At the ready

So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” (I Peter 1:13)

Be Ready! This might be the words some are holding onto this year, having endured much in the past year that almost did them in, but hopeful for great things in the new year. What does a state of readiness look like? In the military, when we were told to be ready, it meant rucksack and duffle packed, all the supplies we'd need at the ready, and our schedules so flexible we could leave at a moment's notice. In the medical profession, when were put on standby, it required us to be able to respond within thirty minutes of notification we were needed. Readiness declares there has been preparation and now we wait!

The past year may have been tough, but now you wait! Probably one of the hardest things to do when we are wafting is to actually do it with grace and uninterrupted connection. It is easy to get complacent when our answer doesn't immediately come - when our 'marching orders' aren't clear, and our heart desire is to 'just get on with it'. Complacency might interrupt our communication with the one we are waiting upon, right? When we were 'at the read' for orders to come down in the military, or on call to respond should emergencies require medical response, it was difficult to endure that 'waiting' and to maintain 'connection' with those we were waiting to hear from in order to respond as we should.

We remained in the area, kept cell phone or pager charged and on, and we had everything we needed for the 'next move' at our disposal. Maybe God has been preparing you, putting you 'at the ready' with everything you require for this next chapter of your life, and now you wait. Don't lose heart - God puts us 'at the ready' because he knows we are prepared. Don't break that connection with him. His next move in your life is coming - remain ready, connected, and responsive. Remember, it isn't our timing that moves us forward, but his. Just sayin!

More than a Girl Scout motto

Prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. (I Peter 1:13-15)

Have you ever sat down, knowing you were about to face a tougher than usual circumstance, just preparing your heart and mind for what is about to happen? If we did this before we took any actions in life, I wonder how much of a difference it would actually make? I know we couldn't just take five before everything we are about to do, but if we prepare our hearts and minds first thing in the day, I wonder if our days would be a little less 'self-controlled' and a little more 'Spirit-controlled'?

Slipping back is easy - actually comprehending the triggers that cause us to slip back is a bit harder. This is where our time with Jesus is so important. We don't always have 'perfect sight' when it comes to the myriad of decisions we are going to make each day, but God does! So, isn't it a bit foolish of us to just march into our day without taking any time out to actually prepare for what lies ahead? 

Two things really 'trigger' grumpiness in me: being tired and hungry. Get food onboard and my attitude brightens. Get the proper amount of rest so my body can be refreshed and I am ready for the day. Eliminate the triggers and the 'slipping' isn't going to occur as easily. These are two very simplified triggers that I mention, but you get the idea. When it comes to the bigger ones, such as what makes me respond in anger, I might just need a little insight outside of my own observations!

I consult with God, of course, but I also listen to what others are telling me. They see my behavior, and observe what leads up to it, so their feedback is critical to me. We may not know what causes us to 'slip back' or 'slip up', but when we have God's perspective, we can formulate a plan - being prepared for the moment that will come. When we have the feedback of faithful friends in this walk, we can take that to God and ask him for his help with what it is they have observed. If we want to walk 'holy' as God is holy, we need to prepare our hearts and minds for the steps we are about to take each and every day. Just sayin!

Better duck now

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. (Proverbs 22:3)

Some might equate 'prudent' to being "street-wise". The individual who is prudent has learned who and what can be trusted, when each needs to be put to practical use, and what can be counted on to deliver the best results. There is another definition of the prudent man or woman: thrifty or frugal. I guess this might be why the word is used in this passage - it is kind of like a prudent person who is streetwise knows when to expend their energies and when to let things go because the energies expended will just be way too much! A simpleton is just an ignorant, silly or foolish person; what some may call a numskull. It really points out the way the simpleton works - with his or her brain asleep! This is a direct contrast to how the prudent operates - for the prudent is always on alert. There is something quite dangerous about letting one's mind be lulled into a place of laziness or slumber. There are times we need to "shut off" for a while, but when it becomes a way of life for us, we open ourselves up to every whim of silliness around us! Two contrasts - one who exercises attentiveness to their ways and another who just flies by the seat of their pants. The difference - one will actually be able to duck quick enough to avoid disaster (natural, spiritual, or emotional)! The other will simply be hit head-on. Perhaps even knocked out by the blows.

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. (vs. 5) I like to take hikes up in the high country. Most trails are marked with a difficulty level, so when engaging in the hike one knows ahead of time what type of climb might be encountered. Sometimes there are no markings, so I take a trail in faith. I kind of think life is like that a little - sometimes we get the well-marked trail which gives us plenty of warning about the amount of effort which will be required of us to traverse from one point to another; other times we get the trails which have no markings, give us no warning of their dangers, and which present some unknown hazards to the one on the journey. The simpleton plods ahead; the prudent examines the path as it is presented. The simpleton takes the steps which will do nothing more than tire and present unwanted "slipping" points. The prudent will examine the course and see the shortest distance may not be the best for preserving strength, stamina, and avoiding injury. 

We are afforded many paths in life - we can face them as the simpleton or the prudent. The choice is ours. Not every path will be well-marked, giving us every chance to prepare for it, or avoid it completely. I think God might just do this on purpose, for if we knew the end from the beginning, let alone the way we'd have to traverse to get there, we probably would pull back and declare the paths presented just way too hard for our travels! Prepare for the path ahead and the pitfalls of the path will be more evident. Plod ahead without any preparation or consideration and you could just be putting yourself in danger. Not every path will be 'hazard-free', so when we are alert, prepared, and consistently focused, we are likely to avoid those 'hazards' that pop up out of nowhere. Once we are well on our way down the path, it is too late to consider our commitment to it! Just sayin!

We need a playbook here

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (I Corinthians 10:13)

Pay close attention to the words here - nowhere in scripture does it ever say a Christian will be 'problem-free' in life, nor that temptation and testing will somehow just magically never come our way. In fact, it promises there will be both testing and temptation - trials of our faith; testing of our conviction and dedication. What is promised is that God will ALWAYS be right there to help us come THROUGH it. He never leaves us defenseless - he expects us to set up good defenses BEFORE we have to go THROUGH them!

All of us have to face trials and temptations - there is no way to escape the fact they will come our way. If we prepare AHEAD of time, going THROUGH them with Christ at our side will mean we stand a much better chance of resisting temptation and standing strong in the midst of trials. There is more to being 'prepared' for temptation than just 'trusting Jesus to help us make it through'. While I will never discount the importance of trusting Jesus, I also will never be so naive as to believe Jesus doesn't expect us to be READY for temptation.

Having a defense prepared ahead of time means we give some thought to what breaks our defenses down the easiest. For me, it is fatigue. I just don't do well when fatigue sets in. My answers become shorter, curt, and sometimes lacking in kindness. My desire to see something through to the end wanes and I leave things undone. I know this is one of the areas in my life where the enemy can find an advantage, so I have to prepare for those moments when I will become fatigued. 

I have learned to recognize them earlier than I used to, then I take a short break from what I am doing in order to renew my mind and energy levels. I might need a quick snack and some hydration because I have ignored both while I have been 'hard at work'. I might need to do something else for a while, so my mind is taken away from the things that are so fatiguing. My plan begins with recognizing the signs of fatigue and then exercising some 'good judgment steps' to avoid going down that path that leads to wrong behavior. 

You might have heard the saying, "the best offense is a good defense", and this remains true in our spiritual lives, as well as on the sporting field. We don't avoid trials - they will come. We don't resist temptation by good thoughts alone. We need a plan - a 'play-book'. When we are prepared, we recognize when trial or temptation is upon us and we begin to 'respond' rather than 'react'. Ask God to help you develop your 'play-book' in those areas where you are most tempted or frequently tested. He won't let you down - he even provides the resources we need to overcome. Just sayin!

Okay, waiting again?

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change. ( Peter 3:9)

How do you measure lateness? I remember being all ready to have my daughter walk down the aisle and realizing the groom and his best man were far from ready. I didn't realize his interpretation of 'on time' was different from mine. We waited until he was, obviously - because he is a great guy and he makes my daughter happy! I had to learn to 'chill' a bit because when we said the wedding would be at 'x' time, I just expected it would be at 'x' time. "X" can be one thing to us and quite another thing to God, as well. If you have ever had to 'wait on his timing', you realize quickly that our 'mis-matched' timing is kind of evident. The good news is that God is never late - we are just early!

I almost missed it the first time I read through this passage, but what is very apparent to me now is that God is oftentimes 'holding back' - restraining himself - not because he doesn't want to answer our prayers, but because we aren't quite ready yet. Readiness is measured a bunch of different ways, but the most obvious is that when we are 'ready' we are completely prepared. How 'complete' is your preparation for whatever it is you have been asking God to reveal or do in your life? Chances are you may not be as 'completely prepared' as you think. Being ready also means we are completely equipped - adjusted so as to receive. Have you ever taken delivery on something you weren't quite ready to receive? I know how stressful it is to have a delivery driver show up early and me still cleaning the space where the new appliance or furnishing will be put. You just don't feel good about it.

God is giving us time and space. Time to adjust and prepare. Space to get ourselves into a position to receive. If you have experienced a lengthy prep time for receiving from God, you know there is a great deal of anticipation that occurs. Your awareness of his every movement is somehow heightened and you find you are kind of prepared through the building of your emotional and spiritual anticipation. Some of the wait may just be because we aren't accessible yet. Readiness means we have made a way for him to enter. I guess we all have a different way of getting ready, but if you are like me, you have a routine of sorts. The issue is that God doesn't always adhere to our routine. Sometimes he gets us into the place where our routine way of connecting with him is challenged a little. 

Next time you find your timing is a bit different from what God's timing may be, contemplate the time and space he is giving you. Instead of complaining about him being late, consider what it is you need to do to be ready - anticipating, prepared, and in the perfect position to receive all he is about to do or bring into your life. Just waiting....

Prepared for the 'what'

Charles Swindoll posed the idea that "life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it", because he proposes reaction can be controlled or 'governed'. I imagine God sits around sometimes just watching some of our reactions to some of the things in life that shouldn't have thrown us into a tizzy, but there we are - in a pickle and sour as all get out because of what is going on in our lives. Life doesn't have to elicit reactions from us - we offer them quite freely, don't we? We are moved by the oddest things, shut down by others, and completely oblivious at times to things that should have cause us some sort of reaction. In my day to day work, I plan the action so we don't have to be so 'reactive'. It is called being 'proactive' - knowing how we will 'act' before there is ever a need for a reaction.

Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing. If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking. (James 1:4-5)

All of God's plans for us involve some sort of 'action'. Even taking no action is actually an 'action' on our part. It is hard to learn how to take the correct actions all of the time, but the more we listen to God's voice, learn his ways as shown to us in the Word of God, and just contemplate our own actions BEFORE we take them, we will find our actions become more consistent and correct. I think that is what Swindoll had in mind when he posed that idea of us focusing not so much on the 'what' as on the 'how' in life. Life happens, but how we respond to it is determined beforehand. Yes, you may think you 'reacted' in that very moment when something happened, but in truth, you 'reacted' based upon something you already learned somewhere in your past.

Learn well "HOW" to wait - did you catch that in our passage today? The 'how' is under consideration, not the 'what'. If we don't know 'how', what are we to do? We are to ask God for the wisdom to know the 'how' when we are faced with the 'what'. Now, that may seem elementary to some, but trust me on this one, we'd have less trouble with some of our 'reactions' in life if we had spent a little time up front with God learning how to respond when those things came our way! I had no clue that I would not be able to get to food or water yesterday when I started the day, but something inside of me told me to put a couple of bottles of water, some fruit, cheese, and almonds into a small lunch bag in the den. I listened and do you know what - when everything inside the kitchen was sealed in plastic for the painter to begin the task of spraying the paint, I didn't have to panic!

In essence, I listened to a 'small voice' inside of me that actually helped me be prepared - proactive. This morning I still have no access to the kitchen, but I still have fruit, cheese, and nuts! I am set! This is just a simple illustration of not being caught off-guard by the 'what' because God had prepared me with the 'how' already. God is very likely working out some 'how' steps in your life today, but you have no idea 'what' you will need those steps for in your day. You just know he is asking you to 'learn well' the 'how' so you will be ready for the 'whatever' that comes. Just sayin!

The Battle is On!

There are days when I feel ever so grateful and aware of each breath, each rhythmic thump of my heart, and each wisp of air as it gently passes through my hair. The moments don't pass me by unnoticed - keenly aware of the people surrounding me, the challenges ahead of each of them, and the enjoyment we find in just being together. Perhaps we get too caught up in life at times to even realize the type of fight we all are really in with each new step we take. In the specific moments we take to actually pause long enough to look around, we often discover we are in the fight of our lifetime - not alone in this fight, because others are right there, dukes raised, readying themselves for their own fights!

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

It is a good thing we are given well-made weapons of the best materials, isn't it? Yet, a weapon in a locked cabinet is of little use to the one gazing upon it from the outside! We are reminded of the need to "put on" all we are given - not just parts and pieces, selectively chosen as the "attire" we WANT to put on. To be truthful, there are days when I don't want to be in shoes, much less binding or confining clothing. I just want to walk around barefoot - comfortable, not bound up inside shoe leather, toes free to just luxuriate in the open air. It may not have occurred to you yet, but my toes are a whole lot more likely to get stubbed in some situations when they are not properly attired! While walking around my home barefooted may be okay, doing so around the hospital where I work is not.

I may not WANT to wear the shoes, but they actually protect me in ways I might not fully appreciate. At work, for example, I wear them to keep me from getting unwanted germs on my body - from creeping into the dark spaces between my toes and under my nails, setting me up for disease. As I walk on the street, I wear them to keep my feet from frying to a crisp on asphalt made unbearably hot in the blazing Arizona sun! The shoes serve a very worthwhile purpose - different from circumstance to circumstance, but a significant purpose nonetheless. We cannot simply look upon what God has given to us to make us strong and see that it only serves ONE purpose - it is likely that what we are given to keep us strong serves varied purposes depending upon the fight we are in.

This is no afternoon athletic contest! Did you catch that in our passage today? For most of us, this escapes us because we no longer engage in those Sunday afternoon football skirmishes on the family lawn, or a leisurely game of stick ball where it was us against them, may the best teamplayers win. An afternoon athletic contest is not really a true "contest", but a time of "playing around" with being an "athlete" - a time to 'fight hard', but it isn't for the Super Bowl trophy! This walk with Christ is not a leisurely thing! It is a fight to the death! Someone is after our peace and it is a pretty devious enemy who fights to take it away from us! If he has skin in this game, isn't it time for us to put as much skin in the game? We don't go up against our enemy unprepared if we ever expect to win. We have been given the best of all weapons - the Word of God making us strong, the righteousness of Christ guarding our hearts so we remain strong, the peace of Christ guiding each step we take so our faith is built up with each step, faith firmly grounded in assurance of the protective power of our God at our fingertips, and the blood of Christ covering our missteps, making our minds and hearts strong. Above all, we have the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God. All in all - no one piece stands alone - no one piece is to be left off.

We can be all "clad" in armor and have no weapon to launch an attack of our own! At best, without a weapon in our hands, we can only stand against the attack for so long! This is why we need the Word in our hands - the Spirit of God using it to defend us and to divide truth from lie in our minds and hearts. So, as much as we might want to take shortcuts in life, maybe we need to be consistent with the application of what we have been given for our defense more than we need to take the shortcut! We are in the fight of our lifetimes, perhaps without even recognizing it. This is no afternoon athletic contest! We need the real deal when it comes to being equipped and ready for the battle ahead! I don't want an unprotected heart, or an easily influenced mind! You don't either! So, gird up! The battle's on! Just sayin!

Don't be 'dull'

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

(I Peter 5:8-11)

Today we find a reminder of the importance of keeping our guard - never, never letting it down because when we do, the dangers lurk.  This is a call to stay alert, aware of our surroundings, attentive to things that cross our path - it won't be smooth sailing all the way and we need to be 'aware' of all that comes our way.  Here we see a picture of the Devil being "poised to pounce" much like a large jungle cat just laying in wait for its prey - eyes fixed, every muscle tense with the power to just explode into action at the moment the chance presents itself. What does it take to stay alert and stand our ground in faith?  We will go through times of testing, much like a refining process, that will purify our faith - so it is important that we figure this out as quickly as possible.  A pure faith is one that can stand confident in the midst of trial and temptation.  How is our faith purified?  The trial (times of testing) brings to the surface things that otherwise would be hidden from our attention and allows us to lay those things before God, trusting him to remove them.  

We need to be involved in our daily walk with a passion and a purpose - not just lazily accepting our lives as already being all they can be (although this would make life it a whole lot easier).  In other words, we stay committed to growth - doing what it takes to grow up in Christ.  This may mean doing what we don't necessarily feel like doing - daily time in the Word, gathering together in regular times of worship and teaching, etc.  It means that we don't accept "good enough" as the basis of our Christian walk - we ask God for the best, and pursue it with the passion that he enables us to develop.  We also need to realize the importance of love in our lives - because it is the manifestation of how God has worked in us, creating a new life within. We are to be attentive to the needs of others, not always focusing on our own wants/wishes, but truly being sensitive to the plight of the other person. Love is learned at the feet of Jesus - love is lived out in the daily example we set to a lost and dying world. Love involves being kind with our words, encouraging in our actions, committed in our attitudes, and industrious in our work.

It is very easy to indulge our ego at the expense of our spiritual walk. Whenever we focus on our wants before God's desires for our lives, we are putting self first.  This is a place of danger for us!  We are called to do good with both heart and soul - that makes us unstoppable in the kingdom of God.  We cannot focus on our needs above those of another.  We cannot control the outcomes of a man's life, but we can impact the outcome by the choices we make, the example we set, and the love we display. We won't go very far in being ready for attack without a complete change of thinking - not dwelling on the old sinful ways of thinking any longer.  In other words, we need to have our minds (thoughts and attitudes) cleansed by the power of God's Word and his Holy Spirit.  The exchange of thought pattern from that of focusing merely on self, sinful passions and pursuits, to that of how God would have us to live is a process of growth.  We learn to "put on" the mind of Christ as we learn to bring each thought, desire, and attitude before him for his approval.  Those thoughts we entertain that do not bring him honor begin to be pointed out, while God faithfully reveals to us what we need to lay down in the process and what we need to replace those thoughts, desires, and attitudes with.  God is in the business of pointing out what needs to "go away", but he is also so faithful to provide what needs to "be put into" our lives.

Last, but not least,we need to be aware of our surroundings - standing our ground, alert, ready for the attack of our enemy.  Satan is like a prowling lion, waiting to pounce, just looking for the opportunity to trip us up in our walk and impede our progress with God.  He most common weapon is doubt - causing us to question the sincerity of our heart commitment, planting little seeds of doubt that cause us to focus on what we are NOT, instead of what we ARE. Be alert! Be ready!  That is the call.  Don't let the enemy of your soul trip you up with his discouraging words, immobilizing thoughts, and tantalizing temptations.  Stay on guard - in other words, don't grow lazy in your walk!  Be prayerful, study often and study well - not just to study, but to actually learn.  The best antidote to a lack of growth is to learn to take in that which will spur us to growth again - regular time in his Word, committed relationships with others walking with him, and attention to times of special communion with our God.  Just sayin!

You ready?

As another wave of storms swept through the valley over the past three days, they came with quite strong winds and what some call "micro-bursts" of storm activity.  These micro-bursts have the capacity to dump a lot of rain at once in seemingly one spot, combined with high winds which do significant damage.  Block walls were leveled, power poles snapped in two, and trees uprooted.  It seems like the storms lately have become more and more "aggressive", taking their toll on the neighborhoods where they hit the most.  It also seems like there are areas of our large metropolis where these storms hit with such frequency that people are constantly "bouncing back" from them.  Some areas were hit with nearly three-quarters of an inch of rain, while others enjoyed a steady rain most would consider nothing more than sprinkles.  Close to 30,000 customers were without electrical power for over one day.  At first this doesn't seem to significant in the face of things like Hurricane Katrina or the raving effect of tornadoes in the Midwest, but Arizonans just don't expect the "worst". They don't plan for it, nor do many of them actually know what to do when the "worst" actually does come.  I guess we all have a tendency to live life like this on occasion - not really believing the "worst" may happen, so failing to be in a place of readiness should it happen.

Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever.  They won’t be in trouble when times are bad, and they will have plenty when food is scarce.  (Psalm 37:18-19 CEV)

There is a way to live life prepared for any and all inevitabilities - those we see and don't see coming.  The weather forecasters predicted three days of rain - some heavy and some just enough to wet the parched earth.  They revealed the storms left great flooding and mudslides in their path as they made their way through neighboring cities in a neighboring state, but did their predictions change the response of those in their path?  If you looked at those who were affected by the storms in the metropolis in which I live, I'd have to say "no". The way they were living just before the storms began to hit didn't really change - there was no sense of preparation or even any belief they'd need to prepare.  This is how it is with many people in this day and age - living as though preparation was not necessary - in a physical, financial, and spiritual sense!

That place of preparation is found not in a "place" as much as in a "person" - Christ.  As my pastor puts it, we learn to live "prepared" lives when we place our faith, hope, and trust solidly in Christ and nothing else.  Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care...  This says it all - there is no better place of "preparedness" than to be daily in the care of Jesus.  It doesn't mean we don't save our finances so we are prepared when a need hits us such as an unexpected medical bill or car repair.  It also doesn't mean we don't "do" anything with the knowledge we possess about the grace and love of God.  We are called to live prepared lives and that means we make Christ central in our physical, financial, relational, and spiritual lives.  In all areas, he is central.  In all areas, we then stand prepared.

What does "fire insurance" do for us?  It helps us rebuild our houses if there is a disaster which results in fire damage to our homes, right?  It is there for the "what if" of life.  In most cases, people just rest a little easier because they have it, not ever expecting to actually use it. The same might be said of "flood insurance" and "life insurance".  We don't expect to use it, but we have it for the "just in case" type of occurrence.  With the exception of life coming to an end for all of us, most of our other types of insurance are not typically collected upon - we pay the premiums faithfully and then we never make a claim.  We did get peace of mind by having them for the "just in case", but we never really actually needed them.

I wonder how many people go through life treating their relationship with Jesus as though it were "fire insurance" - there to keep us out of hell, but not really laying "claim" to all this relationship means.  My father was a life insurance agent with a large insurance firm for years.  He was a certified life underwriter - he wrote policies designed to insure lives.  Those policies didn't change the outcome of death to those who bought them - they just made it a little easier for those left behind to go on without that person in their lives.  They provided some financial benefit to the survivors.  The life insurance didn't benefit the one whose life was covered, but those who would come after them.

I wonder if this is how Jesus expects us to treat the "life insurance" his grace provides in our lives - by helping others who come after us to meet, know, and follow him.  Grace isn't an "insurance policy" - it is a means by which we live our lives to the fullest and then pass that blessing onto others.  Yes, grace provides a means by which we escape the separation from God which sin ultimately maintains.  Yes, grace provides us with access to the many blessings of God.  Yes, grace is a kind of "insurance" against our continued separation from God - because it not only covered our past sins, but those we commit today and into the future.  But...grace isn't just "insurance" - it is a means to live our lives to the fullest, prepared to face each challenge, and igniting a passion within us which in turn helps ignite the spark of faith in others which will ignite their own passion for serving Jesus.

We don't prepare for the inevitabilities in life through "buying insurance" - we prepare for them by actually "preparing".  In other words, we buy the flashlights, batteries, and generator to prepare for times when electrical power may not be available.  We aren't doomsday prep kind of people, but we live prepared lives.  This carries from our physical lives into every realm of our walk - finances, relationships, and even into our spiritual lives. We need to learn to live prepared!  Just sayin!