“Trophy…” (by Mel McGuire)

I played team sports as a child. At the end of every season, the top three teams would have a ceremony where they would be recognized for their achievements and each player would receive a trophy.

The team that won the most, or earned first place, got the biggest trophy. Made sense to me. Now as an adult, I see kids receiving trophies merely for participating. Some sports do not keep score, do not establish a winner (or loser), and everyone receives the same reward regardless of how well they perform.

I think sometimes believers think God is giving out participation trophies. We often act like there is no benefit to “winning”, just showing up and “trying” ought to be enough to win the prize.

In sports there is a price to pay in order to win the ultimate prize. It involves sacrifice, pain, overcoming adversity, and actually performing at a high level at the right time. While there may be some good fortune involved for sure, no team wins the highest prize without doing the work.

The participation trophy is probably okay for beginners, for novices, or for children. Adults, professionals, and maturing believers should not expect such from God. If we are honest, we would all prefer not to have to do all that it takes to win, as long as we receive the winner’s prize. But neither God, nor real life, hands out such a trophy.

We want the ring without the seventh game victory, the cup without the season-long struggle, the title without the fight, the applause without the adversity. We want the result without the work.

As believers, we want His power but not His persecution, His life without our death, His insight without His intimacy, and His Crown without His character. We cannot have His will without His way, nor His voice without His word.

We would all love to do what he did without having to become what he was. Think about that. We want the title of overcomer without actually overcoming anything. We are called more than conquerors, yet often refuse to fight, much less win.

God’s grace and His mercy are always available to us, not so we can do just enough to “make it in”, but to demonstrate to the world that He is alive and still reigns over this world! God is a champion! He wants to be in first place in your life.

When God is your champion, He gets your best. You give Him the biggest trophy of all…your life! Your heart, mind, soul, strength…it all goes to give Him the glory! When we do that, we recognize Him as Lord of all, King of kings, Almighty God.

When we don’t we are basically offering Him a participation trophy, the same reward as everyone else in our life. REALLY??

He has given us everything we need to win, to overcome, to conquer. Win the fight, win the race…win the trophy, the top prize: Not just life, but eternal life!

“Knead…” (by Mel McGuire)

 

I learned something recently about making bread. Specifically, about kneading the dough that makes the bread. I remember as a child watching my mother, the best cook I have ever known, making bread.

I can recall her working with her hands, and kneading the dough before she produced some of the best bread rolls known to man.

The process of kneading, done properly, allows the active ingredients in the dough to align themselves properly. This causes the dough to become stronger and when cooked, it makes it lighter and fluffier, and adds texture and flavor to the finished product.

The image I shared is the one I recall…the hands of the master, working the dough until it became smooth, soft, and pliable. You can tell when dough is properly kneaded when it is silky smooth, is no longer sticky, and will retain its shape when poked…bouncing back immediately.

Like the clay in the hands of a potter, we are like dough in the hands of our Master, and sometimes we need to be kneaded.

The kneading process includes folding, pushing, stretching, and turning…and then repeating that process until the dough is ready. How many times Lord, how many times, do I have to go through this same situation? You are being kneaded.

You are being folded, pushed, stretched, and turned. Uncomfortable, inconvenient, and powerless. You are shaped into what looks like a loaf of bread…only to be folded, stretched, and turned yet again…and again…and again.

God uses all types of things to knead us. People, circumstances, situations, and predicaments all serve to fold us, push us, stretch us and turn us. But like the ingredients in dough, the process makes us stronger, more pliable, and able to bounce back.

The kneading process allows what is inside of us to rise and cause us to be lighter, with better texture, and gives us flavor. We need to be kneaded. The chef knows how much kneading is needed to make the exact bread he is looking for. How much kneading did Jesus endure in order to be called the Bread of Life?

When you feel the light sprinkle of flour, and then the strong, gentle hands of the Master Chef…know you are about to be kneaded. Stay on the board until He is done. It will make you look better, feel better, and taste better. We need to be kneaded.

“Compass…” (by Mel McGuire)

I took a leadership class and we were talking about the purpose of a compass.

A properly calibrated compass will point to true north and allow you to find your bearings regardless of what is around you, even if there is nothing around you.

In the lack of a landmark, a compass will still indicate the right direction, assuming you know where you want to go, and have some sense of how to get there. A compass will faithfully and accurately give you the direction or way you should go.

What a compass cannot do, is tell you what obstacles lie between you and your destination. In the settler days of our nation, families headed “west”. A compass could point them to the west. A compass did not account for the rivers (the Mississippi), mountains, deserts, or the “native Americans” that stood in the way.

I call them settlers because most did not reach the ocean. They settled in the desert, or in a valley. They went as far as they chose and then stopped for whatever reason.

So too in our lives as believers, the bible is often simply used as a compass. “Walk in love” seems simple enough. “Forgive others…”, “Walk by faith”, “Trust in God”, “Love thy neighbor”…all these phrases set direction, like a compass.

But anyone who has begun any of these journeys know they are wrought with challenges and sometimes peril.

I imagine walking along a path…the bible says some things about our path…”I will lead you in a plain path”, “thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”, these indicate that our steps can be ordered or established by the Lord.

But where does our path take us? Certainly not straight from our salvation experience directly to the heavens! No! Sometimes it is an uphill climb, or a winding road, or narrow path that must be navigated slowly and deliberately. But always, yet always, bringing us closer to Him…as long as we don’t “settle”.

We write songs about our destiny or destination…to be with Him. But do we rejoice in the journey? Do we take joy in overcoming obstacles and navigating the things set in our way?

We learn in the bible that the narrow way leads to the strait gate.

The word strait means difficult. So this compass (the bible) is also telling us not only the direction, but that our journey will not always be easy.

Do not be discouraged because you face difficulty in life. You are supposed to! Living for Christ is not easy! If it were easy, everyone would do it. But it is not, and so they do not.

We rely on His grace, to keep us on our path…our eyes fixed, like checking a compass, on the prize that is Him!

Set your compass and then make up your mind that you will “head west till you reach the ocean” and not “settle” short because you got tired, or be satisfied with a desert or valley existence. He is your destination and your destiny.

Keep moving, the ocean lies ahead.

“Closers…” (by Mel McGuire)

Okay sports fans; this one might be for you. I was thinking about the old adage, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish”, and how it applies not only in sports but life itself, and more specifically, our walk with the Lord.

The journey to “be like Christ” has been described as a marathon, and for most people, their personal goal is just to finish. They may have a time in mind, but they just want to finish.

I have a good friend (JTD) who ran the LA Marathon a few years ago. The photo of him crossing the finish line is priceless. The agony on his face and the length of his “stride” told a compelling story…stick a fork in him…he was finished!

He said he wanted to sprint across the line and felt like he had summoned all of his remaining strength for the last dash to glory…until he saw the picture. His “closing sprint” more closely resembled a brisk walk with minimal knee lift and arm swing.

Now I mention my good friend and brother to make this point: HE FINISHED! There were thousands of people who began the race and for one reason or another did not make it to the finish line. Understand that my brother has the mentality of a “closer”.

In baseball, when a team has the lead late in the game, the pitcher may be tired and the other team may stage a comeback. Hopefully in the bullpen, the leading team has a guy we’ve come to call “The Closer”.

He comes in and shuts down the opposing team, preserving victory for his team. He is important because in baseball, like in in life, it’s who is ahead at the end that matters.

In these last days, God is looking for “closers”. In basketball, a smart coach will play his best players at the end of tight games. Those five may not be the same five that walked out to the fanfare and glory that comes with pre-game introductions, but when the game is on the line…they are the ones on the court! They are “closers”!

God says in His word, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning…” and I want to encourage you that no matter how your relationship with God was…you can still finish strong…you can be a closer!

Here’s the deal…God is a winner. His team is going to win…are you going to be in the game down the stretch? Are you going to finish?

I don’t care what has happened, what you have done or not done, it is not too late to come out of the bullpen and shut the other side down! You can do it!

And for those of you who feel like they are doing fine as this race winds down…I remind you of the “finish line photo” I mentioned earlier.

Are you finishing strong or do you just think or feel that you are? If we took a snapshot of your “stride”, your form, and your pace, what would you really look like?

Run through the finish line! Closers get closer to the Lord the closer the Lord gets to closing this “game”. So get tight with Him, stay tight with Him, and be a closer!

It’s not enough to just finish…closers finish strong!

“Vase…” (by Mel McGuire)

I watched a friend recently go through a season of life where their character was tested. Years of consistent, reliable behavior called into question by people who did not know them. As I sought for words to encourage them, I got this from the Lord; He knows the value of your vase.

It dawned on me that while men look on the outward appearance, and it is even fair to say, they focus, fixate, and obsess on that which they can see, image isn’t everything.
Some of the most valuable vases in the world are not all that visually striking. There are usually a few specific reasons they have value; Who made them, the process necessary to make them, and what they are made of.

Just because something is attractive doesn’t make it more valuable. And just because it appears fragile doesn’t mean it didn’t withstand a rigorous process in its creation.

That is essentially what I wanted to share with my friend…and with you. What are you made of? What process did you endure to become who you are? Who created you in and through that process? The trials of life, the temptations, tests, and challenges can develop an inner strength that belies mere outward appearance. What characteristic materials did you begin the process with? The metals of integrity, honesty, fairness, compassion, empathy and humility may go through the fire, but they can be shaped and formed into a personality and character that is strong, yet beautiful to behold.

Vases (or characters) formed by master craftsmen have value simply because of the skill and reputation of the artist. The bible says we are reverently and wonderfully made. We are the masterpiece of the Master Creator. That alone gives value to your vase. A vessel that honors Him, reflecting His craftsmanship, has even more value still.

Life happens. Sometimes it is not fair or easily understood. When you know who you are, what you are made of, and what you have gone through, you can demonstrate your value to those who matter most. Just because the untrained or uneducated eye cannot detect or recognize your value, does not mean it does not exist. Value is based on intrinsic characteristics…it is NOT in the eye of the beholder.

Accept the work of your Creator. Appreciate and be grateful for the process you endure. Know that you are made of quality materials that will stand the test of time. Prepare to be tested. Be confident that the strength of your character will withstand every challenge, and prove that you are what He says you are…His Masterpiece…His vase.

And then, when people look at you, and your life, they will be moved to look beyond the surface, the shape, and the color. They will observe and begin to see the detail, the intricacy, the care and thoughtfulness that went into creating the vase that is you. Each time they observe you, they will see another facet, and more evidence of the signature of the Master Craftsman. They will see you are unique, special, and valuable.

Be the vase that maintains or increases its value by adding to your character a useful purpose. Functional beauty is first functional…can you do the job required of the vase? It’s really quite simple; contain some substance, and pour it out as it is needed. Selah.

“Tools…” (by Mel McGuire)

Years ago we bought my daughter a bed. Whoever put it together (it wasn’t me) didn’t do the best job, and consequently, the screws that hold the frame together were put in backwards. Anyone who walked real close could get scraped or impaled on the screws. The way the bed was positioned in the room made this highly unlikely, and the screws remained as they were.

Recently my wife decided to alter the bedroom set up, exposing the screws and raising the chances of injury. My job then became to remove the screws and put them back in correctly. All I needed was a screwdriver and a wrench. While both tools used together would make the job simpler, I opted to go with the screwdriver alone. The first screw was a Phillips head and came out without any issues. The next screw was a flathead and my multi-headed screwdriver really didn’t work that well. Eventually I got the second screw out and due to the effort involved, declared myself done.

The Lord was already convicting me as I made my way downstairs to inform my wife the final two screws (also flathead) would be too difficult to remove due to a lack of proper tools and the intense effort required to remove them. I don’t really remember what she said to communicate to me that my intentions were insufficient, only that I returned to the task…agitated and motivated.

God reminded me that He has given us certain tools; prayer, praise and worship, counsel, and the Word are just a few. They work best when used together and the right combination is the equivalent of “the right tool for the right job”. Too often we allow things that could hurt someone to remain in place for too long. Then when forced to correct them, we only bring the most convenient tool. We are then ready to give up and declare the project too difficult because we didn’t have the right tool for the job.

Specific spirit- led prayers, founded on and incorporating established principles and promises in God’s word, backed up by praise in advance, and worship “just because”. Counsel that is rooted in the Word, sealed by prayer, and celebrated in praise. These are effective, proven, winning combinations that can correct most problems. Fasting can act like a lubricant, to loosen the atmosphere of the flesh so God can have His way. Be willing to put in the effort, it may save someone from a serious injury down the road.

Tools, like spiritual weapons, are designed to complement each other and when used properly, can make any job seem easier. In my case, I located a wrench and when combined with the screwdriver, I was able to fix the final two screws with less effort and in less time than the first two. When I was done, I marveled at how easy the job was…once I used the correct tools for the job. Assess your situation, then access your necessary tools.

Use all of the tools God has given you. Use them in conjunction and support of each other. That is key to unlocking the various challenges we all must eventually face. Choose, then use the right tool for the job.