It took a friend reminding me last night of what I already knew down deep in my soul. At the beginning of the conversation I was in tears and justifying all that I wanted. However, he was quite blunt with me and challenged me to realize what God wants for my life is very different than what I’ve been clinging to. As Elizabeth Elliot said in Discipline: The Glad Surrender, “Choices will continually be necessary and- let us not forget- possible. Obedience to God is always possible. It is a deadly error to fall into the notion that when feelings are extremely strong we can do nothing but act on them.”
Archive for the ‘The Journey’ Category
i will let go.
Saturday, November 2nd, 2002interesting.
Friday, November 1st, 2002Witness with EvangeCandy
“I bet when they see the Bible verse on handlebars they’ll think something is different about me and want to ask Jesus into their cardio-vascular system…”
Happy Halloween
“Recently, a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses rang our doorbell, issues of Watchtower in hand, only to be greeted by the ghoulish laugh of a battery-powered plastic gargoyle above our mailbox, who guffaws and whose eyes light up when you get too close.
‘No, thanks,’ I said. ‘We’re Christians.’ The heretic looked at me with eyebrows raised.”
Why Drink? Why Talk About It?
“It may only look like a bottle of Guinness to some, but it’s really a theology test…”
chalk.
Friday, November 1st, 2002“I was going to draw devils and seraphim, and blind old gods that men worshipped before the dawn of right, and saints in robes of angry crimson, and seas of strange green, and all the sacred or monstrous symbols that look so well in bright colours on brown paper.”
friday five.
Friday, November 1st, 20021. Were you raised in a particular religious faith? I have been a Christian since I was four years old. My particular denomination is Baptist.
2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not? Yes. My relationship with Christ is the only thing that helps me live each day. There is also the fact that since I have accepted His gift of salvation I can’t give it back.
3. What do you think happens after death? You will either go into the presence of God or you will go to Hell.
4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)? Ritual? This question kind of boggles me a bit. I don’t have any rituals. (Except for the nightly setting of the alarm clock and turning out my elephant lamp) Perhaps you are thinking of prayer, reading my Bible, etc? I think it’s sad if you allow those things to become mere rituals in your life.
5. Do you believe people are basically good? Absolutely not. We are wicked, wicked, wicked people. I am capable of committing the worst crime in the world, killing thousands of people, plotting against my family, and littering. Honestly…when I look at Ted Bundy…I cringe because I know but for the grace of God I could choose an equally evil path for my life. Christ truly is the One who has changed me forever.
grab n’ go.
Monday, October 28th, 2002My relationship with God is often a quick grab n’ go.
I open my eyes and occasionally I remember that the God of this universe created me, sustains me, loves me and I then thank Him and roll out of bed and head for the shower. We then meet over breakfast again. I pop the lid to my SoBe Love Bug Brew, stir my grits and thank Him for the blessing of food. I go through my day and traipse through life until we meet again around noon. Oh, it’s lunchtime. Excuse me while I pray and tell the Lord I’m so glad He provided this #1 Chick-Fil-A combo. I might remember him during a chapel session while in school. The hymns and music might tend to warm my heart if I’m in a good mood and the messages will either bore me or I’ll nod a bit. I will continue through my evening and often I’ll hit the sack and forget to talk to Him once more.
All of that to say…I’m realizing He wants a relationship with me. A relationship is walking through my day with me. Not just a breakfast hello and a mealtime greeting.
As someone pointed out to me today…I’ve been saved for a very long time and I’m just now getting these basics down.
“For millions of Christians…God is no more real than He is to the non-Christian. They go through life trying to love an ideal and be loyal to a mere principle….A loving Personality dominates the Bible, walking among the trees of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and manifesting Himself whenever and wherever His people have the receptivity necessary to receive the manifestation.
It remains for us to think on [these truths] and pray over them until they begin to glow in us.
If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest Himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”
– A. W. Tozer