It occurred to me today how many things there are out there that are really just a waste of time. Entertainment of all kinds, sports, movie, internet surfing, tv shows, reading books. These all have the potential to get in the way of a deepening relationship with God.
I have engaged in a lot of these activities in the past couple of weeks and then wondered why I can't get a solid routine established reading the Bible, why I feel like my relationship with God is so dry and distant at the moment. Maybe it's because I've been wasting my time with these things that I like so much but leave me in the end feeling and empty and worst, and at best, not feeling any closer to God.
Yet I am committing my life to go and give this book that I won't make time for in my life to other people. Doesn't make sense. And I know from my own experience that when I get into a good rhythm of dedicating myself to time with God, dedicating myself in leading my family to do the same, that I feel more alive, feel more enriched, feel closer to God. Sort of a "seek ye first the kingdom of God" kind of thing.
But I keep letting things get in the way. The Bible tells a story about a rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus. It says Jesus looked at him and loved him. And Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow him. And he went away sad because he had great wealth.
You see, it's not just enough to WANT to follow Jesus. I need to do the task of following Jesus. I need to give up the things that keep me from deepening my relationship with Him, that keep me from learning how to be and acting more like Him. I need to rid my life of the idols that I enjoy but leave me empty and instead fill myself with God's word and service, and discipling my family which I will learn to love even more because it is so right, so true, so much what God made me to do.
What's coming between you and a closer relationship with God?
Is it enough to just want it and want it to fit in nicely with the other stuff in your life?
Or do you need to give something up?
Pray for me - that I will not waste time.
Thanks.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Update June 14
Happy Flag Day everyone (in case you were wondering why you got no mail today)
Just a quick update - we are a little more than three weeks away from our departure from Dayton. There is a possible lead on our home, we should know more by tomorrow on that. Other than that, there is no activity on the house - no one looking. There is a family that has narrowed down their house selection to ours and one other and they will make an offer on one of them tomorrow (Friday). So you can pray for that to happen. If we can get this place sold, we will be in really good shape for this move.
We brought a hitch for the van so we can take a small U-Haul trailer down to Dallas. We found that to be more cost-effective than shipping our books down via media mail.
Maya and the kids got me a table top Weber gas grill for Father's Day. It helps me deal with the separation pain of parting with my big Weber gas grill which I left at mom and dad's last month. It will also allow us to cook out at rest stops along the way instead of eating at restaurants to save a few bucks.
I'm finishing up my final message series at Emmanuel over the next four weeks. The series is about the stuff that gets lodged in our hearts and negatively impacts our behaviors and relationships and ultimately our ability to be a walking billboard for the glory of God and the power of the Gospel.
This week is on guilt and how to be freed from guilt in our lives by confession. Guilt says, "I owe you." In the church we've come to view confession as something between us and God, which it is, but a closer look at scripture will show that confession to God is a springboard to confession to the one who has been wronged, and if we can develop the habit of confession, keeping short lists, keeping everything in the open then we will break the power of guilt in our lives.
Next week is on jealousy which says, "God owes me." Jealousy feels like a problem between us and other people, but all of that is actually a reflection of another relationship that is going bad, us and God.
Following that is greed. Greed says, "I owe me." And I need prayers on this, because it is a tough topic and a sensitive topic, and I really want to talk to my congregation winsomely and lovingly and also effectively about it. I'll post more about it later.
Finally there is anger, which basically says, "You owe me." This is one of the most challenging sets of messages I have ever given and honestly ever written. I appreciate your prayers for wisdom as I finish up those last two.
So I'll sign back in and let you know what happens with the house real soon!
Take care.
Just a quick update - we are a little more than three weeks away from our departure from Dayton. There is a possible lead on our home, we should know more by tomorrow on that. Other than that, there is no activity on the house - no one looking. There is a family that has narrowed down their house selection to ours and one other and they will make an offer on one of them tomorrow (Friday). So you can pray for that to happen. If we can get this place sold, we will be in really good shape for this move.
We brought a hitch for the van so we can take a small U-Haul trailer down to Dallas. We found that to be more cost-effective than shipping our books down via media mail.
Maya and the kids got me a table top Weber gas grill for Father's Day. It helps me deal with the separation pain of parting with my big Weber gas grill which I left at mom and dad's last month. It will also allow us to cook out at rest stops along the way instead of eating at restaurants to save a few bucks.
I'm finishing up my final message series at Emmanuel over the next four weeks. The series is about the stuff that gets lodged in our hearts and negatively impacts our behaviors and relationships and ultimately our ability to be a walking billboard for the glory of God and the power of the Gospel.
This week is on guilt and how to be freed from guilt in our lives by confession. Guilt says, "I owe you." In the church we've come to view confession as something between us and God, which it is, but a closer look at scripture will show that confession to God is a springboard to confession to the one who has been wronged, and if we can develop the habit of confession, keeping short lists, keeping everything in the open then we will break the power of guilt in our lives.
Next week is on jealousy which says, "God owes me." Jealousy feels like a problem between us and other people, but all of that is actually a reflection of another relationship that is going bad, us and God.
Following that is greed. Greed says, "I owe me." And I need prayers on this, because it is a tough topic and a sensitive topic, and I really want to talk to my congregation winsomely and lovingly and also effectively about it. I'll post more about it later.
Finally there is anger, which basically says, "You owe me." This is one of the most challenging sets of messages I have ever given and honestly ever written. I appreciate your prayers for wisdom as I finish up those last two.
So I'll sign back in and let you know what happens with the house real soon!
Take care.
Friday, June 01, 2007
A Different Kind of Fleece?!
Many folks familiar with the Bible are familiar with the story of Gideon who when called upon by God to serve asked for a sign from God, that the fleece he placed on the ground would be wet and the ground would be dry and so it was, and then the next day he asked for it to be the other way around (fleece dry ground wet) and it was. And the Lord was with him in all that he did.
Well, how bout this: My mother tells me that in January when Maya and I made the final decision to take an overseas missionary assignment with Lutheran Bible Translators, that she had a little talk with God. And she told God that if this was going to happen and five of her grandchildren were going to have to be that far away, that he was going to have to give her five more grandchildren.
So last night - I get a call from my twin sister Jenny (be sure to check out her blog in the links on the right) and she tells me that she and her husband Jerry are expecting. So how's the baby fleece meter going? Well, Jenny is expecting as well as my sisters Kim and Rachel and my brother Chris and his wife Kristi. So since January, we're up to four.
The speculation on the source for the fifth seems to be running rampant. Jerry said, "Do you believe in miracles?" - A thinly veiled thought reflecting that the fifth will come from Maya and me.
Which is no longer automatic. Yeah. We'll just leave it at that.
However, since we would also take that child with us in the extememly unlikely event that it would happen - it would make more sense to me that
one
of
them
must be having twins.
So as soon as we know which one it is, I'll report it to the rest of you in blogland. Until then - nice job mom (and God). And if Maya does turn out to be pregnant, I know who I'm going to have a conversation with right off the bat.
Well, how bout this: My mother tells me that in January when Maya and I made the final decision to take an overseas missionary assignment with Lutheran Bible Translators, that she had a little talk with God. And she told God that if this was going to happen and five of her grandchildren were going to have to be that far away, that he was going to have to give her five more grandchildren.
So last night - I get a call from my twin sister Jenny (be sure to check out her blog in the links on the right) and she tells me that she and her husband Jerry are expecting. So how's the baby fleece meter going? Well, Jenny is expecting as well as my sisters Kim and Rachel and my brother Chris and his wife Kristi. So since January, we're up to four.
The speculation on the source for the fifth seems to be running rampant. Jerry said, "Do you believe in miracles?" - A thinly veiled thought reflecting that the fifth will come from Maya and me.
Which is no longer automatic. Yeah. We'll just leave it at that.
However, since we would also take that child with us in the extememly unlikely event that it would happen - it would make more sense to me that
one
of
them
must be having twins.
So as soon as we know which one it is, I'll report it to the rest of you in blogland. Until then - nice job mom (and God). And if Maya does turn out to be pregnant, I know who I'm going to have a conversation with right off the bat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)