Mess or Masterpiece?

I've been doing a lot of reading other blogs lately, I found it helps me with my creativity as I've decided to increase my number of posts each week to at least 4 ...

One I recently read lead me to today's topic: Mess or Masterpiece.

In Ephesians 2:10 we read, "For we are God's masterpiece." (NLT)

But far too often, we view ourselves as a mess. We live each day with the mindset that we are far too broken, far too dirty, far too used to be worth anything.

This is so far from the truth!

God loves us. So much, in fact, He sent His only son Jesus to pay the price we could never pay!

Through the blood of Jesus, we are redeemed.

The verse continues on, "He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Did you catch that? We are a masterpiece because of the sacrifice of Jesus!

On our own, we are those things we often believe to be true. But with Jesus, we are God's masterpiece.

I believe the reason we so often believe the lie is because the enemy is force feeding it to us to keep us "sidelined" ... Because when we begin to live into the truth of being God's masterpiece, we are then free to do the good things He planned for us long ago.

As long as we believe the lie however, we don't do much, if anything at all.

Today, sit down with God and ask Him to show you what you look like from His perspective. Ask Him to open your eyes so you will see the masterpiece. Confess you have lived too long in the lie and you are now ready to step out into the light of the truth.

And then each morning, ask God to do it again. And again. And again.

Then, as you see yourself through the eyes of God, as you begin to live into His masterpiece plan, as you forsake the lies of the enemy. You will be free to do the good works God intended for you long ago.

Does this mean that once I begin to live into the masterpiece plan of God, my life will improve, my job will improve, and I will see prosperity all around?

No.

Jesus promised in John 16:33, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (NLT)

Think about it. If anyone on earth ever lived completely as God's masterpiece, it was Jesus. And he was crucified.

The world does not accept disciples of Christ because the world did not accept Christ.

But trials and troubles shouldn't keep you from living into the masterpiece plan of God. You have trials and troubles now; why not start living into the masterpiece plan and in addition to the issues of life, also find the joy of God?

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. We simply need to see it for ourselves and then choose to live into that goodness.

My Fears Didn't Materialize

I've noticed that I've recently been asking people to pray for things that at the time seem very important to me, and they are, however they are usually self-made fears.

I won't give any specifics, this is a public forum, but like many people, I have an active imagination. Often, it runs away with itself and the result is a scenario that simply isn't good.

So I pray, I ask others to pray, and then I move forward with fear, but with hope.

And lately, my fears have been completely unfounded.

It seems that the "worst" I can imagine in my mind, that which I fear the most, is rarely the reality once I experience the event.

I know I'm not alone, because a great man, Bob Goff (@BobGoff on Twitter), recently Tweeted, "Most of the things I've been afraid of haven't happened ..."

I'd like to attribute much of the fact my fears were not realized to the power of prayer. I truly believe in the power of prayer and know that it has positively impacted my life.

Yet, as strong as prayer is, I also realize that my overly active imagination has far too often caused me angst.

It is hard to live a life of total dependence on God. I so often reach over to grab the wheel for myself; taking back control of my life. It is in those moments that my fears heighten and my anxiety is "off the hook" so to speak.

Once I'm through the situation, however, and I can look back; so often in those moments I find how irrational my fears had been.

Does prayer work ... certainly!

But wouldn't my life be so much better if instead of trying to take control myself, instead of allowing an overactive imagination to run wild, instead of living with a lack of trust in God AND then praying; I simply allowed God control and prayed more prayers of thanksgiving and fewer prayers of petition?

I look forward to the day I spend most of my prayer life thanking God for the abundance He continues to provide and less time petitioning Him to help me out in some "self made" crisis ... a crisis that in hindsight really isn't a crisis.

So God, thank you that most of the things I fear didn't happen. For that I am truly grateful!

Pay it Forward

A few weeks ago I noticed a link to a Pay it Forward video on one of the blogs I follow. It seems that on a particular Saturday a few weeks ago, there was a donut store in Massachusetts that had a "pay-it-forward" string of nearly 60 consecutive customers.

It all started because a customer who had been at the donut shop on Friday had someone pay for her coffee and donut. She was so touched by this gesture, she came back Saturday with the expressed intention of paying for someone else's breakfast.

Now the really interesting part of the story is the woman who received the gift on Friday and started the chain on Saturday was unemployed. She actually said in the interview she really didn't have the money to "spare" but since such generosity had been bestowed on her, she came back Saturday with extra money to make sure to be able to afford whatever the next order price was.

And the chain began. At one point in the interview, the donut store staff said they noticed something was going on. It was one, then two, then 10 consecutive pay-it-forward purchases.

Around 15, the guy taking orders said he started telling people, "We are at 15, 18, 22 consecutive pay-it-forward orders. You can keep it going, or you can let it end. Your choice."

The shop owner said the chain only broke when the line ended.

While this is a fun story, it isn't something I would normally blog about. The reason you are hearing about it from me today is because of one of the comments written below the video I watched. One thing about the Internet is people are able to provide their own comments to stories, in real time. Generally, they are good, positive responses when commenting on a "feel good" story such as this.

However, there is a lot of hate and discontent in the world, and it often rears its ugly head on the Internet. There is something about the "anonymity" of the Internet that allows people to feel freedom to just tear into others.

And this was the case with this pay it forward story.

One of the comments was something like, "These people came into the store expecting to spend money, and they all had the money to make their purchases. If you truly want to help someone, sponsor a child in a third-world country. That is a better use of your money."

Certainly, please sponsor children in third-world countries. If you know me, you know my wife and I do sponsor two young girls each month, and it is a priority for us to ensure we are able to be a part of their lives in this way.


I guess what really upset me about the comment, and the reason I listed it as a 10:10 Muse blog topic, was the level of hostility. The way I read the comment, this person was really angry these people felt so good about paying it forward for other "rich" people. The poster was angry at generosity!

There is far too much anger, hate, and aggression in our world today. And, as I stated earlier, the "anonymity" of the Internet probably gives people more license to type things they would never say in a face-to-face situation.

So that is why I so enjoyed the pay-it-forward story. People who are generally so self absorbed, got in the spirit of generosity because one lady was so touched by generosity the previous day.

And that is something to celebrate! Not something to hate.

We need more people helping others get a hand up, so please consider if it is appropriate for you to support those who are far less fortunate they we are today.

But we also need those inspirational stories every now and then. It is in the little things, the everyday things, we find the beauty of the world around us.

Who will you inspire today with your generosity?

I Have Learned to Be Content (Well, actually) ...

I had a different blog post already for upload this morning, but today I want to share a little of the struggle I've had these past few hours ...

It is Thursday morning, and we leave tonight for Michigan. It is our annual VanPelt Family Reunion weekend (my lovely bride's side of the family) ... It happens the last Saturday of July just outside Traverse City, Michigan.

The usual reunion weekend has our family driving to Hastings, Michigan on Thursday, arriving around midnight. We stay with my bride's brother and sister-in-law.

Sometime Friday we all head towards Traverse City where we descend on my bride's uncle's house. About 10 to 20 people, depending on the year, camp out there each July.

My brother & sister-in-law have a small trailer that is often brought from Hastings to Traverse City. One year we pulled it with our SUV. However, my current transportation, the Explorer, does not have a hitch.

Last year, my brother-in-law borrowed a truck to pull the trailer. This year they are doing the same.

However, due to work schedule and commitments, the in-laws won't be leaving Hastings until late Friday night.

Enter my discontentment. I will either be helping to set up a trailer after midnight, in the dark, or find myself sleeping in a tent Friday night ... neither option appeals to me.

I found this out Thursday after work ... and ever since, my mind has been scheming ... what options do I have that would allow me to get the trailer to Traverse City earlier on Friday ... allowing my in-laws the opportunity to come up later to an already set up, ready-to-sleep-in trailer?

I would not be allowed to use the vehicle they are borrowing, it is a work truck from my brother-in-laws company ... So what other options do I have?

I could rent a truck locally (say in Grand Rapids) for the weekend that would pull the trailer. I could even rent something for the entire trip, round trip from Lexington, that could do the job. But a vehicle rental isn't in the trip budget.

I even considered asking friends if I could borrow their vehicle. But that is a big ask, especially at the last minute.

All because I don't want to sleep in a tent or be setting up a trailer at 1 am Saturday morning ...

Understand, I tossed and turned all night Thursday night ... I really didn't get a good nights' sleep. This is also adding to my discontent. Not to mention, driving 7 hours tonight having spent a fitful night, is also not appealing.

As I drove into work this morning, still scheming solutions in my brain, God placed Philippians 4:11 in my mind: "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have." (Philippians 4:11 - NLT)

There are homeless people who would love to have a tent, any type of shelter is an upgrade from their situation.

I'm suffering discontentment due to "first world" problems. I have shelter (I don't like the options, but I have shelter); I have food; I have family that loves, supports, and encourages me; I HAVE ...

If I step back, my problems are insignificant. And I've caused myself even more issues because I allowed myself to dwell on the issues rather than sleep. Now I have to suffer the reality of that lack of sleep ...

I'm still not happy with the circumstances I'll be driving into as we head to Michigan tonight ... but I'm trying to keep a positive attitude.

I look forward to the day, I can truly say, "I have learned to be content with whatever I have."

From My Head to My Heart

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but I have published a book. It didn't get any traction, in part because I didn't market it, but I have published a book and a few family and friends have read this book.

I've also started writing another book ... but I haven't really spent much time on it. Today, I'm going to write a little bit of what that book will be about for those of you who read this blog.

The book is entitled 18 Inches: From My Head to My Heart.

It is about how difficult it is for us to actually live into the truths we accept as Christians. Head knowledge and heart knowledge are not the same thing.

I KNOW God loves me, the Bible tells me so. But I don't live into that love daily. I have head knowledge of God's love, but it hasn't truly penetrated my heart.

If the love of God had truly penetrated my heart, my life would look much different. I wouldn't pass up needy people on a daily basis, I would reach out and touch them; just like Jesus did. I would ooze the love of God all over the place, making my little part of the world a much better place to live.

In my head, I know I've been forgiven. However, my heart still holds me hostage. If I truly  had the forgiveness of God in my heart, I wouldn't always walk around "waiting for the next shoe to drop" ... I would understand deep in my being what God means when His word says, in Psalms 103:12, our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west.

Think about it ... no matter how far you travel east, you will always be going east. You can never travel east and end up traveling west. It is impossible.

So is it impossible for us to travel to a place where God is holding our sins; if we have accepted His forgiveness.

But so often my heart doesn't accept. While my head has memorized, and sometimes even quotes Psalm 103:12, my heart doesn't live into that truth.

Or what about ...

I could go on and on and on with analogies where my faith is only head knowledge, not heart truth.

Someday I will sit back down and write this book. Until then, keep coming back here. You never know when another portion of the book might show up.

And, you will also be able to follow along with my journey into the abundant life God promised, when I am able to move truths from my head to my heart.

Don't Judge Lest You Be Judged

Weekday mornings my lovely bride and I read through a devotional message over breakfast. It is a great way for us to begin our day together, before God.

The devotional this morning was about how judgmental we as people can be. Everywhere we turn we are either judging others or being judged ourselves.

How could she wear that outfit in public? Why is he such a bad driver? Did she really just say that on TV?

Or that judgmental finger is pointed towards us.

Or worse, we judge ourselves!

In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus says, "Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you." (God's Word Translation)

It was a great reminder. But then the author of the devotional continued on with a challenge. Find 5 people this week who you would normally judge and offer them encouragement instead.

A hard challenge, but a good suggestion none the less. I read this with my wife, finished my breakfast, climbed into my car and headed to work.

And almost immediately I forgot the challenge. At the stop light leaving our neighborhood, the vehicle in front of me didn't go immediately after the light turned green. Trying to practice patience, I began counting, rather than immediately honking my horn.

I counted to 10 ... still no movement. Finally, the driver began to move and fortunately I was able to make it through the light.

But not before making a very judgmental, and negative, comment to my wife on the phone.

I then navigated through traffic to the gas station, and made another judgmental comment about a car that had pulled into the pumps "in the wrong direction" ...

After leaving the gas station, I continued on my drive to work. As I approached a "round about" here in Lexington, the car to my left who was already in the circle, slowed to a near stop, causing me to have to stop prior to entering the round about.

Immediately, I made another judgmental remark.

And then God convicted me ... I had just been challenged less than a half hour prior to not judge. In fact, I had been further challenged to offer encouragement in place of judgement.

Furthermore, God had then quickly presented me with three situations to live into this challenge. I've heard that for a habit to be formed, new behaviors must be acted upon immediately and frequently for 10 or more days. God was giving me this opportunity to form new habits!

And I had failed.

Fortunately for me, God doesn't hold my failures over my head, the way I do. In Him, I am forgiven. But not only am I forgiven, my sins are completely removed once I repent. I may have to endure the consequences of my actions, but the sin itself is no longer held against me by God.

So now I move forward, and with God's help will be more encouraging to others today, tomorrow, and each day ...

Not simply because I don't want to be judged harshly because I judge harshly. But more importantly, I want to be encouraging because that is what Jesus did, and I truly do want to live each day more and more like Jesus!

Are We Asking the Right Questions?

I was watching a video today about a high school student who, in 2007, raised $6,000 for clean water wells in Africa.

It all started because he had gone to Africa and seen their poverty. During the trip he asked, "How can God allow such anguish?"

However, as he spent more time in Africa, and even after his return, his question changed. It became, "How could God allow us to be so distracted?" and "How could God allow us to be so affluent?"

This started me thinking. How often do we ask the wrong question, and how do we begin to ask the right question.

Consider current events.

Wrong question: "How could God allow that to happen (Katrina, Sandy, Sandy Hook Elementary, Zimmerman/Martin trial, etc.)?"

Right question: "What can I do to show God's love to those affected by ...?"

Consider world poverty.

Wrong question: "How can God allow such anguish?"

Right question: "How can God allow me to be so affluent, yet so distracted?"

Consider war.

Consider ...

You see, so often asking the wrong question removes any blame from us. It allows us to remain apathetic. It allows us to clear our conscience, because it isn't our fault.


But maybe, just maybe, the fact we noticed the issue, involves us to be part of the solution.

Blake chose to use his high school Homecoming tradition of buying the biggest and best corsage to help fund wells in Africa. Rather than parading our vast wealth on our wrist or lapel for one night, why don't we donate the funds we would have spent for a corsage to clean water and wear a button that said "I donated my corsage to Sudan" instead.

And today 10,000 people in two Sudan communities have clean water.

I don't have answers today. Only questions.


But I hope that by asking, I get you thinking.

I hope that the next time you start a question, you stop to consider, "Am I asking the right question?"

And if you are not, find the right question to ask.

Then, once you've asked the right question, take the time to find the right answer.

It is only through asking the right question and finding the answer to that right question that we are able to truly affect good in our world.