Sunday, November 27, 2011

FORTY DAYS

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
~ Luke 4:1-2

Forty is a fairly significant number in The Bible. Actually, forty is a fairly significant number in life. I recently turned forty and it's fairly significant to me, anyway.

Alece Ronzino promotes the idea of having one word to focus on during a year. It's inspiring, encouraging, challenging.

As I navigate my way through life, I'm continually seeking God's will in transforming me. Less me and more Him is the goal. More Him leads to more others and less me, and that's what I'm striving for. I know, though, it's not good enough to just sit back and wait without making any effort to listen and respond to His will. So, I set my sights on a yearly goal, knowing that I need to make concentrated efforts day to day.

Forty days. It's manageable and it's meaningful, and it's what I've chosen to focus on as I yield to God. There are very specific things getting in the way of my relationship with Him and others. With His strength, I am overcoming those things one step at a time. What's getting in the way of your relationship with Him and others? Are you willing to commit to forty days? And then, another forty days? And then?

With Him, you can do it, I can do it, we can do it.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

OWNING JESUS

I shift in my chair uncomfortably as I wrestle with what's being shared. "Read The Bible literally," I am instructed. "Don't try to put things into context as it distorts His Word," I am told. "Either everything happened exactly as presented, or potentially none of it is true," I am reminded. And, yet, we listen as items are contextualized. So, I'm confused. Are we supposed to put things into context ... or not ... or both ... or neither ... or whatever happens to be convenient?

I roll my eyes and voice my displeasure as The Good News of Jesus Christ is ignored by those who claim to hold Him as Lord and Savior. The hypocrisy overwhelms me and stirs cynical thoughts, and comments, and actions. Back and forth we go, pulling Him back and forth, back and forth, determined to make clear that His message and actions clearly support our beliefs, not theirs.

It's silly. It's worse than that, but the word "silly" feels better, safer. How much time I waste, we waste, attempting to own Jesus. The lack of humility is astounding. With a wry smile, I'm saddened and encouraged as I turn to Him and give thanks: For loving me and you so much that disagreeing about words and fighting over possession ultimately leads us only to Him.

I got my Jesus. How about you?