Glasses

I was weed whacking at the local disc golf course Thursday when all of a sudden my glasses exploded. Well, they fell apart anyway.

I had been limping along with the right temple gone for several weeks. You see I had eye surgery a couple of weeks ago and my appointment for a new prescription is still two weeks out. And I'm cheap. Thrifty, as my mom would say. We're Scottish you know.

Anyway, I somehow managed to drive over to the eyeglass place in town (looking through only one lense) without running anyone over.

The following is a story of a servant's heart.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:3-5

I recognized the lady behind the counter. She had helped me several times in the past whenever a random branch in the woods ripped the glasses off my face and bent them up. This time was no different.

I told her my ideal plan - to turn my OLD glasses into work glasses and then come back in three weeks and order NEW glasses.

She took all the parts I gave her into the back room and then came out with a complete set of glasses. I tried them on and they fit perfectly (see picture above). They're not ideal but it was the only frame in the entire shop that fit AROUND my lenses. And then, when I asked her how much it would cost, she said, "30 bucks."

"What? That's it?"

And there you have it - the perfect scenaro, fulfilled. I came in wondering how I could possibly drive anywhere, and left feeling confident and overjoyed. That's the effect a good servant has on others.

I wonder. Does Jesus feel this good where we serve others in His name? I think He does. And I don't know if this lady is a believer or not. But she sure acts like one!

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

Green Pastures

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." - Psalm 23:1

That sounds kind of nice. 'Green pastures.' That means it's warm, it's growing season. There is plenty to eat for the shapherd's sheep because, hey, they EAT grass! Plus, it's also more comfortable to lie down on than rocks and gravel. But what does all that mean for those of us who believe in God?

'Green pastures' for us sheep mean words like 'plenty', 'comfort', 'peace', and 'prosperity'. But those words have a different meaning to the Christian than they do to those who belong to the world.

For the non-believer, plenty and prosperity mean we are rich financially, we have a big house and a fancy car. We have so much of these things that we can just waste them without concern.

The unbeliever finds comfort in their lifestyle, no matter what that means, no metter what sins they commit, because it's exactly what THEY want. And it's all about them.

For the Christians however, these words have totally different meanings.

'Prosperity' for the Christian means that we have received God's blessings. We are 'rich' in love. God is all we need.

'Plenty' means that we have enough so that we can share what we have with others.

'Comfort' doesn't mean that we have people waiting on us hand and foot, or that we don't have anything to worry about. Comfort is something that God does for us and something we do for others.

'Peace' is something we receive from God when we are struggling. Peace comes when we 'fully rely on God.' (F-R-O-G)

'Lying down in green pastures' is a metaphor for God supplying our every need. The only question is....

Is Jesus your shepherd?

The Secret of Contentment

Are you content with your life? You'd better not answer that question. It's loaded.

If you ARE content, are you happy in that contentment? Or have you learned to live with your situation and are now content in it?

Paul, the Apostle, learned to be content in all things. He called contentment a "secret" Do you know what Paul's secret is? It's Jesus!

The following passage of scripture contains one of the most often quoted "coffee cup" verses in the Bible - verse 13.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:11-13

When that verse is cherry-picked out of the text it sounds like we will have all kinds of power and strength if we place our faith in Christ. While somewhat true, this verse really is about our weaknesses and struggles in life. It means that Paul has gotten through them with God's help. And we can too.

The same can be said for when we experience times of plenty. We might think "I don't need God. I have everything I need." That's called pride. You know what the Bible says about pride. It comes before the fall - Proverbs 16:18 God will help us with our pride. Just ask His people, Israel.

We can endure every hardship and every struggle with Christ in our lives. He's our secret! Our "ever-present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1). He is "our refuge and our strength" (same verse). And that is what Paul meant in his letter to the church in Philippi. He wasn't bragging about his own ability. He was bragging about God's!

David's To-Do List

I came across something in my reading that I thought was helpful - a to-do list for our daily lives from King David himself!

Open up your Bible to 1st Chronicles 16, verses 8-12 and see if you don't agree. I have broken down David's instruction into bullet points, creating a to-do list of sorts for our daily walk with Christ.

• Give praise to the Lord
• Proclaim His name
• Sing to Him
• Sing praise to Him
• Tell of all His wonderful acts
• Glory in His holy name
• Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
• Look to the Lord and His strength
• Seek His face always
• Remember the wonders He has done
• Make known among the nations what He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced

So, what do you think? That sounds like a perfect way to begin our prayers. By telling God the wonderful things HE has done instead of the list of things that WE would like Him to do.

Lord, I Need You - Matt Mahre

Need vs. Want

How was your Christmas? Did you get everything you wanted? I hope not.

Have you seen the Lexus commercial where the husband and wife give trucks to each other at Christmas? Or the one about the dad who gets a brand new Mercedes with a bow on top?

That's wrong. Those commercials are teaching our children the wrong things about Christmas.

There is a transition that takes place as we grow older between giving and receiving. Between wanting and needing. Sadly, some kids never grow up. And it shows.

My wife and I no longer get gifts for one another at Christmas. Why? We have everything we need. Our wants are few and are usually comprised of things that cannot be purchased. Time together with family, quiet moments together, or alone.

The biggest problem with our society today is that we want everything. Look at all of the democratic presidential candidates. Each one is trying to outdo the other, giving us things. Free healthcare, a free college education. We want free stuff and they're willing to supply it (as long as they can use our money to buy it). But enough of the political.

Those "needs" are all worldly "wants." So, what are our society's needs? How about clean drinking water? Food? Shelter? And what about Jesus?

Jesus is a need in my opinion. What Jesus offers are priceless gifts - eternal life and never-ending love.Those things are "not available in stores."

"He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. As we come to know Him better, we learn that He called us to share His own shining-greatness and perfect life." - 2 Peter 1:3

Here is my nomination for a new Christmas song. Like most TRUE Christmas songs, it should be sung, not only at Christmas, but always. The chorus goes like this.

"You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want. Help me know you are near."

Jesus should be our every want and every need. So that is my prayer, that Jesus would become everyone's need in this coming new year.

"Help us know You are near."

Draw Me Close - Michael W. Smith

Relationships 101

With the new year beginning in just a few days it's a natural time to think about starting over. Are you "between relationships" right now? Looking to trade up maybe? Or just plain frustrated with the whole relationship thing? Please, don't give up until you've read this.

I have a lot of young adults in my life right now who are struggling in with their relationships. As a former youth leader in a church, I have watched the high school and middle school kids I used to mentor grow up into young adults.

Some of their relationships started off well but then spiraled downward rather quickly while other relationships seemed to thrive right from the start. Why is that? I believe there IS an answer to that question. Are you ready to find out?

Go get a piece of paper and a writing utensil of your choice. Now, draw a line down the middle of the paper - top to bottom. At the top of the left column write "Wants". At the top of the right column write "Needs".  Go ahead now and write down the things you are looking for in a relationship.

Write down all the things you want in your relationship. Then write down all the things you absolutely need. You have 30 seconds. Start the Jeopardy theme music below and GO!!

Jeopardy Theme Song

All done? Great! Now look at your answers. Did you have more wants than needs? Or more needs than wants? Were they ALL needs? Okay. now try this. Examine the column of your relationship needs and answer this one simple question.

Is one of them Jesus? Was He first on your list of needs? He should be. He should be the ONLY need on your list. Otherwise all your relationships will most likely fail. At best, they will be bumpy and there will be struggles. Why? Because you are trying to please yourself instead of God. Think about it. Look at all of the things that you want. YOU want.

Have you tried praying for God to bring someone to come into your life? Guess what. It doesn't work, does it? Look at your list of wants and needs and forget about them all. Try praying something like this:

Heavenly Father, I have tried and failed in so many of my earthly relationships. Nothing seems to work. I am beginning to wonder if anyone will ever love me. But I know that YOU love me God. Is there someone that YOU have in mind for me? If there is, would you show me please? I am willing to wait for the one that YOU want to be by my side. But if there is no one, that's okay. Because I have you! You are all that I need Lord. I'm sorry for not placing you above all of my wants and needs in my life. You should be above all! Thank you Father for hearing my prayer. In the name of Jesus I offer this prayer up to You. Amen.

Look, none of us is perfect. There isn't a perfect Christian on the planet. It's hard to find someone who fits our wants. "33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33. We need to check our priorities. And our obedience.

"15 If you love me, keep my commands." - John 14:15

If Jesus is your one and only, everything else will fall into place. Quit trying to please others or find that perfect mate for yourself. That person doesn't exist. Establish a relationship with Christ first. Make Jesus your ONLY desire. Obey His commands. Then, see what happens after that.

If you need someone to talk with, I'll listen and encourage you in your relationship quest. Send me a message. To know God is to know love. Seek Him first. Seek out a pastor or close friend, but don't give up hope. God loves us.

"16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:16-19

Draw Me Close - Michael W. Smith

Survival Guide

My wife and I have been watching this show on The Weather Channel called SOS: How To Survive. It's a fairly lame show about people who do really dumb things, get themselves into trouble and almost die. But then, through some freak turn of events, some miracle, they get rescued.

The host of the show, Creek Stewart, gives tips on surviving whatever conditions these people encountered. He tells all of us how we can survive in a world that seems as if it's out to get us. That's where you and I come in. We need to tell people. about Jesus as if their lives depended on it. Because it does.

Fact #1: Everyone is going to die. There's no escaping that. But some people will die twice. The "second death" as John describes for us in the Book of Revelation.

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." - Revelation 21:8

The unbelieving get to spend eternity separated from God in a fiery lake of burning sulfur. Nice. So, here are some tips on how to survive that.

There are four basic elements needed for survival. Water, Food, Air, Shelter.

Water - 13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14

Food - “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry." - John 6:35

Air - "He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things." - Acts 17:25

Shelter - "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27:5

To survive in this world we need a survival kit containing these four essential elements needed to sustain life. Our survival kit. Everything we need, all wrapped up in one. Jesus!

Our survival kit is all wrapped up in Jesus. He is the one who judges whether of not we live or die the second death. Our survival is based upon our belief in Him. That's it. If we believe He is the Son of God, if we repent our sins, turning from our wicked ways, we will be saved.

It is that simple yet, for some, it seems like to most difficult thing to do. Love them, pray for them. Surviving this world is easy IF we have our survival kit with containing the essentials of life - Jesus.

Breathe - Michael W. Smith

The Power of Love

We never know when it will happen. We could be walking down the street or down a crowded corridor at school. It could happen at work, at home, or at the mall. It happened to me this past Saturday, right in the middle of a parking lot.

What am I talking about? The opportunity to love someone - "not as the world loves, but as Christ first loved us."

Look at the couple in this picture. They are actually total strangers, yet they found themselves in a loving embrace. Why? The guy was heading to the checkout line with the store's last generator. They were selling fast ahead of Hurricane Irma.

The woman in the picture began to cry because her father needs oxygen to survive. If the power went out in the hurricane the oxygen would stop and her father would very likely die. The man in the picture, seeing the woman crying, gave her his generator. Wow!

Saturday I was at Ruby's Pantry, a local food distribution for those in need. My job is per-registering people outside while they wait in line. This gives me the opportunity to interact with people and ask them how they are doing in life. I always do that. But I wasn't prepared for the answer I received on Saturday. Or was I?

One lady responded to my "How are you?" question with a lukewarm response so I dug deeper. "Anything I can pray for?" I asked.

"Me. A few weeks ago I made a suicide attempt."

Okay. What do you say to that?

I asked a few more questions and then offered to pray with her. I placed my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close. My prayer was all about the unconditional love of God, who sacrificed His Son so that we might have life. Eternal life. I tried to be as encouraging as I could and then, at the end I told her I loved her.

I know that's kind of a weird thing to say to a total stranger but I felt like I needed to tell her that.

Later on I saw her in her car, driving up to get her groceries from the loading dock. She stopped her car short and then got out. She came over and gave me a hug and thanked me for my prayer.

We never know when we will be presented with a God-orchestrated opportunity to speak into the lives of others about God's amazing unconditional love. "Generator Man" was an amazing example of what God's love looks like. He sacrificed his needs in favor of someone else's. May God bless him for his example and his love for a total stranger.

May each of us ALWAYS be ready to display the love of Christ to everyone we meet. In that way God will be honored and that is why you and I were created - to worship Him in everything we think, do and say.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

(I just used that verse last week I think but it's an important thing to say, especially now in these last days)

Man Gives His Generator To A Stranger - CNN
The Power of Love -  Huey Lewis and The News
Father, Spirit, Jesus - Casting Crowns

Special

The third Saturday of every month I volunteer at the local food pantry - Ruby's Pantry. I have a great time there and have come to love many of the "clients" and volunteers alike. Hugs are always given away freely at Ruby's, just like the food. The love of Christ flows trough that place like a hydroelectric plant - generating incredible power that warms us all. Ruby's Pantry is a very special place.

There are other food panties around our area but we are told by those who come through the line that Ruby's is the best. When we ask why we are always told, "It's because we feel like you actually care about us." Hmm. I wonder where they got THAT idea.

This past Saturday morning was a little warmer than it's been in a while. It was nearly 30 degrees when I arrived on the scene at 7:00AM. Many had been waiting, standing outside, for several hours by the time I got there.

I pre-register people so I am walking around outside quite a bit. I am the first one from Ruby's that people meet so I always like to greet everyone with a smile, and a hug if needed. I think it's good that I am standing out there with them as they wait. Oh, and I always give out a piece of candy to everyone. I think they like me but I am insecure enough to think that it's probably the candy.

This morning, after most of the line had gone inside, a white sedan pulled up. A mom and two kids got out. It was their first time at Ruby's so I handed the mom a registration form to fill out. That's when I turned to the kids. I gave then each some candy and asked the young boy how come he wasn't wearing a coat. "He doesn't like coats," the mom said. That's cool. He had a nice Milwaukee Brewers tee shirt on in the freezing temperature.

After the family got inside I spoke to them a little more, trying to learn a little bit about their family. The mom was pretty thin and looked kind of weary. Probably just woke up I guessed. She's a mom. She has the right to look tired.

Her daughter was a cool kid. I mean, obviously! She had a Waupaca Comets sweatshirt on! She was early high school-ish and was being nice by laughing at this old man's jokes. The mom's son, the one with no coat, was having a tough time, clearly wanting to be somewhere else. Someplace WARM perhaps? Maybe, but it was more than that though. Something was upsetting him.

Later, when I was helping out inside, I saw this same family come through the line. The mom was looking even more weary, having a tough time getting her son to patiently get through the morning. So I asked her if there was anything I could pray.

"You can pray for my son. He's a special needs kid, very much in need." I promised I would pray for them and, as they continued through the line, I did just that.

Special needs kids are just that . . . special. And so are their moms . . . and their teachers.

After I got home I continued to think about that mom and her kid. What a special mom it takes to raise a special needs kid! But she can't do it on her own. There are special needs teachers who have a gift for reaching out to these special people in an especially caring and loving way. Hmm. Special needs. Special needs. You know, we ALL have special needs.

There are basic needs in life like oxygen and water and food. We are ALL in need of those things in order to survive. And all of those things are given away at Ruby's Pantry each month - at least the food and the water. The air has already been provided by God. Actually, I would submit that the other items have been provided by God as well. All of what is given away each month at Ruby's is provided through the donations by caring people and companies . . . and one very caring God. Think about that for a moment. ALL of our NEEDS are provided by God.

"26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" - Matthew 6:26

Can you think of anything else we actually need to survive? I can't. Gravity maybe? Well, actually, there is one more thing we all need . . .

His name is Jesus. Jesus is our VERY "special" need. He is our need beyond food and water and the air that we breathe. If we didn't have any of those things - air, water and food - we would die. And if we died, what would we need then? Jesus.

We all have needs in this life but when you get right down to it, Jesus is the only "need" we really need. Let us give Him thanks and praise for all He has provided for us in this life. We all have been truly blessed by a God who provides for our every need.

[This post is dedicated to all of the special needs teachers out there (especially to to Katie and to Devyn and to anyone else who I have forgotten). And to my nephew Aaron for works for Special Olympics - Michigan. God has gifted you with some very special talents to teach and to build into the lives of some very special people. May God bless you in your ministry.]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

Autistic Basketball Player

We've all seen it - a kid screaming his or her head off in the grocery store. Mommy was just trying to get some shopping done when little Johnny saw something he wanted and reached out for it. Then, when mommy said no, little Johnny began to cry because he didn't get what he wanted. That's when the fun begins. EVERYONE in the store begins to stare at the "evil" mom and her poor, little child.

"Look how mean that mother is! She must have abused that poor child to make him cry that much."

Actually, the "evil mom" simply was being wise, thinking that perhaps the big can of Red Bull energy drink wasn't the wisest choice for her two-year-old.

When we grow older some of us begin to understand making wise choices. Some of us do not. For example, spending. Did you know that the average U.S. household credit card debt for 2013 was $15,270. That is the AVERAGE! When little Johnny grows up and gets a credit card he pretty much gets what he wants . . . and then pays 21% interest for the rest of his life.

When you want something do you pray for it? And how come when we pray for something we usually don't get it? Doesn't God love us? Doesn't God know we NEED this? Apparently not. Or is there something we're missing?

What kinds of things to do you pray for? I've had high school kids text me, asking me to pray for their math test because they didn't really study for it? I usually reply with, "Sure, I'll pray for you." Then I pray something like this . . .

"Father, may Little Johnny learn exactly what he needs to from this test. May wisdom come to him before it is too late and his high school career is over, in more ways than one. I pray for Johnny's priorities to change. May You, Lord, become first in his life. God, I pray for Johnny and his relationship with you. I pray your Holy Spirit would convict Johnny of his poor decision making. May he realize that he needs you above all else. And may he come to know that before it is too late. But whatever You choose God. Your will be done."

Here is my nominee for the most misused Bible verse of all time.

"24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." - Mark 11:24. That verse has launched the careers of more Prosperity Gospel preachers that I can shake an asherah pole at.

Those are red letters! That's Jesus telling us that whatever we ask for we can get if we only believe it!! Cool!!

Not so fast. First of all, who is Jesus talking to? Well, I think it's His disciples . . . for sure he's talking to Peter. So, was Jesus talking to us? Or just to His disciples? Hmm.

Here's another verse to consider.

"14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." - 1 John 5:14-15

This 'God's will' thing. Umm, so we can get whatever we want as long as God wants us to have it anyway? Something like that. Praying "in God's will" requires selfless prayer. That's not to say you can't pray for yourself, but you should pray for the things that God is likely to give. If we pray for a new Ferrari our prayer is likely to go unanswered. But if we pray that we can somehow find a ride for our kids to get to Sunday school, don't be suprised if the phone rings.

I am reading a book by Mark Cahill called The Watchmen. This is from his chapter on prayer.

"Living a sinful life will literally cause God to hide His face from us. Just wrestle with the ramifications of that concept for a second.

"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!" - Isaiah 1:15

God takes how we live this life very seriously. He is not some big vending machine in the sky where we throw up a prayer; pull a lever and whatever we asked for drops from the heavens. No, He is concerned about your character. He is concerned about our thoughts and emotions, and how we treat people. He is concerned if we are representing Him well in this crazy world."

So are you praying for something, expecting to get it, while you are shoplifting things from Walmart? Are you seeking God's favor while you are cheating on your wife? Getting drunk on the weekends?

If I were you, which I am not, I would confess my sins first, seek God's forgiveness and mercy before even CONSIDERING asking Him for any favors. Remember . . . we deserve nothing. Even our good deeds are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6)

When we remember that, suddenly the things we pray for take on a different tone.

"Holy Father, I come before you today, lost and broken. I have sinned against you Lord and I come to you on my knees, humbly seeking your forgiveness. My eyes have strayed where they shouldn't have and I have lost myself and who You want me to be. Father, I seek your help. Refine me by whatever means you see fit. My desire is to please You with my obedience and with my life. Create in me a clean heart. Forgive me, I pray. May I always seek to do Your will here on earth and one day, if you are willing, with You in heaven. Holy is Your name, Lord. I thank You and praise You for who You are and all that You have done. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen."

The Prayer - Celine Dion & Josh Groban

Rims

My friend and I were out walking at lunch on one of the few warm, summer days we have left here in Wisconsin, when we saw an SUV stopped at a traffic light. "That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen!" my friend said. I was just about to say the very same thing. The SUV itself looked normal enough, but the rims . . . oh, my goodness . . . the rims!

What would possess someone to put such incredibly gaudy rims on their daily driver? Isn't it enough that someone drives a gas-guzzling SUV and spends hundreds of dollars on fuel each month? Why would somebody want to to blow MORE money on rims like these? Only a fool would spend thousands of dollars to make their car look like a Warner Brothers cartoon?!? Right? Right?? Hmm.

"19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

The rims we saw the other day are only one example of people storing up earthly treasures, the ones that Jesus talked about in Matthew 6. There are other examples.

Have you seen the latest iPhone? This is the iPhone 5s. It's gold. It's expensive. And in my opinion, it serves the same purpose as the rims do, it's like "rims" for the human ear. No wait, that's what earrings are. Argh! They are both simply a means of storing up earthly treasure for ourselves.

I would be willing to bet that they guy in the SUV with the austentatious rim had an earring or two as well. Does it sound like I an stereotyping people? Yes it does. That's because I am. I would also be willing to bet that the guy with the fancy rims and the diamond stud in his ear doesn't know Jesus. Why?

We in this country love to spend money on ourselves. Unfortunately, we tend to spend it on "wants" rather than "needs." Custom rims, iPhones and earrings are "wants." Food is a need. Water is a need. GOD is a need.

I met a kid about a year ago after the death of one of his friends. He a nice enough guy but he was really affected by that loss and ever since that day this kid has been angry at the world. Actually, that kind of normal in a secular society. We go out and get drunk, we might dabble in drugs, our relationships fail more often than not. We as a people can make some really bad choices in life. Can anyone among us say they haven't? Did I ever tell you about the Corvette I once had? 100 MPH on the freeway? Really? Mhmm. Bad choice. Been there, done that.

One recent Facebook post by my young friend brings us back to the title of this story. He has a hot little car that he loves. He is planning to get some new rims for his little toy. My friend "wants" a lot of things.

He WANTS the pain caused by the death of his friend to go away. He WANTS to deal with it himself. He WANTS someone to love him but he wants that love to be on HIS terms. What he really NEEDS is Jesus. Hey, that's all ANY of us really need! Plus the food and the water thing. But I would submit to you that we don't really "need" that either.

If we self-centered humans can only replace our earthly, selfish "wants" with a healthy NEED for Jesus, our whole life will begin to change. When our insatiable NEED for Jesus finally becomes fulfilled we soon find out that our WANTS begin to change. We no longer want rims for our cars or expensive phones. We WANT to do God's will. We WANT to serve Him. We WANT to follow Him for the rest of our lives. Pretty soon, all we want . . . is Jesus!

Rims? Who needs them? We've got Jesus! Or do we? Let's take a closer look at ourselves. Let's get REALLY close to the mirror and see what we can find out. Yikes!!

"I really want to sleep in tomorrow. I've worked hard all week, getting up at 4:30 every stinking day. I want to sleep in!" Well, I might "want" to sleep in but I "need" to get up and get going because I "need" to give the cat a shot (he's diabetic) and I "need" to exercise (I'm diabetic too). And, quite honestly, I "need" to spend some time in prayer and reading my Bible. We all need that, but often we don't want to.

If all of us were to focus our wants and needs on Jesus and on others, do you think the world would be a different place to live in? Hmm. Maybe we should begin thinking and acting that way today. God WILL provide our every need.

"18 . . . I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." - Philippians 4:18-20

I Need - a short video clip of Bill Murray from the movie What About Bob?

Lord, I Need You by Chris Tomlin