The measure of our success should be how we respond in faith and obedience to God’s purpose for OUR life.

We each have our own role for which God has created us for, and when we begin to compare it to what others are doing, it leads not only to feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, but it can also lead to friction in our relationships.

Comparison can also neutralize our effectiveness for God. He made each of us in His own image but with our own individual gifts. He set us apart from everyone else to be who He wants us to be. But if we are too busy focusing on what everyone else is doing that might be bigger or better than us, we aren’t able to embrace the power of the Spirit that motivates us to bear our own fruit.

We are all created and wonderfully made by God Himself! And we can have confidence that He will equip us and empower us to make Him famous in His, and our own, special way.

Friend, you don’t have to compare and compete with others. God is the only one that matters when measuring your success. You can praise God for what He is doing in your life. You can rejoice in your friendships and acquaintances. And you can celebrate all that God has put on their plates, and also, all that He has put on yours.

Who do we need to give a high five to today? And what can you high five yourself for? Start by giving praise to God, who created you to be you – fearful, wonderful and capable you! Then ask Him to help you recognize your special gifts and in what unique way He can use you today.

12 words

Success isn’t measured by what everyone else does. It’s measured by God.

#SaturdaySoulSearch

“Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”

Psalms 4:6-8 (NLT)

It was my third trip to Haiti and I had never had trouble with my bags. But this time it was lost. The panic set in at the airport when not only could I not communicate effectively at the baggage claim, but also that I was in a country where I couldn’t just go to Walmart to pick up a few things until my bags arrived. I was stuck with just the clothes on my back and at the mercy of the airlines and the mission. (I was a also stuck with a hard lesson to at least carry an extra pair of underwear and a toothbrush in my carry on).

Later that night, I was given the news that my bags wouldn’t be there until day after next. Not quite the news I was expecting, especially since the mission only keeps items that were left behind and most of those are donated to the community. So, I had to make the choice to make the best of it.

As I prayed for that miracle of somehow my bags just appearing on a random flight, God brought me another hard lesson – that he wasn’t my Mr. Fix-It. But He also brought me His promise of joy and peace – even through my dirty underwear, my stinky underarms, and my unbrushed teeth. He quickly reminded me of my mission, and that it didn’t depend on clean underwear, but rather His provision. And more importantly, as I pondered through the night, He was giving me a way to better recognize the everyday struggles of those who I was serving.

The people of Haiti often times don’t even have underwear. If they have a toothbrush, they don’t have clean water to use it with. And deodorant is the farthest from their minds! At least I had a cold shower, while many of the people in the village took their baths in the dirty aqueduct or river.

God showed me in those three days that those were actually the “better times” of my trips. Because in those hours of waiting for clean clothes, God brought me the greater joy of His splendor. He showed me His smile as I peacefully slept and humbly had to walk out the door with the same underwear I had worn for 3 days. And He showed me the miracle of His greater purpose when I took my eyes off of me and put them back on Him.

What I learned is that sometimes we expect God to be our Mr. Fix-it guy. We want Him to fix it so we can be more comfortable. But He wants to fix it in a way that will be more meaningful.

God promises to be with us in every circumstance. And in every circumstance, we can find joy! But we have be willing to see the miracles of the unseen blessings. They don’t always come as we expect. But we can expect that they will always come!

How can you find greater purpose in what you are experiencing today? Ask God to not just fix your problem, but to help you trust Him so that you can find greater meaning in the midst of it.

#SaturdaySoulSearch

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Philippians 2:3-5

The nurse was a little irritated that Mom couldn’t get up on the table for the doctor to examine her toe.

There’s one thing I’ve learned from taking care of my parent’s medical needs, and that is that the healthcare system needs a huge overhaul! Maybe in my next life I’ll have some influence over the workings of software integration, internal communication, scheduling, and customer service. But for now, I pick my battles on a daily basis. And this day I stood strong advocating that even with the little step stool to help, Mom wasn’t going to make it onto the table. But then I anxiously awaited my next battle….how will the doctor see her toe?

Much to my surprise, when the doctor came in, he shook our hand then hit the floor. In the most unexpected and heart melting moment, this doctor, whom we had never met before, positioned himself Indian style on the floor in front of Mom, to treat her toe!

This restored a little bit of my faith in humanity, but also really impressed on my heart that this highly educated doctor wasn’t afraid to get dirty! It reminded me a bit of Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t afraid to get dirty either!!! Even though He was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He knew the only way to melt hearts was to get dirty and not to place Himself above everyone else. He knew that His greatest influence would be to put Himself right smack in the middle of messes.

Jesus wasn’t humiliated by being a servant. In fact, because He came to be a servant (Matthew 20:28), His greatest demonstrations of power and love were done through acts that others might see as demeaning, or even dangerous.

Jesus didn’t hesitate to touch a leper (Mark 1:40-41). He got his hands muddy to heal a blind man (John 9:6). He walked an uncommon road to meet an unpopular woman at a well (John 4:4-9). And he lowered himself to the lowliest of servants to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5).

Yet, so often, when met with the opportunity to serve with the same kindness and mercy of Jesus, we fall into self-preservation mode. Not that it’s not sometimes wise to take precautions, but it’s good to evaluate if our fears are rational or if they are just an excuse to not get dirty.

As believers, we’ve been made clean. But sometimes we may think we’ve been made better. And that’s simply not true.

There are always needs to be met. Whether it’s in a tidy and neat prayer room or a dirty and rocky floor of a tent, “we must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the One who sent us so the power of God can be seen” (John 9:3-4).

Just as Jesus dives into our messes to make us clean, we must dive into the messes of other’s as well.

The time is now! Do something unexpected! Get yourself dirty! For you have already been cleaned by the sacrifice and love of Jesus! Be brave and fearless as you show others the Way. And who knows? You might even melt your own heart when you see the impact you make on someone else’s day.

12 words

The Time is Always Now! Don’t be afraid! Melt hearts for Jesus!

#SaturdaySoulSearch