Mark Riggins

Encouraging/Challenging

As I read through John 4 this morning I once again read the familiar story of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan "woman at the well". 

As their conversation progressed, she is quickly made aware that Jesus knew the very details of her past (how many husbands she had in her past, her current relationship, etc.). Yet, Jesus was most interested in the Samaritan woman's future by focusing on her current and future needs (thirst). 

I've been thinking about this simple truth all day:

Jesus is aware of my past but is interested in my future. Strangely, this truth encourages me and challenges me.

It encourages me for obvious reasons: Jesus forgives and, unlike me, doesn't continually "revisit" my past failures. 

However, this truth also challenges me. After all, I've enjoyed some minor successes in my past (relational, career, influence, etc.). Yet, Jesus is more interested in my future. After all, he's given me a limited amount of time. 

Encouraging/Challenging. 

The highway that leads to our dreams

Down deep most of us want to be the star athlete, achieve a great education, marry the person of our dreams, raise wonderful kids, start a successful business, enjoy a fulfilling career, retire with a secure nest-egg, have the health to enjoy our grand-kids, etc. And we want all of this while also making a difference in the world. That's not too much to ask for is it? 

All of those things may be achievable but they all require a LOT of planning and hard work on the front end. For example, in order to be the star athlete you must have a certain level of talent, work extremely hard, have the right coaches in your life, etc. In order to pursue a good education you have to work hard throughout high-school, exercise good discipline, create an attention-grabbing resume with extra-curricular/community involvement (it doesn't hurt to build relationships with people who are connected at the institution you desire to attend), etc. 

We all know that planning and hard work precede dreams in every area of our life. But sometimes we/I seem surprised that detailed planning and hard work must precede our spiritual dreams. 

But what about faith?

When we say we're doing something "by faith", if what we really mean is we've not put any planning or work into our DREAM yet we're "trusting that God will show up", that's not FAITH. That's a DREAM! Faith without action is DEAD according to James. 

Throughout Scripture there are leaders-in-the-making who have BIG dreams. Moses' dream was to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, Joshua's dream was to finish the job and conquer Canaan, Solomon's dream was to build the Temple, and the disciple's dream was to make Jesus the Messiah famous world-wide. 

Everyone's dream had two things in common: 1) Their dream came from God and 2) Detailed planning and hard work preceded their dreams.

Scripture shows us that faith is "trusting God while planning and working toward a God-given dream". Trust + work = faith.

The dream is the destination. Faith is the highway that takes us to our dream. (Maybe trust is the "on-ramp".) 

She has no idea

I know there are many questions that may run through your mind when you first see this picture (why is daddy taking a picture of his child napping in such an uncomfortable position?, how can a child sleep in such a position?, what parent would let their child sleep like that?, what's the # for CPS?, etc.).

My little Madison is a true "angel with an attitude" so when she stops for an infrequent nap we "let her lay"! :-)

I wanted to share this picture and then today I was reading Perry Noble's blog. His entry today ripped at my heart! Here it is:

She Has No Idea May 26, 2009

Charisse, my daughter, is a smart little girl.

She already knows her letters, colors, numbers and how to land a man on Mars.  (OK, maybe not the last one.)

AND…she knows how to ask me for things such as when she wants a hug, or some water or to go outside.  She knows how to ask me for what she wants in the moment…and she believes that I can do what she is asking of me…

HOWEVER…

She has no idea what I am capable of…or the things I do behind the scenes of her life that she benefits from…but remains unaware of.

• She wants a cup of milk…but I am making preparations for her to attend college one day.
• She wants to go outside…and I am working hard to buy toys that she can play with while she is out there.
• She wants to go to bed…and I do all that I can to make sure we have a safe house to live in so she can sleep.

I think you see what I am saying…she is an amazing little girl…but her mind just can’t fully understand right now how much I can do for her.

I was thinking about this the other day when I felt the Lord speak to my heart and say, “Now you know how I feel!  You ask me for things, you often get caught up in the moment…but your problem is that most of the time you just don’t understand WHO I AM and WHAT I AM DOING!”

I am so glad that we serve and Ephesians 3:20 God.  The Bible says in I Corinthians 2:9 that we literally have NO IDEA how much He has planned for us.

Just like Charisse has no idea what I am capable of…we have no idea how HUGE God is and what HE can do.  BECAUSE…I believe many times we are caught up in what we want rather than who He is!

One of the things I am trying to do right now is become less aware of my perceived needs…and instead focus on continually discovering WHO HE IS.  Because, in doing so I believe I will stop asking Him for “treats” and “snack” and be able to finally discover the feast that He has set before me!

HE IS THE MOST HIGH GOD!  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM!  I want to live like this is true!!!

Where this analogy breaks down is that one day Charisse will discover many of my faults and limitations…and I pray she will still love me in spite of who I am.  BUT…the more we get to know HIM we will discover His POWER, LOVE and ABSOLUTE HOLINESS…and we will not be able to resist loving and serving Him with more passion than ever before!

Giving God context . . .

"I am convinced that God longs to put His fingerprint in our lives, to act on our behalf and surprise us with His magnificence.  I am equally convinced that most of the time we do not give God a context in which to do this.  The mundane is not really the best context for a miracle.  When we play it safe, we squeeze god out of the formula.  If we go only where we know and do what we're certain will succeed, we remove our need for God.  Whenever we respond to God's invitation, our need for God becomes heightened.  Whenever we take on a God-sized challenge, self-sufficiency is no longer an option."

Erwin Mcmanus - Chasing Daylight