Free Pizza and Ever Flowing Grace

  I know the title sounds a little funny, but follow me for a minute please and then it will make sense.  Saturday night my wife and I had been working pretty hard around the house and frankly as good as the steak looked in the fridge, neither of us had the energy to grill it. So, we do what most do, we ordered pizza.  I ordered it on-line and a few minutes later left to go pick it up a few minutes later.  When I got there to pick it up, they said the order never came through, that they were backed up, and if I wanted to order it would be another 30 minutes.  I was hungry but lazy and said okay.  So, I went over to Trader Joe's to do some grocery shopping, took my time, got everything loaded in the car and then went to pick up the pizza a few doors away. Only, when I got there, I found out it had 39 minutes to go.  "What?" I thought, but didn't say.  I sat and sat and waited, and I am sure I didn't look like I was ready to do a joy, joy, happy, happy dance.  When my pizza was finally ready, they boxed it and handed it to me.  I said, "um, I need to pay for it"  The guy behind the counter said, Nope, it's on us, you had to wait so long."

  I was un-done.  I had no reply other than humbled thanks.  I got in my car, drove home and all I could say was this is just a pizza, God's grace is so much more amazing and I just drove away blown away and realizing I have no adequate response to grace.

  What about you?  Ever receive anything free, something of value that was free or a gift that was pretty overwhelming?  What was your response? When it comes to God's free gift of complete forgiveness, un-conditional love and a place in eternity with Him when we pass from this life all you need to say is yes!  It's His offer! It's for anyone no matter what you've done or what's been done to you.  Please respond if this is your story, let me know if you have been blown away by His great offer.

Thermostat or Thermometer?

  When I was a Student Ministry Pastor one of the things I communicated to our students right before the beginning of the school year is that they had a very small window to establish their reputation.  After that, people did a lot of assuming.  This was especially true for incoming Freshman in High School/College.  It's a lot harder to change your reputation than it is to establish it.

  That being said, I also challenged our students to see what the spiritual climate was like on their campus.  Who were the strong Godly students?. If they sensed no one was as strong as they were, than they got to be the Spiritual thermostat.  They set the temperature for their surroundings.. Otherwise they would become like the others around them and not grow like they could. If that temp was not high, they would find themselves losing their spiritual fervor.

  What about us?  Look around you, at home, work, church, your Life Group.  Are you the strongest one spiritually speaking?  I don't mean in a judgmental way, or a competitive, or even prideful way either.  I mean, we become who we are around.  So, if you are sensing that people in your everyday settings are living a spiritually lukewarm life but you don't want to, than guess what?  It's up to you, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  If there are others who are more mature than you, get close to them, and for sure encourage those who around you to band together.  By being around each other, you will all grow more mature. The Apostle Paul actually told those around him to follow his example.

Philippians 3:17 "Brothers join me in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."