Is it worth it????

What is it worth?

Growing up I would notice when random pieces of furniture would end up missing around holidays, birthdays, back to school or when things got financially tight but I never thought much of it. I would also notice how my mother was meticulous about our school clothes, church clothes, food and anything that she had to pay for. 

Recently I traveled to speak at conference in Tampa, Florida called FlavorFest. My ride from the airport told me that the area of town was called “suitcase city”. 

We make sacrifices and we stretch ourselves for what we value. 

My driver continued to say that he fully understood the name “suitcase city” when he went into a pawnshop and noticed shoes on several shelves. These weren’t the fancy red bottoms or the ultra exclusive basketball shoes they were every day loafers, pumps, and work boots. The sight of these “regular” shoes made him question the mental space the seller was in to even pawn their shoes…what necessity did they have in order to palm them?

Their need had to be greater than their comfort!

The bible tells a story of two brothers who were at odds from birth. Esau the older brother and Jacob the younger brother. One particular day the oldest brother came home from hunting and was extremely hungry. The younger brother was in the kitchen cooking and when the older brother asked for a bowl of the younger brother’s food – the request was met with a demand. Jacob asked Esau for his rights as the older brother and Esau quickly obliged. The last scripture in that verse stands out to me. It says that Esau despised or had no value for his birthrights.

It is easy to give up what we haven’t earned or what we don’t value.

But when you have gone through something to get what you have – it will take more than a little bit of effort to remove it from your hands.

Some of you all have sacrificed the most for this present moment. The value of playing for a team, working for that company, owning your own business, having a family in this moment has great value. 

DO NOT LET SOMEONE STEAL WHAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR!

If you value it – KEEP IT. If you value it – PROTECT IT. If you value it – DEMAND RESPECT FOR IT!

My mom valued my brother and I so she sacrificed for us. Those families valued something so they gave up what mattered to them.

What have you given to get here and what will you do to maintain what you consider valuable?

I heard a motivational speaker say, “Easy come – easy go and the opposite.” 

That’s good teaching! Anything that was difficult or took great effort for you to obtain will be difficult for you to release.

Your effort reflects your values. Hold on to what you value!

Will You Cross The Road?!?!

Saved by Grace...

**Warning Explicit Content**

There is an area of town near my job that is a non-traditional graveyard for stray animals. It’s non-traditional in the sense that no one intentionally buries the animals there. The deceased animals are casualties of life that are left in the roadways and medians. For a while, my biggest concern was that I would contribute to the atrocity. 

Then came Sunday. I was moving at a good rate of speed when all of a sudden a cat darted into the street. There was a vehicle to my left, a wall on my right, and no time to stop. The only choice was to grab the wheel and prepare for the worst. 

Bump! 

My heart sank as I knew that sound could only mean the worst. I glanced to my rearview mirror and shockingly saw a perfectly well feline rapidly continuing his journey across the street. 

Whew!

The bible says in Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (NKJV).

As cheesy as it sounds, it's true! Every day is a gift - that’s why it’s called the present. What most excites me about the gift is the gift giver - He has the best intentions. 

In life we have a beginning and an end. What happens in the middle are the “if’s” we must take while crossing the road.

Having the intention to move and not the initiative to step out will destroy you just the same. We all have the same finish line to cross. I would rather run to mine than have it just show up. 

You will live through what was set up to stop you - by His grace.

Using my youth ministry mindset, I have a few thoughts.

1.   You Must Move! 

How many of us have endeavored to move from one existence to another but have paused in our progression due to the sight of previous travelers that didn’t make it? A friend’s divorce, a colleague’s failed attempt at a promotion, a parent that never beat an addiction, a teammate that didn’t get picked, or a friend who dropped out. We are aware that there is a better way on the other side of our journey but for some reason or another the proverbial death of those that quit, were detoured, or mangled by the journey has developed an overwhelming fear and stagnation in our attempts. 

Remember that we all have a story and each individual’s story is as unique as our matchless fingerprints. Just because you have similar looking books doesn’t mean your stories will match!

You can read their story without living it. 

Proverbs 3:5-6powerfully illustrates that our surroundings can scare us but the spirit living inside of us should spur us on. It’s good to look before you leap but you have got to move. 

2.   Count on Finishing!

It is interesting how much effort people put in to keeping tally of their trials. Count on finishing! I once heard that Muhammad Ali had a ridiculous exercise regimen. He would do a certain exercise until he was fatigued and then he would start counting his reps. He was more concerned with what he achieved when he didn’t feel like it than what he accomplished when everything was all good. Crossing the road to your future will have some trials but you were built with the end in mind. A Preacher named Stephen Clay said, “Until we confront what is challenging us, we will continue to combat what is conquering us!” The challenge will be there whether you start today or next year so you might as well face it now!

3.   Don’t die in the fight of faith!

Beyond crossing the road of life’s challenges into the land of goal accomplishment, there is the journey of our faith. In the same vein of this road analogy, I think Christian believers can get stuck or struck while crossing as well. My good friend Jeremy explained that some believers get saved and never use their faith. The excitement of committing to Christ wanes the moment they leave the altar and their faith remains shelved like a travel souvenir. Then there are those who step out on faith only to have a giant obstacle, addiction, disagreement, or fear scare them from fully pressing through in faith. Stuck in the middle, the obstacle crushes them and their faith. Your faith is a muscle that must be worked and trained. Step out and stay believing that your God is watching you along the way and He will step in to save you.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

If children are taught to look BOTH ways before stepping out then you too need to look both ways before taking your next step.

1.    Look to God for the right time to go. Just because you have the ability doesn’t mean you have the permission.

2.    Look to yourself. Everyone won’t approve of your every move but you must be confident that your decision is right for you.

Finally, I am not encouraging you to jump into oncoming traffic or to illegally jay walk but I am challenging you to walk with Jesus. You can move on when everything seems lost. God knows your destination, will hold your hand, and will pick you up WHEN you fall along the way.