What makes things matter?

Hmmm.  Here's what's helping me learn.

We have a dog named Bear.  He's sort of a pain...he won't let you talk to him without trying to bite your face (in a loving but wet bad breath sort of way...).  He makes a huge mess when he eats or drinks.  He eats all kinds of things not meant for consumption...He struggles with the whole housebroken thing....Lots of annoying traits.

But something happened a couple of weeks ago.  Bear got very sick.  Super sick.  He ate more of those things he shouldn't, and had a major, life threatening bowel obstruction.   The only treatment was surgery which cost a WHOLE lot of money.  Money isn't coming into our household like it used to and we had a decision to make.  Spend the money or say goodbye to the dog.

We spent the money.

Here's the interesting part.  Now I find myself so incredibly attached to this dog.  I want to be in his face...I want his attention.  I am totally in love with this dog.  Why?

I think...it's because I invested in him.  When we spent the money, we 'bought' more ownership...once we put our money on him...our heart followed.

Interesting.  What else works this way?  Any ideas?

I'm thinking generosity.  Generosity to our friends, to our city, to our church. Once we commit with our checkbook, amazing things happen in our hearts.  

my friend Shelly

I have a friend who has been very sick for years.  For a long time we had a long distance relationship, meaning I only made eye contact with her at church, then found her for my hug and huge smile.  I was drawn to her.  Still am.

A couple of years ago her sickness became very chronic and severe.  She has COPD and could no longer breath on her own.  She was in ICU; Her life was sustained by a breathing machine, which caused all kinds of problems.  She was on high levels of all kinds of meds, and was pretty out of it most of the time.  God did something so extravagent for me during that time...He made a way so I was able to see her almost daily during those weeks of her hospitalization.  He wanted me to learn. Sometimes she knew I was there, sometimes she didn't.  There came a time, actually several times, when she had the choice to turn off her breathing support.  Many of us encouraged her to stop the painful process and go to Jesus.  But she knew...she know God wanted her to keep on.  She kept fighting.

Eventually, amazingly, she got better.  She was moved to a rehab center, and after many weeks of hard, hard work, she got to go home, where she lives now.  She is cared for by her family, and last night, once again, God did something amazing.  When I came out on stage to play keys, I looked out and saw my Shelly.  She was there to worship.  To worship the God who made her, who allowed her to get sick, and allowed her to live.  

What a great example of how God uses trials to mold us, shape us, and draw us to Him.  I have never met anyone more in love with Jesus than Shelly.  I have also never met anyone who has had to work so hard to just...breathe.

Next

I heard a talk by Holly Wagner yesterday at Mercy Ministries (www.mercyministries.org) in Sacramento.  She was talking to a group of young women struggling through abuse and addiction.  She was talking to them but she spoke to me.  She said a lot of things I can't remember but what stuck is this.  God's desired path is in front of you, not behind you.  What matters is what you do next.  More forward with determination and when the waters get rough, Jesus will see you through.

God's will for me is in front of me...What I do next is what matters.  What you do next is what matters.  Moving forward, leaning into what's next, is what works.  It helps me learn more, lead better, and get to where  I want to be.  (ok blog done.  what's next?)