Maid in Manhattan -- He Encourages us to Approach Him!

Throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus sharply contrasts the way the religious hypocrites approached him, and the way children did:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

Luke 10:21

Jesus clearly shows himself pleased with the way the “little ones” were rewarded for their unabashed faith, their openness in prayer, their delight in discovering His goodness. In fact, when Jesus said the verse above we are told He was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit”.

Meanwhile, He strongly chastised the self-righteous teachers of the law:

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

Luke 11:52

Jesus, who described himself as the Good Shepherd, also encourages us with these words:

“Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 12:32

Did you notice the term of endearment he uses? He calls us his little flock! And He tells us that our Father – not just His Father, but our Father too – has been pleased to give us the kingdom! That’s pretty astounding considering we are rightfully less significant than unicellular bacteria in comparison to Him!

Chris Marshall certainly didn’t offer Ty any kind of kingdom mysteries, but he certainly encouraged him to draw near. This was exactly what Ty needed at that time: the attention of a father figure. Chris being so very approachable was a huge encouragement to Ty that really brightened his day.

Maid in Manhattan -- He is Encouraging!

Obviously Ty is an intelligent child, not your average 10 year old. He is knowledgeable about politics, and knows exactly who Chris is, including his voting record.

Ty is not intimidated by Chris, and is able to more than keep up his end of the verbal repartee, which Chris encourages. It is refreshing for Chris to be approached by someone with no deceit, no hidden agenda.

Jerry is in a state of disbelief and questions Ty about who he really is, but Chris recognizes a genuine, unpretentious exchange when he sees one. Far from being taken aback when Ty is brutally honest with him, he invites more of the same. He is authentically interested in what Ty thinks and feels.

He encourages Ty to share his thoughts and opinions openly.

Jesus encourages us to be open with Him as well. He cares about everything we care about. He wants us to bring all our concerns to Him, and talk over everything that is on our mind.

Why?

Because He wants a relationship with us. He cares so deeply about everything in our lives. No issue is too big or too small to discuss with Him. This open, honest, free-flowing dialogue with Jesus is also known as prayer.

Jesus encourages openness and honesty in prayer. He wants us to approach him the same way little children approach Him.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4

Maid in Manhattan -- Children Are Very Important!

Children have always had a central spot as the Apple of God’s eye. A glance back at some of the writings of Moses and the Prophets will quickly show you how important to our Father His children have always been:

• When Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, a replacement was provided.
• Even though Isaac was the child of the Promise, God blessed Ishmael as well.
• Joseph, as a very young man, was blessed by God and chosen later to save his family from certain starvation.
• Moses, while still an infant, was rescued by God.
• Samuel was just a child when God first spoke to him.
• Samson was set apart even before he was even conceived.
• John the Baptist was concieved by God’s divine intervention and selection.
• Jesus – just so that we wouldn’t miss the importance of this particular Child – was born to a virgin!

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Luke 1:31, 34-35

These children were each incredibly important to our Heavenly Father, and you and your children are too. Jesus welcomes you warmly anytime and every time you approach Him to be prayed for, to be blessed, or just to be in His presence.

While it is somewhat surprising that Chris, a candidate for Senator, would take time out of his day to talk with an unknown fatherless child, and invite him to go for a walk with his dog. It is vastly more miraculous that the sovereign Creator of the earth and stars would make time to give us an exclusive appointment any time and every time we request one with Him.

Readers: Have you spent any time with Him lately?

Maid in Manhattan -- Children Are NOT a Waste of Time!

His disciples were as much or more displeased at Jesus’ apparent waste of valuable time as Jerry was with Chris’ wasting time. In fact, Matthew writes that the disciples rebuked those who brought their children around Jesus to be prayed for and blessed. But Jesus wanted the children to come to Him. He put His disciples in their place, and welcomed and praised the little ones.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.””

Matthew 19:14

The message is clear – Jesus values children. He values your child. He wants to be the father figure for your children, whether they have a ‘real’ dad or not. And furthermore, He wants you to become a child of God yourself.

Chris took a genuine interest in Ty, and Jesus takes a genuine interest in both you and your children. He couldn’t have a more vested interest – He was there at the foundations of the world and had a hand in creating you, and your children.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; . . . My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.”

Psalm 139:13-16

Maid in Manhattan -- He Welcomes Ty

* There are 11.5 million single moms in America, raising 21.8 million children. *

What strikes me in the scene when Chris and Ty first meet is how incredibly unlikely it is that they would have anything at all in common to talk about. As already outlined, there is a chasm between them. Nobody, especially Jerry, would expect Chris to take time out of his busy day to make conversation with a child.

However, much to everyone’s surprise, Ty knows exactly who Chris is. Chris is intrigued with Ty’s knowledge base, particularly relating to politics. He is also impressed that Ty is not easily intimidated, he speaks his mind openly, and has a sharp sense of humor. Jerry is already annoyed that Chris is taking time off to walk his dog, and views Ty as another avoidable distraction. With a tangible amount of disdain, Jerry tries to bring the conversation to a stop. Chris, however, is not easily dissuaded. In fact, ruffling Jerry’s feathers only increases his enjoyment of his connection with Ty.

The whole scenario reflects an encounter Jesus had with children. Jesus was a well-known and sought after public speaker and teacher. He was gaining respect, renown and popularity among the people. His disciples had very high hopes for Jesus’ career. They hoped he would one day be the leader of Israel just as Jerry hoped that Chris would win his seat in the Senate.

There is however, one big difference in the two scenarios. Jesus was God in skin. He was so much more than merely an important man in his day. He was the Ancient of Days who stepped out of eternity and into time.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

John 1:1-2, 14

So immeasurable and impenetrable is the chasm between us and God that it is unfathomable to us. Dr. Brad Burke, in his book Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil?, describes it like this: “ . . . in relation to God’s infinite and majestic being, we are far, far less than tiny insects. In fact, we are far less in comparison than the unicellular bacteria that inhabit the crevices and hairs of our bodies.” (p. 18)

The prophet Isaiah explains this immense gap between man and God like this:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8

Not only was Jesus our eternal creator wrapped in earthly flesh, but also he was here for more than just a friendly visit. He had immeasurably significant things to do. Jesus made clear early in His ministry exactly what His mission was. He opened up the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and read aloud His job description in the synagogue in His hometown.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19

Jesus was so much more than an important man, a busy man or a public figure. He was God incarnate, and He had a Kingdom agenda to fulfill. And yet, He took time to heal the sick, talk to women, and especially bless the little children who approached Him.

Maid in Manhattan -- An Unusual Friendship

* Did you know there are 11.5 million single moms in America, raising 21.8 million children? *

The Saturday following his humiliating failure at delivering his speech, Ty has to come to work with his mom. His dad blew him off for the weekend.

This is one of the most heartbreaking things a single mom experiences -- the moving on of our ex's -- often without including the children they've already fathered. We no longer expect them to love us but we hope and pray that they will continue to love our children, and to express that in the form of commitment, compassion, and involvement in their lives.

Readers, if this is your current reality, then I pray God will give you the inner strength to rise above the hard feelings and to treat every occasion that your children are 'stood up' as a God-given opportunity to celebrate extra time with your child. I am currently working on a new book currently titled: "A Single Mom's Guide to Surviving and Thriving" and this is one of the important ideas that I discuss in it.

Ty tries to keep himself entertained at the upscale hotel, at one point he enters the hotel elevator. Enter Chris Marshall along with his Public relations manager Jerry Siegel, and his very large dog. Ty enters into light-hearted political banter with Chris. And much to the mortification of Jerry, the two strike up an unusual friendship.

Why is their camaraderie so unexpected? Because they come from two completely different worlds. Chris is not only an adult, but a highly respected and well-known public figure. He is of the upper crust of society, a power-player, a decision-maker. He is someone. Whereas Ty is not only a kid, but also the child of a single-mother who is a maid striving to remain invisible. He has been discarded by his own father, and is unable to control the dynamics of his young life. To the world’s eyes, Ty is insignificant. In addition, there is the cultural difference with Chris being Caucasian and Ty being Hispanic.

This is why Chris stands out as a prince among the silver-screen men. He plays a significant part in the life of Marisa’s fatherless son just as Jesus stands by, ready to strike up an unusual friendship with your children.

The three qualities of Chris Marshall’s that reflect the heart of Jesus are:

• He welcomes Ty.
• He encourages Ty.
• He listens to Ty.

Maid in Manhattan -- Introduction

* Did you know there are 11.5 million single moms in America, raising 21.8 million children? *

Have you ever wanted more? More out of your relationships, more out of your career, or more out of your life in general? Or maybe you’ve wanted to be more of who you are meant to be. Marisa Ventura, played by Jennifer Lopez, wants more of a career, more of a life, and more of The American Dream.

We’ve all felt that kind of desire, the desire to do more, be more, and have more. It may not necessarily be to have more material things, but certainly to have more respect, more responsibility, and more recognition. We want to “be somebody”, to rise above our circumstances, whatever they may be.

And we want more for our children than we have. This is the essence of Marisa Ventura’s desires. This chick flick is particularly poignant for single mothers because her desires for a better life are centered in her love for her son, Ty.

The movie opens with Marisa rushing to get her son to school then herself to work, via several city buses. She makes it, as usual, without a moment to spare. We are thus introduced to her lifestyle of always 'just making it.' We intuitively make the connection between her not having a moment to spare and her not having a dime to spare.

Marisa is employed as a hotel maid who is encouraged to strive to be invisible. The hotel is a world of contrasts between the ones who are served, and the ones who serve. We get the sense that Marisa is trapped, a slave to her job. Powerless to prevent it, Marisa allows the petty whim of a spoiled and selfish guest to cause her to get way behind schedule. Without being told, we automatically know that a complaint from one of these high-paying customers would mean the end of her employment there.

Even though Marisa’s top priority is her child, the demands of her job cause her to arrive late to Ty’s school. On this of all days, it was important for her to be there on time because Ty is going to deliver his speech on former President Richard Nixon.

Her late arrival disrupts the audience just as Ty is beginning his presentation. The commotion of his mom’s late arrival causes him to lose concentration, forget what he was going to say, and finally leave the stage in total humiliation. He worked hard on his speech but fails in his attempt to deliver it. Thus, it becomes apparent that her powerlessness is being passed down to the next generation. The feeling of utter hopelessness overflows from the big screen, and we share in her grief.

For those of us who are single mothers (or have been), perhaps we can relate all too well.

Readers: If you are a single mom, let me know. I would love to hear from you, let me pray for you -- that the Lord will meet you at your point of greatest need. If you are not a single mom, please send a link to this page to all the single moms you know.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- He Knows We Are Worth It!

We, collectively as a church, are also worth it to God. The Bible speaks volumes about the kind of passionate love that compelled Christ to the cross:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Ephesians 5:25-27

Certainly, Ian knew that Toula was worth it. And Jesus knows that you are worth it.

In fact, Jesus could see in advance you trusting Him, you loving Him, you learning everything you can about Him. And that thought brought Him great joy. It was that joy that made it possible for Him to go through with the crucifixion. He did not have to. He chose to.

Because you are worth it:

“for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2

No matter how invisible you’ve felt, or wished you were, Jesus sees you. And Jesus fully embraces you, all of you. Your culture, your language, your very own tribe is all a part of what He embraces about you. And Jesus knows you are worth it. There was never any doubt in His mind. He chose you before the foundation of the world to be part of the family of God. And He is not embarrassed by you.

Scripture assures us that we need never feel ashamed:

“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth.”

Isaiah 54:4

He wants you to live this life with Him at your side and your head held high.

He wants you to know you are so worth it, even if right now your only role in life is working as a Maid in Manhattan.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- He Knows She is Worth It!

As Ian is being repeatedly dunked by the Greek Orthodox priest, Toula and her immediate family are standing at the front of the church watching. At one point, Toula leans over and tells her brother Nick that she fears Ian will decide she is not worth all the effort.

Could this be the stumbling block that people have when they hear that Christ died for them? Could it be that when someone is told the bad news; that the wages of sin is death, and then the Good News; that Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, that they just think it is too good to be true? Could it be that some feel they are just so not worth that?

If you think maybe Jesus would not have gone through his efforts on the cross on your behalf, allow me to show you the lengths that Jesus went to in order to reach just one person.

The story is recorded in Mark 5:1-20. Jesus, along with His disciples, sails across the Sea of Galilee through a furious storm that nearly swamps the boat. His disciples have to wake him and ask him to calm the storm, which He does. They arrive at a place called Gerasenes. There they meet a man who has a legion of demons causing him to have superhuman strength – he was so strong that no chains could bind him.

Evidently, he was a threat to himself and others.

He spent his time wandering around the tombs, naked, crying out day and night and cutting himself with stones. Can you picture this man? He hasn’t likely had a haircut in years. Or a bath. He is probably covered with self-inflicted wounds in various stages of healing, and oozing, although some likely would have been fresh enough to still be bleeding. But beyond the stench and filth – there is something about his eyes. They are more wild and dangerous than anything you’ve likely ever seen.

As it turns out this man is literally possessed by a Legion of demons. So many of them that when Jesus sent them out, they took down a herd of two thousand pigs. Think of it! Two thousand pigs!!

Those who had been tending the pigs spread the news through the nearest town about what had just happened nearby. By the time they got back, the man was clean, dressed, and in perfectly sound mind. A miracle had restored this man to his senses. He was in complete control of himself, and had Jesus to thank for it.

You would think these people would put on a big party to celebrate, or bring gifts in order to thank Jesus, or bring their own sick and suffering for instantaneous healing. But you would be wrong.

Shockingly:

“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.”

Mark 5:17

These people wanted nothing to do with Jesus. They asked Him to leave.
And so He did.

Jesus went through all of that for the benefit of one man. One. All the others of that region wanted nothing to do with Him. They sent Him away. Scripture does not record that any people from there were saved except the tomb-dweller.

Jesus did not agonize over his decision to go out of His way for this one man. He did not have to weigh the pros and cons of His choice. He is all-knowing, so if He believes that one person is worth His time and effort, He is right.

That is how He feels about you. To Jesus, you are worth every ounce of agony of His death on the cross. You individually.

If you have never seen Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ I urge you to see it. If you have seen it before, try watching it while you continually remind yourself, “He did it for me.” It will change the way you view that movie, and radically deepen your faith and love for Jesus.

Readers: I pray you will understand the Passion Christ has for you. I pray it for myself also!

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- He Was Baptized

There is one more thing that Ian embraces of Toula’s: her religion.

There are two things that need to be crystal clear here: Jesus does NOT embrace any other religion. He is the Son of God, the Way the Truth and the Life, the only way to the Father is through Christ on the cross.

He requires you to embrace the fact that He died on the Cross to purchase your eternal salvation.

However, there is one similarity between Ian and Jesus in this scenario. Both Ian and Jesus were baptized. Ian is baptized to become Toula’s bridegroom, and Jesus was baptized in the process of becoming our bridegroom. But that is where the similarity ends.

The reason people were being baptized 2000 years ago in the Jordan River by John the Baptist was to be forgiven for their sins. Ironically, Jesus was without sin, yet insisted that John the Baptist, his cousin, baptize Him.

Matthew records Jesus’ conversation with John:

“But John tried to deter him saying,

“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus replied,

“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”"

Matthew 3:14-15

Jesus did not need to be baptized because He was a sinner – He needed to be baptized because we were sinners.

The waters of the river Jordan were no doubt muddy that day as Jesus came up out of the water.

Matthew says a voice from heaven was heard saying:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

As Ian came up out of the water he knelt in, in the ridiculous-looking inflated kiddy pool at the front of Toula’s church, he certainly looked pleased.

But Toula had the nagging fear that maybe he would decide she wasn’t worth it.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- He Embraces Her (& Her Family)

The second thing that Ian does is he embraces Toula. More than a physical embrace, he embraces her fully for who she is. He wholeheartedly embraces her family, her culture, and her language.

This is also something that Toula attempts to shrink away from at first. When he asks her about her family she skirts the question. When he offers to take her to a Greek restaurant, she seems to almost squirm as she searches for a way out of explaining why she does not want to go there.

Finally, she erupts with the most unpleasant description of her family she can muster. She describes the way her uncles fight over the lamb brain at Christmas, and how her aunt chases her around with the lamb’s eyeball on a fork trying to get her to eat it because it will make her smart, and tells him she has 27 first cousins alone. She then gives Ian an emotional push-off by telling him that no one in her family has ever even dated a non-Greek and that she just doesn’t see how this relationship could possibly work out.

Do you ever do that? Push someone away before they have the chance to push you away? We’ve probably all done it. All of us except Jesus, that is.

Even though he was scorned and rejected by man, he never rejected anyone. His gospel is for all people of all nations:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek,

slave nor free, male nor female,

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28

Just as Ian embraces Toula’s culture and language, Christ embraces every tribe and tongue and nation, as it is his purpose to gather to himself a family from every corner of the globe:

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude

that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,

standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9

Not only does Jesus embrace your culture, your language, and your whole tribe (no matter how ‘unique’ they are), but also he makes you part of His family as well.

Scripture talks about how we are adopted into the family of God, we in Christ are His children and co-heirs with Jesus. Jesus himself said:

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:35

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- The Lifter of our Heads

One day Toula, now transformed inside and out, is working in her aunt’s travel agency and who should walk by? It is the same stranger that she saw months ago in her parents’ restaurant, Ian Miller.

Even though she is absolutely radiant, happy within herself, when she sees him looking in the storefront window at her she sinks beneath his line of vision behind the water cooler.

Why is it that we act in a way that is contrary to what we actually want? She inwardly desires to be seen, and yet she hides. Could it be that deep inside we feel we don’t deserve the thing we want most of all?

A short time later, he walks by the travel agency again. For the first time, she meets his gaze and they make eye contact. They exchange smiles for the first time. What has changed? Perhaps he has become for her, 'the lifter of her head.'

Our Heavenly Father is the lifter of our heads:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt

so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians;

I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.”

Leviticus 26:13

That is what the Lord does for us. Be breaks the chains that bind us to our past, our sin, our shame, or anything else that would cause us to sink downward, to hang our heads, or to otherwise try to hide from his gaze.

The Lord sees us, and he lifts us up so that we can see Him too.

Eye contact is a powerful thing. It signals that someone knows you exist. Being in direct eye-contact with someone is a connection. They say that eyes are the window to the soul, so to maintain a steady gaze that is reciprocal is significant. In fact, it communicates that the person is significant to you.

If someone will not or cannot make eye contact with you, something is wrong. Maybe there is guilt, shame, distrust, or simply disinterest creating a wall. Perhaps there is a perceived, or an actual, inequality in the relationship.

There was a rich young man who could not maintain eye contact with Jesus. He had asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus had asked him to sell all he had and give it to the poor then to come and follow Him.

Jesus had no trouble making eye contact:

“Jesus looked at him and loved him.”

Mark 10:21

There was a connection there. At least on Jesus’ part. But because the young man had great wealth that he was unwilling to part with, he could not look Jesus in the eye.

“At this the man’s face fell.”

Mark 10:22

If his face fell, his eyes were no longer lifted towards Jesus’ face. He could not face Jesus knowing deep inside that he loved his wealth more than He loved God.

If you, like Toula, want to be seen – but at the same time are afraid to be seen – take heart. Remember how Ian told Toula, he didn’t remember ‘Frump Girl’, but he remembered her? Jesus would say the same about you.

The Lord sees you, He wants you to look up and see Him too. He has broken through every barrier to become intimate with you. Will you lift your head? Will you choose to see Him?

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- Inner Transformation

Yes, God is “El Roi” the God who sees. The thought of this may make you feel uncomfortable, but it need not. Ultimately, if knowing that you are seen sparks your transformation, it is well worth it.

If it is any consolation, obviously He has seen it all before. Nothing you have ever thought, said or done can scare Him away. No amount of shame or guilt could ever keep Him away. The only thing that would ever keep Him away, is if you refuse to receive Him.

Toula was ashamed that first day when Ian saw her. And so she begins to exert change in her life. She starts to take some classes. She learns how to apply make-up, and put contact lenses in. She even starts dressing differently. Soon she is seen in dresses and skirts made of floaty feminine fabrics, and in colors that include soft pinks, blues, and creams rather than sturdy, serviceable browns and grays. Her necklines change to delicate scoops and flattering v-necks that reveal her collarbone, and a lovely figure, we otherwise would never have known was there. She does her hair with curls, and pins it up off her face in a satisfying style. She experiments with changes to her appearance until she becomes comfortable with her new look.

Finally she stands in front of her mirror with her contact lenses in, her make-up on, and her hair done. She is wearing a dark pink, knee-length dress with a thinly-knit light pink sweater that has tiny buttons up the front and a v-neck that aligns perfectly with the neckline of her dress. She scrutinizes herself carefully.

Then we see it: her smile. For the very first time.

The changes that she makes are not just cosmetic. She ventures out to try new things, a Wonder-Bread sandwich, computer classes, and finally a new job at her aunt’s travel agency.

Of course, we silently cheer as we see the women of the family lead Gus to the conclusion that Toula must work there to help her aunt. They even have him thinking it was his idea!