New iPhone 6 Coming Soon!

The New iPhone 6 is coming soon!

Did you hear about the hot, new, efficient iPhone coming out? Will you wait to upgrade until it comes out?

In our society we are constantly bombarded with the pressure of having the new and most desirable thing. In a recent experience, I was given the option of upgrading my old iPhone 4 for a new iPhone 5, or waiting six months for the “new iPhone”, but I didn’t even know what it would be.

The iPhone is a simple, worldly object, but I have often reflected on how many factors, ideas, experiences, or decisions in life are we given the option to wait for a far superior plan/opportunity, or settle for something less. This topic has been on my heart to discuss this topic for a long time.

One Bible story that spoke to me, especially through one of Craig Groschell’s sermons early in my “true faith” (when I decided to live my faith and not just complete a Christian checklist; go to church, be in a bible study, have a couple Christian friends) walk, is the story of Jacob and Essau (Link to Sermon - http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch/weird/3 ).

You see, Jacob was smart and was very clever. His older brother, Essau, was supposed to receive his “birthright”, which meant a majority of the inheritance from his father. He was to carry on the family name and take over the “family business”, if you will. This was a huge gift and an honor for Eassau. When Essau returned from a hunting trip, he was famished. Jacob was conveniently cooking stew when Essau returned home. Essau, feeling as though he would die in seconds if he didn’t eat, begged Jacob for some of his soup. Jacob said that he would give Essau some soup if he would, in return, give up his birthright. Though I assume that Essau could have made it a couple more minutes, hours, or even days with out the soup, he ended up exchanging the mere soup for the honoring, amazing, historical, and virtuous gifts that God had planned for him and the future of the Abraham line.

How applicable is this to our lives? The iPhone is a simple thing to wait for. Many people I know will even wait a year or more to upgrade just so they can get that “best” piece of equipment. The more meaningful things like a great job, an amazing spouse, sex, the new car, the big screen for the super bowl, and the list goes on and on.

Currently, I am in transition. My most recent company laid me off. My wife and I had been praying for guidance with our careers. We were asking God to show us where we should live, where we should work, and the community that we should be a part of. The week that I was laid off, my father had a kidney infection and was hospitalized for several days. My wife was given the opportunity to travel less with her current employer and also was given support and trust to know that she was valued, and the previous environment of micromanagement would cease. Then, I was laid off.

Not exactly the answers to our prayers we thought we would receive, however, it has been an amazing plan thus far. We were able to spend time together over the holidays, come to understand that I am needed here to help my parents at this time.  I didn’t take the first position that was offered to me, which allowed me to be approached by a Godly family to be a part of their business that they have grown for a long time. One day, I will plan to lead that business. This will be the answer to our prayer for flexibility to spend time with our future children.

It is so amazing the many things that can happen in your life, both good and bad (which can be used for good), if you listen to God’s plan for your life, are patient to hear and act on the plan, and always know in the back of your mind/heart that God has something amazing planned for you!

What things are you “hurrying” into? What amazing things are you giving up in the future (that you might not be able to see), for this immediate desire or want you presently have?

I do not, in any way, want to have this blog to come off as a promotion of sitting on your hands and saying that you are praying for something and waiting for it to happen without taking any action to move forward. God is not your genie; he is your partner/teammate, who is always there for you. He wants to work with you and through you. He can easily do all the work and make it perfect, however, we don’t learn that way and there isn’t a lot of value for him or for us in that. Know that when you pray for things there are actions you must take.

I have had many friends of faith tell me that God’s answer is always an answer of action. It is an answer of either yes, no, or wait. My wife and I learned a great way to know if God is speaking to you during our premarital counseling. The way you know whether he is talking to you is best to be thought of as a wheel with 4 spokes. At the center of this wheel is Jesus Christ; he makes the wheel turn. One of the spokes is reading his word, the Bible. Through reading his word, you should be able to compare your decisions to make sure that it lines up to biblical law, while at the same time, there is the opportunity to be spoken to through the Bible on which direction you should go. Secondly, your day to day life experiences come into play. What is happening in your life? Do things line up with something that is on your heart? Are people being put into your life to speak truth or confirmation about something? God will put people and/or circumstances in your life that you must be observant of Do those people/circumstances line up with the other spokes? Thirdly, your prayer life is very important. You prayers for needs, guidance, wisdom, confirmation, and direction are things that God will answer. He may also speak to you during prayer or quiet time. Whether that is through a booming voice, whisper, or just mere thoughts that are put into your head, God can talk to you through a focused quiet time of prayer.

Finally, there are mentors and fellowship in your life. I seek to have Godly counselors as something I call the “board of directors” of my life. These are the people (some the same age and some older and wiser) that know me well. They know my heart, my motives, my desires, dreams, etc. They are there to discuss with me and will help to sort out the many thoughts into a clearer picture. It is important that they are not bias, but instead are there to help you walk yourself through much like the Socratic Method. They ask questions you might not think of, they tell you things you might be trying to ignore, and they encourage you to take a leap or a step.

All of these things together help you to know that it is God’s plan and that this is the direction you must take. This process is especially important for large decisions. In the case of my wife and I getting married, we prayed that God would guide us, challenge us, and continue to make it worth it to us. If this wasn’t God’s plan then we prayed that he would kill it, either through the word, our mentors, life circumstances, or prayer and quiet time. Regardless of if it is right or not, then make sure that it is clear to us that he is blessing or discouraging us. It is amazing that she moved to Nebraska from Chicago. Nebraska has great people, but isn’t the booming, cultural metropolis with all the opportunities that Chicago may have. My wife and I set up a very clear “foundational agreement” when we started to date. It included the following expectations and imperatives:

1.)   We both Love God and commit to put him number one in our lives - striving to make decisions based on his direction and guidance.

2.)   We both mutually care about each other and want to put each other second in life.

3.)   Because we both believe in God, we both want to challenge each other to be better in him. However, we should not ever compare who is further along in their journey/relationship with God. No one is perfect, except Jesus, and we all fall short of him every day, but strive to be more like him. We do not judge each other.

4.)   When we choose to date each other, it is not merely to have a significant other, but because we are seeking a spouse and are dating for marriage. The goal is marriage.

5.)   We will not have sex before we are married. That includes actions leading up to sex. Kissing is our limit and should be our line so that we honor what is sacred, expecting God’s greater reward for marriage, if/when that is the outcome.

6.)   We will not live together until we are married.

7.)   Any issue that we have with each other or in general, we must first discuss with each other. There will be things that we can’t fix for each other, or to which we can’t relate. However, we must first go to each other to discuss them, so as to not create any distrust or secrets between each other.

8.)   We both will make an effort to talk on the phone once every day when out of town. Even if it is a quick goodnight. This is part of pursuing each other.

9.)   With circumstances as they are right now, it is the plan that Stephanie will move to Nebraska for the foreseeable future.

10.) I, Matthew, promise to strive towards the following things:

a.      I will reject passivity

b.     I will lead courageously

c.      I will take responsibility

d.     I will expect God’s Greater Reward

This is what we discussed and agreed upon before we even said that we would date. This is a huge step in a culture that will shy away from this type of transparency and commitment. Can you imagine talking about this on your first date? We are so glad that we did. But we had to put many things off to know that on the other side God had an amazing plan for us. This  is one of the greatest joys in my life that I am truly proud and so thankful that I waited for.

I pray for you that this strikes your heart in a powerful way. I pray that as you read this, that decision or choice you are trying to make is able to be clear. I pray that you seek the wisdom and the direction through this 4-spoke wheel. I pray that you do not settle for the present. I pray that you know that you have a lord and savior that loves you and has amazing plans in store for you! He knew you before you were born and has a purpose for you. Be assured that this is true.

Essau was supposed to carry on his father’s lineage.  Instead we, as Christians, now claim that we are the decedents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Not Essau).

Be Blessed,

Matthew R. Schultz

About.me/MatthewRSchultz