When we lived in Georgia we often visited a BBQ restaurant whose slogan was "It's Gonna Get Messy!". They got it right. The trade off for enjoying their succulent, fall-off-the-bone ribs was sticky fingers and face, but (as evident by their long lines) it was worth it.
This morning I was reading a proverb that echoed the same sentiment about trade-offs. Proverbs 14:4 says, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." The trade-off; You can have a neat, tidy, sanitized stable OR you can reap a HUGE harvest, but it's gonna be messy.
What's my take on the application? Here goes:
John 4 tells us, "Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest... the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life....". So the harvest represents "people brought to eternal life" and the "oxen" are the ones working the fields to prepare for and reap the harvest. (Great commission, baby!) By the very nature of the task the oxen are bound to get dirty and bring it home to the stables, but that's the only way to reap a huge harvest! Getting dirty!!! It seems to me the rewards far outweigh the cost. Kind of like those ribs (but on a much BIGGER scale...infinity).
That's all for our lesson today. Now, go get dirty!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Life's interruptions...
...are God's opportunities.
In an effort to take advantage of Spring Break, this morning I went for a run with my husband and 2 sons at a local nature trail. When we returned to the parking lot from our 4 mile loop, ready to head home and reward our efforts with a hearty breakfast, my husband discovered that his key had fallen out of his pocket. We looked longingly into the front seat from the window where our phones and water bottles sat in motionless mockery.
Thankfully, my husband had his work number memorized, walked a short distance to use an office land line, and in no time we were picked up by his co-worker, a fellow pastor.
When we arrived home, I retrieved our spare house key from my neighbor: the key I had made after knocking on her door at 10pm one night to ask if her former marine husband knew how to break into a house. He did. Apparently they teach those kinds of skills in the military but when I asked how he did it, he said if he told me he'd have to kill me.
With my set of car keys, my husband and co-worker went back to pick up the car. Problem solved. Crisis averted.
What was the opportunity? The opportunity to admit that we needed help, ask for it, and allow someone else the blessing of being a hero to us. In this case, a co-worker and a neighbor.
Life Lesson: The beauty of community is expressed when we realize and embrace that we're all in this life together and we need each other to fulfill one of our greatest purposes: "Love your neighbor"...
In an effort to take advantage of Spring Break, this morning I went for a run with my husband and 2 sons at a local nature trail. When we returned to the parking lot from our 4 mile loop, ready to head home and reward our efforts with a hearty breakfast, my husband discovered that his key had fallen out of his pocket. We looked longingly into the front seat from the window where our phones and water bottles sat in motionless mockery.
Thankfully, my husband had his work number memorized, walked a short distance to use an office land line, and in no time we were picked up by his co-worker, a fellow pastor.
When we arrived home, I retrieved our spare house key from my neighbor: the key I had made after knocking on her door at 10pm one night to ask if her former marine husband knew how to break into a house. He did. Apparently they teach those kinds of skills in the military but when I asked how he did it, he said if he told me he'd have to kill me.
With my set of car keys, my husband and co-worker went back to pick up the car. Problem solved. Crisis averted.
What was the opportunity? The opportunity to admit that we needed help, ask for it, and allow someone else the blessing of being a hero to us. In this case, a co-worker and a neighbor.
Life Lesson: The beauty of community is expressed when we realize and embrace that we're all in this life together and we need each other to fulfill one of our greatest purposes: "Love your neighbor"...
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