"One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see." John 9:25
Oct 5 2009

Chips and Salsa

We (as in you and me) are blessed! Would you not really agree? I mean honestly. We are blessed. Yes, we all experience our pains and weaknesses and I do not take those things lightly. Life does indeed issue it’s curveballs for sure. However, overall we are blessed. Today, in my house, all three of us (Rena, Jovie, and myself) have upper respiratory infections. No fun at all. We all sound like we are about to give up a lung. The coughing is horrendous. We all have our medications and we are going to make it. As a part of all that has gone on in my life during the last few weeks, the privilege of driving has been stripped of me for the next 6 months, but I have not had to worry, people have stepped in all over and have taken me to work, the grocery store, and to my doctor appointments. I (we) have been blessed. (I still want to unpack for you the events that have taken place in my life during the last several weeks, but that will be another post sometime soon.)

Yesterday, I am assuming all us attended church services somewhere. Isn’t that something? There’s a freedom there that we enjoy, but often ignore. I trust most of us took in our hands the very Word of God and listened as we read through the words that God wrote specifically to us. Perhaps we do this every day. What an honor! Most of us have more than one copy of scripture. My wife once told me that I have more bibles than a small African country. To be honest, most sit on the shelves or are only used once in a great while. The point is that we have access to the power of the Word of God; yet, we ignore its blessing or potential impact. What else? We eat, drink, hang out with friends, play, laugh…. LIVE! Amazing!

Do we live as though we are blessed?

chipsandsalsaHave you ever been to a Mexican restaurant? I am almost sure that you have. If so, what is the first thing that is brought to your table, even before the server asks you what you would like to drink? That’s right… chips and salsa. Never fails. Next the server will bring your drink order and if in that time you run out of chips and salsa, what happens? More chips and salsa. Finally, your food order comes. Empty basket? More chips and salsa are on the way. Usually by the end of your Mexican fiesta, the basket runs low and right before you leave and/or the server brings you the check, he or she will ask, “would you like more chips and salsa?” What’s the point? CHIPS AND SALSA. When you go Mexican, you will get chips and salsa, chips and salsa, chips and salsa. You come to expect it. I know we do. One of the greatest categories in good service is whether or not your server keeps your drink full (without you ever having to ask). There is one Mexican restaurant here in town that is the same way about their chips and salsa. I mean when you get down to 5 chips, they are bringing another basket… it is just understood. It’s expected.

Chips and Salsa…

Do we live as though we are truly blessed? Or do we just take our blessings as another basket of chips and salsa? It just happens. It’s normal. I expect these things… just as I expect the waitress to keep my glass full and my basket full of chips. “Lord, bless me, bless me, bless me… chips and salsa, chips and salsa, chips and salsa.

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 (ESV)