Let me first say "welcome!" I'm pumped to be writing my first entry on my brand new blog. The last few months have been quite a time for myself and my family. To quickly summarize, we have been moving our family, leaving friends, leaving family, coming back to old friends and family, making new friends, buying a house, buying a car, learning a new job, remodeling a house, and still changing diapers (though my wife gets credit for like 90% of those). Simply put, it has been a lot. There have been many tears, both of sadness and joy. But I'm so excited to be right where God has me and look forward to the future. This blog is part of that future. And while I will do some entries in the future that discuss our move a little more, today I want to explain the title of my blog..."Give It Everything."
As I've changed jobs and moved up here, and even in months leading up to this change, I've often thought about this question, "What's my thing?" I love God and love serving Him. I love His Word and know that the answers it holds satisfy every question, if people would just look. I love people! Sitting at lunch with someone and talking is incredible. Learning how to love them, what they like, what they need. I really enjoy it. But when you put it all together, what's my thing? I know that glorifying God is the ultimate goal each day I live, but how has He made me to do that?
I settled on this: my thing is to give everything I have to everything I do. When I lead singing on Sunday, give it everything I have in my bones, muscles, heart, mind, soul, lungs...everything. When I work on a small group spread sheet, give it everything. When I pick a new song for our church, give it everything. When I meet with a college student over coffee, give it everything. When I play with my little boys, give it everything. When I go on a date with my wife, give it everything (no business texts!).
God has given us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Everything He needs us to do can be accomplished in that time. Otherwise He would have given us more!!! But in that time, we must focus and maximize our efforts. Why do something 50%? Or 30%? Or even 90%? If your answer is "I'm tired", then rest more. I love what I heard from a friend of mine, "Work hard. Play hard. Rest hard." It's so true! I've never been afraid to sleep for 8-9 hours when I need it. I've never shied away from a 3-day getaway. Jesus stopped healing people so He could go sleep on a boat! Yeah, seriously. I think that's the perfect picture of giving everything you have. So tired from serving that He collapsed into sleep amidst a brutal storm.
That's giving it everything. In the coming months and years, I hope we all do this more and more. Let's be clear, I'm not always executing this in each area of my life yet. But I'm working on it. And I'm thinking about it. I'm reminding myself that John Piper's book title Don't Waste Your Life is not only true, but a great statement to read every few days. Let's dig in and give everything we have to the Lord every day, whether tedious task or relaxing conversation with a loved one. Thanks for reading and God bless.
