There Are Two Kinds of People...

I posted this picture on the screen in my classroom and asked my students to put their pens to paper and write. Although this is a simple question, the responses I received were quite insightful.

Here are some of the responses:

givers & takers

judges & juries

the skeptical & the gullible

rich & poor

dependent & independent

What was interesting to me is that these answers came from kids that are no older than 21 and most come from a low income, sometimes at-risk living situation.

So when I answered the question for myself the first thing that popped in my mind was: There are two kinds of people in the world... people who are content and people who are not content.

Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, it seems like there is no better time to look at what contentment is and what it means. To me, contentment is a feeling of peace within yourself that allows you to face the difficulties of life without allowing them to weigh you down and burden your soul. So many people walk around with heavy hearts and you can almost see the burdens that they bear. It is very difficult times that we face right now. The difficulties that we face, however, need not dominate our thoughts or weigh down our hearts.

I think that contentment is key to the message of Jesus in the New Testament. Contentment comes from knowing who you are and where your security rests. When I acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in my life and when I recognize that circumstances don't control me or change my eternal destination, then I can begin to be content with where I am and what I have. Please note that there is a difference in being content and being stagnant. Contentedness is not a fatalistic mindset that nothing will ever change so why bother trying. Rather, it is a realization that my circumstances can be used to shape me and mold me into the image of Christ and that I must be content to allow the Father to work in me through whatever ways He sees fit.

There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I haven't enjoyed everything that I have persevered through this year and it is easy to compare what other people have and feel dejected, but if you take a few moments to look around you, you will see there is much to be thankful for and content with.

I hope that you can choose to be one of the contented instead of one of the discontented. It will not only change your life, but it will change your outlook and your relationships with others as well.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Living For Eternity

 “A Kingdom centered life is more about how you live than what you do for a living.”

I have had a lot of time to think about this statement over the last few years.  With a background in the construction industry I have been a victim of the economy and have found myself “under”-employed.  In the past several years I have been a building products salesman, trim carpenter, handyman, thrift-store manager, GED teacher, teacher of my kids, supporter of my wife’s job, minister and writer.  As a man, it is sometimes difficult because so much of our identity is wrapped up in what we do for a living.  Indeed, we spend most of our waking hours at hour jobs, so when you don’t have a job or have a job that is less than what you had hoped for it can leave you feeling slightly inadequate.

Then you think about the statement above:  a Kingdom centered life is more about how you live than what you do for a living. 

I firmly believe that the things I do on this earth are mere preparation for my life in eternity.  Everything I do (or don’t do) here makes ripples in the ocean of eternity.  That is why it is so important to focus on the Kingdom of God and what impact you can have on the eternal things. 

For this reason, whether I am working or not, I can impact people for Christ.  In fact, my attitude and demeanor when I am not working can speak volumes about my relationship with Him.  Doing carpentry work I am exposed to different people almost every week.  I have an opportunity to show Jesus to them through my life and then often times I never see them again.  I have to trust that the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts and some other believer somewhere will be instrumental in the Harvest of their soul.  As a teacher, every ten weeks I am exposed to a new group of people.  I have an opportunity there to live my life in such a way that they see Jesus in me.  It is not something I take lightly. 

My desire for my life is to serve God in some capacity of full time Christian ministry.  For whatever reason He has me stuck firmly where I am.  As difficult as 2010 was, my family and I were taken care of every day and our basic needs were met.

As you go through the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, focus on this one thing.  As Christ-followers, we are all placed in positions where we can do the most good for those around us.  We have to simply be obedient to the Spirit’s leading and show Jesus to those we meet. 

Father, help me to be content to labor where you have placed me.  Help me to never miss an opportunity to share the love you have shown me.  Give me peace and joy in the simple things that last for eternity and help me to thrive where you have placed me.

Do You Have The “Jesus Spirit?"

So the other day I was riding with my daughter and son in my truck.  I have a little truck so we were all riding together with my daughter in the middle and my son beside her.  We pulled into a fast food restaurant to grab some breakfast on the way to where we were going.  After I ordered I pulled around to the second window as instructed.  When the window opened and the total was announced, I handed my cash to the lady inside.  There she promptly handed me my change and then I heard my daughters voice in my right ear.  “She doesn’t have the Jesus Spirit, Dad.”  I turned to look at her and said, “What?”  My daughter says, “That lady in there doesn’t have the Jesus Spirit.”  Insightful, clever guy that I am, I had an idea of what she was referring to, but I asked, “How can you tell?”

Gracie replied, “You can just see by the look on her face, she doesn’t have Jesus in her life.”

Wow.  Out of the mouths of babes.

We pulled away with a fresh order of French toast sticks, sticky syrup and chocolate milk in hand, and my mind started working. 

You see sometimes it takes the untainted and unjaded vision of a child to notice the obvious.  Now I’ve never worked at a fast food drive through window, so I have no idea what this ladies story was.  But I do know that she looked like she wasn’t particularly excited with her station in life.  

We all know people that walk around with an expression that is a cross between sucking on a lemon and smelling a really foul odor.  You know the ones I am talking about.  People they write country songs about.  If you asked they would tell you everything that is wrong with their life, their truck, their dog, their job, etc.  (No offense country musicians and listeners, I like country music, really, I do.)  Maybe they are like Eeyore, the sad donkey from Winnie the Pooh.  His catch phrase is “Oh bother.”  He shuffles about with his head down, moving as if carrying a tremendous burden and with a general acceptance that nothing good will ever come his way and that’s just the way it is.  I believe you could say that people like this just don’t have the Jesus Spirit. 

So my question to you is this:  “Do you have the Jesus Spirit?” I ask that question of myself too, although I ask myself do I show Jesus to others with my spirit?

I will be the first to admit that this world is a tough place.  This past year in particular has been tremendously trying for a lot of people.  The economy is down; unemployment is up, a new type of potentially deadly flu epidemic lurks, sweeping changes in government, just to name a few.  However, should any of that cause us to not radiate Christ from within? 

No matter what happens on the outside of me,

I still have Jesus living inside of me. 

No matter what this world throws at me,

I still have a future that is secure. 

No matter what gets taken away from me,

I know that I am storing up treasures in heaven

that cannot be wrestled from the grasp

of the One who holds them there for me.

So why should my face show anything else?  If I am called to be different, to be salt and light to this world, then my face and demeanor better show it.  Like I said before, your life should demand an explanation.  Your face tells a story for all to read.  It is an open book every single day.  Whether you mean to or not you reflect what is inside of you by the way you look and carry yourself. 

So I ask you again, “Do you have the Jesus Spirit written on your face?

If not, think about what you have been given by Him and put it there!