You’ve all heard the second part of the verse in Luke, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  I’ve heard this told many different ways but they all boil down to the same premise; if you’re given something in abundance you’re required to use it benefit others.  Easy peasy, right?  Do you ever wonder why you can be so full in some areas but seem so lacking in others?  Does it ever balance?  I think it takes a perspective shift to realize you’re never lacking in the first place.

As you all know, Ry and I are on a budget and it’s a tight one.  We are trying desperately hard to get out of debt so that we can eventually do all the things that we’ve missed out on over the years due to stupid financial decisions.  We have no one to blame for our mistakes but us, but that doesn’t stop the sting of seeing others starting life off on the right foot and being financially free.  I know that when we’re out of debt we’ll have a whole new perspective and appreciation for the hard work it took for us to accomplish our task.  Admittedly though, it is hard for me sometimes to see others around me without a concern for money or what they do with it.

However, on the flip-side I pull up to a stop light on my way to church last night and there is an older gentleman, unclean and unkempt holding up a cardboard sign asking for any kind of grace or monetary redemption that I can give him because he has no home and no money.  It is at that point that I feel lower than low.  Lower than the speck of dirt that resides the in fibers of the carpet.  Lower than the gravel under my shoes.   Who am I to be so upset about my trivial budget when this man can’t even afford to eat?  Who am I to bemoan the things I want to do to my home but can’t afford to complete when them man doesn’t have a home?  Who am I to feel shame over my older out-of-style clothes when this fellow doesn’t even have a washing machine to keep his clean?  I couldn’t look the man in his face.  I was ashamed.  Is this the way God looks at me for my behavior?  Ashamed?

Last night I was attending a planning meeting for an upcoming women’s conference at my church.  Before the meeting I was assigned greeter duty.  We had lots of ladies coming from different churches all over the region and as the host church it is good to make them feel welcome and show them the way to the meeting. I like being a greeter.  It fits me.

At the same time this meeting was going on in another room on our church the Care Group for single moms was meeting.  As you all know from previous posts, I recently just jumped in feet first into this organization because I felt called to do so.

As I was greeting the ladies attending the meeting I would see single moms bringing their little ones to the nursery/child care services.  I have never felt such a sweet ache in my chest, it was as if my ribcage shrunk 2 sizes too small and my heart was flipping over.  I wanted to be with those moms.  They were all young with young babies and I would have given my left leg right then and there to talk with them, to be their friend and to show them the love and grace of God.  It was one of the first times in my life that I’ve ever felt such a confirmation that I was following God’s will that I get active with single moms.  Is this what it means to give of something you have in abundance because God will just fill you back up again?  I think so.  I want people to have what I have; the love, grace, and forgiveness of Christ.

It also makes me put everything else in perspective.  Remember what I told you?  A perspective change.  Reframing.

We’ve had a sermon series in church the last 3 weeks called “Secrets.”  Our pastors have covered a variety of things but one of the things that has stuck with both me and Ry is a song they played called, “Make War.”  I encourage all of you to go out and listen to it.  Small warning…it is in the category of rap/hip-hop but the lyrics are incredible.  It reminds me that I need to make war against all the things that are keeping me from being my best in Christ.  Those things could be thoughts of jealousy or envy, or pride, or even hate and unforgiveness.  And I need to make war against them.  Anytime I start to have an ugly thought Ry will just tell me “make war” and I fight it.  And it has worked for both of us.  Don’t get me wrong, it is much easier to wallow in pity and jealous but that doesn’t do anything but make you more miserable.  Those thoughts only make us feel like we’re lacking when we are really not.

To whom much is given, much is expected.  I have been given a lot.  All these mish-mash stories I think have been a way that I’m trying to remember that.  I need to give back and not focus on all the things that I believe I don’t have.  God’s grace and forgiveness has washed over me.  I like the line out of a song we sang this week, “if His grace were an ocean I would be sinking”.  So true.

I encourage you all to change your perspective and make war.

TODAY I LOVE: fresh blackberries and a heart too big for my chest

SONG OF THE DAY: “Make War” by Tedashii