Look What’s Popping Up

Weird things keep popping up out of my toaster. A banana split? Didn’t see that coming. But did you know that Pop-tarts now come in flavors like “Chocolate Banana Split”? No kidding. Even “Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.” My teens love them but my adult taste buds haven’t been any too impressed.

The real question is: Is there really any way to make a cookie-covered toaster-breakfast taste like a chocolate banana split? Personally, I’d rather have the chocolate banana split for breakfast instead. Why not go with the real thing?

Surprising things are always going to be popping up in our lives. The real question this time is: How will we respond? In grace with faith? Or in grousing, pouting and foot-stomping?

When the heat is on, I want to pop up by faith in his grace. In the faithiest, graciest, tastiest way. Our Heavenly Father gives us everything we need to respond well by his Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, if we’ll allow him to, he’ll respond for us. And through us.

There’s no substitute. No self-help program or book. No amount of self-discipline. Only through the Real Thing—the Holy Spirit of God—can we respond well when our feet are put to the fire.

Try it any other way and we’re totally toast.

Author, Author

I heard someone say that 86% of Americans want to write a book. That surprised me. Although maybe I shouldn't be all that surprised, since I've heard that most people see writing a book as an adventure. I think I have a little adventure perspective to offer—though actually I guess only 86% of you need to read it.

I’ve written seven books now so I’m starting to learn a few things about the adventure. Let’s think about it. Your average action/adventure/spy/hero-type person who's at work saving the world can show you the scars from their whip marks, holes from a gunshot wound or two and maybe the disfiguring marks from where they got run over by a tank. Writers? We get to show people the scar from our carpel tunnel surgery. They get car chases. We get to tell people about that time one of the wheels feel off the office chair.

I guess it’s really all in how you look at it. When it comes to the Big Book (notice the capital "B’s"), there’s only one right way to look at it, and that’s with a desire to learn from it and to do what it says. Psalm 119:12-16 says, “Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

God’s Word. That’s where we find real life perspective. And okay, so we may never learn those fancy whip moves or win a shoot-out or tackle a tank—or whatever. But that whole saving the world thing? The One who wrote the book tells us that Jesus already has that one covered anyway!

Why Did the Checkbook Cross the Road?

I’m forever running into “little surprises” my kids have stuffed in my purse when I’m not looking. One time I was trying to whip out my checkbook at the grocery store, and instead, I whipped out a rubber chicken. Can’t you just hear the checker: Will that be cash, check or chicken? Surprise!

The Lord has better surprises. Every time we whip out his Word with a deep desire to let him influence our lives, he surprises us with exactly what we need to begin to think as he thinks and everything we need to live in a way that honors and pleases him—everything we need for holy living. 2 Peter 1:3 makes it clear: "As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness!"

How glorious it is to be called to know him better and to know his glory and goodness personally. And keep in mind that it’s all absolutely free. You don’t even have to charge it to your chicken!

Surprise Center

We had those little pigs in a blanket things a couple of nights ago. Don't you just love the sausage surprise in the center? What is it that makes those Little Smokies so good? Lard, right? And it’s amazing to me how you find them at every Christmas party—smothered, wrapped and slathered with every tasty thing you can think of. Get ready, people. We’re heading into the heavy-duty Little Smokie season.

The bad thing is that I don’t realize I’ve had too many until…well…I’ve had too many. I finally figure it out when I can’t get my jeans zipped. Then there’s weeping and wailing and trashing of jeans. So many Smokies. So little wiggle in the jeans.

Okay, maybe the blue jean wiggle room is inching away, but I really don’t want to let the season inch away without making sure Jesus is at the center of every holiday prep, present and party. I want to be all about preparing HIM room. Not the kind of room that can be measured in inches. All the room. Every part--allowing him to occupy every spot in every corner of my mind and soul.

So, we're kicking of the holiday season here by centering on Jesus. No surprise, Christ should be the at the very center of our Christmas--the very heart.

…And not on purpose, but maybe also kicking off the holiday season by trying to learn how to zip these jeans without my eyeballs bulging out of my head.