The "Good Stuff"

The other day my son Daniel and I were heading back home from Tucson when we called home to see what was for supper. Mom told us “chicken stuff”. Now I don’t know what pops in your mind when you hear food called “stuff” but for me I pictured a cross between summer camp mystery meat and a junior high cafeteria end of the year let’s get rid of the meat before summer sandwich. Daniel and I looked at each other and though how wonderful a steak and egg burrito would be at Filibertos.

Kay, using her woman, wife and mother intuition, instantly sensed our hesitancy and assured us that supper would be good and we would enjoy it. I love my wife and she is a great cook but what could even Paula Deen do with chicken “stuff”? Honestly I was thinking the meal was going to be more Andrew Zimmern than Emiril Lagasse.

We did go home, without stopping at Filibertos, and found dinner was ready for us. I sat down, took a look at what was on my plate, smelled the aroma coming from the dish, and tasted one more reason why I am in love with my wife. WAHOO! Her “chicken stuff” was absolutely, positively delicious and I found myself licking the plate until she said those magic words “there’s more on the stove”. I ate until I couldn’t see straight. Who would have thought something called “stuff” could be so good!

But, I should have known the chicken my wife called “stuff” would be good. I know my wife and I know she loves her family and she loves to provide delicious meals for us. I should have trusted her and been faithful to her cooking instead of salivating for a mere steak and egg burrito from Filibertos. Once again I found myself surprised at the happy ending when I should have been assured from the beginning. A lesson has been learned.

Now there’s another lesson I need to keep learning. Often life’s circumstances come full of “stuff”. You know the kind of stuff that makes you want to pull your hair out because you can’t see anyway things could possibly turn out all right let alone spectacularly. I’ve talked with a lot of people who attest with me that life often serves us bad “stuff” to deal with. The question is how we face the bad stuff in life.

We need to remember that we have a God who loves us and loves to provide good things for us. James tells us in his epistle that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” That truth from God’s word gives me the assurance to believe that even if the “stuff” in my life sounds bad, smells bad, looks bad and even tastes bad it doesn’t mean God isn’t going to surprise me with something spectacular in the end.

Because of God’s love I don’t need to look for something or someone else to get me through my need nor do I need to fear what is ahead. I can be assured from the beginning that God is going to take good care of me. Paul said it best (with a couple changes by me) when he wrote, “And we know that all of life’s stuff, even the bad stuff, work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

When we are willing to take a big bite of what we are facing in life we will realize once again why it’s so wonderful to be in love with God. WAHOO! God can make even the “baddest” of bad stuff in life taste spectacular in the end. When we walk in faith we don’t have to be surprised at our joy at the end of the bad stuff but instead we can walk assured of our joy from the beginning.

Yes, this is a lesson I will need to keep learning. That’s just the way I am. To help me remember the lesson I have renamed Kay’s chicken “stuff”. From now on it is “Kay’s spectacular eat it till I’m woozy chicken”. And when I’m faced with bad stuff in life I’m going to sit at God’s table and enjoy “God’s Spectacular eat it till I’m praising Him banquet”. Maybe that’s what David meant when he said God prepares a table for him in the presence of his enemies?

Bon Appetite,

James

That's Enough For Me

Today I join millions of people who have their own blog. My blog is not and will not be the hottest thing on the web. (I'm shocked you found it.) My blog will be my attempt to share what God is doing in my life through my experiences. I realize that in the context of the web my blog is small and insignificant. That's okay.

Last year I hiked up one of the peaks near my home with a group of friends in my small group. When we got to the top I was in awe of the view. From the top we could see for miles. Down below we looked at our city and marvelled at how small the buildings appeared. The view was vast and we felt so small. It was inspiring and humbling.

We often get confused at our importance and our "size" in the world. Our ego's attempt each day to convince us that we are more important than we really are. Then ever so often we are confronted with reality. In reality we are pretty small and insignificant compared to the number of people who are on the planet. But that's okay.

Our real value and worth is not dependent upon how big our ego is, how many people know us or read our blog (that's a relief). Our real value is determined by God who created us to have a relationship with Him. It was for us that God created the world with all of its beauty and vastness. It was for us that He gave His Son Jesus to die for our sins. It was for us that Jesus rose from the dead to give you and me a personal relationship and life with God.

No, in the context of the world we are small and insignificant. But that's okay because we are important to God. And being known and appreciated by God is what life is all about.

And so, few of you will read this post and it will remain a small and insignicant blog in the midst of millions. But that's okay. I count the creator of the universe and the builder of the mountains as one of my readers. That's enough for me.