Thankfulness = Joy

There are many keys to joy, not just one. But let’s talk about one that often gets neglected: thankfulness.

Here’s the equation: Thankfulness = Joy.

Jesus could have been doing many things the night before he would atone for the sin of the world, but he choose to eat a meal consisting of bread and wine with his disciples. This is where we get “The Lord’s Supper.”

Herein lies the amazing statement that Jesus makes that unlocks our key to joy: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them . . .” (Luke 22:19 NIV).

He gave thanks.

Ann Voskamp brilliantly points out that, in the original language, “he gave thanks” reads “eucharisteo.” The root word of “eucharisteo” is charis, meaning “grace.”

There is more.

Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, holds its derivative, the Greek word “chara.”

What does “chara” mean? Joy.

The key to joy, then, is to be thankful.

Voskamp adds: “As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible.”

An old preacher once said, “The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live . . . He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.”

Want joy?

Be thankful for what Jesus Christ has done, for your singleness, marriage, job, circumstances, trials, family, church, car, money, gifts, breath, life. Everything. Be thankful.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, no matter what circumstances you are facing — joy is possible. Now. Today. Forever.

Rid yourself of bitterness and entitlement and enter the pathway of your deepest longings being fulfilled, through thankfulness.

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For Those Who Struggled on Valentine’s Day

Did you struggle yesterday on Valentine’s Day?

As opposed to just strictly writing my own thoughts on how to encourage you, I’d thought it would be helpful to compile a list of blogs aimed towards singleness from various people, including one written by me over one year ago.

So … Here they are. Read them. And be encouraged.

1. Hope in Singleness
2. The Purpose of Singleness
   
3. Dating, Relating, and Fornicating
4. 13 Things Every Single Christian Should Know

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10 Christian Dating Tips From Bryan Mowrey

When God makes you wait for something, it’s not his way of depriving you, but rather his means of changing you. This is helpful in the area of Christian dating and singleness.

Recently on Twitter, pastor Bryan Mowrey posted what I thought were 10 helpful tips on dating. Instead of awkwardly retweeting all of them, I compiled them in this blog post and you can read them below.

1. Make Jesus your main love. The spousal love of Jesus is the only love that completely satisfies & has no end!

2. Seek the Kingdom more than a spouse. See Matthew 6:33. God knows what you need & it’s on the Kingdom path that we find Kingdom spouses.

3. Trust & rely on good friends who love you & Jesus. They are a gift from God.

4. Invite to church & pray for an unbeliever but do not date them. Gods ways > your ways. 2 Cor 6:14

5. Finding the “right person” is a myth & not the key to happiness. Focus more on being Mr. and Mrs. Right than finding Mr. and Mrs. Right

6. Gentlemen, be realistic. Don’t expect you will find a supermodel who knows Greek & Hebrew. Why would she want you anyway?

7. Ladies, don’t settle. Pastors all over the globe are on the chase to attract men to churches & disciple them into godliness.

8. Don’t be jealous when someone else gets married. Bitterness is very unattractive. Practice Rom 12:15

9. Being single is just as much a gift as being married. Don’t despise it or waste it. 1 Cor 7:7

10. Don’t over think getting coffee with the opposite sex. A proposal isn’t a prerequisite to having a latte.

Also check out my post 13 Things Every Single Christian Should Know that I wrote a while back for more helpful tips.

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2013: Worshipping The New Year Before It Gets Here

Did you have a rough 2012?

If so, chances are you may be longing for the New Year to come so you can have a “fresh start” or “start over” or finally get your shot at a “new beginning.”

This is idolatry.

It is idolatry because it is the act of looking to someone or something other than Jesus for your security, comfort, and position. You are essentially saying, “In 2012, things didn’t go my way. But, in 2013, I hope things will. And if they do, then I will have the security I am looking for. Finally, my opportunity to do things to change my circumstances.”

There is nothing wrong with looking forward to the New Year with resolutions, ambitions, dreams, goals, and desires to improve your life in any and every aspect. The trouble comes, however, when we look to it as our security, or that which will rescue us from our plight.

You don’t need a fresh start; you need to refresh your memory.

It’s not about what happens in 2013; it’s about what already happened 2,000+ years ago.

It is wiser to meditate about things that have already happened than to fantasize about things that may or may not happen.

What’s going to happen in 2013? I have absolutely no idea. For you, I hope the best. Everything you ever wanted. A blessed, successful, fruitful, prosperous new year. I hope it comes. But don’t put your ultimate hope in the New Year, but what Jesus has already accomplished for you many years ago.

Look forward to the New Year . . . but as you do, look up to Jesus who will get you through it. The one who will one day make “all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

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Shoot Until You Miss: My Fondest Memory of Charles Wingfield

We were young, immature, selfish, and ignorant.

In my Junior High years, me and my friends often played basketball indoors at First Christian Church of Florissant in, of course, Florissant, MO.

I don’t remember every detail of this story because it was over a decade ago, but I remember one Wednesday evening me and 10 other friends played longer than we were supposed to. The same indoor court where we played basketball was the same court an adult service (or something like that) was to be held. We knew we had to stop at 6:00pm because service was at 7:00pm but we played past 6:00pm anyway. Because we were cool like that.

A little after 6:00pm, an older man with gray hair walked in with a friendly smile. He looked so darn approachable — so much so that, even though he was a stranger, I just wanted to give the guy a hug! I knew of him, sort of, but I didn’t exactly know who he was. Though all of us could tell he was important. After all, he was wearing a suit.

He grabbed our attention immediately when he entered the gym.

He didn’t need a microphone to get our attention. Or a whistle. He didn’t yell. There was something about him — that surpasses respect — that attracted us to him. We just wanted to be around him. Listen to him. Learn from him. Ask him questions. Hang out with him. All of this, and yet we really didn’t know who he was.

With his sweet, southern accent, he gently said, “Gentlemen, it’s a little past 6:00pm. We have service here in less than an hour. I’m afraid that I’m going to have to have you guys stop playing.”

We were a little bummed, but this man then said something that made things exiting.

He continued, “But. . . I’ll at least do this.” And pointing to my little brother, Robert, he said, “You. You with ball. Go to the Free Throw Line. Shoot until you miss. Once you miss, then we’ll be done.” The pressure was on.

Robert shot the ball. And made it. And again. And again. And again. Eight times in a row. We cheered him on. With every make, we got louder. After shot five, I looked over at the man. He had a huge smile on his face! It was almost as if he knew he had other responsibilities to attend to, but was caught up in the game so much that he himself didn’t want Robert to miss!

He was impressed that Robert didn’t miss; we were impressed that he took the time to hang out with us.

Robert missed after shot eight, to which we simultaneously said, “Awwww.” We all congratulated Robert. Any Junior High kid would have thought they were awesome after that. . . and this man set it up. He made Robert happy, and that made us happy.

And that was it. We left the gym and life resumed.

I would later find out that the man who set this joyous experience up went by the name of Charles Wingfield. He was the Sr. Minister of the Mega Church we were playing basketball in. His Bible study that started in his home turned into a Mega Church where kids like me played basketball in. He preached the gospel to thousands, baptized a myriad of people, lead a Church for decades, influenced many people to live for Jesus, and left a legacy that was unprecedented.

At the time of this story, Robert and I were not Christians. We got saved in Junior High. When? I do not know exactly. But I know we started regularly attending FCCF shortly after this experience we had with Mr. Wingfield. We would later  meet some dudes who were College Interns at the Church. They explained the gospel to us often and bought us Bibles. Shortly after, God convicted us of sin, granted us repentance, and we turned to faith in Jesus Christ. All of this shortly after this experience we had with the grey-haired main with the suit.

At 9:39 pm Tuesday night, Charles Wingfield passed away.

I began to scroll down his Facebook Page and read the many wonderful memories people had of him. Many were deep, profound. Life-changing stories. They were big. Really big.  Though I experienced that too, most of my memories came from the little things he did no one knows about. That no one else was around to see.

Because just as incredible as he was in front of thousands of adults, he was just as impactful in front of just a few Junior High kids.

I had many to choose from, but this was my fondest memory of Charles Wingfield.

See you on the other side, Charles.

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Christ, Our Life

Do you know what the word identity means?

Identity defined is the condition of being oneself, and not another. It is the condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is. It’s not just what describes you; it’s what defines you. The sense of self, in others words, is what our identity is.

Paul writes to Colossians:

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-5).

As Tullian Tchividjian puts it, “These words from Paul to the Colossians are truly colossal.” I can write a 5,000 word blog post on just these two verses alone but I’m not going to (take a deep breath). Let’s stick to what is italicized: who is your life. Paul is saying this: As a Christian, your identity is not just in Christ — your identity is Christ.

Not every Christian will at some point struggle with porn, greed, gossip, lying, etc. But every Christian — at some point in their life — will struggle with their identity. “What is my life?,” we may ask. Paul answers the “what” question with a “who.” The “who,” of course, being Christ Jesus the Lord.

It’s not just about “placing your identity in Christ.” Rather, it’s about remembering that your life is Christ. It’s not more work that you have to do (which is what the former is proposing), but what Christ has already done for you.

Jesus Christ is your life. A spouse, job, money, kids, position in life, etc. are good things, but they’re not the Godhead. Christ is our hope, love, desire, inspiration, Savior, Lord, etc. But let us never forget, too, that he is — among other things — our very own life.

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My iPhone 4S and The Gospel

I own an iPhone 4S. I enjoy my iPhone 4S and use it everyday. I primarily use it for text messaging, sending and receiving calls, social media, and emailing. Oh, and the GPS System. I’m terrible with directions.

People who are technologically savvy will tell you that you do not need an iPhone 4S if all you’re going to use it for is the functions that I described above.

One day my little brother, Robert, asked if he could use my phone. I said sure. He then began to play with it and I watched him do things on it that I did not know it was capable of doing. It was cool. Like really, really cool. He developed new programs, opened up new applications, updated new features, etc. He tried to show me how to maximize the use of my expensive cell phone and introduced me to new depths I’d never seen.

This is similar in our knowledge and application of the gospel.

In his new book, Gospel Deeps, Jared Wilson writes: “We evangelicals love the gospel for the few of its uses we’re aware of, but we end up missing its depths. We like that our gospel gets our sins forgiven and gives us a ticket to heaven, but we’re not sure of its functionality in our lives every day . . . We’re content to keep the gospel at an elementary level, assuming that we graduate from it, and the sad result is that we neglect the “grace upon grace” in the fullness of Jesus. . . The further into the gospel we go, then, the bigger it gets. There is no way for us to wear it out.”

The more capabilities I learn about my phone, the more I like it. The same is true with the gospel. The deeper we plunge into the depths of the gospel and the excellencies of Jesus, the more we love him and others. But unlike my iPhone 4S, the gospel is unending, unwavering, and unprecedented. The deeper we dive, the higher our joy.

Dive in!

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