I'll have a Venti Masterpiece please.

Have you ever thought, "I want to sit down and crank out a masterpiece!"? Well, get ready because here comes one. Hah! I wish it was that easy. That seems to be the vibe though of many things these days. We want it, and we want it now! We want accomplishments and our dreams to be delivered as quickly as our favorite coffee beverage.

COVID has certainly slowed our roll considerably, and shaken many perspectives, yet even with that I believe many of us feel we are simply not doing things fast enough. We can not work on something that is beautiful, and meaningful without the dreadful thought that we are simply not accomplishing things in a timely manner. We might think, "If I can't get it done in a day, it isn't worth wasting my time." We LOVE lists, and want to check off every one of those pretty little squares as fast as we can. Speaking of lists here are some different things or events, and the time associated with them. Some are tough things, where much pain is associated, and some are beautiful things that we marvel at.

TO BUILD NOAH'S ARK = Between 55-75 years

GREAT WALL OF CHINA = Over 2,000 years

TO PAINT THE MONA LISA = Around 4 Years

TO WRITE PRIDE & PREJUDICE NOVEL = 10 Months

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION = 10 years

JEWS ENSLAVED IN EGYPT = Over 400 years

COMPLETION OF THE BIBLE = 1500 years

MOSES IN THE WILDERNESS = 40 Years

CREATION OF EVERYTHING = 7 Days ;)

We do not always understand the different seasons of life we go through, but if we put our trust and faith in God we can rest assured He is working all things out for our good.

You more than likely know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The tortoise won the race against the hare not because of his speed, but because of his determination, focus, and steadfastness in completing the task at hand, which was finishing the race! The rabbit, whilst fast and smart, was unfocused, arrogant, and in the end lost the race.

May we stay focused, and steadfast in the things God has called us to.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

- James 1:12

Finding focus in the midst of the Haze.

We have been busy for so long. Busy with good things. I think back to my wedding day and I remember the beauty of it all, especially my glowing bride, yet overall the day was a complete blur, and if I am really honest the last five years have been a tad blurry as well. It is one thing to find focus, but it is another to find focus on the right things. I am not saying we should sit on a rocking chair staring into the sky all day trying to find our purpose, but that in the rhythm and flow of our days we are making sure we take the time to get alone with God our Father, praying intently, as we saw Jesus doing consistently in scripture. In that stillness, things can be brought more clearly into focus.

Medical professionals, truck drivers and some people are busier than ever, but I believe we all have been gifted this special opportunity in the middle of this crisis to be still and focus if we are willing.

In my quiet Bible time I have been studying in the book of James and one thing that has surfaced in my mind as a result is how fragile our human life really is. The intricacy of the way we were created and our intellect seem to be only matched by our frailty and the complexities of our weaknesses.

James 4:14 says: "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

This should be a sobering scripture for many of us. I look at the news and I see the staggering number of deaths from this virus, and my heart mourns for the families of all that have been lost. In my time of study I came across this poem below by David Romano, and it brought tears to my eyes. I encourage you to listen, find some time to get alone with God and ask Him what or who He wants you to FOCUS on.

Poem attributed to David Romano, Video done by Hammock

Leap of Faith and the Space Between.

How many times in life do you find yourself in what feels like "the space between?" Maybe you are going from one job to another job, or maybe leaving one house to go to a new house. Right now we are living with my In-laws as we get ready for our next big chapter in Africa, so we are currently in a space between where we are coming from one home, and heading to the next. We have our next baby on the way in March and we are absolutely thrilled, but with each new chapter comes new risks, and leaps of faith that must be made.

We recently went to a travel medicine doctor to get things in order for the shots we need to go overseas, and he was very concerned about us going to Africa with young children, especially a newborn, because of the disease Malaria which can be deadly to young children and strongly advised us against going and said the probability that our newborn would die was very high. I would like to emphasize that this doctor I believe only has our best interests at heart, and probably is legally required to warn of any possible threats to our health. We are not strangers to the dangers of malaria and have already traveled with young children to Kenya, but still this was obviously hard advice to hear still, and what can make "the space between" such a paradoxical place to be. We, as any parent would, only want the best for our children and pray for health and wellness in relation to God's will, yet we have been called to GO no matter the risk or fears we have. When we were called to go to Asia we had to believe that God was bigger than the unknowns and fears of persecution, and so we WENT. And we found ourselves thriving right in the center of God's will spreading the love of Christ to those we came in contact with amidst a city of 7 million people! GOING is not always easy, but we have to push forward and do what we know we are called to do and living in God’s will brings perfect peace.

This "space between" and these choices we are called to make in life reminds me of the scene in the famous Indiana Jones movie where he has to take the leap of faith over the bottomless cavern. He had to decide whether he was going to believe or not and whether he was going to put faith in the mission he was on and risk death to pursue it.

Many of us have heard the saying, "Life is not about the destination, it is about the journey" and I love this mindset in the sense of making sure I am not taking for granted where I am in hopes of something better, yet in the larger sense we should be living as Christ did with an eternal mindset which will guide our steps to be of the most earthly good. So whatever you are going through or whatever obstacle seems to be in your way, just know and be encouraged that when you take those leaps of faith God is right there with you and you will land on solid ground.

Philippians 3:12-21 New International Version (NIV)

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.