Change It!

More often than you may realize, your circumstance is a product of your unwillingness to change it.

One of my favorite examples is of a place where I used to work. After two years, I realized that my fabulous career had become a mundane 9-to-5 job. I was miserable. Then I realized that for years, I had been telling people, “If you don’t like your situation, change it!” It was time to practice what I taught.

After complaining, crying, and some prayer and fasting, I woke up one morning and turned in my resignation. It wasn't an easy decision with all of my family's financial responsibilities. However, I did it with the faith of knowing that God is my "source" and my job is only a "re-source." And to God be the glory, I had a new job within a week at a place that I actually enjoyed. I was back to loving what I did and I loved where I was doing it.

Your first reaction may be, “That’s great for you, but not everybody can do that!” Says who? Fear and faith cannot coexist, so if you are afraid of making a major change, of course it is impossible to do it. But I believe what I am told in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I never recommend trying to change your situation alone. Seek God’s direction as we’re told in Proverbs 3:5 – 6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Something going on in your life you don’t like? Change it! What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

The Importance of Being Unimportant

Why is it so important for people to be important? Today’s celebrities seem to be nothing but glory hounds that will do just about anything to be seen, heard, and recognized. It trickles down to everyday life, where people seem to be doing more and more outrageous things to gain some kind of notoriety. Just turn on any reality TV show, for starters.

There are very few people in this day and age who seem to shy away from the cameras or the recognition. Someone once told me that he loves his position in church – in the “Cleanup Ministry.” He’s the one in the sanctuary after service with a broom and dustpan. Interestingly enough, no one ever tries to take his broom away from him, or fight for his position. He is a committee of one, just getting the job done for the glory of God.

The psalmist recognized the importance of keeping a low profile and staying close to God. He wrote in Psalm 84:10, “…I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” He would rather be a simple man standing on his feet all day, working in the house of the Lord than to live in the fabulous tents – or the “cribs” – of the moneymakers and shotcallers (you know, the very “important” people) of his day.

Does wealth and fame go hand in hand with wickedness? Not necessarily. But the love of money, the greed for material things, the lust for fame…those are all things that can separate us from serving God and trying to please him.

Do you find it important to be important? Why or why not? Leave a comment!

Do Over!

Have you ever wished you could just start all over again? Just forget about everything and start from scratch? When we were playing games as kids, I remember that when all hope was lost, someone would call, “Do Over!” and we’d start all over again.

Maybe we can still call, “Do Over!” every now and again. The other morning, I woke up really late. I looked at the clock and became upset and jumped out of bed with a foul attitude. Then I decided, why not try a do over? I hit the snooze button and went back to sleep. When the alarm rang the second time, I praised God for waking me up, figured out what I could do to get out of the house quickly, and restarted my day – this time with a better attitude and outlook.

Maybe it’s time to give that story you’re writing a fresh start. Perhaps you can restart a project you’ve been working on. Maybe it’s time for something new in your life.

Jesus gave us the opportunity for the ultimate “do over.” We find that in John 3:3-8, Jesus tells Nicodemus that a man must be born again to reach the kingdom of God. When we are born again, we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) and given the opportunity to live our lives with a fresh, new start.

What area of your life demands a “do over?” Leave a comment.

Take Your Brain Off Autopilot!

Here’s a little exercise I conducted with the young people in my literacy program. I’ve never done it in print, so I don’t know if it works the same, but walk with me…

Okay, say the word “stop” out loud three times. STOP. STOP. STOP.
Now spell the word “stop” three times. S T O P. S T O P. S T O P.
Now answer this question: What do you do at a green light?
If you answered “stop”, you’re wrong. You should stop reading this and go back to the beginning of this paragraph.

If you reread the paragraph above more than twice and are wondering what the answer is, the answer is “go.” Seriously. Try this out on your friends. When this exercise is performed live, 90% of the time, people get the answer wrong on the first try. That’s because we often allow our brains to work in “autopilot” mode. We go through a large percentage of our lives not really thinking about the things we do or the reasons we do them.

Putting your brain on autopilot has its benefits. It allows you to multitask. You can simultaneously perform automatic functions such as drinking your coffee and downloading files while engaging in activities that demand a little more attention, such as reading your email and answering calls. But if you wanted to do something inventive, such as write the next great American novel or create something truly unique, autopilot just won’t cut it.

1 Peter 5:8 tells us “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” As Christians, we have to not only take our brains off autopilot, but our praise and our worship, too. Do a new thing! Read a book of the Bible you’re completely unfamiliar with. Spend a random day fasting just to hear a new word from the Lord. Visit a church you’ve never visited before and fellowship with Christians you don’t know.

I’m taking my brain off autopilot.

Lessons from Liberia – Finale

‘Cause I gotta have faith.

Those of us who grew up in the 80s sang along with George Michael, belting out the lyrics, especially the last line, “I gotta have faith-a-faith-a-faith.” Isn’t it funny how even in popular culture certain spiritual principles ring true? Hebrews 11 is regarded as the great Hall of Faith. There you’ll find accounts of people who were led by faith, even when everything around them seemed lost.

During our stay in Liberia, we visited and fellowshipped with the Mount Nebo Baptist Church, which was located in the Sinkor section of the capital city of Monrovia. They held a revival that week with the theme, “Walking by Faith.” As I got to know the people of Mount Nebo and learned more about the recent history of Liberia, I was overcome by the faith that flowed through the country.

Walking by faith, indeed. During the war, which lasted for 14 years and ended in 2003, the country was devastated. Children as young as 8 were taken and “drafted” into a horrific army where they were brainwashed and given guns to use at will. The so-called leadership at that time ended all public services. There were no formal schools or hospitals. Basic utilities such as electricity and running water were terminated. People were forced to leave their homes to seek refuge. It wasn’t unusual for families to flee at a moment’s notice on foot. I heard accounts of mothers, children, and the elderly walking for days and weeks at a time. “Where were they walking?” I asked over and over again. The collective answers I received revealed that it wasn’t a matter of “where” that made the difference, but “how.” They walked by faith, knowing that hope was ahead of them and grace would get them through.

The Liberia I witnessed during my visit was a country in transition. Under the leadership of current president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the public school system has been reinstated. The main roads are being reconstructed. I was speaking to a woman who shared her thoughts on the rebuilding of the country. She told me that some still worry that although the guns have stopped shooting, the war is not truly over. But at that, she smiled at me reassuringly, patted my arm, and said with her lovely Liberian accent, “Ah, but you know? I gotta have faith.”

Lessons from Liberia—Part 2

“Don’t waste it!” This was said more than once during my visit to the capital city of Monrovia. In a place where resources are in scarce supply, it’s no wonder I heard it used as both a warning and an admonishment. “Don’t waste it!” Mothers with their bowls and open aprons cautioned us as we poured out precious grains of rice during our relief effort to the poorest communities. “Don’t waste it!” careless children were scolded as they ran too close to tables in the market.

I became keenly aware of my wasteful American habits during my very first meal in Liberia. We were warmly welcomed into the parish house of the church we fellowshipped with. As guests, we were prepared a wonderful meal of rice with vegetables, fried and roasted chicken, a type of potato salad with fresh ham, and plantains (my favorite!). Yet, my team of missionaries understood immediately that whatever we did not eat from the remarkable spread would be shared among our hosts. So we were careful to take only what we could eat and not waste it.

Back home, here in America, I realize how wasteful we truly are. We not only waste food, but we waste our resources, our money, our opportunities, and our time.
• The amount of trash we generate as a nation is reprehensible.
• The money we spend on fast food alone each week could feed a family in Liberia for a month.
• Our children drop out of high school at a rate significantly higher than any other industrialized country.
• We are one of the most prosperous nations in the world, yet the most selfish. As a country, we spend more time watching television than helping our neighbors—at home or abroad.

Jesus told a parable about servants who were given talents—and how the one who squandered his was greatly admonished (Matthew 25:14-30). We should strive to make the most of everything God provides for us. Let’s use every one of our talents wisely.

Don’t waste it!

Lessons from Liberia—Part 1

Greetings! As you may have noticed, I’m missing a couple of blog entries. That’s because I’ve been away in Liberia, West Africa. I went as part of a mission trip with my church, Christian Love Baptist Church (Pastor Ron Christian). Our mission there was to fellowship with a local church and to distribute grains of rice in the poorest communities.

Throughout my visit, there was one Bible verse that came to mind constantly. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

“My grace is sufficient.” What a powerful acknowledgement to consider when riding over the main road and walking through the red dirt roads of Monrovia, the capital city. In a place where most homes are without electricity or running water, a majority of adults are unemployed, and many children are unable to go to school and devastatingly behind in their education…God reminded me that His grace is sufficient. It was 14 years of civil war that led to the country’s current predicament. And it will take time for the people to rebuild and reconstruct their lives.

At the Mount Nebo Baptist Church (Pastor Gallison George) where we fellowshipped—and whose loving members took us into their own homes during our stay—sufficient grace is evident. Some members have utilities in their homes, others are working, and a number of children are in school. And for those who are still striving for such things, there is hope.

His grace is sufficient.