Extras

There are no extras in life.

In the background of our favorite movies, actors called "extras" fill in all the gaps to make scenes look realistic: a crowd at a baseball game, diners in a restaurant, people walking on a busy sidewalk.

Everyday, in our real lives we see people in the background too.  I was at a concert recently (shout out to Casting Crowns) and I looked around at the crowd.  There were about 3,000 people there and suddenly I realized that God knows every single one of them.  He knows each name, each life and every thought of each of those people. 

The entire Bible teaches us that God loves every single person.  He loves us all unconditionally and equally.

No one is "extra" to God.

No one has a "bit part".  Your waitress, your neighbor, the guy behind you in traffic, your coworkers, your classmates and the girl standing in your way at the grocery store are not "extras" in your life.  Each one of them is someone that God loves, someone that Jesus died to save.  Just like you.  Each one is made in the image of God and is just as important to God as you are.  And never forget that you are never "extra" either.

This is an amazing truth that should affect your life. God tells us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31), our enemies (Matthew 5:44), other Christians (John 13:34-35) and-oh yeah-EVERYONE:

1 Thessalonians 3:12a "And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow,"     

"For God so loved"...who? Smart people? Attractive people? Friendly people? Interesting people? Important people? No.  

"For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NLT (emphasis mine)

Stop condemning, comparing and coveting. Don't get down on yourself or up on yourself. These are all sins that I struggle with and they are not good for me.  They don't add anything to my life. They steal a lot of peace and joy, in fact. 

Remind yourself of who you are and who everyone else is and you won't regret it.  You are LOVED by God and so is everyone else. 

God has given you invincible love, grace and joy, so overflow!  Spread the love!!!

In God's Universe, There Are No Extras. 

White Coat Hypertension

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I thought I'd share a technique I've been using to try to make myself less nervous. I try to think of the doctor and nurses (and all of the other people whose titles include various combinations of the words assistant, tech, clerk, student and practitioner) as stylists, masseurs and general well-being pamperers.

  I imagine those montages that occur in chick flicks right before the leading lady goes to the big party.  You know what I'm talking about.  When she gets her hair done and her friends shower her with outfit options.

  If you're getting a colonoscopy (which thankfully I am not) maybe you can imagine your doctor is one of those masseurs who rubs you with hot stones or beats you with birch branches.  :)  
    My point is that, whatever the appointment is for, you pay medical professionals to contribute to your well-being. Even though they are experts, they work for you.  And no matter what unpleasant treatments and tests they convince you to undergo, ultimately they are caring for you and trying to help you.

I know this little mind trick is not a Biblical truth but here's a Biblical truth: When you're anxious or afraid, it should help to know...

1. How God feels about you - "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  ...for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us." Romans 8:32, 33b-34 
2. That you and your loving Savior are literally inseparable -  "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
3. In spite of circumstances, Together You can say no to fear - "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?"Psalm 27:1