Playdo

Can I confess something to you –privately? It’s just between you and me and do you promise not to tell anyone? No matter this is broadcasted across the internet, I trust your commitment to keep this little secret of mine. It’s a secret that many don’t know and I am not sure if my wife even knows. It’s one that I really love and is a sticky, gooey secret. Many times it can get me in trouble if I am not careful on how I handle it. I even engage my kids in it from time to time and I have found that they love my little secret too. Shhhhh, don’t tell…promise! I don’t know if I should say, I have said enough already, can you really be trusted with this?

Ok, I believe you understand commitment so I will spill the beans. I love to play with playdo! Ohhhh what a let-down, you thought I was building to some daytime soap opera, like the days of pastor’s lives or something! Nah, I love to play with playdo and so do my kids and sometimes if we are not careful it makes a mess all over the kitchen and we get in trouble.

See, I like it because I don’t have to commit to one form or another; it’s the perfect element of non-commitment. I can make a horse and if I don’t like it I can smash it down and try again. Let’s see; a plane, a truck or my favorite that I am an expert at- The SNAKE! Yeah, look out Michelangelo.

My kids love this lack of commitment as well and we will make a huge mess of our kitchen with playdo.

But, commitment requires hard work and determination. It means you will have to be willing to forge ahead without the “redo” option of playdo. Commitment will be a struggle and circumstances will test your focus. If you are going to uncover the hidden masterpiece in your daily life you will need resolve harder than that of playdo. You will need strength of heart and of spirit that only comes from God.

So, just for today ask God to help you renew the right commitments and have strength to carry them through.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” (Proverbs 4:25)

Faith

“With a leap from the Lions’ Mane, will he prove his worth!” It’s a great line, from a great scene from one of the best movies of all time!!! What you say, well if our hero is wearing a brown fedora, toting a 6 shooter and a bullwhip you might be guessing Indiana Jones. To withstand an argument on the best movie of all time, I do think Hollywood really put on screen the definition of faith.

The Bible tells us that faith is… “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Cut back to the movie, Indy is on this chasm and standing at the very edge-pinned in on each side with a narrow passageway. He has to get across because on the other side is the Holy Grail and he needs it save his father from a gun shot wound. Indy must leap into a gorge with no way to run or jump to even give him a shot at making it across. He reads from his dad’s diary that tells him secret clues on how to make it to through the obstacles. “With a leap from the Loin’s Mane, will he prove his worth”. Standing next to a carved image of a lion, Indy trusts in what he can’t see and extends his foot into nothing. As he leans into an open gorge, his weight is caught by a hidden bridge that he could not see from where he was standing. Relieved he makes his way across.

How many times are we required to step into what we can’t see, can’t control or make a decision that seems ridiculous. We struggle standing on the edge of seemingly stupidity when all common sense says “go back”, “there must be a better way!” Instead we read our Bible, get clues to our modern day life and with the quickening of the Holy Spirit we step out into nothing and find our faith paid off. We are caught by God’s providence and our faith in Him is stronger.

What area of faith do you need to step off on? I know many that have and nobody that goes all out ever regrets it! Increase your faith, do it today because it matters! Who knows, you just might not get another day to walk by faith today.

"Me-Monster"

There is a battle I fight each day, it’s inside me, a monster that must be consistently tamed. I see this same mini-monster in my kids. Last night a new toy entered the house and there was only one! It means that they have to share. Ohhh that dreaded toxin to the “Me-Monster”. I have to share what I have, instead I try to keep it all to myself and that feels so much better! Luckly my kids have some awesome parents (ha-personal joke) but we do our best to help them tame this “Me-monster” and learn that life is better when they share what they have.

It’s being a generous person that is embodied in maturity. A person that has allowed themselves to be placed second finds a life that few discover. It’s actually a better life and one that teaches the lessons of success. People like J.D. Rockefeller learned this lesson and here is what he said about being generous.

“I never would have been able to tithe on the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.”

“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)

This week, make sure to put the things you have into proper perspective, keep your focus on eternity when it comes to your life and look for opportunities to give.