Always a Winner

I heard this quote last Sunday.  The obvious point of it is that Job, having apparently lost everything, still understood he hadn't lost more than he had been given.  He still praised God.  Yet, if you can see that life isn't about temporal gain at all...you will understand that even in the worst suffering...he never stopped gaining.  It's all about attitude.  Adversity will shape you or break you.  If you can be grateful even in the most difficult of times, you grow.  You effectively take ownership of the life God gave you.  You no longer are affected by what you gain or lose...what happens for you or against you.  You praise God and celebrate the good times.  You grow and shape into greatness during the times of adversity.  With gratitude and seeing the big picture, you never lose.  Christ in all his suffering of the sins of the world sought only that the Father's will be done.  Thusly, he withstood it all...even things that were not his doing, and glorified his father.  He owned it...all of it, and His perfect love never wavered.  What an example.  To see Job emulate this concept even on a small, human level is also a tremendous example.  In your life...consider the pain and sorrow, or loss of temporal gain you bear.  Is it going to break you?  Or is it simply opportunity?  Opportunity to look to God, to give thanks, to realize even with the experience gained you have much more than you ever had when you entered this life.  That even if you are to enter your grave having lost every possession...you have still gained richly the things which you take with you.  Experience, love, and character gained along the way.  God has made you richer than you could ever imagine.  Be grateful in all circumstances.  "Blessed be the name of the Lord"

Leadership

Life's a Beach

It's so ironic how many view themselves as being better than others simply because they have status of some kind.  Money, intelligence, title, occupation, education, popularity...the list goes on.  Yet, if we could see just how perfectly flawed all of us are in comparison with God, we would all be humbled in a split second.  We are all like grains of sand.  We may, in the opinion of others, be a fine example of a grain of sand.  But God is the beach...and if we are to aspire, we should do it with the understanding that it must be done collectively.  Seek greatness not for yourself, but for all...and remember where credit is due.

Faith in Humanity

How did it get this far?

When did the old outside world turn in?

The perceptual wonder of the yesteryears...

A world that was always in bloom...

Slowly decaying by those who have forgotten.

Hope is my seed of preservation...

Remembrance the fertile ground, 

God the blessed moisture.

Growth is inevitable but not outwardly evident.

My heart begins to sprout.

Joy swells inside but I anticipate a judging eye,

The plant of growth reaches beyond my capacity,

A testament to the seeds endless destiny.

The fruit so exquisite it beckons to be shared.

I pluck off the branches the best I have to give,

Hoping to witness the joy which has so consumed me.

No longer seeing the world as decay,

But full of truth...of meaning...of passion.

Reaching forth hesitantly to give,

I am startled to find with each hand that receives,

My offering is replaced with exquisite fruit from another.

Entirely new to the taste...

My mind overrun with emotion,

And thought from whence it came.

Shades of hope, remembrance, and the creator...

But grown in such a way that is entirely new.

Cultivated in another heart,

From another place,

An entirely new point of view...

Inspiring once again the youthful eye...

Revealing to me truth as I have never seen.

I intend to give, but receive all the more.

The world was never desolate,

The decay was in my eyes...

The truth evident in all its fruits,

Shared from the hearts of courage.

Love in Vain

The more you have to convince someone to love you, the less it exists.  Don't waste your energy on people that drain you of it. Surround yourself with people who renew and energize your heart.

My Testimony of the Existence of God

I know that God lives.  I couldn't always say that, however.  Ever since I can remember, my parents taught me the important things in life.  I was raised in a home that had its challenges (as do all homes) but my parents were unwavering in always trying to teach us right from wrong, to love others, to make good choices, to prepare for a mission, ultimately get married for time and all eternity, and be a good husband and father.  I always felt comfortable inside as they would share their views on why these things were important.

That said, I reached a point during my teen years where I started to question the existence of God.  I struggled to tell this to my parents, because I felt it would break their heart to think that I was struggling.  Looking back, I believe this was a very pivotal time in my life.  It's something I think every person needs to go through to break free from believing only out of tradition or intellectual laziness.  People need to reach a point where they discover God for themselves.

Because of the foundation my parents built, I didn't question God and then simply abandon the ideal.  I questioned and felt it extremely important to get the answer.  Is God there?  For months I continued to attend church, and I prayed on a regular basis intently wanting to get an answer to that simple question.  Nothing.  I. Got. Nothing.

The only thing that kept me going was that I couldn't stand the thought of one day passing on...and meeting God face to face, knowing that I hadn't done everything I could.  I continued despite the numbness I felt.  The loneliness and disappointment became a regular part of my struggle.  I continued trying.

Finally, the numbness had become the new norm.  One night, I was feeling particularly disappointed.  I felt abandoned...if there was a God.  I felt like I had done everything I could.  Why couldn't he give me just a little something?  I was convinced that perhaps there was no God.  As I pondered that thought, I felt I should give it one last chance just for good measure.

I drove out that night to say my last prayer.  I found somewhere quiet, and I began to pray.  I didn't say anything fancy.  I just asked God if he was there.  At that very moment, my mind opened...and answers to the questions I had pondered for months came surging into my mind.  This was all accompanied by what up to that moment in my life was the most definite presence I had ever experienced.  I knew that it was God.  I felt it not only as if he were there, but also as if the love that he had for me was transmitted directly to my heart and mind.  I was overwhelmed and moved to tears.

The spiritual withdrawal I had proved to be what I needed.  Perhaps it's easier for God to get through to others...but for me, it took a long drought and a lot of persistence to earn that very distinct knowledge that God lives.  Ever since then, I have never once felt the need to question the existence of God...because I know he lives like I know my own name.  That knowledge has always stuck with me.  I have no regrets or shame that I questioned.  Had I not, I would be operating on borrowed light to this day...if I had any at all.

If you are feeling hopeless, alone, abandoned.  I ask you to continue forward.  It's part of the process.  It's worth the struggle.  Don't give up on God.  Give God your heart and mind...all of it. Most of all, give God your patience.  Your mind is not prepared for everything.  God knows what you need and when you need it.  Everything will be made clear when it needs to be.

This was the beginning of a very distinct pattern that God has used several times to teach me truth.  I would like to share more of these experiences where this pattern has been utilized in hopes that others who struggle similarly will find hope.

Life's a Zoo

Sulking that he lost his job and his mother had passed away, he bitterly questioned in his heart "God, I've done everything I can do.  I am loving and respectful towards others, I donate my services to charity, I spend time with my children, I pray, and I'm honest with others.  Why would you allow this to happen?"

He spent weeks letting the anger and frustration build.  He felt forgotten and unloved.  He began to lose a desire to do anything.  He quit looking for work as everything just seemed to be working against him.  Each morning, he found it increasingly more difficult just to make it out of bed.

His wife became very concerned.  She knew in due time the family couldn't survive without another paycheck coming in.  She was yet even more concerned that her husband appeared to be broken.  There was no light left in him.  She loved him dearly, and wanted to see the person she fell in love with be the best version of himself.  Distraught, she prayed with all the love and hope she had in her.  As she prayed, she felt a feeling of comfort come over her.  She felt impressed to ask her husband to spend the day with the kids.

She entered the room, and pulled the cash out of her purse which she had gotten recently for her birthday.  She asked her husband to take the children to the zoo.  "What's the point?" he said in a defeated manner.  She was a little shocked at his answer...as she knew it's what The Lord wanted.  She felt a warmth in her heart encouraging her to continue.  "You need this.  Our children need this.  Being a good father has nothing to do with your employment status.   It has everything to do with providing for your family.  Right now what your family needs is love."

"But how can I give that if I can't even put food on the table?" he said.

"You've been putting food on the table since the day we married" she replied.  "Maybe God is trying to help you learn to provide in ways you never have before."

He looked into his wife's eyes.  Although he still felt bitter toward God he saw she sincerely wanted to make the situation better.  To appease her, he reluctantly decided to go.  She handed him the cash.  He was humbled at the gesture.

He loaded his children into the car.  They were so excited at the thought of spending the day with dad and seeing all the animals at the zoo.  Seeing the smiles on their faces he began to tear up.

They arrived at the zoo.  As he paid for the tickets, he felt guilt in his heart...thinking that he wished his wife would have joined.  He was reminded of several other trips previously where he never gave a second thought as to how much it had cost.  It pained him to think things had gotten so bad that something so small was now paid at what was seemingly such a high price.

As they entered through the gate, he saw the look on his children's faces.  They were so happy.  So innocent.  Not a care in the world except to experience what was in front of them.

He wanted that.  He felt a calming sensation come over him...as he thought of how nice it would be to carry the optimism his children had.  To be happy regardless of circumstance would be a luxury indeed.

After a couple hours of seeing various sights and animals, his children began to complain of hunger.  He hadn't even thought about it.  He only had a few dollars left.  He took them to order some food.  Looking at the prices, he realized he could only afford to purchase an order of fries to share.  He handed the money and secured a small lunch to share with the kids.

Looking around, he noticed all the other families had plenty to eat.  He felt terrible inside.  He looked once again at his children's faces which were full of joy.  They didn't care that others had more.  They were just enjoying the moment.

Hoping to ensure they had a good time at lunch without taking notice of what everyone else had, he told them several jokes he had enjoyed when he was a kid. As they laughed together, he felt full in his heart.  He hadn't felt that kind of joy in so long it seemed almost overwhelming.  How did the little things he had in the past all of the sudden become so much more meaningful?

He was reminded of what his wife had said that morning: "Maybe God is trying to help you learn to provide in ways you never have before."  He realized his children were teaching him.  They were an example of pure love, focused not on their living circumstance...but just living in the moment and making the best if it.

His youngest child saw a child with a snow cone.  He asked for one.  Unfortunately, there was not enough money for all the kids to have a snow cone.  He tried to explain to the three year old that he couldn't have it...and to finish his fries so he wouldn't be hungry.

The three year old got upset and began to scream.  He tried to calm him down.  He did said everything he could to try to explain that he just needs to eat his fries.  He was fully capable of getting him the snow cone but didn't feel it would be fair to the other children.  His child continued to scream.

Frustrated, he pondered what he should do.  They had been having such a good day up to that point.  He prayed in his heart.  He felt he should save some of the fries and take his son to see the tigers.  He picked him up, and walked the children to the tiger cage.  Still crying and screaming, his son was not being cooperative.

He looked at his son...made some claws, and began to growl.  "Rawr..."  His boy laughed.  He started making growling noises as well.  He completely forgot about the snow cone and was once again focused on enjoying the moment.

When everyone was back to having a good time, he reached down to his three year old and gave him some more fries to ensure he would make it for another couple hours before it was time to leave.  As he fed his son the fries, he realized he had acted much the same way.

In his current circumstance, his mother gone...unemployed, he wasn't seeing things in the right perspective.  Just as his son was so focused on getting a snow cone, he was also focused on getting what he wanted when he wanted it.  Just as his son couldn't see he didn't really need the snow cone and needed to focus on making the best of the moment, so did he.  He chuckled at the thought of how childish it must look to God staying in bed and feeling sorry for himself when he should be making the best of the moment.

Later when they returned home he walked up to his wife, kissed her, and tearfully thanked her.  She saw the light had returned to his countenance.  He was renewed.  He appreciated what he had more than ever before.

As he knelt down to pray with his wife that evening, he thought of his mother.  He thought of how special she was to him, and how thankful he was that she had made such great sacrifices to give him a good childhood.  He resolved to give the same to his wife and children.  He resolved to respect that his ways are not always Gods ways.  He resolved to be a student in every trial rather than a victim.  And they really did...live happily ever after.