Friday, January 18, 2008
tick…tock…tick…tock…
I wanted a clock for the wall. I have a brand new office in a new building for the newly created position I am blessed to fill for my second part-time job. The Student Pastor was making a Wal-Mart run and asked if I needed anything. I said a clock. Just a cheap one that I can hang on the wall and glance at during the day. I was remembering the cheap one I bought a couple of years ago for our homeschool room, and how pleased I have been with that $4 investment.
Turns out, cheap clocks at Wal-Mart have undergone some change. Still around $4, it keeps great time with one little battery. It also lets you know it is keeping time. Each second is audibly marked. Most of the time, I don’t even hear it…I’m working on something and my mind is occupied. Sometimes it is the elephant in the room…stomping it’s heavy foot in a one second cadence. all. day. long.
So, sometimes I think about time. I usually don’t consider time my enemy. That comment is often in reference to wrinkles and gray hair, both of which I am accumulating with some vigor. These don’t bother me much. It is an inevitable happening, a sign to the world I have made it this far. However, in some ways time has been my enemy. My baby boys are becoming men. The number that is my age surprises me, especially since it is likely I now have more behind me than in front of me.
Which brings me to the heart of this post. Behind me is a lot of wasted time. Half of it, I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus, The Savior who died for me and was waiting for me to come to Him. Half of the remainder, I was a spiritual babe, un-discipled and unaware of my need to be. Half of that has been some of the most exciting times of growth in my spiritual life as I have learned more, experienced more, understood more and become passionate about so much more of God. In many ways, I don’t have a lot to bring to the Kingdom as a result of my life so far. Roughly 3/4 has been unfruitful. I aim to change that in the time I have left on this planet. (2008: Living a Life of Worship 
.) It reminds me of what Paul says in the oft-referenced verses 13b-14 in this passage, Philippians 3:12-16:
12. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Much of the time, we only hear verse 13b-14. But as you can see, that is only a part of a bigger picture of what Paul wanted to get across. There is so much here to apply!!
–We’re not perfect…yet.
–Our reason for keeping on keeping on is to get in line with what Jesus had in mind for each of us when He captured our hearts; His purpose for us.
–We’re not there…yet.
–The least we can do is forget what is behind (and likely holding us in bondage), and keep working toward the future–our future in Christ and His plans for us.
–Heaven is our destination–He’s called us to join Him there and He’s anxiously awaiting our arrival!
–We should strive toward maturity in our faith and remember these things.
–God will adjust our thinking when we need it.
–We need to live up to where we are on our spiritual walk.
Time is important. Present time and future time. We have a purpose. We know the things (and/or can find out more by studying the Word that reveals it) we should be doing with our time, which is short.
Rejoining the working world after more than 13 years has reiterated to me an important truth–Time is precious. Every moment is a gift. It is our calling and responsibility to use each moment as an opportunity to worship the One and Only God, in whatever way the moment affords–song, prayer, praise, service, study, work, eating, drinking, driving–living.
And another thing–Time is short. NOW is the time to offer that act of worship. We don’t know if we get the next moment for a do-over or not.
\o/
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Bittersweet
January 2nd is bittersweet to me. It is the exciting beginning of a new year, but there is the sadness of the end of the holiday season. All through the hot summer months of the South, I look forward to Autumn, with its brisk breezes and palette of falling leaves, and the promise of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is what I consider the beginning of the holiday season, the time to look forward to special dinners, decorations reserved for only this time of year, events and activities and family gatherings. There is an excitement and anticipation in the air as Thanksgiving, then Hanukkah, then Christmas, then the New Year approach is quick succession, each one lending a festive quality to the next.
Then comes January 2nd. It’s all over. The Christmas tree, which looked beautiful and dazzling on the 1st, now shows its tiredness. The decorations need to be put away again for another year. Back to work and routine and cold (we hope!) January and February.
Alas, Spring will begin to peak out from the edges of the winter cold, hints of green and new and color waiting to burst forth with the warmer weather, bringing a different excitement and anticipation.
It all comes down to perspective. Every day is a chance to begin again, to celebrate life, and love, and the gift of Jesus. There doesn’t have to be a pre-printed day on the calendar to feel excited and anxious about what lies ahead. God has plenty of good and pleasing things waiting for us, if we just look to Him, not the world, and follow.
\o/
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2008: Living a life of Worship
How does one live a genuine faith?
This is a question much on my mind for some time now. I have been feeling a “holy discontent” for quite a while. I am weary of the status quo, the same ole’ same ole’, the way we’ve always done it. I don’t believe it was always done this way. An authentic faith is evidenced by an authentic life. Acts 2 (and lots of other places in the Old and New Testament) gives a picture of believers living an authentic faith in their daily lives, among their faith community. I understand this is not the first century, so living authentically in the twenty-first century is going to look different. But it’s essence, it’s bones, should be the same.
Living a life of Worship begins with authentic faith. My salvation is authentic and secure. I want one of the definitions of my life to be worship of God. I want my thoughts, actions, reactions, behaviors and choices to be acts of worship before my Lord and bring glory to Him.
Worship is more than music. Somehow, music became the accepted avenue of worship. Believers began to think worshiping through music is how we show worship to God. (In fact, many churches call the music portion of their service “Praise and Worship”. What does that make the rest of the service?) But the Bible does not say that. The Word confirms worship through music can be a type of worship, but there is much more to worship than just music. I am in no way diminishing the worship experienced through music. It is one of my favorite ways to worship. Music can draw me into the presence of God almost every time. Worship through music changes my perspective and changes the course of my day. The beauty of music and of many lyrics fill me with praise for God.
I am seeking a life full of worship, in many ways and aspects.
\o/
