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Here we go again with another “Five Minute Friday” post!  To learn more about “Five Minute Friday” (FMF), check out the linked image here.  Basically, each week there’s a word given for you to write about.  You start writing, no back-tracking, editing, etc.  At the end of 5 minutes, you stop.  Then you post it, and share in the community of words that were birthed during these 24-ish hours.  It’s cool stuff.
So here’s this week’s response to the word: “Thank You”

I posted a lot of my thoughts on “thankfulness” earlier this week already, but seeing the phrase always brings something new to mind.  I remember singing “Thank You, Lord” in a worship band back in college, and every time we sang it – there seemed to be something new brought to mind.  So many times, it was something about the girl I was dating at the time (now my wife).

But because it was during a “traveling worship band” season, often it had to do with the ministry I was allowed/called to do.   Seeing the lives of teenagers during some very “open to God” moments.  Being a part of what I knew would be “life changing moments”, simply because I still remembered those moments from my own teenage years.  Trying not to think about that one or two teenagers in the back of the audience whom I knew really needed to internalize their thankfulness for God – knowing it had the potential to change their lives.

I’m thankful that I’m not in control of changing lives.

I can live my life in such a way that fosters the environment for a changed life.  But in ministry, in my personal life, in my family – the burden does not lay across my back to bring transformation.  As awesome as Dr.Leman is, even “Having a New Child By Friday” is no guarantee of the Fruit of the Spirit.  Thankfully – we trust God for something like that.  It used to be campers….and now when I sing – “Thank You, Lord”…it’s my own children….

Done.

Whew.  I’m also thankful for these “Five Minute Fridays”.  I never know where they’ll lead…but it usually tastes good…

So how has God transformed your thankfulness over the past decade?

I’m thankful for the struggles I’ve gone through in life.  I’m thankful for God’s presence through some very rough patches, that have continued to form who I am, and who I’m becoming. Like most people, I didn’t have a perfect life growing up.  There were imperfections, trials, etc…but there were also beautiful moments of transformation.  There were words spoken of hope, and identity in Christ.   There were moments of trust and love seemingly undeserved – that went to the very core of my being.  I’m thankful for a life that lent itself to being sensitive to moments like those.   If life had been perfect, I’m not sure how aware I would have been of all God was offering me.

We were reminded last night of Moses warning the people of Israel before they entered the promised land.  Warning them that as they experience prosperity, they will also experience less of a need for God.  Less of a natural thankfulness for all He’s doing for them.  He knew that prosperity would lead them to exalt “self”, and gain confidence in their own power and might.

We have more than a small amount of that these days.  We’re also told by most sources, that the best way to raise your children is to give them everything they need.  Some might even say, everything they want.  Especially this time of year, we sit them on Santa’s lap and listen closely to what they tell him.  We hope that we can provide most of the significant things they whisper.  Many of us justify it, also, by saying to ourselves, “I want to give my kids to kind of ______ that I never had.”  We put band-aids over growing up “in want” by trying to give our kids everything off their list.

The result?  Kids who want even more.  Who move from one source of pleasure to the next, embracing a toy about as long as a sucker, and only getting upset at it’s absence when their sibling tries to check it out.

I’m thankful for all that not having a car has led me into experiencing.  When our second car died earlier this year, we had (and still have) the choice to go looking for a cheap replacement.  I never really stressed about it, and figured God might actually bring one our way, as He has twice in the past already.  But this time, no call came from a philanthropic car owner.  I learned how to navigate our city’s bus system, and have had great times meeting new people, and getting growled at by those who don’t carry the label “Morning Person” like I do.  Just 2 weeks ago, my bus driver (named “Bubbles”), asked me, “I know you’re just a youth pastor, but would you pray?”  She shared about her son, and another family friend who were going through large struggles.  I’ve been praying since, and look forward every time I get to remind her she’s not carrying the burden alone.

So what does all of this mean?  I’m not sure I could summarize it well enough.  But I think it gives us permission to buy our children less, allow them to not get everything off their list, and learn to be thankful for what they do have.  It means living our life “palms up”, always ready to receive, and always willing to give – thankfully in the name of Jesus…

Here we go again with another “Five Minute Friday” post!  To learn more about “Five Minute Friday” (FMF), check out the linked image here.  Basically, each week there’s a word given for you to write about.  You start writing, no back-tracking, editing, etc.  At the end of 5 minutes, you stop.  Then you post it, and share in the community of words that were birthed during these 24-ish hours.  It’s cool stuff.
So here’s this week’s response to the word:STAY
I remember growing up, we had a puppy.  A few days went by, and it died.  Beethoven the Beagle – rest in peace.  Then not long after, we obtained a new puppy.   A cross between a Chow, a Saint Bernard, and a demon.  When training a puppy, you often find yourself yelling (to no avail), “Stay!”.  Needless to say, Barney was not a fan of – nor talented with – the gift of “staying”.

We had a pool in the backyard, and it often became a game of “who will distract Barney long enough for the rest of us to get into the pool without being mauled?”  Seriously, throw the ball, run barefoot across the grass, and pray to God he doesn’t jump on your back forcing you to the ground.  You may be laughing, but it got to the point where we had to dump the food over the fence and back up quickly.  He ate Furball and Mr. Rogers (our rabbits).

As much as I have negative memories of Barney, I know he was just a puppy who never learned to “Stay”, because he didn’t have consistent teachers/enforcers.  His overpowering “puppy love” was out of control, and his claws/teeth were simply trying to show his affection.

I want my love for God and others to be just as energetic.  Sure, the metaphor has limits…I don’t want to maul anyone, or to hurt anyone by love that doesn’t know how to be expressed.  But I also don’t want to limit my love for God, my family, or strangers whom God loves – simply because conventional expressions demand something more Hallmark-ish.

 

dang….5 minutes gone.

How about you?  Have you loved like a giant, dangerous puppy recently?  🙂