InsidOut311

In a typical and consistent fashion, my day will start with a few things that I gotta have... call it my 'morning survival kit' or my 'jump-start guide' or whatever... but I need these three things to get my day into gear.  And those three things are:  a healthy combination of Bible/prayer/worship to set my heart straight and focus on the things of God's heart, a good-bye kiss from my wife as I get to work, and some good coffee to awaken my senses and brain.  (btw - that list is in order of priority).  Quite honestly, if one of those three things don't happen, I tend to get all out-of-whack and disoriented, to the point of feeling as though I somehow got thrown across the world and showing up in Tabibuga, Papua New Guinea... being forced to face the morning, where everyone around me is speaking in an unknown language and I'm left not understanding anything going on around me and so I, in a friendly manner, just nod my head "yes" to satisfy people's attempt to communicate with me.  Pretty extreme consequences, yes I know.  Fortunately, I am able to make those three things happen every day.  So, no trips to Tabibuga, Papua New Guinea.  Not very often anyway.  Although, I'm sure it's beautiful there.

Your list of 'necessities to start the day' might be different than mine.  As a matter of fact, your 'survival kit' might not look like my list at all! (Although, I've read that a wholesome 80% of people in the U.S. drink coffee... so statistically, there's a good chance we share the same desire for coffee each morning... just thought I'd throw that in there.)   =D

Your 'morning survival kit' might include something like a heavy dose of chocolate and some loud Toby Mac in your ears.  Or maybe an online combination of Facebook, Twitter and some Word.  Or maybe your morning dose of daytime involves a big, happy bowl of Lucky Charms or some other sugarfied mixture of goodness.

Whatever your daily start consists of, it sure puts a smile on your face.  And it's hard to think of your day without it.  For me, coffee puts a smile on my face.  Seeing Sandy's sunshine-glow warms my heart.  Spending time with God gives me oxygen to breathe.  Without these things, be concerned for me.

But it makes me think of things that we allow into our lives that we mark down as 'must haves'.  What is your 'morning survival kit'?  What's your 'daily dose' that puts a smile on your face?

And what happens to you if you don't get it or hear it or see it or feel it or taste it or smell it or whatever? 

Let's open this up a little wider... what are the things in your life that have become so important, so essential, that without those things, you feel uncomfortable?  Maybe insecure?  It can be a BFF or a really soft blanket or a style of music you really connect with or a million other things.

In life, we often seek a connection with something that's gonna cover us like a blanket and make us feel complete... that bring us to a place where there's a real sense of warm security and comfort.  And really there's nothing wrong with having some of those things in your life... unless... we get to a point where a whole lot is wrapped up in possessing that whatever-it-is that without it, we feel like absolutely nothing.

And to take it further, some of these things become much more than a feel-good-moment for the day... they become our identity... our 'who we are.'  We really don't want people to really even look as us, unless they see that security blanket that we securely wrap around ourselves, hiding our true identity (who God made us).  We get to the point where we allow things into our lives that aren't real healthy, nor do they bring us closer to God or even closer to people in a healthy manner.

We started a new series this week in InsideOut and Ignite called "ENGAGE" and bringing into light a somewhat sensitive subject.  We're looking at the things of this world and bringing to light the fact that there's a tension in our lives... it's a struggle in our desires for the things of 'this world' verses the things of God's World.

When we talk about the things of 'this world,' we're basing our teaching and understanding on 1 John 2:15-17.   An easy definition of this phrase 'the world' basically being, "the things in this earth that were not created by God." 

There are 'worldly' things we allow into our lives that separate us from God... and worse, take the place of God in our lives.  We allow those things access into our lives and they steal our affections, our focus, our attention, our energy, our breath, our identity, our healthy friendships, our everything (if we allow it). 

There's two sides here:  there's the side of 'the world'... then there's the side of God.  And we must choose.

That's the question we're asking to start off this series... "what side are you on?" 

It's an important question.  Why?  Because the side you choose will influence who you are as a person and ultimately, possibly, dictate where you spend eternity.  Does that sound like something important?

Come Wednesday night... and we'll go further into the subject.