Am I consistent enough?

 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. (2 Peter 1:4)

Sometimes we aren't sure we are doing everything that will make a difference, so that we are living in such a way that our lives truly please God. We want to live consistently in a manner that allows God to be seen through us to a hurting and searching world, but we aren't sure we are 'consistent enough'. Let me assure you of this - if you are walking with Jesus in a genuine manner - heart, mind, will and soul committed to serving him - you are 'consistent enough'. We don't always hit the mark we are aiming at, but we are taking steps in the right direction (at least generally). We aren't perfect, but God never came to redeem perfect people - he knows we will grow closer as we seek him, but we aren't as close today as we will be down the road. When we pursue him, knowing we are drawn in by his love and grace, we are being 'consistent enough'.

Pleasing God doesn't require our perfection - it requires pursuit of the right stuff, in the right time, with a right heart. The pursuit is the important part. Are you pursuing God through daily habits that will shape your heart in a manner that pleases God? That is the most important question we can address today. The habits we develop in the pursuit of God's plan for our lives are what will change our hearts. We are given an invitation to enter into the pursuit. If we have accepted the invitation, we are likely called into some new habits such as reading God's Word, prayer, and receiving good teaching through God's messages delivered by faithful pastors and teachers.

The invitation is accepted, and the pursuit begins. Sometimes we think we need to pursue in some super-spiritual way, but God isn't after our 'religious habits'. He wants us to read his Word because we want to learn more from him. He hopes our prayers will be an open expression of our heart and mind, so he can work with us about our thought patterns. He wants to change the way we see ourselves, so he uses his Word and simple truths he brings to mind when we pray to show us how he sees us. When we take in good teaching, our hearts are being transformed - especially when we take that teaching to heart and allow God to bring out more of his grace and love from within us.

The habits of 'consistency' are developed in these times together with Jesus. The more we listen, the more we will develop consistently wise choices. The more we yield our heart to him, allowing him to show us where our heart is weighing us down, we will be called upon to let go of the weights. Today we will not be as close to God as we have the potential of being tomorrow. When we take the small and consistent steps of good spiritual habits, we will be drawn closer and that freshness of intimacy with him will help us take the next steps he seeks from us. The invitation is there - take the one small step he seeks today - then keep taking that step. Before long, he will show us the next step and we will take it. Do you know what is happening when we do? We are developing 'spiritual habits' that actually are helping us develop consistency in our relationship with Jesus. So, keep stepping! Just sayin!

Time to get up

The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I’m spoiled for anyone else! Your beauty, within and without, is absolute, dear lover, close companion. (Song of Solomon 7:5-6)

If you have ever been "in love", you might just understand this intense longing just to enjoy the "presence" of the one you love so dearly. When separation occurs - whether by choice or because of something out of your control - the longing builds. What many describe as "stirrings" for the presence of their loved one is really similar to how God feels about each of us - longing to just hold us close, gently stroking our backs with the tenderness of his hand, and then encompassing us with the warmth and protection of his full presence. How long has it been since you have experienced the "stirrings" in your heart for the presence of your "first love" - God himself?

It could be we need to "stir" these feelings back to life, finding they have "waned" a little in intensity. Begin by remembering just how much God loves us and with what intensity he directs his attentive care over our lives. God's words to us: "I am spoiled for anyone else!" In other words, no one else will bring such intensity of response, nor fulfillment to the heart of God other than you! If you have ever been in a relationship with another, you know that this would be the most "ideal" feeling someone could express to you. The thought of no one else being able to fill the place your love fills in their life is almost electrifying, isn't it? Now, transition your thoughts to God - your life, in his hands, electrifies him! He is magnificently touched when we are near.

Take inventory of the things which have gotten in the way of having this intensity of longing for him. The things which separate only serve to build the intensity, not shut down the pursuit. The things which block us from each other, even for a little while, are not going to "stunt" love, but cause love to be magnified and ignited until our desire to be together causes us to get past those blockades. The distracting influences are nothing in comparison to the magnificence of love - don't "settle" for anything less than the presence of God. When we find things or people getting "in the way" of our times with Jesus, it is time to begin to use those things to heighten our awareness of the "lack of his presence" and then to drive us forward from our present position. They will not stop one whose eyes are fixed on Jesus!

Consider where it is we find our passion ignited. Some of the most trying times have fully ignited passion afresh in my life. Times of retreat and refreshing may do the trick. Each of us have different ways we connect with Jesus, but no one way is the "right" way to find this connection and to build upon this intimacy. ANY and ALL avenues which lead us into his arms are pathways toward his grace. Passion grows when the separation occurs - after all, absence is touted as making the heart grow stronger, is it not? We might just want to "capitalize" on those times when we feel the stirrings of "absence" within our hearts - for these tiny stirrings are the very things which will fan into flame the embers of the fullness of love.

We can "settle" for the absence - becoming content to simply remember the good times we experienced at the feet of Jesus. No amount of "remembering" will fan the flames of our first love, though. We have to get up from our places of slumber, points of compromise, and positions of comfort in order to come face-to-face with the one and only love of our lives that will truly satisfy our every longing and stoke the fires of our heart once again. Just sayin!

Easing on down the path

Awe:  an overwhelming feeling of reverence produced by that which is all powerful.  Some may stand in fear of such a powerful force in their midst, but how about you?  Do you stand in fear or reverence of the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-caring God of the universe?  Does he produce dread, or admiration?  Do you stand before him in fright, or wonder? I imagine there are those who worship at his feet in wonder and astonished honor who sometimes "dread" something bad will happen in their lives - not because they fear that "bad" thing coming from him, but just because we live in a fallen world.  ONLY those who stand in awe of the Eternal God will have intimacy with him - absolutely no one will get to know him on the deepest of levels without approaching him with the wonder and awe he so rightfully deserves.

ONLY those who stand in awe of the Eternal will have intimacy with Him, and He will reveal His covenant to them. PERPETUALLY my focus takes me to the Eternal because He will set me free from the traps laid for me.  (Psalm 25:14-15 VOICE)

Earlier in this same passage, David says, "DEMONSTRATE Your ways, O Eternal One. Teach me to understand so I can follow. EASE me down the path of Your truth. FEED me Your word because You are the True God who has saved me. I wait all day long, hoping, trusting in You." (vs. 4-5) Those who desire to have an intimate relationship with God begin by asking God to "demonstrate" his ways - teaching them to understand those way with the aim of following closely in those "demonstrated" steps.  When God demonstrates his ways, he reveals them to us with such clarity there can be no denying they are the steps he wishes for us to follow.  Those who follow in his steps can be assured of this - they will see the truth of his covenant of love revealed in their lives.

God's not satisfied with casual contact - he desires a much deeper, closer, and frequent contact with his children. If the truth be told here, we aren't very satisfied with casual contact either!  If we are, it is only because we have never experienced the depth, privilege, and extreme peace of a much more "intimate" relationship.  If we are to draw near to God, we need to first recognize we have an open invitation into his presence.  I have some friends I know I could call on at 2 a.m. in the morning, just because I needed them.  The "open invitation" we have within our relationship is understood - we don't have to keep reminding each other it is okay to reach out anytime we need each other.  We just do! Why?  We have come to recognize the joy of being with each other, the thrill we experience when we finally settle on a course of action we are about to take, etc.  I think the same may just be true with the one we draw close to is Christ himself - he just gives us these close friends here on earth so we can experience a little bit of his through their closeness and hugs!

Traps are laid for us each and every day.  Some are certainly put there by those who desire nothing more than to see us suffer - such as the suicide bomber, or the radicalized terrorist who shoots innocent people gathered together to celebrate some moment in time.  The majority of the traps we experience are simply there without any particular design by others, but are there because we ignored the signs to not proceed down that path in the first place.  I have run into many an obstacle in my path simply because I took the wrong path - failing to draw near enough to the one who wanted to guide my steps so that I could actually be eased down the right path!  Choosing to walk on my own, distancing myself from the one who already knows what is down that path, I made my own way.  True intimacy with God may not mean we always take the right path, but at least we take it more and more often!  As David said, God "eases" us down the path we are to be following.  That word should give us some insight - easing someone requires a little bit of urging, an occasional nudge in the right direction, and sometimes a little bit of a jolt to our senses to put us on alert we are about to take the wrong path!

The surest way to taking the right path is to draw near enough to God to feel those "pushes" in the right direction. I can receive an IM from a friend directing me to do something I have been hesitant to do, but nothing does more for me than to have that friend walk right up to me, take my hand or put their arm around me, and then guide me to take that course of action!  Just sayin!

More than another study

We sometimes desire wisdom, but then we don't always know where to find it. We search for it in the weirdest places.  I have known some folks who go to this "seer of truth" or that "psychic" in order to get "wisdom" for some big decisions they are about to make.  Others use a "so what do you think" kind of query among their group of friends to see what the majority consensus might come out to be and then they act upon it.  Still others consult "spiritual guides" of some sort or another, all the while believing these individual possess even greater wisdom than they have access to themselves.  Either way, these methods of making wise decisions are just not going to quite cut it.  Wisdom comes from one source - truth.  There is but one source of truth - God himself. If this is the case, then every other method of seeking truth or wisdom is going to fall way short of whatever God has in mind for our lives.

Lord, your rules are wonderful. That is why I follow them. As people understand your word, it brings light to their lives. Your word makes even simple people wise. (Psalm 119:129-130 ERV)

As people understand God's Word, it brings light to their lives.  It is capable of making even the simple (those who just don't have much "smarts" in most people's eyes) wise.  I don't know about you, but that speaks volumes to me. I have met some very gifted, well-educated individuals in this lifetime who absolutely can dazzle me with their knowledge in certain areas of study.  My best friend never ceases to amaze me when we are admiring a flower, bush, tree, or the like on some of our trips and she comes up with the name of it!  I just know it is pretty!  I like the color, enjoy the texture, or delight in the shade of the sprawling branches.  She can even tell me the medicinal value of these plants.  I never knew that rose hips tea actually came from this bulb looking thing on a particular type of rose bush, nor did I know it was high in vitamin C. She has studied this stuff and I admire her wisdom in knowing how certain herbs and essential oils all work together to produce some wonderful effects.  I am just one of those individual who gravitates to things which smell good to me, often bringing some manner of rest or satisfaction to my body through the delight my senses experience when smelling them.

One area of "study" where the playing field is "level" for all individuals is that of studying God's word with the intention of gaining understanding of the truth contained within those pages.  If anything "equalizes" each of us, it would be truth.  Nothing can be added to it, nor taken away from it.  You cannot know more just because you get a degree.  You come into the understanding of God's word because you spend time getting to know it - and the one who actually spoke those words!  It isn't about the "study" as much as it is about the relationship which is nurtured when we consider the words he has recorded for our blessing, exhortation, insight, and correction.  Sometimes we approach taking time to get into the Word as though it were a "study" - even calling it "Bible Study".  I don't know about you, but I have learned way more about my friends when I took time to just hang out with them, doing the things they delight in doing, and finding out how they move, think, respond, etc.  I don't know as much about them because I read some "These are my favorite colors, foods, and TV shows" questionnaire we fill out!

I study people - because people are interesting!  I take time to observe their behaviors - because they are all so varied and sometimes totally unpredictable. I just hang with them and allow that time we have together to just bring us closer together.  I don't do it to become a master in human behavior - but to learn how to speak their love language, anticipate their ups and downs, and just plain delight in the stuff they find amusing, uplifting, and encouraging.  God doesn't want us "hanging" with him to become "masters" of his theology, but to become passionately engaged in the things which matter to him.  He speaks truth to us because truth is the only thing capable of bringing light where darkness dwells.  After all, isn't that why we want light - to dispel some element of darkness in our souls?  God's Word isn't about theological rules, but intimate exchange between God and those he loves with an undying love like no other we could ever experience.  Rather than be consumed with the "study" of it, why not let it begin to soak into the recesses of your heart much like the laughter of a close friend brings delight to your dreary day!  Just sayin!

You in his "circle of friends"?

If you have ever been accused of being a "looky loo" then you know what this term means.  In essence, a "looky loo" is one who is hanging around just because of the curiosity a particular event or happening sparks.  They are casual "browsers" in stores, and those who strain to gawk at the accident on the freeway.  I think there might even be a type of looky loo in Christian circles, as well!  Like those who come to church for the excitement of the moment, but who have very little to do with Jesus any other day of the week. In essence, their curiosity drives them, but their curiosity doesn't commit them!  This is the case one day when a huge crowd had gathered to hear Jesus speak - listening late into the day to his teachings.  At the dinner hour, there is but a meager helping of bread and fish to feed the vast crowd and no monies to buy more.  Here we find the miracle of the loaves and fishes - enough to feed the crowds from the meager offering of a young boy's few loaves and fishes.  Enough to provide left-overs for any sojourners who may happen by later that night.  Not many in the crowd were "committed" to Jesus as the Son of God, but they sure liked what he preached, wondered at his miraculous signs, and yearned to be part of the happening crowd.  In other words, there were a whole lot of looky loos in the crowd!

Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.  (John 6:35-38 MSG)

How do we know there were those just there for the "show" or out of curiosity? Our answer is found in their "paparazzi like" actions.  Jesus senses their "curious interest" in his actions, but knows they are not really connecting his actions with the work of the heavenly Father on their behalf.  Their belief is that he is just another prophet - one they might want to raise up to the level of their next king!  To make matters worse, Jesus knows their "good intentions", but he also knows they aren't seeing the "picture" of who and what Jesus is in totality.  He needs them to make that connection, just like he needs for us to make that connection for ourselves.

The crowds compare his actions to those of Moses - bread from heaven in the form of manna was the "norm" where Moses was involved.  So this action on Jesus' part to feed the physical hunger of the crowds draws them to the conclusion that Jesus can call upon heaven and see these same magnitude of miracles performed in their midst.  They want more of what he can "do" - not him, per se.  This fact became very apparent when they answered him:  “Why don’t you give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what’s going on? When we see what’s up, we’ll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do. He knows this and he needs to connect-the-dots for these looky loos.  In fact, he points out they seek food for their bellies - perishable food - but they need the food which will last for all time - he is the "Bread of Life".

"Just a hint" - isn't this something we find ourselves asking Jesus for more times than we'd probably like to publicly admit?  We want more to "go on" before we take the plunge!  We will eventually commit (at least that is what we tell ourselves) - but could we just have a little more of a hint of what you are doing, Jesus, so we can wrap our heads and hearts around it?  This shouldn't be news to any of us - we all probably act as looky loos once in a while - especially spiritually.  We want "in on the action", but we have to figure out if it is "worth it" before we jump in with both feet.  Someone can tell me something is a good investment, but until I see $100 actually become $1,000 I probably won't put my money there!

We constantly "see Jesus in action" in our lives, but we don't connect his action with whatever it takes to convince us to commit to him - we want just a little more of the "action" in order to "be sure" we can count on him to be consistent, to always be there, to follow-through, to be all he promises to be. Look at what the looky loo is really doing - they are looking upon, but not really taking it in.  These people in the crowd took in the bread and fish, but these weren't what would make they whole and never searching for fulfillment again - only Jesus could fill them to that degree.  Here's what we need to see in this entire account - Jesus is after our heart, not our curiosity.

He uses our curiosity to draw us near, but he doesn't intend for us to continue to stick with him just out of curiosity - he wants to make this heart connection which will anchor us securely to him and all he envisions for our lives.  This is what the crowds missed - they were "close by" but they weren't in his "circle of friends".  I don't know about you, but the "circle of friends" Jesus has sure outshines mine!  I know I want to be in that "circle" and the only way "in" is through him!  Look at what he says to the curious:  I don't discount your curiosity, but I long for your commitment.  It is that desire which I will embrace and once I embrace you, I never let you out of my circle!

Now, that should excite us!  When we come to the place of not just being spiritual "paparazzi" - curiosity seekers, thrill seekers - we will be in the place of true blessing.  Just sayin!

Fire stoked?

If you have ever been "in love", you might just understand the longing for the "presence" of the one you love so dearly.  When separation occurs - whether by choice or because of something out of your control - the longing builds. Today, with so many men and women deployed into our battlefields, families are experiencing the tremendous loss of the presence of their loved ones. There is this anticipation of return which stirs the heart and keeps the embers of love alive within, but because of the uncertainty of their safety, there is also the fear that their loved one may not return at all.  What many describe as "stirrings" for the presence of their loved one is really similar to how God feels about each of us - longing to just hold us close, gently stroking our backs with the tenderness of his hand, and then encompassing us with the warmth and protection of his full presence.  How long has it been since you have experienced the "stirrings" in your heart for the presence of your "first love" - God himself?

The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I’m spoiled for anyone else!  Your beauty, within and without, is absolute, dear lover, close companion. (Song of Solomon 7:5-6 MSG)

There are some things we can do to "stir" these feelings back to life, if we find they have "waned" a little in intensity.  First and foremost, we can begin by remembering just how much God loves us and with what intensity he directs his attentive care over our lives.  God's words to us:  "I am spoiled for anyone else!"  In other words, no one else will bring such intensity of response, not fulfillment to the heart of God other than you!  It applies to each of us, as we can each personalize these words.  He is "spoiled" for anyone else.  If you have ever been in a relationship with another, you know that this would be the most "ideal" feelings someone could express to you. The thought of no one else being able to fill the place your love fills in their life is almost electrifying, isn't it?  Now, transition your thoughts to God - your life, in his hands, electrifies him!  He is magnificently touched when we are near.

Second, we need to take inventory of the things which have gotten in the way of us having this intensity of longing for him.  If you were to read through this entire Song of Solomon, you would see this intensity building, complete with times of separation, partitions which seem to block them from each other, and the complexity of distracting influences all around.  The things which separate only serve to build the intensity, not shut down the pursuit.  The things which block them from each other, even for a little while, are not going to "stunt" their love, but cause their love to be magnified and ignited until their desire to be together causes them to get past those blockades.  The distracting influences are nothing in comparison to the magnificence of their love - keeping this in mind helps them to not "settle" for anything less than the presence of each other.  When we find things or people getting "in the way" of our times with Jesus, it is time to begin to use those things to heighten our awareness of the "lack of his presence" and then to drive us forward from our present position.  They will not stop one whose eyes are fixed on Jesus!

Last, we consider where it is we find our passion ignited.  For me, some of the most trying times have fully ignited passion afresh in my life.  For others, it is times of retreat and refreshing.  Each of us have different ways we connect with Jesus, but no one way is the "right" way to find this connection and to build upon this intimacy.  Indeed, ANY and ALL avenues which lead us into his arms are pathways toward his grace.  Passion grows when the separation occurs - after all, absence is touted as making the heart grow stronger, is it not?  We might just want to "capitalize" on those times when we feel the stirrings of "absence" within our hearts - for these tiny stirrings are the very things which will fan into flame the embers of fullness of love. 

We can "settle" for the absence - becoming content to simply remember the good times we experienced at the feet of Jesus.  No amount of "remembering" will fan the flames of our first love, though.  We have to get up from our places of slumber, points of compromise, and positions of comfort in order to come face-to-face with the one and only love of our lives which will satisfy our every longing and stoke the fires of our heart once again.  Just sayin!

About or From - You Choose

There is a vast difference between learning "about" something or someone and learning "from" that object or person.  When we learn "about" someone, we are learning things that are closely associated with that individual, but we are not necessarily learning what makes that person "tick".  When we get to learn "from" them, we get to know the "original" and nothing is quite the same as getting to know the "original".  Anything less just doesn't quite reach the same level of experience.  The thing which makes "about" and "from" very distinct as it comes to our relationship with Christ is the danger of never drawing close enough to recognize the real thing when we see it.  As long as we are just learning "about" Christ, we get familiar with some of the nuances of his character, but we don't sense the action of that character within us. When we are learning "from" Christ, it is because we have leaned into him, heard the beat of his heart, and drawn strength from that nearness.  "About" doesn't help us spot the imitation when it might come - "from" helps us differentiate more accurately between what is "genuine" and what is the cleverly designed "imitation".

Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.  (Hebrews 13:9 MSG)

I think we need to recognize the potential of merely knowing "about" him - it opens us up to being lured away by the latest speculation about him.  We have to live "in" grace - not just appreciate that grace "exists".  We have to live "in" Christ - not just appreciate him as a good man, a great teacher, or as a means for us to get into heaven.  We need a close, intimate relationship "with" Jesus in order to learn "from" Jesus.  I have good friends and then I have my best friend.  What she knows about me that some of the others don't might not seem significant at first, but the closeness we have developed allows her to "tune into" my moods, know when I need to talk, and then know when we just need to be quiet together while we enjoy just being with each other.  We have learned "from" each other - not just "about" each other.  We have developed a level of relational "intimacy" which allows us to understand more than the superficial stuff about each other.

I like the imagery of this passage - "Products named after Christ don't seem to do much for those who by them."  Chew on that one a little - I think it might just speak to each of us about some of the "products named after Christ" we might have bought into over the years.  For example, have any of us been duped into believing something from scripture just because someone else told us it was in scripture?  Perhaps we think the adage "God helps those who help themselves" is from scripture - a direct quote of sorts.  Have you ever been told this by a well-meaning brother or sister in the Lord?  Well, the adage is attributable to Ben Franklin, or even apparent in Aesop's Fables - not God!  Does that one shock you?  Then look it up!  We find ourselves buying into many "products named after Christ" without really testing them to see if they are indeed the "real deal".  In fact, the Bereans were given kudos for taking what they were taught, then going home, studying them over and over again against scripture to see if indeed the teachings were in alignment with scripture - something which might just helps us not buy-into products "about" Christ and draw us nearer to learning "from" him!

If we can begin to see the value of daily drawing close to Jesus, allowing his Word to penetrate our lives, even if we don't "get" all we read each time we read it, we will begin to develop the protections we need which will keep us from buying into "products named after Christ".  In time, the more we expose ourselves to truth, the more truth begins to penetrate the recesses of our minds and thoughts.  When we hear or see something which might seem to appeal to our senses, we often will also be met with the "contrary" warning of that thing just not being exactly right.  Remember, all falsehood bears some semblance of truth, or we'd never be drawn into believing the falsehood.  We learn fully of God's grace in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.  We learn of the actions of grace in his life actions - those things he modeled on our behalf.  We learn the generosity of grace when we begin to see the sacrifice grace made on our behalf in the person of Christ.  We learn "from" Christ - not just about him - building "safety" into our lives as a result.

In short - to keep from being lured into stuff which merely proclaims to be a product which carries the name of Christianity, we have to learn from the one who Christianity is all about!  Jesus!  Just sayin!

Hidden Treasures

If you have ever found hidden treasure, you know exactly how it feels!  At one of my Grandson's birthdays, the theme was pirates.  They have a large area of sand in the backyard, so it made sense for them to "hunt for gold" in that area.  My daughter painted everyday pebbles a brilliant gold color and cleverly scattered them just barely beneath the surface.  As the activity was introduced, the kiddos did not know what they were digging for, but they were so jazzed when they found their first "chunk" of gold!  Before long, everyone of them was digging furiously to find their own "claim" of gold.  Why?  What was once hidden was no longer - that which was exposed became a thing of interest to many!  Now, this was make believe, but in real life, I wonder how many times God cleverly places something of great worth just beneath the surface in our lives, begging for exposure and promising great delight when it is finally out in the open?  Maybe more than we think!

There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us     to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (Psalm 19:11-14 MSG)

Exposure brings into view what once was hidden.  Anything which remains in hiding is something which will not be affected by the advances of love.  For love to affect us, there is much which must come out of hiding in our lives - so we can experience his tender touch and his healing embrace.  A surgeon carefully dissects "surface" tissue, not because he wants to cause pain, but because what will get exposed in the process is then at the disposal of his healing touch.  The same is true with Christ - he never asks for anything hidden to come to the surface if he doesn't also stand ready to take what is exposed and touch it in his healing love.

When we uncover who we really are under the surface, the removal of all we erect to act as "blinds" in our lives actually may begin to expose some "rough" areas which will require the skilled hand of a craftsman to smooth out.  As I have said on many occasions - our part is to be who we are "in reality" - God's part is to do the work of smoothing out those rough areas.  When you really stop to think about it, God died for the "real us", not the made up or cleverly masked us.  He died for us as we really are - so we could become what he really is!

Exposure includes a certain element of abandonment.  Maybe this is why it so hard.  In warfare, a soldier digs in, wears camouflage, and erects "blinds" to hide within so the other army will not be able to see his location.  In abandoning this "cover", he is really putting everything on the line.  God never asks for us to put something on the line unless what he has planned for us is much greater than what we could ever experience without that abandoning of our place of safety.

A couple of things abandoning our position of "safety" might involve:

- It opens us to his inspection.  This may be the most uncomfortable part of the whole abandonment process.  Nothing makes us feel more vulnerable than being seen as we really are.  To be seen in this manner is to be "under scrutiny" by some - but when the exposure is to his grace-filled eyes, there is no "scrutiny", only grace.

- It opens us to his acceptance.  Not acceptance of what is on the surface, but acceptance of what needs his divine touch on the inside.  Like the skilled hand of the surgeon, he is thrilled to not only help us identify what needs his touch, but to put to use his skill to transform that area.  He accepted us just as we are, but he also promises us so much more than we ever could be alone.  It is a double-blessing indeed.

- It opens us to his touch.  No touch is so gentle, and also so thorough.  I melt away when my grandsons come to me and nuzzle right into me.  Why? There is something so tender about their touch - they hold on, hug tight, and just make me feel awesome.  Now, imagine that on a scale of about 1,000 times that much awesomeness and you get the idea of what it is like to be touched by Jesus - gentle, yet thorough; skilled, yet care-filled; cutting, yet totally healing.

- It opens us to his voice.  If you have ever not been paying close attention to someone else around you, you know the power of a gentle nudge to get your attention once again.  That little nudge refocuses you, but guess what it speaks to the one who had to nudge you?  You weren't listening!  When we are open to exposure, we are open to his nudges - to get us to listen where we need to hear his words most.

- It opens us to his revelation.  Part of hearing his voice is heeding its direction.  Abandoning our position of self-made security often brings us into a greater place of seeing our enemy for what he really is - it exposes the truth about what has been hidden.  Maybe this seems a little frightening to some, but when we can truthfully see what we are dealing with, that is half the battle!

God teaches us to be open, to be passionate, and to be available to him.  To be desirous of the intimacy of his presence and the liberty of his touch is the starting point for freedom in our lives.  Just sayin!

Spend a little time today....

God desires intimacy.  In fact, love demands this kind of relating.  It cannot grow without depth of commitment and the willingness to be truthfully "naked" before one another in a spiritual and emotional sense.  We don't need to remove our clothes to "get naked" with each other - we just need to remove our masks.  Intimacy implies a certain familiarity with each other.  It comes out of frequent exposure to each other - to the real you and the real me.  It is the revealing of who we are, how we act, and what we like/dislike. It involves how we move and what moves us.  In essence, until we reach this kind of depth in relationship with one another, we cannot truly be in a place of accountability with one another - and heaven knows, we need this type of accountability if we are to plant and harvest well!

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.  (Galations 6:7-10 NLT)

Intimacy also involves communication.  This is probably one of the hardest parts of relationship - because we just plain stink at being good communicators.  For communication to reach a level where we are actually helped by what we share and what is shared with us, we need to be more than superficial in our sharing - we need a depth of revelation.  It is the revealing of who we are, what we require or need, and how we plan to move or what it is we have planned.  This type of communication can open doors for us to see our life through the eyes of another - and we all need to see life through eyes other than just our own!

To this we have to add awareness, contact and frequency.  We have to become aware of each other - not just on a casual level, but with the intent of knowing another at the deepest possible level.  Awareness is more than just having knowledge of - it is being cognizant of what that knowledge can do when it is handled well.  Contact involves close association with the other person - experiencing their "presence" even when words just aren't spoken. I am blessed to have a couple of relationships just like this - not really needing to talk all the time, but just being able to be in the same room, giggling at the same corny jokes on a TV sitcom, or just taking in the beauty of nature as it passes by on our journey to a destination.  It is in contact that we get to know both the spoken and unspoken needs of another.  

Frequency in relationship involves more than just being at a location at a specific time each day for a set amount of time.  Too many times we think of relationship as a matter of just spending "time" together.  I'd like to challenge that one a little today - when there is continual association - even if it is just in your thoughts of another, you are developing a closeness of relationship. Yes, the presence of another is important, but so is the awareness of the need to keep them frequently in your thoughts and dear to your heart.

Up to this point, you may have only suspected I was speaking about the relationships we have with each other.  I challenge you to reread this and substitute God for each of these relationship characteristics.  You and I need to be as intimate with him as we are with each other - to fail HIM on any of these points is to fail ourselves!  One of the things I have come to appreciate in my relationship with Jesus is the ability to have an "informal privacy" with him.  By this, I mean that ability to relate to him, not so much in the formality of him being GOD, but in the informality of him being my closest companion and my most frequent contact.  

Not sure where you are today in your personal relationships with each other, but you probably need to realize the importance of them.  We can all do a better job of that!  When I stop long enough to consider those which mean the most to me, I find myself smiling at the fondness of memories associated with those individuals.  I also find myself lifting them in thoughts and silent prayers for their safety, continued growth, and God's best for their lives. When I think about my relationship with Jesus, my thoughts gravitate toward the tremendous selflessness of his unending love and grace.  I can only hope to exemplify this type of love to those who I relate to in the natural sense.  

I don't know who you need to develop a better awareness of today, but if it is Jesus - go for it.  If it is your spouse - go for it.  If it is your cubicle mate - go for it.  Until you do, you are missing out on what God intends for your deepest and most meaningful growth!  Just sayin!

And the will reads....

In Christ's family, there is no room for division - we just cannot set one group or person up against another.  No room for slave or free - but for both.  No room for male or female - but for both.  No room for Jew or Gentile - but for both.  All are equal in Christ - all are in common relationship WITH Jesus. None of us gets into relationship WITH Christ by any unique means, nor are we held closer to his heart by anything we can claim as our "right" or "position".  I like how scripture describes it - as long as the heir (that is us) is a minor, there is no advantage he or she possesses over the slave in the household.  Legally, the minor may "own" the inheritance, but he or she still has to come of age in order to inherit it.  In the meantime, there is this "maturation" process which occurs under the tutelage of an appointed tutor and administrator of the inheritance. The purpose of the tutor or the administrator is to guide, direct and determine the course of the one being tutored - not so much so the inheritance will grow, but that the one receiving the inheritance will "grow into" the inheritance they have received.

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.   (Galations 4:4-7 MSG)

As a child, we needed all kinds of simple instructions.  When mom would send us off to clean up our room, she needed to describe the process of what "clean" really meant, didn't she?  For example, she'd instruct us to pick up all the blocks and put them in the appropriate box for their storage.  Then once that task was completed, she might just remind us to pick up the stray socks on the floor and put them into the laundry basket.  Step-by-step, she'd instruct us to actually do the task of cleaning the room.  Why did we need this detailed instruction?  It is probably two-fold:  We didn't yet know how to sort out the detail of what is required to set the room in order and we might just have had a differing definition of "clean" from what mom did!

Sometimes God has to give us these clear, plain and simple instructions, because we don't really know how to sort things out on our own yet, or we just have a differing picture of what we desire the outcome to be.  This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit's tutelage in our lives.  Simple instructions are needed at first, but in time, we develop an awareness of how God expects us to do things - his expectations become a matter of learned behavior.  At that point, we don't need the step-by-step instructions in order to produce obedient behavior.  It occurs because we know the principles by which God expects for us to operate.  We might revert to simple instructions on occasion when situations are unfamiliar to us, but in general, once the lessons have been learned, we can simply apply the principles over and over again.

Now, we aren't set free to return to bondage again.  That would be silly and a huge waste of time, right?  We are set free so that we might be in relationship WITH Christ.  Not just IN relationship, but in relationship WITH him.  There is a difference, you know.  To be IN relationship just allows you to say you have somebody in your life.  To be in relationship WITH somebody means you actually enjoy doing stuff together, have gotten to know more about each other than just surface-level stuff, and you "click" when you are together.  This is the privilege of relationship WITH Christ - we learn to "click" together with him.  Intimacy is an outcome of "clicking" - we begin to form bonds which are hard to break.  There is a freedom in communication which was not there before.  This doesn't come naturally to us in the first attempt at communication, but under the tutelage of a couple of wise instructors - his Word and his Holy Spirit - we come to the place of shared intimacies.

A privilege is an advantage or a right granted.  In terms of relationship, when two come together IN relationship there is a transition point where the two begin to give "granted privilege" to the other.  In that exchange of privileged "status", a sharing is free to occur which does not occur on any other level. We go from "formality" in the relationship to a place of "informal" companionship.  Now, this may seem a little foreign to you as a child of God because you have maintained a pretty "arms-length" relationship with God. This idea of "informal companionship" may actually seem a little sacrilegious. I hope so!  This relationship WITH Jesus isn't meant to be "religious" - it is meant to be "intimate".  Intimacy means the deepest nature of the other becomes the "known" thing of the other party in the relationship.  There is a breaking down of the walls of formality and a freedom to be deeply and personally genuine.  This means we don't hold God at arms length any longer, but nuzzle up to him closely and begin to share WITH him like we don't share with any other.

We are children, ans as such, we are heirs.  We are entitled to enjoy the inheritance, though some portions of the inheritance are not ours to enjoy in this moment.  We look forward to the full enjoyment of all we have inherited in Christ Jesus as we grown in relationship WITH him.  There are really two ways of being in relationship with God:

1) We are a slave to him - in this slave life, we produce nothing more than religious piety.  

2) We are children of promise - as such, we are free to be kids, learn at his feet, and to grow in stature before him.  

We aren't to live in slavery any longer - but to move into a life of freedom in Christ.  A life IN Christ is an outcome of his love - a life WITH Christ is an outcome of our lives being transformed by his love and our love growing into maturity.  With opportunity comes responsibility.  We aren't just to claim our "family ties", but we are to learn how to grow into the full inheritance Christ has for us.  Just sayin!

Affecting or Infecting?

If you have ever struggled with a little negativity in your own life - such as just not being able to see the forest for the trees - you probably will get what I am going to talk about today.  Life choices are based on what we evaluate to be either "negative" or "positive" for our lives.  We try to avoid the negative and move toward what we consider to be positive.  The time it takes to avoid one and move toward another is really what gives us the most problems, isn't it?  One of the things we have to keep in mind is the "ease" at which the negative stuff comes into our lives.  It is like this ever-present gift that just keeps on giving!  On the other hand, the positive stuff takes a little longer, might seem a little hard to get our hands around, and sometimes even seems to evade us!

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG)

First things first - our words often reveal the course of our minds and influence the environment into which we take steps forward, backward, or none at all. Maybe this is why Paul focused on filling our minds with things which mattered the most.  If we look at the list, these are not the things which come naturally to us.  They are pursued on purpose.  Negative stuff comes our way because it naturally exists in our environment.  People gravitate toward negativity when they don't understand stuff.  They get negative about others when they might not want anyone to focus on them.  There is just something "natural" about negativity.  On the other hand, these things Paul tells us to fill our minds with are not "natural" - they take some work.  Yet, if we focus on these, we find our view of life turns a lot more positive, even when negative stuff seems to surround us.

Next, if we have been embracing the negativity around us, it is time to let it go.  How?  Probably one of the simplest ways to let something go is to move toward it in forgiveness.  Simple?  Yeah right!  Forgiveness is not all that simple, is it?  Nope - it is purposeful, costs us something, and sometimes takes us out of our comfort zone.  Look again at what I said - we move away from negativity and toward the positive in the actions of forgiveness. Forgiveness has some pretty specific actions - things like letting go of the debt you feel another "owes" you, not holding onto what you think you have a right to, etc.  The more we engage in these types of actions of forgiveness, the easier it is for us to move away from the negative and toward the positive.  As we move in forgiveness, the things which held our attention and demanded so much of our energies in the negative realm no longer hold the same power over us.  Those energies are free to be refocused - we have more to invest in the positive, making the positive more attainable than it was when we held onto the negative.

If you don't think your relationships are important in this battle between embracing the positive and releasing the negative, think again.  They matter big time!  The more we hang around with negative people, bent on skewing our perception of life toward the negative, the more we become rooted in never taking steps to get out of negativity.  Negative people affect other people - maybe even "infect" them.  Staying rooted in that type of soil will certainly turn the "fruit" on your vine very "acidic"!  Good fruit only comes when we are in good soil - if your fruit seems a little acidic - you might just consider where you are planted!

Most important of all - keep your perspective.  A word on perspective - the best perspective is established from the best vantage point.  The best vantage point is next to the heart of Christ.  This said, the best way to step away from the negative and toward the positive is to nuzzle up really, really close to the heart of Jesus.  How?  This IS the simple part - for it takes only a word to him to be drawn near.  What we don't realize is he accomplishes the work of coming near - he gives the access - we just have to ask and then be drawn in.  We make this "closeness" with Jesus such a hard thing - thinking it is done only on our knees, in a quiet room, with lots and lots of focus on "getting close to Jesus".  Come on!  Although these experiences are good for us in order to develop closeness with Jesus, we meet up with Jesus many different ways and in all sorts of places.  One of the places I hear from him and release stuff to him is in the drive between home and work, or work and home.  I am alone - except for the hundreds of other drivers on the road!  I get to talk to him about whatever I want - and he talks to me about whatever I need!

There isn't much we can do about the negativity around us - except keeping the perspective which will help us to avoid being sucked in.  If you have been sucked in already, it is not too late.  Get a change of perspective by drawing close to Christ, allowing him to direct you toward forgiveness, and then let your mind be healed.  Your energies will be renewed as you do - and your change in perspective might just be what the environment you are in needs, as well!  Just sayin!

New and Near - you in?

Most of the time, we glance over words as we read text - mostly because our brains are good about picking them up, interpreting them quickly and then moving us onto the next ones.  We don't have to read each individual word to get the "gist" of what is often being said, but we may miss out on something if we don't!  This is why I insist on taking scripture "in context", rather than pulling out a verse or two and hanging my hat on it.  The "context" gives us the substance we'd otherwise just "glance over".  In the 5th chapter of the Second Letter to the Corinthian church, Paul lays out the basis of hope in Christ Jesus.  He begins the chapter with a discussion about a particular hope we all have: resurrection.  In fact, he goes so far as to proclaim we get new bodies!  I don't know about you, but having one free of aches and pains seems pretty awesome to me!  Then he reminds us we don't get to "see" this "transition" from our earthly to our heavenly bodies right now, but it is a hope which keeps us going.  Almost as if he needs to "bring us back down to earth", he transitions to the point of telling his readers to keep a solemn remembrance of having to one day give an account for our actions TODAY.  He pulls us back into the game, so to speak, by reminding us it is the here and now where we need to focus, because today has a purpose - we have been given this day by none other than God himself.  Then we come to the point of our passage this morning - this promise or hope of a new body, a resurrected spirit, beckons us to allow the work of God in our lives today - so we capitalize and enjoy the fresh start we have been given in the here and now.

Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!  (2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG)

Newness:  other than the former or old; having but lately come to a place, position, or status; having been brought into.  Newness of life - old gone, new life beckoning us to step out and take territory yet unclaimed in our lives.  This is the condition we find ourselves in today as believers in Christ Jesus.  Each new day is a chance to experience anew the goodness and fullness of God himself.  Our "N" List is really comprised of two character traits:  Newness and Nearness.  You see, it is only as we draw near that we experience fully the newness God intends.  Paul is reminding us it is the work of Christ to "bring us into" this newness he intends - it is not our own.  This is where we often get things all mixed up - we think it is our responsibility to get the "old man" dead and the "new man" perfectly alive in us.  Nope!  It is his work!  Our part is to yield to the hand which seeks to do the work of re-creating us.  

Nearness:  close enough to experience true intimacy; closely related to or connected.  If you have been a reader for any time at all, you have heard me speak frequently about "connection" - for connection determines the output we have in life.  If you buy a hose, but never connect it to the water faucet, what use is the hose.  You could use it as a "rope" of sorts, but it was not made to be a rope.  It was created to be a "conduit" of sorts - carrying something from point A to point B.  To use it any other way is to veer from "manufacturer's specifications" for the hose!  The same is true of us - we were made for connection with God.  To veer from this is to "void" the manufacturer's specifications for our lives!  Yet, we can have a hose fully connected to the faucet and still not have it function as it should - simply because the faucet is still in the "off" position!  Connection is only "valuable" when there is a free-flow!  So, just "knowing" God is not nearness - we might make the connection, but if we miss out on the "free-flow" of his grace, power, and purpose in our lives, we miss out on the whole purpose of the connection in the first place!

There are times when I hear people talking about needing a fresh start.  Their lives just haven't "added up" to what they hoped for when they set out on a particular path, or perhaps the path they are traveling has become a little stale.  This is part of growth - we want a new start at times because the old just hasn't "panned out" quite the way we hoped.  Most of the time it is not because the path was wrong, it just doesn't excite us and cause us to "dig deep" any longer.  So, we change jobs, find a new house, or even look for a new relationship.  What we fail to recognize is that "newness" is only cultivated when there is "nearness".  Accomplish the "nearness" part and the "newness" part will always be close behind!  James 4:8 reminds us to draw near to God and he will draw near to us.  The "nearness" gives us the connection - the newness is a result of the free flow of his grace into our hearts.  The conduit is the spirit of man, connected to the Spirit of God.  

So, rather than constantly flitting here and there looking for something to give us newness in life, we'd do well to draw near, becoming firmly attached to that which promises filling beyond our wildest dreams!  Just sayin!

Crying out?

Parents today have some neat things we did not have "back in the day".  There are all these new electronic gadgets (something near and dear to my heart) to help you with "taking care of baby".  When I first heard of the "baby monitor" - the little device with a monitor at the baby's bedside and a portable receiver you could carry around with you from room to room while baby slept, I thought this was the greatest idea!  Do you remember the days when you had to avoid doing a little yard work, or perhaps not even sit out on the patio for a little fresh air when they napped, afraid you'd not hear them when they awoke?  This device makes sense.

Another device which has come out is the "middle ear thermometer" - the best device since bread was bagged for purchase on the store shelves!  Ever try getting baby to lie still long enough to get a "read" on the old rectal glass thermometer?  If you have, you will echo my sentiments about this handy new device!  Yet, there are just some which don't make sense.  Perhaps the silliest I have seen is this "pricey" device which keeps track of the next time baby needs to eat, when you should even get baby up or put baby to sleep, and so on.  The idea is to get mom and dad aware of the baby's routine.  Now, come one!  The simplest way to know baby wants something is when they cry!  Whether it is food, diapering, or just plain being held - when you actually pick baby up, offer the baby food, do the quick little peek into the diaper to see if things look "okay" in there, and give them a gentle little patting on the back while you nestle them in your arms, you usually get the "feel" for what baby needs!  There is something quite "telling" in their little cry - most of the time, it means they need our attention one way or another.

Let my cry come right into your presence, God; provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.  Give my request your personal attention, rescue me on the terms of your promise.  (Psalm 119:169-170 MSG)

Things aren't much different between us and God - our cries usually tell him we need something!  We need his attention in some matter of the soul, spirit, emotion, etc.  When we cry out to him - he listens for the "intent" in the cry.  Just as a parent soon "adapts" to knowing what baby needs by how baby cries, what baby does when they are picked up, and so on, God knows what we need by the "intent" of our cries.  He knows when we are just feeling sorry for ourselves and want a little attention - like when baby cries just to be held.   He knows we sometimes see life as 'all about me' and there are times when our cries tell him just as much.  He doesn't turn a deaf ear, though.  He knows we just sometimes need to be held, redirected, and then we are engaged again in 'life outside of us'.  He also knows when something hurts - like when baby has gas and just needs to get what is trapped inside out.  God doesn't want all the 'stuff' of life which causes us pain to be trapped inside - he knows exactly how to get it out so it can no longer cause us the discomfort and allow us to rest in him.

I think there are times when we also need to just be fed a while -  finding comfort in the closeness we experience in his arms and in the intake of his Word.  As a baby cuddles up to the mother, taking in the warm milk, what is the baby doing?  Most often, baby is looking into the eyes of mom - studying her expressions, seeing her eyes, even touching her cheek.  They are connecting through something as simple as feeding - one part of the interaction provides for the physical need - the other provides for a much deeper need.  Knowing we are loved and cared for is not experienced in the depths of our playtime, but in the quietness of our "feeding time".  

God goes about doing what it is any parent does throughout the course of the day.  He tends to the needs of his family, almost without his family's noticing.  But...at the cry of one of his children, his attention is immediately turned to the "specific" need that child has at that moment.  All the other needs have been tended to, but this specific need captures his attention and he sets things in motion to see the need met.  Just as a parent prepares the bottle, or brings the infant to the breast, God sets about preparing that which will feed us when our "tank" is on the empty-side.  Just as a parent prepares fresh diapers and clean little rompers for their infant, so God prepares all we need to keep us "clean" when life gets us a little dirty.  God is quite an attentive parent - but just as with our earthly parents, he often takes his "clues" as to our specific need from what it is we actually express to him in the cries of our heart.  It isn't because he doesn't know our need, but in expressing it openly, WE begin to see him differently.

The baby cries - the parent responds.  What connect is made there?  If I express my need, my parent will meet it.  We learned this very basic thing as a small infant just barely out of the womb.  So, why is it we struggle so much with this as adults?  We somehow think God should just "know" our need and meet it.  We get all twitter-pated when we think he doesn't.  If we stop to think about his a little, we might just have glossed over the importance of the connection which is made in the moments of us expressing our need and us seeing clearly into his eyes as he meets it!  There is something about the soothing hand of our heavenly Father and the depth of his love expressed in the tenderness of his eyes which we miss out on if we don't cry out - for it is in the "cry" where we find we are actually seeking his touch and his presence! Just sayin!

Who you gonna open up to?

I have had only a few relationships in life where I would hold nothing back - sharing from my heart, opening up freely, knowing those individuals would not pick me apart because of some of the things I struggle with.  It is a rare find to find one so trustworthy.  You know, I didn't start out with these kind of friends, though.  It took a long time to find these most trusted individuals!  Yet, in the places where I had no one in the "natural" sense to open up to, I always had God.  I think this is where I first learned the value of having someone I could open up to!  Trusting him first with my life's secrets and struggles was the secret to me finding those whom he placed in my path who would become some of my greatest allies, toughest "critics", and most loving companions in this journey.

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done:  He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.  (Psalm 37:5-6 MSG)

Our psalmist challenges us to do several things in this psalm.  It is a psalm steeped in all kinds of richness.  If you have never read it in its entirety, I will link below so you might just have the pleasure of taking it in.  In passing through this portion of scripture again and again, some things always catch my eye about what David recorded here.  I'd like to consider just a couple of them with you today:

* The company you keep determines a lot about where you will be headed.  David's advice is to keep company with God because there is no better companion for the journey.  Mom always used to say, "Choose your friends wisely."  I think every parent's concern centers on the effect of unwise choices when the companions you choose are a little unruly and undisciplined.  This has certainly proven to be true in my life.  Those who spur me to do well are those who are also committed to walking with Jesus - just sayin!

* The ability to quiet down determines much about how we will interpret life.  It is in the quieting process where we begin to center ourselves on what is really important - the things which really matter.  I have to take regular times to actually quiet myself down - since my life usually flies at speeds in excess of the speed of light!  If I didn't, I'd only have the perspective of the hectic, out of control life others want to impose upon me.  In quieting down, I am taking back control, regaining perspective, and getting square with God's plan.  When you are traveling in train, things pass you by and are gone.  What you lack is the perspective of what is passing you by.  In quieting down long enough and frequently enough, you regain the perspective.  Just sayin!

* The perspective we maintain often determines our response to what life sends our way.  David puts it well - bridle your anger, trash your wrath.  If you have ever spun out of control in this life, you know how easily you find yourself at the edge of anger - always finding fault with things and people, easily excited when the slightest thing keeps life from progressing at the pace you were trying to keep.  So, David's advice to get the right perspective also helps us to maintain the right attitude toward the things which would otherwise drive us over the edge!  Just sayin!

* The relationship we have with things and money often is an indicator of what is really in control of our lives.  To David, he lived by the "less is more" philosophy.  In fact, he says, "Less is more, and more is less."  Seems like a silly thing to say, but is it really?  He is building on each piece of advice as he goes along in this psalm.  When we choose our traveling companion well (God), we will also learn to spend time with him.  Time with him helps us see things as they are, not as someone else would want us to see them.  When we see things in this manner, we often don't find ourselves struggling with the attitudes that further clutter our lives with messes we have to clean up.  Learning to live in simplicity is a blessing.  Just sayin!

* The path we travel is made more secure because of the one we choose to walk with.  In fact, David says it better than I ever could - "Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he’s happy.  If he stumbles, he’s not down for long; God has a grip on his hand."  (vs. 23-24)  We might stumble, but we won't go down!  The one we choose to travel with holds us securely.  No "tree" in his forest falls without his noticing!  Just sayin!

* The condition of the path we walk is often more of a matter of choosing the right path to travel than it is avoiding the obstacles on the one we might have haphazardly chosen.  Maybe this is why David tells us to open up before God - to reveal to him the very things we might otherwise want to keep bottled up from the world around us.  In getting these things out, placing them squarely in his care, there is often a clarifying of the path we should take.  If we have clearly been on the wrong one, he redirects our course.  If we are about to take a new one, he gives us assurance of its safety.  Just sayin!

So, just some thoughts from a great psalm.  Maybe you will find some treasures of your own there, as well.  Just sayin!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37&version=MSG