What I Need the Most

One sunny day several years ago, we piled the surfboards in the car and headed to the North Shore for a family day at the beach.

Towards the end of the day, we stopped at one last beach. The waves were perfect for my young kids who were learning to surf.

This particular beach consisted of two breaks: a small, gentle, inside break and an outside break which was a little more challenging to navigate. What we didn’t know was an invisible channel, known to have a very strong current, existed between these two breaks.

It was after 4pm when our three oldest children journeyed into the ocean. They were laughing, splashing and having a lot of fun, that is until the conditions changed.

Without warning, the skies quickly turned from sunny and serene to overcast and ominous. And as the sun began to set, the waves that had been gentle just minutes before, transformed into powerful waves with a potent current.

In fact, the current was so strong it quickly sucked my kids towards a dangerous rocky area. I watched from the shore as the waves and current battered them, dragging them further and further from shore!

I leaped into action, doing what I do very well – panic and freak out.

However, yelling at them from the shore, while creating a lot of attention and drama, wasn’t very productive. My kids were stuck and unable to break away from the powerful surf on their own strength.

So I enlisted the help of the lifeguards.

While the lifeguards saw the threat and acted quickly to help, my kids were so busy having a great time, they were completely unaware of the imminent danger facing them.

As the lifeguards paddled out to save them, my kids were incredulous that I would send someone to rescue them. In their opinion, they were perfectly fine and had everything under control.

Even today, if you were to ask my kids, they would ALL tell you the lifeguards were a nuisance that day.

They would tell you the lifeguards were ruining their fun.

They would tell you that the lifeguards were an inconvenience, interrupting their day at the beach.

They would tell you they didn’t need to be rescued.

Because they didn’t see their need to be saved.

When you don’t think you need to be rescued, the idea of a savior is a big “yawn”… a “sigh”… or maybe even boooooring.

For many people (perhaps this may even be your perspective), this is how they view God. They don’t see their need for him.

The whole idea of Christianity and following Jesus is inconvenient, interfering with their lives and ruining their fun.

But for those of us who have experienced the pull of life’s current…

For those of us who have been beaten by the swell of the waves…

For those of us who have been pulled under and tossed around on the ocean shore until we’re exhausted and sinking –

We understand the Story differently. We respond to the Savior with gratitude and sobering humility.

Because God came to do for us what we are powerless to do for ourselves.

He sent Jesus, to rescue us.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

God sent a Savior. Not a helper, not a life coach, not more rules or rigid expectations.

A Savior.

But until you come to grips with the fact that you need to be rescued, the idea of a Savior is an inconvenience, a “yawn”, or someone who’s just trying to ruin your good time.

But for those who have truly embraced their brokenness and are conscious of what Jesus truly did for them, our response is much different.

It’s not, “I have to…” or “I need to…”

When we think of Jesus we experience an unfiltered joy and unsolicited devotion. There is an appreciation and gratitude that extends beyond obligation because…

He saved me.

And that, my friend, is really good news for all people.

Talk it over…

• Do you see your need for a Savior? Why or why not?
• Why is a Savior waht we need the most?
• How has your life been transformed by Jesus? If you haven’t taken this step, what’s hindering you from making peace with God?

How I Almost Ruined Our Thanksgiving Dinner

I love Thanksgiving! It’s the one day of the year where family and friends gather and share an abundant meal, eat to our heart’s content and give thanks for all God has done and continues to do in our lives.

It truly is the best kickoff to the Most Wonderful Time of Year. It’s a day to reflect on God’s goodness, to enjoy the special relationships in our lives and celebrate God’s continued faithfulness. It’s a day to watch football games and parades, and a day to cook and create a wonderful meal for those whom I love the most.

While I’m no Pioneer Woman, I enjoy investing time into preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Gathering my favorite recipes, researching new ones, compiling the grocery list, cooking everyone’s favorite dishes, usually has me beginning the preparations several days before Thanksgiving.

A few years ago, Jessica, my youngest, and I got up early and began cooking as we’ve done in so many years previous. We recorded the Macy’s parade to watch later in the day because my boys were adamant that a football game – not a parade – should be watched live.

Several hours later as the smell of turkey wafted in the air, Jessie and I sat down to enjoy the parade while Gregg and the boys headed to the beach for a quick surfing session. Before engrossing myself in the holiday floats, high school bands and the Radio City Rockettes, I thought I’d better check on the turkey and baste it one more time.

However as I attempted to open the oven door, an unusual thing occurred.

The door wouldn’t open. It was stuck, trapping my turkey inside!

On Thanksgiving!

Really?! I was incredulous.

Seriously, the door would only open about six inches.

Why couldn’t this have happened while reheating Bagel Bites like any other night?

Somehow, the latch at the base of the oven door broke, jamming the door and preventing it from opening.

We tried EVERYTHING!

Pounding.

Prying.

Shaking.

Kicking.

Skyping in family members for advice. Nothing worked.

So there my turkey sat, in my oven, with no way of escape. My Thanksgiving dinner was on the verge of disaster and as we futility attempted to liberate my turkey, my excitement of family gathering together around our table shifted to worry, anxiety and visions of eating whatever was leftover at Zippy’s.

After about 45 minutes, we decided to break the oven door, bending and prying it open about 12 inches – just enough space for Gregg to spear the turkey with two roasting forks and squeeze the bird through the opening and onto the platter.

Crisis averted (as long as it was fully cooked, which thankfully it was).

Ironically, throughout the week I had been meditating on Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians,

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Ouch! My ability to live filled with joy and peace can be sooo circumstantial.

It always surprises me as to how quickly I allow something as silly as an oven door not opening to steal my peace and shift my focus off of the important things.

Opening the door to worry, I allow little distractions to consume my thoughts.

How different was Paul’s perspective?

Paul writes this letter to the Philippians in the midst of really difficult circumstances. He was in prison with no resolution in sight.! Yet, here he is telling them to not worry, but instead to pray and be thankful. This is a man who had been beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and at times, starving.

Paul could challenge them in this way because he had experienced God’s presence. He had a relationship with Jesus; he had seen people healed and delivered. He had confidence in a good God and knew that He was faithful.

Paul wasn’t advocating positive thinking, or a “glass half-full” perspective. His confidence was rooted in a deep assurance that God is in control – regardless of his present circumstances.

Paul encouraged the Philippian people that they didn’t have to live in fear, worry or anxiety anymore because the One True God, Jesus, controls everything and is intimately concerned with every detail of their lives.

Possibly, even a turkey trapped in an oven.

You can approach God and know that He is intimately involved in your life. Even when troubles and difficulties arise, He will be with you to lead you through them. I aspire to grow in my ability to pray, give thanks and acknowledge the shards of hope even in the midst of difficult and unexpected circumstances.

I want to be able to respond with the faith Paul exemplifies…

Pray about everything…

I once heard it said this way: worry assumes that we are in control; prayer asks God to be in control. The causes and opportunities for our worry will never go away. While our natural reaction may be to control our circumstances or fix our problems, God asks us to surrender them to Him.

Tell God what you need…

There are legitimate needs and causes to worry. We worry about the things and people we care about. The benefit of talking to God about them is that when we do, we discover that the God who is everywhere and in control of everything, becomes real to us in ways we wouldn’t experience otherwise. In our cries to Him, we feel His comfort. In our pain and anxiety, we feel His presence and we get to know Him and discover His character.

Thank him for all he has done…

Thank him for all the little amazing miracles He does every day all around you.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

We liberated our turkey, (and it was delicious by the way) but broke our oven in the process. I almost ruined Thanksgiving – not because I wrecked the turkey, but I almost allowed the pressure and stress of creating the perfect Thanksgiving meal to usurp the true intention of the day – a day of thanks for God’s abundant blessing in the midst of life’s imperfection.

As we enter the most wonderful time of year and begin to journey through the holiday season, my prayer is that you would remember these words from Paul and take time to thank God for the simple things around you – even an oven door that opens.

 

The Uninvited Dinner Guest

 

Imagine that you’re invited to someone’s house—someone you hardly know—and you arrive to find the door open.

As you enter, no one greets you . . . in fact, no one even acknowledges your arrival. No one says hello, no one offers to take your coat, no one offers you anything to drink. How would you feel? What would you do?

In Luke 7, we read about a man who was hosting an intimate dinner party consisting of well-known, well-educated men from the community. It was a special event for the Pharisees, who were among the educated elite and religious leaders during this time.

They knew of Jesus, but had not embraced the new ideas that He had been teaching his followers. Yet for some reason, Jesus had been invited to the dinner that evening, and as a visiting rabbi, He would have been regarded as a guest of honor.

However, the arrival of Jesus at the home of Simon was largely ignored. Even the most basic of rules of hospitality were disregarded toward him. No one greeted him with a kiss (the customary welcome), no water was given for him to wash his feet (the most minimal rule of hospitality), and no oil was put on his head (an optional, but a thoughtful gesture towards guests during this time). This wasn’t an accident, mistake or oversight, but a deliberate slap in the face and everybody knew it.¹

Yet, Jesus proceeded to enter and took his place reclining at the table. The tension mounted as everyone waited to see how He would respond.

It was during this dinner party that an unusual interaction began to unfold. To the astonishment of the host and guests, a woman walked in and approached Jesus while He reclined at the table with the other guests.

Even more shocking was this woman’s notorious reputation in the community. Women in ancient Jewish culture didn’t hold an honorable place in society and they were usually not acknowledged or even addressed in public. How much more appalling that this woman would somehow feel compelled to come near Jesus!

Something was different about her. She no longer had a seductive air about her; she no longer hung her head in shame. Instead, she radiated a joy, peace, humility and purity that had not been evident in her life. For after years of feeling dirty and discarded, she had changed.

This woman knew how it felt to be rejected. She knew what it was like to be ridiculed and shunned. Something inside of her demanded to give her all to Jesus, because, after all, He had given so much to her.

Ignoring the cold stares and callous comments, this woman boldly approached Jesus and began to kiss his feet.

Imagine the scene!

Before she realized what was happening, a wave of emotion rushed over her and she began to cry uncontrollably. As her weeping escalated and captivated the attention of everyone in the room, she then proceeded to use her hair to wipe her tears off of his feet!

The feet of Jesus that were unwashed by Simon upon His arrival are now washed by the tears of a sinful woman. Continuing with her display of gratitude, she took her flask of fragrant perfume and lavishly poured it on His feet. This woman withheld nothing, giving her all to Jesus, emptying herself at His feet.

But why?

What would motivate this woman to demonstrate such a display of love and affection towards Jesus?

As I reflect on this passage, I can’t help think that the reason this woman did what she did is because Jesus gave her what no one else had given her – forgiveness and acceptance.

When no one accepted her, He welcomed her. When no one loved her, He loved her as His daughter. When she was alone, He was her friend. When everyone judged her, He restored her. When everyone else labeled her a “sinner”, Jesus gave her a new identity as a child of God.

He valued her, not as an object, but as a woman created uniquely by God.

And when everyone else held her past against her, Jesus forgave her and offered her a fresh start.

 

Jesus explained it this way,

“I tell you, her sins – and they are many – have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven a little shows only a little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 7:47-48 NLT.

The Greek word for forgiveness used in verse 47 of this passage is aphiemi. It means to send away, to let go free or to pardon. When someone is issued a pardon in a court of law, their past actions are not held against them. They have been given a clean slate, a fresh start, a new beginning.

The woman in Luke 7 probably had a long list of things she would have done differently. You may, too. The good news is that God doesn’t want you to live in the past, nor does he want you to live under the guilt of the past in the present.

He has something much better for you. God’s forgiveness offers you—a fresh start, a clean slate. You are invited to the table!

And this is just the beginning. God’s forgiveness now enables you to enter into the fullness of life God has created for you to enjoy.

Think about it…

• In your own words, define what forgiveness means to you.
• Can you identify with the woman in Luke 7? How?
• How does knowing God has forgiven you and given you a fresh start change the way you see yourself?

 

1John Ortberg, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003) p. 206-207.