I’ll take a venti, sugar-free, soy, quad shot, seven pump, vanilla latte…(part 1 of 3)

…and the list goes on and on. Let’s be real, if you’ve ever hung out at a Starbucks studying, reading, or chillin on your MacBook; if you’ve ever stood in line at Starbucks for a decent amount of time; if you have ever asked a Starbucks “lifer” what their drink of choice is – you will hear the most intricate, lengthy, specific, semi-different-language drink. Don’t believe me, hang out at a Starbucks tomorrow.

Before I go any further, I have to admit, I hate Starbucks. Not the company (the company as a business has a brilliant corporate structure) – the actual coffee (the espresso). In fact, most people, when you ask them, actually hate the coffee from Starbucks too! My hatred of Starbucks comes from working at a coffee shop that was their competition, The Coffee Bean. After tasting the Coffee Bean’s espresso and multiple drinks, I have never hated Starbucks more. Starbucks burns their coffee (and their beans are actually very poor in quality), they use liquid flavorings (which actually are not made to mix well with espresso), and they don’t even steam milk in the best way (to make it smooth, creamy, and with perfect natural foam on top). I know that you might think Starbucks is phenomenal. Your pumpkin spice latte…your cinnamon dulce “crappacinno”…it’s wonderful. You think they’re delicious. Yet, I will challenge you…go to a different coffee shop and ask them to make their version. You will be amazed at the difference.

I know that I will have some haters who read this; some hardcore Starbucks lovers. That’s ok. I don’t care. In the grand scheme of things, your choice of where you get a drink is not going to, or should not, ruin any friendships. Yet, to show both sides, I will share many things that Starbucks does well. They are often times super friendly. They have an incredible variety of drinks (especially seasonal). They have an incredible atmosphere (chairs, interior colors, etc). They have free internet now. They serve not just coffee, but delicious snacks and breakfast items. They often have great service time (both inside and the drive-through). They often times have a drive-through at their stand alone locations. The company is active in the community and supports many local organizations. The list CAN go on, but the number one thing that Starbucks does well, that people LOVE them for, is that they are EVERYWHERE. Basically, people love Starbucks because it is CONVENIENT.

Let’s talk about this for a little bit. While I worked at the Coffee Bean, you would not believe the number of people who would come in, get a drink, taste it, and tell me, “Oh my gosh, this is the best drink I have ever had.” Or my personal favorite, “Wow, this is so much better than Starbucks!” Yet, the funny thing is that I would never see those people…ever. They never came back. They had just made a statement that the drink I had just made them was the best; better than Starbucks (the leader in the coffee industry). I even had conversations with customers who could tell me specifically why our drinks were better. Yet, I would never see those people again. Or, if I did, they would make it a fact to tell me, “You know, if you guys would have more locations available, I wouldn’t have to go to Starbucks. It’s just that they are so close. I hate getting their drinks, but it’s out of my way to come here.”

So what’s my point in all this? Why the comparison? Well, doesn’t this sound a bit like how we treat church? Doesn’t this sound like how we view going to church? Doesn’t this sound a bit like what we like or don’t like about church? Doesn’t this even sound like the things we find ourselves saying after GOING to church? Doesn’t this sound a bit like the conversations we have with our friends who attend one kind of church (size, denomination, style, preaching topics/style) while we attend a different kind of church? I would submit that it is an incredible picture of how we view what church we go to. Don’t believe me…just wait.

Grace-Stick…or Grace-Wash?

As a young college student a few years back, among other things “looking good” was a priority for me. It was my chance to win the ladies and I took great pride in my appearance (definitely sinful, prideful mindset…but that’s another blog ;). One of the ways I took great care in my appearance was how I dressed and what my clothes looked like. I never have the nicest clothes (poor college student) and I never had the most trendy clothes (I can’t justify spending over $25 for ANY item of clothing), but whatever clothes I had on I made sure were CLEAN! If they had a stain…even the smallest of stains…they would not be worn. Then, I found the most amazing creation ever: the wonderful Tide-Stick!!! What an amazing thing!!! It saved me LOADS of laundry as I simply applied the tide stick to my mini-stained clothing and it looked LEGIT!!!

Let’s be real, the Tide-Stick is pretty awesome. It gets out just about every stain. Yet, after doing some research from the Tide website, I found that we treat the TideStick just like we treat sin. See, I was never concerned with stains on my clothes because I had a temporary fix. This temporary fix didn’t and couldn’t replace the effect of actually WASHING my clothes. My clothes looked good, but there were still stains…just covered up by the TideStick.

Check out what I mean…The Tide questions and answers are directly from their website (bold and italics are added by me for emphasis).

Does Tide to Go work on all stains?

No. Tide to Go is designed specifically for removing fresh food and drink stains. Tide to Go does not perform as well on non-food and drink stains including ink, grease, blood, and grass stains.

Are there any stains that Tide to Go cannot remove?

Tide to Go does not perform as well on non-food and drink stains including ink, grease, blood, and grass stains. These are the types of stains that will need to be pretreated and laundered.

Why is Tide to Go only for fresh food and drink stains?

Tide to Go was designed specifically for food and drink stains because our consumer research indicated that fresh food and drink stains accounted for 72% of stains that occur on the go. We are meeting a very specific consumer need with Tide to Go.

Some readers are disappointed with performance — they say that stains weren't eliminated at all — just ameliorated.

When Tide to Go is used according to package direction on non-greasy fresh food and drink stains we are confident that it will deliver results that will make consumers very happy. However, no product can promise to remove every stain under every condition…

Does this sound like what we as Christians do with our sin? Replace the TideStick with whatever you use as your excuse for “fixing” or “hiding” your sin. Do we use joking to cover your sin? Do we just say “I’m sorry” and move on? Do we make excuses for WHY you sinned? Do we categorize sin as “not so bad” just because it’s little? Do we hide the little sins like complaining, selfishness, little lies, gossip, etc. from people so they won’t know? I do all this ALL THE TIME! What am I doing? I am simply using a TideStick to cover my “stains.” You know what that does in my life? It creates a temporary fix to a permanent problem. I never get to the root of my sin. I never deal with it. I look good, but inwardly I am whacked. And here is what it ultimately says: “I can take care of my sin…my rebellion against Christ…I don’t need Christ to take care of my sin. I got it.”

In college the TideStick was amazing…it worked…for a time…yet, why didn’t I just throw my stained shirts, pants, or hats into the wash? Hello!!! It not only would take away my blatantly obvious stains, but even the ones I couldn’t see…you see where I’m getting at?

God’s grace is sufficient enough for every sin. We try so hard to use our own methods of covering sin when Christ’s work on the cross already paid for that. You know how irritating it was putting TideStick over EVERY stain…it was much easier just throwing the shirt in the wash and having the complete and total satisfaction of knowing it would come out CLEAN! Christ’s work on the cross did that for us. Yet, our flesh LOVES to try and think that we don’t need God’s grace for “little” sins…or that God’s grace covers EVERY sin. The flesh weakens conviction against sin by separating the REMEDY of grace from the DESIGN of grace. God's clear design in showing grace is to make us holy - Titus 2:11-12 (completely clean). His loving grace gives us peace, so that we know that when we do sin (get stains on our shirt), "we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense" (1 John 2:1).

What are you doing with your dirty shirts? Using the TideStick of your own efforts…or trusting in the wonderful grace of our Lord to wash us completely clean…no matter what!

Forever Young Aliens

I’m 2*-years old…in an 11 year-old’s opinion I’m old…to those “over the hill” I’m just a youngin’. To be honest, I feel super young. Sure, when I play in my pick-up basketball games at the gym and take some hard falls I don’t bounce back quite so quickly…but nothing fazes me. I’m a kid at heart…if any of you know me you know that I crack jokes (even during extremely serious convos), think the weirdest things are funny, and notice things like a 4 year-old. I have the attention span of an 8 year old at Toy’s R Us. I can’t sit still. I get excited easily and let people know it! This is a part of who I am and I love it. I have a kid-like view on life…nothing is too important not to have fun!

I hope that I continue to have this same perspective and personality well into my 60’s (if the Lord would allow me to live that long). I would love to be like my dad, who at 50, teaches little kids P.E., goofs around with everyone he knows, and has the most energy of a 50 year-old I’ve ever seen. I think he enjoys the life God has given him more than anyone I know. That is what I aspire to.

So you may ask, “Ryan, what in the world inspired you to write about youthful personality?” Well, the lovely radio did it! Specifically the new remix “Forever Young” by Jay-Z. Man, he has a way of remixing songs with incredible skill (although the content is rarely appropriate). As I found myself singing the words, I was struck by the words of another song I was listening to, “Meant to Live” by Switchfoot (maybe one of my top 10 bands ever). Let me list a few lines from both songs:

Forever Young

Heaven can wait, we’re only watching the skies

Let us die young or let us live forever

Fear not when, fear not why, fear not much while we’re alive

Life is for living, not living up tight, see ya somewhere up in the sky

Fear not die, I’ll be alive for a million years, bye bye

So not for legends, I’m forever young, my name shall survive

Meant to Live

Fumbling his confidence and wondering why the world has passed him by

Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments

And failed attempts to fly, fly

We want more than the wars of our fathers

And everything inside screams for second life, yeah

We were meant to live for so much more

Ok, so this isn’t a battle of the bands…or songs. But the drastic difference has sparked something in my heart. The Bible is clear that we are aliens in this world (1 Peter 1:1-3). We have been called as Christians to focus our passions to seeking our HOME (heaven).

Matthew 6:30-36, Jesus shows that the worries of this life should be thrown to the side…why? Two reasons: 1) there will always be worries in this life…2) we are called to seek our home (heaven) FIRST! It makes sense. Why worry about the trials of the day when we won’t be staying here long (in comparison to eternity).

So what does all this have to do with being young? The song Forever Young? What’s the point Ryan?

Well, from what I see in the song Forever Young is the attitude that this life is all we have…so let’s live it up! Don’t let the worries of life stress you out..stay young…live life loud…and live like you have no fear. Why? Cause there’s nothing left after we’re dead! This is all we have.

From what I see in the Bible is the attitude is this life is a gift, temporary living space, and can end at any moment (“You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” James 4:14). So let’s live it up for Christ! Don’t let the worries of life stress you out…stay spiritually passionate…live life loud for God…and live life like you have no fear because nothing in this world can affect our standing before Christ as justified!

We were meant to live for so much more…we were meant to live in fellowship with God…what an amazing day it will be when we are with Him in heaven…truly forever young!

"I Made It" by Kevin Rudolf featuring the Apostle Paul?

One of the popular songs out right now in the secular music industry is the song “I Made It” by Kevin Rudolf featuring Birdman, Jay Sean, and Lil’ Wayne. The beat is catchy, the harmonies are legit, and the raps are sweet…but I read the words and was hit by something. Read the words and see if you catch it (there are 2 swear words…thanks to Lil’ Wayne, which I’ve edited):

I look up to the sky
And now the World is mine
I’ve known it all my life
I made it, I made it!
I used to dream about, the life I’m living now
I know that there’s no doubt.
I made it, I made it!

Known from the city where no one believed in me
But I never give up the fight.
Ya, but now on top. I told you to let it rock
The money’s fallin from the sky
I made it.

(BirdMan)
Rooftop, hella choppa burning smoke
Louie bag stay strapped wit a priceless globe
High life, flippin and get some more.
Paradise, the luxury marble floor
When I hit, hit me full of that cash
More money than I seen in a garbage can
Stunna island, money and the power
That’s how we do it, make it rain make it shower
Top floor, big timer doing big things
Over city views bought shawty new range
Flip another 100, poppin throwing hundreds
In a new Bently, uptown stunna

(Jay Sean)
Yo ay Ay ay listen
See I don’t live for glamour, and I don’t care for fame
I’m in this for the love of the game
Funny how things can change they didn’t believe in me
Then they calling my name now look who cashed in
They didn’t wanna know me back then but ever since I'm done going back then
Everything turned around and now the sky is falling down

(LilWayne)
Came from the gutter, lookin like my motha
Made it to the goal line, straight out the huddle
Cash money goldmine, weezy stay loyal
boy we getting money like we just found oil
Uh and that’s word to my red flag
I live first and leave the bulls**t dead last
I lay it down so hard I got a bedrash
And I just tell em to loaf it when the bread pass
Staring at you from the top of the game man
I might drop the World if I change hands
Uh it feel good to be here, Weezy in the building got this b**ch rebuilt
Young Money

Now compare this song to the words Paul writes in Philippians 3:4-14:

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I’ll be quick and simple here:

Although I can’t envision the Apostle Paul rapping…I think his rap song would sing to a different tune…yet, I think the Apostle Paul could have contributed to this song and sing just like all the other guys. Paul here shows how he “made it”…vs 4-6!!! Paul would be right next to Kevin, Lil’ Wayne, and the bunch singing about all the amazing things he’s done and how that has totally made him “arrive!” Yet, Paul doesn’t end at verse 6…he recognizes that he hasn’t “made it!” That it isn’t about the worldly accomplishments that give you a status of “making it.” No, it is “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…through faith.” What’s even crazier is after a statement like that, Paul states that he does two things, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on…” Man, what an incredible man of humility, perspective, and truth.

Do we have the attitude of already arriving? Do we sing the tune of “I made it” just because we accomplish something? God’s truth says that all our accomplishments are nothing compared to knowing Christ! With this mindset, we don’t ever have an attitude of “arriving,” but we have a passion to strive forward in pursuing God and working towards the upward call of God!

"I Will Not Cry! Famous Last Words!"

So let’s just be real…nobody in their right mind loves to be disciplined! There are many aspects of discipline, none of which we enjoy! There is the physical aspect of discipline, the emotional aspect of discipline, and my least favorite, the after-effects of discipline (i.e. the work of fixing the thing that was being disciplined).

I remember when I was a wee little lad, 9 or 10 years old, and getting into trouble for something I did wrong. My parents spanked of me as a child (my parents spanked me because it’s biblical!). What you need to know about me as a child, however, was that I had an INSANE imagination. Every single moment of the day was lived in my imaginary world…whether it was fighting Philistines, sneaking in to a secret lab for the F.B.I., or being the amazing NBA basketball star…my life was an incredible land of imaginary awesomeness! While being disciplined was no exception! Thus, I found myself sitting on my bed waiting for the meeting between Mr. Paddle and Mr. Butt and thinking to myself…I am like a captive slave in the ancient times of Israel in Egypt and I am about to be flogged for Jesus…thus, I will NOT CRY! This to me was an adventure, not a time where I realized that I had disobeyed my parents and displeased my Savior. My mother came in, had me turn around and spanked me 3 times. Did I cry? HECK NO! I grimaced and gritted my teeth and not a tear exited my ducts. My mom looked at me somewhat surprised, walked out of the room, and I thought I was victorious! Not 30 seconds later, she came in and explained that I was being rebellious and not accepting the punishment for my disobedience and that I was to get 3 more spanks. Again, I turned around and received the “flogging” and held in the tears…I was a slave for Jesus and I wasn’t going to let Him down (I am so laughing as I write this right now!). She again looked at me in shock and disappointment, left the room, and had me feeling even more super confident – even though my butt hurt like none other! 30 seconds went by and I heard footsteps…but not 2 feet…4 feet. Fear began to creep into my heart as I realized that my dad was right behind my mother! They both walked in and explained that what I had done was wrong, that I was having a bad attitude towards my discipline, and that I needed to receive the punishment for my disobedience. I got 3 more swats and finally gave in to the stinging pain on my butt cheeks and cried like a little BABY.

I’ll never forget what happened afterwards…my mother AND my father both started crying. My dad never cried in front of me when he spanked me…he never enjoyed disciplining me, but he never cried (he may have cried after, but I never saw it). He sat down this time though, tears falling from his face, and asked, “Ryan, why did you not accept your discipline? You had done something wrong…you have to accept the consequences of your sin of disobedience. It hurts mommy and it hurts me…and it hurts God when you disobey, but it hurts even more when you don’t accept discipline.”

Now, obviously I was just stupid and my imagination caused me more pain…at that age I was not fully aware of my need for a Savior and my disobedience being sin against God as being important…yet what my dad said stuck with me and came up this week as I read Hebrews 12.

“10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”

Specifically verse 10 hit me very hard. See, these past 2 weeks, God has revealed a lot of deeply rooted sin that I had not been dealing with. The consequences were starting to show themselves as I was receiving discipline from the Lord. Everything inside me wanted to fight it. I don’t have time to go through all of Hebrews 12, but verse 10 is amazing. God disciplines us not only because He loves us, not only “for our good,” but ultimately so that we may “share His holiness.”
What an amazing thing! God wants us to be holy. He desires that so much that He will discipline His children, which is painful for Him and for us! But do you understand that by refusing His discipline, we are refusing to become holy as God is holy?

What an amazing simple truth…and there is so much more in Hebrews 12. This specifically hit me…God disciplines us for our good…our good is that we become more like Him. Why would I refuse a means of becoming like God? Yes it’s uncomfortable, but it produces the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

Is God disciplining you? It’s not only for your good…it is to push you and help you in your striving to become holy!

Twitterpated

As I was sitting in Starbucks this morning, the table across from me was occupied by two college students, both girls. As I was reviewing some notes I had written the night before on a specific text, I overheard a modicum (google that word) of their convo. One of the young ladies was extremely giddy in sharing with her friend about the incredible week she was having. After tuning my ears a bit to their conversation (I know, so rude but SO FUN), the reason she was giddy was because the past two nights she had hung out with a male “acquaintance.” She rattled on about how they stayed up with their friends talking till all hours of the night, had driven all around the valley one night with her friends and him, and blah blah blah! Long story short, this young girl (who I found out through listening more, was a Christian) was what I like to say, “twitterpated” with this young man. Although nothing was official as they were at the “getting to know each other phase,” she was obviously oozing with excitement about practically nothing. She had simply hung out with this guy at small groups, with her friends, at coffee, etc and couldn’t keep it inside! It was very entertaining and in a manly way I would say “cute!” I remember having those same feelings when I first started hanging with my now fiancé. To this day I still get giddy when I talk about her to someone…yes, I am still twitterpated! I love telling everyone about my future wife and it brings me such joy!


And then I started thinking (which is never a good sign)! Do I ooze with what has been given freely to me? Do I show my twiterpated heart because of the amazing grace God has given to me? If people “overhear” my life, do they see my excitement about the Gospel?

"8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." 2 Timothy 1:8-14 ESV (bold added for emphasis)

It’s amazing to read Paul’s letter as he so wonderfully describes his experience and encounter with God’s grace. I love how Paul so clearly shows us the Gospel. The Gospel is never good news when it is about us, but is only good news when it is about Christ. This is so clearly shown in verse 9. Paul shows us in these seven verses a wonderful expectation and response to the Gospel!


Obviously Paul declares that we are saved according to the grace of God and not by any works we have done. When we truly realize this as Paul did, it should move us to a posture like Paul’s – unashamed and reckless living for Christ! Paul then states in verse 14 to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” The Greek word “guard” in context means “to guard from being lost; to keep; to preserve.”


Do you see what Paul’s charge is? He is saying that if you understand the Gospel correctly you should be moved to live passionately and unashamedly for Christ. How do you do that? By making sure the Gospel is never lost in your heart. That it is always the main thing in our lives, both privately and publicly. If we are having the Gospel truly affect our lives as it should, we should be challenged to show others how it impacts us, even if that means we are viewed as “twitterpated,” “giddy,” or “silly.” We are called to guard the Gospel in our lives, for if we do, then it will impact our lives so that it “oozes” out to others…what an amazing challenge!

Where Is Your Resolve?

Wow, it’s been quite a while since I wrote a blog. This is totally my fault as I have had so many opportunities and convictions from God, yet allowed my business to get the best of me and has kicked my but mentally and emotionally (engagement, Christmas, wedding planning, internship, etc.) in a good way of course. It has been quite an adventure since I last posted and I am so grateful to God for the grace He has given me…so I am back, refreshed, and ready to begin my posting again. I trust that my blogs are pushing you all to apply the Gospel which is yours in Christ alone, by His grace alone, and by faith alone!


The Old Testament is always an interesting read. Interesting because it is the New Testament concealed (with the New Testament being the OT revealed). Yet, often times we let that dictate us limiting the amount of time spent studying the Old Testament, when there is so much amazing truth God has for us (proper truth and application of 1 Timothy 3:16 here!).

This morning I was reading in Daniel. I love reading about men of God who faced trials and situations that were incredible because it shows me God’s faithfulness to those He loves! As I read this morning I came across two verses with one word that jumped off the page and hit me!

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.” Daniel 1:8-9 (ESV)

The word that hit me was the word “resolve.” The Hebrew word/phrase would be translated even further as “to set” his “inner man or will.”

Let’s back up and give a quick history lesson and set the situation up! Judah was besieged by King “Nebby” (I don’t want to spell Nebuchadnezzar all the time) and was overtaken. King Nebby then takes vessels from the house of God, people from the royal family, and the best of the best youths of Judah to be brought back to the land of Babylon. Then, he tells the young lads that they are going to become his, study for 3 years, and basically become Babylonians (culturally change, domestically change, and religiously change).

Do you get what has just happened? Daniel’s world just gets rocked! Not only does his country get overthrown by foreigners, he gets taken away from all his family, friends, and faith! He gets taken back then told he will become a different person! I’m sure there are much more items I could list, but hopefully you get the picture of what Daniel had lost and was going through.

Then the phrase comes, “but Daniel resolved”!

Are you kidding me? After all this happens, after all the seemingly bad situational, circumstantial, and emotional crap hits Daniel, he sets his will to not defile God by conforming! What an incredible example of passion, devotion, and commitment to honor God despite the trials and crap that hit his life. Another big thing to recognize is the next half of the verse shows that Daniel’s resolve pushed him into action. He went to the head eunuch to ask not to defile himself by eating the king’s food!

God calls us to be completely, 100% devoted to Him in every aspect of our lives no matter the circumstances, situations, or societal acceptances! This devotion should push our hearts to have the resolve to follow God no matter what. What areas in our lives are we letting our resolve to honor God and devote our lives to Him slip? Are we excusing our 90% resolve because circumstances have gotten worse? Are we calloused to the compromises we make because “everyone else is doing it”? Or are we resolving in our hearts to be devoted completely to God?

This challenge ends with an amazing promise. Verse 9 shows God’s “faithfulness and compassion” towards Daniel. Because of God’s amazing grace, He gives His children compassion and is always faithful to His people! What an amazing promise! It is very hard for me to have the resolve that Daniel had…but God’s faithfulness and compassion because of Christ’s work on the cross gives me incredible motivation! What motivates us…circumstances and trials…or God’s mercy, compassion, and faithfulness?