Second Chances

..."I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."

Jonah 4:2

Have you ever gone through a time of disobedience with God? Jonah was a prophet of God who decided he didn't want to prophesy for the Lord. God wanted him to deliver a message to Nineveh to warn them against impending destruction if they didn't turn from their ways. But instead, Jonah developed a hardened heart toward the people of Nineveh. He didn't really care if they repented or not; so rather than travel to Nineveh and deliver the message, he hopped a boat in the opposite direction.

You probably know the rest of the story. He was eaten by a fish and spent a few days in the belly of this fish thinking about his decision.

There is a place where we all will obey. What circumstances must take place for us to become obedient? For some of us, it requires a good shakeup. For Jonah, it required a big shakeup because he was God's man to be used to save 120,000 people. He was chosen by God to be used by God, and God didn't give up on him.

God understands our disobedient heart. He sees what we really are; yet He gives second chances. God gave Jonah a second chance. He gave the people of Nineveh a second chance. It is a lesson of love from a heavenly Father who specializes in second chances. Have you blown it? Have you disappointed someone? God is the God of second chances. All we have to do is acknowledge our waywardness.

He will restore.

He will give grace.

And He will continue to use us to accomplish His great plans!

Knowing Our Limits

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Proverbs 28:19

Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk in a business venture."¹ Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away. However, what is often their greatest asset can become their greatest downfall. The road is littered with entrepreneurs who have been successful in one venture only to fail in countless others. Is this the natural way for an entrepreneur, or is there a better way?

King David was an entrepreneur. He grew up as a shepherd boy and later became Israel's greatest warrior. He responded to opportunities, like the time when no one would fight Goliath. He saw this as an opportunity. He ultimately became king of Israel and faced many opportunities placed before him. David learned an important lesson somewhere along the way that each of us as believers should learn.

As an entrepreneur the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in activities in which God never intended us to be involved. This is poor stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. When the Philistines attacked David, he always inquired of God as to if and when he was to counterattack. When he was attacked a second time on one occasion, David inquired of God as to whether he was to attack yet. This time God said yes, but with a condition, "Wait until you hear the sound of marching in the balsam trees" (See 2 Samuel 5:24).

This story tells us that David had learned an important lesson about staying vertical in his relationship with God at all times. David had learned the important principle of staying focused on what God wanted for him, not what seemed logical. He was an opportunist, but only through the filter of the Holy Spirit in his life.

How do we approach opportunities? Do we consider the merits of the opportunity only? Or do we inquire of God as to whether He desires us to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's will for us to be involved. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to direct us as we seek to use the skills He has given us.

[1] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth ed. (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1993).

The Strength Of Brokenness

The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

1 Samuel 2:4

There is an oxymoron throughout the Bible. It says that brokenness is strength. How can this be? How can brokenness be strength? In order to use men and women to their fullest extent, the Lord has to break His servants so that they might have a new kind of strength that is not human in origin. It is strength in spirit that is born only through brokenness.

Paul was broken on the Damascus road. Peter was broken after Jesus was taken prisoner. Jacob was broken at Peniel. David was broken after his sin with Bathsheba. The list could go on of those the Lord had to break in different ways before they could be used in the Kingdom.

When we are broken, we see the frailty of human strength and come to grips with the reality that we can do nothing in our own strength. Then, new strength emerges that God uses mightily. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Do not fear brokenness, for it may be the missing ingredient to a life that emerges with a new kind of strength and experience not known before. Pray for a broken and contrite heart that God can bless and use for His glory.

Seekers Of God

God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand,

any who seek God.

Psalm 53:2

Are you a man or woman who is a seeker of God? The Lord delights in seeing those children of His who truly understand the meaning of life and why there is only one thing worth seeking—God Himself.

We can always tell when we have not been seeking God. The cares of this life, the urgent over the important, and the petty irritations are the symptoms of a life that has not been in the presence of God. Do we understand, really understand?

That is the question God raises to each of us today. If we understand, then why do we spend day after day toiling and fretting over what doesn't matter? Can we set proper boundaries in our lives that don't allow our time with Him to be continually stolen away? It is a challenge in a world that screams "activity, busy, strive!"

Do you have a consistent time of seeking Him in your life? Are you committed to developing that intimacy with your Lord that He so desires? If not, ask Him today to help you. This is the longing of His heart. Ask Him to make it the longing of your heart too. Then you will demonstrate to Him that you understand, and you will be a seeker of God.

Only Him

Open your eyes, little girl

See the world

For what it really is

Oh little girl

The world is dead and dying

Lost and crying

Open your eyes, little girl

See the Lord

For Who He really is

Oh little girl

The Lord is alive and reigning

Sovereign and sustaining

Open your eyes, little girl

Leave the idols

The empty wasted miles

Oh little girl

The Lord is calling

Keep on following

What matters, little girl?

What matters?

Only Him, little girl

Only Him

Thrive With Clean Eating

At the end of the ten days they [Daniel and his friends] looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men that ate the royal food.

Daniel 1:15

While feeding on fast food, restaurant meals, and prepared boxed dinners, do we really ever know exactly what we're eating? We may "think" we know (sure, it's a hamburger—ground beef, a bun, some lettuce, a slice of tomato and onion, some ketchup, and mustard—how bad can it be?), but the reality is there are many unknown ingredients harboring preservatives and chemicals we really may not want to eat.

Ingredients like heart-clogging saturated fat, blood pressure rising sodium, and body weight packing extra calories exist in the messy mystery ingredients that you may not consider or think about in convenience foods. And, while these processed foods are convenient, why don't we feel good, look good and or stay healthy eating them? Well, it's because these over-processed, manufactured, heavy foods weigh you down mentally and physically. Is “convenience” really worth the price our bodies pay in added weight and poor health?

The answer to the "mystery" food downfall is to eat clean. Eating clean means you know exactly what you are eating. Clean foods are down-to-earth, basic, fresh, nutrient rich, and delicious. Clean foods are easy to prepare. Unlike heavy, fatty, sugary and processed foods that are dense with calories that spike the blood sugar and lead to mental or physical "crashes" after a meal. On the other hand, clean foods allow the blood sugar to stabilize and energy levels to stay even. Clean foods are beneficial to the body and allow the body to function as God designed it with life and vitality—clean eating allows you to thrive.

Since clean eating is so beneficial, what foods are clean and how are they prepared? Great questions! Here are the larger groups of foods that are optimal nutrition for your body:

• Vegetables: These are power packed foods that have wonderful health benefits. Vegetables are low in calories (one cup raw vegetables or one-half cup cooked vegetables has about 25 calories), rich in vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, quick to prepare, and come in a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors. Choose leafy greens (spinach, dark lettuce, cabbage, kale, mixed greens, chard, collards), broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes (technically a fruit but found in the veggie section of the grocery store), red, green and yellow peppers, sweet potatoes, green beans, beets, celery, pea pods, yellow squash, zucchini, and asparagus. Combine raw vegetables in a salad mixture. Look for other vegetable options at your local farmers market or in the produce section of the grocery store.

• Fruit: These are sweet foods, filled with fiber, loaded with nutrients, easy to eat and prepare, and are portable. Choose apples, oranges, bananas, berries of all varieties, mango, plums, peaches, cherries, pineapple, grapefruit, apricots, kiwi, melons, and papaya. Make a snack from one piece of fruit or combine chopped fruit for a filling fruit salad.

• Protein: Lean protein sources help the body to rebuild and repair, provide necessary amino acids for proper body function, and are rich in healthful fatty acids. Lean protein sources contain very little artery clogging saturated fat. Choose chicken and turkey breast, salmon, tuna, and other white, solid fish. Other non-meat protein sources include egg whites, legumes (starchy beans), nuts, skimmed milk, non-fat yogurt, soy-based milk, and textured vegetable proteins.

• Whole Grains: These are fiber-filled, blood sugar stabilizing carbohydrates that keep the body functioning properly. Whole grains have limited processing and are as close as possible to the original plant grain. Options include oatmeal, wheat berries, barley, brown rice, and millet. Check out your local health food store for other options of whole grains.

• Healthy Fats: These fats are ones that provide essential fatty acids, are unsaturated (do not clog arteries), and provide fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K. The body needs a small amount of fat for proper functioning. Choose small portions of fats from nuts, olive oil, avocados, flaxseed oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

To healthfully prepare this bounty of clean foods—for optimal flavor and nutrition—stick to the following methods of cooking:

• Steam
• Grill
• Poach
• Bake
• Broil

Of course, you can always choose to eat the fruits and vegetables in their most natural state—raw.

While this type of eating may be foreign to you, try just one day of clean eating and see how you feel. If one day seems too much, try it just one clean food meal. Combine foods from each of these groups for your meals and snacks and see how healthy and vibrant you will feel. Clean eating relies on food sources as God created them—fresh, whole and uncomplicated by chemicals, processing, and preservatives.

Narcissism… Who Me?

Narcissism—we're all guilty to one degree or another. It's part of being human to a certain degree.

Our narcissism is exposed in our obsessive thoughts about our weight.

Even retailers have taken our obsession straight to the bank with today's vanity sizes. Who really wears a size -0?

It's exposed in the countless day spas and fitness centers across the country.
It's exposed in our $85-every-four-weeks hairstyles.
It's exposed in how easily duped we are by the promise of expensive gadgets and gizmos to make us look and feel younger.

Our self-obsession hasn't made us a happier nation over all. Our French tips, all-over tans, and rock solid bodies have done nothing to diminish the number of anti-depressant prescriptions sliding across pharmacy counters everyday. That's because the glances of admiration and envy we get from all the time and effort we put into ourselves provides only a quick and shallow fix.

Narcissism is even more prevalent everywhere we turn—"I must look out for number one" and "live for self" is the mentality of most. Self involvement breeds more self-involvement because it all just seems so normal. Think about the conversation you might have recently had with a friend over lunch:

"Do you think I've lost weight?"
"Well, now that you mention it, you do look a bit thinner—not that you needed to lose anything. I'm the one who could stand to lose a couple pounds."
"You? Don't be silly. Your still wearing a size 4, aren't you? What's the problem?
"Well, actually, I'm a 2 now. But I've only been able to get to the gym three times a week lately, so I've been worried about my weight."

Can we imagine holding a conversation like that while on a mission trip in India? For that matter, can we imagine walking up to anyone we really respect and admire and asking, "Does this outfit make me look fat?"

"Of course not!" you protest, "Those conversations are personal and private!"
No they're not. They're just stupid.

Wouldn't it be glorifying to God, and utterly freeing to us, if we made a pact to help one another recover from our narcissistic tendencies rather than remaining narcissism enablers? Come on… we can do it.