Be remarkable, not nice

The dictionary says that nice means agreeable. “That’s nice” is a nice comment. But it doesn’t mean anything. It’s pleasant – but not distinguished. Nice blends in. It doesn’t stand out. Nice is not remarkable, it is actually quite boring.

N.I.C.E = Not Inspiring, Challenging or Enthusiastic

A man with passion is not nice. A wife who walks in God’s ways is not nice. No – they are remarkable, you are remarkable. You stand out. People won’t always like it.
  Don’t settle for a nice life.
  Don’t tell your wife that she looks nice.
  Don’t tell your kids “that’s nice” when they show you what they have made.
  Don’t be nice.
  Be remarkable.

Being remarkable doesn’t mean that everyone will agree with you. They won’t always like what you do. They won’t always find it agreeable.
That’s fine. They want nice.
God spare you from being nice.

Your calling is not nice. God has you here at this time, for this purpose. He planned you before the worlds were made. Everything was planned before the foundation of the world.  He planned your destiny. Spent time on it. We don’t go to God when we know this and say “Ah, great – that’s nice.”

Jesus is not nice.
  No, my King is extraordinary.
  He is unique.
  He stands out.
  He is passionate about you and about me.
  He is exciting.
  He is awesome.
  He is remarkable.

Have a remarkable marriage. Have a love for each other that other people notice and talk about. Have a faith in God that inspires people. Be courageous enough to challenge each other and always be enthusiastic about each other.

Inspiration.
If there is one thing that is lacking in life and marriage today it is inspiration. My wife inspires me. She inspires me to have a stronger walk with God. Smith Wigglesworth said once, “Under God, everything that I am – I owe to my wife”.

In English – the word “Inspire” comes from the Latin “To breathe”. To inspire each other is as important as breathing is. To inspire someone is to take them on to new heights. It is to encourage them.

Challenging.
This is not to find fault. It is not to nag. It is not to “nit-pick”. It is noticing when you are being nice and saying “let’s not settle for this”. It is not about saying, “You did this wrong.” But it is about saying, “You are more than this, we are more than this.” It is not cristiscm – but challenge is love. To challenge requires courage and grace that you only get from God.

Challenging each other stops us settling for the status-quo, the 2.4 kids and the Volvo. It realises that success is a journey, not a destination. If you want to be ordinary, if you want to be nice, never challenge anyone and never get challenged.

Enthusiastic.
When you challenge and inspire each other – you become enthusiastic. I am not talking about being a flash-in-the-pan, or a firework where you explode on the scene with a bunch of enthusiasm and then disappear as quickly as you arrived – but a God given, long-term enthusiasm for life and for each other. Passion is another word for enthusiasm.

Do you know what I love to see? Old people kissing in public. It is awesome. It is inspirational that they are still passionate about each other.

Passion not only causes you to go the extra mile, but you’ll go around the world if necessary.

Passion is not dull or boring. It brings life. Of course, you need to be passionate about the right things, but with God’s help – you will be.

Remember – nice means Not Inspiring, Challenging or Enthusiastic.

Don’t be nice. Be remarkable.