Soul Food Revolution

If you’re house is like mine, full of kids and a crazy busy life, then you’ve probably experienced what I experience daily. It never fails when I put something in the fridge or grab something sweet that I enjoy and put it in the cabinet a few days later when I go to enjoy my tasty cold soda or chew on my sweet candy…….it’s gone! The bummer? I didn’t even get to enjoy a piece or sip. Not on! So the following conversation always ensues, ‘Who ate my candy?!’ ‘Not me Dad.’ ‘Me either.’ ‘Brooklynn did!’ Of course it’s rarely someone’s fault because it’s very obvious that the little elves that live in our cabinets, the same ones that forget to do their chores, ate the candy. I’ve also learned that these little elves have powerful muscles and with this brute strength open the fridge only to pig out on my fruit and drinks. Stinkin’ little elves. Like I said, I’m sure you’ve experienced this same adventure in your life with children.

This morning was different tho. I quickly grabbed my Vitamin Water, regular water and tasty caffeine free Dr. Pepper on the way out the door. Smiling all the way because all 3 were still tucked in the cold fridge waiting for my arrival! I dropped the kids off at school and as I was sitting at a stop sign waiting for the traffic to clear I glanced down at my soda and noticed something different about the can. It had extra lines in the logo. As I picked up the can to check out this new design my eyes filled with tears as I read a 12 year old boys hand written message: ‘DADS’. Tears because they remembered. But tears mostly because this clear message reminded me of….well….me. This life is like my fridge: when lived properly our DAD keeps us in the best of care and comfort. Maybe not so much physically but I’m talking spiritually. He wants the best for us. He gives us the best and saves the best for you and I. But also like my fridge there are little knuckleheads that will sneak in and try to steal what the Father is protecting. The awesome thing about being a believer is this: WE ARE MARKED………..our life says ‘DADS.’ Believe me, the thief can read this message a mile away and just like my kids know what will happen when they take what belongs to dad, this thief knows well what will happen when he sneaks into kingdom territory and tries to steal what isn’t his.

I am marked. You, hopefully, are marked. We say ‘DADS.’ I want my Dad to enjoy my life. I want to be the sweet taste and aroma that rises up to His glory. I want Him to open His fridge and see His name all over me. My kids remembered this morning whose soda that was and my son took initiative and marked it DADS. I remember today whose I am and His son has marked me DADS. Now thats living. And a sweet taste it truly is!

For those of you that read my blog, or have even read it once, you may have noticed that I do believe in God. At the risk of stating the obvious I just want to make that clear. Not with a churchy, religious voice but instead with a voice of clarity. I also want to say that I believe the Bible. I believe the Bible is 100% the written word of God. I also believe that if even someone that does not believe in God read the Bible and lived by it’s principle’s their life would be a better life, even if they don’t believe in God. I simply say this because my next few blogs are going to be inspired directly with a specific Scripture in mind. I encourage you to continue reading whether you believe in God or not. I believe that, regardless of your faith, you can still be inspired by what is on my heart.

2 Corinthians 4.6-9

‘For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.’

What is the treasure? It’s interesting that no matter what religion you study all of them have a few things in common: one being that there is something within us as humans that is powerful. A natural presence, a light, that lives in us. Some people continue to feed this light and one cannot deny the aura of these people. Some deny this light and continue to be filled with darkness. One cannot deny this darkness. So what is this treasure? What is this light?

Clay is an interesting thing. In the act of being molded it’s messy. The process is not pretty. It seems lifeless yet many will pay to purchase the end product of this clay mess. When being molded clay is afflicted. It is perplexed. It is struck down. But as the potter carries on with his creation life begins to take shape. Afflicted and molded but never crushed. Perplexed and sanded but not despaired. Persecuted and painted but not forgotten. At times the potter will create what seems to be perfection to the eye but this creation does not match the vision of the creator. So he will strike down what seems perfect and begin to create more beauty. Yes he will strike down only to create more, never to destroy. When this jar of clay is complete, it is sheer beauty. It is magical. The jar of clay carries with it the presence of its creator. It mirrors the beauty of its creator’s touch. It reflects the creator’s glory. It simply shines.

So what is this treasure? It is the light that shines in us. We are the jar of clay. We are the ones being changed, molded, created, afflicted, struck down but risen. We are the clay that will be shaped into sheer beauty to reflect the One that has molded us. We are the jar of clay and within us lies the greatest treasure ever: His light.

Humility….an interesting thing. While there are matters in life that are factual, the majority of how we perceive life is simply opinion. I’m learning this lesson more and more everyday. I’m learning that so many things in life factor in when it comes to our growth, mentality and maturity. Most of the thoughts that travel through our mind are simply opinions birthed from the outcome of experiences in life. Few things are fact. At the same time these few things are most likely the most valuable and important elements of this life. Hanging on to these facts is the best way to live. But even in dealing with these few facts, our perception can delude these values until they become, well, opinions.

I want to be a humble man. A man that know’s he has opinions and that keeps his mouth shut when it comes to sharing these opinions. I want to be a humble man. I want to be a meek man. A man that holds in his heart the facts and values of life that really matter and keeps his mouth shut when it comes to telling of these facts and values. Why? Because I want to be a man of living, not of talking. I’ve lived much of my life with a well meaning spirit and a kind heart but much of this life consisted of talk and not substance. I’m tired of that type of living. It makes a man grow weary and defensive. It makes a man become an actor on this stage called earth. I don’t want to act. I want to live. Humble. Meek. Quiet. Yet powerful. Powerful in action. Powerful in influence. Powerful in living, not words.

I thought I knew how to live yet I learned I knew very little. And what I did know was opinion developed from my experiences. A perception that when used with humility could have made a difference but instead I lived through words. Words that turned my perception in to pride and we all know what comes with pride…… the fall.

May we chase the values of humility and meekness. May we run after living and allow this living to speak for itself.

When I was a child…… When I became a man……. (see 1 Corinthians 13.11 in the New Testament of the Bible)

There comes a point in life, a defining point, that I become a man. This defining point has nothing to do with age or time. It has nothing to do with experience or maturity. It has to do with one moment. One moment that something happens, sometimes good, sometimes tragedy, but something happens that causes our spirit to awake and take over. This moment break us and builds us all in one split second. This is the moment we pass from youth to manhood. It is the moment that I leave childish ways once and for all. It is THE moment. God’s moment. THE defining moment of my life. I must embrace it because in this moment is life. It is the knock on the door of my spirit. It truly is the moment I choose to live…..or die. When I was a child….When I become a man. No one knows, ever for themselves,when this moment of passage will arrive but it comes like a thief in the night. It is THE moment. It is God’s time. May we embrace it with unexpected open arms. May we rise from it a man. Changed. Matured. Wise. This moment often times hurts because in this moment a child is being killed. But from this moment a man is born. It is THE defining moment. It is God’s moment. …….. When I became a man.

The last 6 months of my life have been crazy, revealing, life shattering and life changing all at the same time. I have become a different man. Different in thought. Different in mind. Different in soul and spirit. Different in ways I never knew I would be. I was a prideful man. I was a selfish man. I was a man that had allowed the dreams in my mind become the gods of my heart. As great and admiring as those dreams were, they shattered my life. Yes, I am a different man. I am a changed man. My priorities are different. My mind is different. My love is different. My dreams are different. Yes, the last 6 months have been a bridge to my new life. A bridge, that while painful and mistake prone, served as a last chance catalyst to the evolution of this man. An evolution that has brought me to a place I only dreamed existed. Yes, I am a changed man.

My prayer for you friend is that you will set aside your fear and sin before you have to endure such pain as self destruction. It’s one thing for someone else to pull the rug out from under your life. It’s a whole other thing for you to pull it out from under yourself. So before this destruction happens check yourself. Throw your pride in the trash and your selfishness aside. You can only run on talent and ego for so long. Eventually talent runs dry and ego gets old. Then the end comes. Yes my prayer is that you can look in the mirror, fearlessly identify your shortcomings and prideful areas and find a good friend that will help you change. That’s the best way. To change before the downfall.

I pray for you friends. I pray for your families. I pray for your dreams. I pray for your marriage. I pray for you mind and heart. I pray that each day you are able to see the good in life and in others and build on these things. I am working hard on new ways to influence and inspire. And this time I won’t let pride get in the way.