It’s All About The Sauce

In the world we have grown accustomed to, kindness has become such a rare commodity that we are gobstruck when we encounter it.

One of the joys of being a Grandparent is that you get to experience the wonders of life in a whole new way.
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If you have Grandchildren, you already know that Chicken McNuggets are a delicacy to be experienced! The key to making McNuggets so much more than just a meal, is the selection of a proper dipping sauce.

Choosing the wrong sauce can turn a good day into inconsolable sorrow, so great care must be exercised in the selection.

Last week on the way back from Silver Dollar City with our Grandsons, we made a stop at the McDonalds in Branson West. As we placed our orders, we hit a potential meltdown when the boys could not remember the name of the sauce they liked for the six piece banquet they had just ordered.

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Anticipating the customary impatient huff or rolled eyes from the girl taking the order, I was actually taken back by what I saw over the next few moments. With a patient and kind spirit she began to ask the boys several questions about their favorite sauce, eventually producing two possible choices to show them.

And the winner is – Sweet and Sour! The day was saved!

As we sat eating dinner (2 Filet-O-Fish for $5.00= SCORE!) I thought about what had just taken place and how refreshing it was. I made the point of speaking to the manager before we left to tell her what a great job the girl who waited on us had done. The manager seemed shocked that someone would actually say something positive.

There was nothing really extraordinary about what this young lady did, she was simply patient and kind. I would like to believe that she was a Christian and that her kind, tenderhearted actions were based in a verse similar to this:

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

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That night as I reflected on the day’s events, I was convicted about how many times a day I (we) miss the opportunity to make a similar impression on someone’s life by simply showing basic kindness and consideration.

Kindness might be patience with the customer service rep, speaking a kind word to the gas station attendant, or just bringing a little less stress to the bank tellers line. How often do we miss the opportunity to speak truth into someone’s life simply because we choose to be Jerks for Jesus rather than a reflection of Who and What He was?

We all have the ability to make a difference simply by showing the kindness that Christ has commanded us to give. Ephesians 4:32 wasn’t a suggestion or a point of reference!

What can you do starting right now, to show kindness to those God puts in your path?

Take the opportunity to completely freak someone out by being kind to them! They may even blog about you!

I Don’t Need Any Help I’ve Climbed Rocks Before

20160323_180223Over the last week we have been blessed to have all five of our grand kids together. For us it only happens about once every three years or so.

Last Monday was a gorgeous day and at our house that usually means a trip to the park. The highlight of any trip to the park is always rock climbing. The rock walls of a cave that collapsed many years ago provide a rock climbing paradise for anyone under the age of 12 (OK maybe under 60).

The crew made several warm up climbs eventually making our way to one of the more difficult climbs. We made two short pitches up and prepared for the third and final pitch to the top. Because the final stretch was somewhat challenging, being the world’s foremost authority on rock climbing (don’t tell them any different) I recommended the best foot holds and grips to get up the rock face in front of us.

IMG_1078Three of the five (using the wisdom bestowed upon them) quickly made it up the rock. One declared, “I don’t need any help, I have climbed rocks before!”

I watched for about 3 minutes as a struggle ensued that eventually resulted in a discouraged slump against the rock face. “Are you ready to listen,” I asked? Somewhat reluctantly the climb continued following the prescribed course.

That night as I reflected on the day’s events I thought, how many times does God have to bring us to the point that He asks, “Are you ready to listen?”

How often are we like a child struggling to get up the rock?

  1. We Think We Know Better Than God

My concern in pointing the way up the rock was not that I questioned the ability or strength of my grandchildren, my concern was for the safety of someone I loved. My way was the safest way up the rock to reduce the risk of falling.

God’s plan for our lives is set in place to give someone He loves the greatest chance of making it safely home one day. His way is not always risk free, or without scrapes and bruises, but it will always be in our best interest to follow it.

Proverbs 12:14 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

  1. We Think We Can Do It On Our Own

One of the greatest mistakes we could make in this life is to think that we can do anything on our own. We face needless struggles and frustration because we believe we are able to be independent.

Regardless of where we go or what we do, we will never escape our need for God and for community. Those who try will always wind up in a tough spot.

  1. We Don’t Care What God Has To Say

At the root of the issue on the rocks that day was an unwillingness to listen.

“Most Christians don’t hear God’s voice because we’ve already decided we aren’t going to do what He says.”  A. W. Tozer.

Can we be transparent enough to confess that sometimes the trouble and struggles we face come from the fact that we just don’t care what God has to say about our situation?

rock1After all, we have climbed rocks before haven’t we?

But we are blessed in the knowledge that regardless of how smart, how independent, and how unwilling we are to listen, God will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

He will always be there to guide us, direct us and lead us, but only when we are ready to listen.

What has God been trying to tell you? Are you ready to listen?

Do We Question God’s Will?

“Resist questioning His Will.” The words seemed to scream off the page at me.

Of course my pious Christian response was, “I would never question God’s Will.” But any Christian who has ever struggled with the “why” question, has done so.

“Why did my wife have to get cancer?”Will2

“Why didn’t You heal my father?” “Why did my child have to die?” “Why didn’t You…”

How great would it be if the Christian life was always like a Southern Gospel Song? But we have to acknowledge that there are times when following Christ can be difficult at best.

It is in those questioning times we ask, “Does God really care? Is His plan for my life really good?” As we said, there are times that we all question the will of God. If not there will be!

Three possible reasons we question His Will:

  1. Stubbornness

As Christians we have all said the words, “God’s knows best!” But at the end of the day, most of us want what we want regardless of the consequences.

I remember the first time I watched someone fishing for Blue Crabs. All that is needed to catch Blue Crabs is a piece of string and a chicken neck. The fisherman tied the chicken neck on the string and threw it out into the water. Soon the string began to move. Very slowly the man began to pull the string in. At the end of the string was a crab with the chicken neck firmly in its grasp. The crab stubbornly held onto the chicken neck unwilling to let it go at any cost.

All the crab had to do to continue living, was to let go of the chicken neck. Will1 Many of us question the will of God because we are stubbornly holding on to our own version of a chicken neck! We are willing to choose the bondage of our own desires over the freedom that is to be found in God’s Will!

  1. Selfishness

Selfishness is first cousin of stubbornness. So often we are like the seagulls in “Finding Nemo”, our favorite word is, “Mine!” We all want more!

We struggle with God’s Will because so often, He will ask us to accept what we envision as being less, when He is actually preparing us for what is greater!

The Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18 was not able to follow Christ because He was unwilling to surrender the riches that were his security.

Our selfishness emboldens us to hold tightly to something that God’s Will may be asking us to surrender.

  1. Pride

Pride deceives us into believing that we know better than God. Will3

I’m not going to dig any deeper here because it is more convicting than I want to deal with at this point!

So how do we break these traits that cause us to question God’s Will?

Faith

Trying to define faith can be kind of like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall.

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Simply put – faith is believing that God will do what He has said He will do. Search the Bible for what God has said He will do in your life and accept it as truth.

Trust

It’s hard to trust when we don’t understand. But isn’t that the essence of trust?

Trust means that we truly believe the One to Whom trust is given has our best interests at heart.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Write down three areas of your life where you need to apply faith and trust. How will you apply the verses above in each of those areas?