Looking up

When I hear my Dad say "Grace, you need to be thinking outside the box" (one of his favorite phrases), my heart sinks. Creativity is NOT my strong point, and that is what he wants, right? I am learning something about "looking outside of the box"; it isn't actually as hard as I used to think it was. I think my most creative ideas have come from stepping back and looking at the big picture. What are the needs? How can they be met? So basically my dad is just asking me to find the answer that works. It's there; it is just not at that moment apparent.

I love the book of Philippians (in the Bible) and it is from this book that God has revealed His call to me. He has called me to creativity or "looking up".

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." -Phil. 2:4-8

If you are like me, semi-normal, you have a lot to do. And things and issues crowd your day until you fall into bed exausted late at night (or early morning). For some of you, mere survival takes up most of your day, how can there possibly be any time left for one more thing? There seems to be in that kind of day no room for more attention to others or other's things. How can we be asked to look on things of others when we barely (and I mean barely) have room for our "things". This is where creativity and looking up come into play.

Actually looking on the things of others is more about the heart than anything else. Of course! I love Mark Cahill's quote "money isn't about money, it is about the heart." Is our heart right about the things we are doing? There are times when parents or

It is so natural for me to go about the day working, studying, and interacting with people in a selfish way. But God has called me and redeemed me from that way of thinking to a new life wherein I can have a new mind of selfless humility in serving, living, yea, dying for other's things. It requires creativity, because this is not natural. It requires creativity because it doesn't seem possible. We have a responsibility to be responsible. However creativity is not that hard. It is the answer that works and the answer that is already there.

So stepping back, what is the big picture? Life isn't about me. It will not effect eternity if my personal desire to one day become a nurse is not realized... All of heaven will not be shaken if I am not one day a wonderful, responsible, cheerful, good and virtuous wife and mother... And as far as short term desires: I will still be a Christian if I don't get to hear the latest episode of Wretched Radio, or Paul Washer's sermon. I will not be overweight tomorrow if I don't get the best workout today... So my plans and desires are very much interupt-able. Is that a word? That's a humbling thought, but it should be. Life is about God, His goals, His plans done His way. Life is about anything and everything that magnifies God.

And what is the answer that is there and yet not apparent? The answer seems to be in having the mindset of Christ. The attitude of a bond-servant (if you will) giving up ones own desires and dreams to serve their master because of the love one has for their master seems to be the right attitude.

In this same book, Paul talks about a selfless man who served Paul's needs without regard to his own physical needs. Wow! Paul says, "Hold such a one in reputation."

So my challenge is to "look up!" What is going on around me? .

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." -1John 4:21