I'll keep it short and sweet tonight.
As I sit here on this New Year's Eve, I reflect on the lazy day that just expired; I went to work and really didn't earn my paycheck today. I'm certain God wasn't smiling down on me as I lethargically did minimal tasks and just let the day pass by. It's supposed to be in these moments, when no one is looking, that we're supposed to shine. There were things that should have been done, but weren't. I totally blew it.
I'll try again tomorrow, but it's simply frustrating to know I should live one way and yet I'm pulled toward another set of decisions. I totally get what Paul was talking about in Romans. Today, that's me. Thank God for his grace! The Christian walk isn't always easy.
Romans 7:15-25
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Running in circles
The other day I was on Facebook, seeing what was new in the lives of my friends. As anyone whom frequents the social networking site knows, you look at one thing, which leads to another, and another and so on. Towards the end of my journey, I ended up reconnecting with an old friend. I think the whole "Six Degrees of Separation" applies to all of us (sorry Kevin). We were able to chat online and plan to meet up sometime in order to catch up on the past 15 years we've been apart.
A couple of months ago, a new manager was hired to oversee the department I work in. It turns out that the person whom was hired for the job, was the very same person I worked for some-10 years ago. This person heavily inspired the search for employment elsewhere, as tension and stress from work was mounting, taking it's toll on my overall health and marriage.
Over the past few years, I'll find that my path has aligned with someone from my past, while shopping for groceries, going out to the movies or simply from an unexpected phone call. Why is it that when we shut the door on a person, situation or simply walk away, that more often than not we're brought back around to face it? What is God doing in situations like these?
I've come to the realization that God is working through things I'd previously left undone, or ran away from. He's putting me on these circular paths, so that I face and conquer whatever it is that I'm meant to overcome. I think that Jesus is after my heart. In order to have complete access to every part of it, He needs to purge it from things that are holding it captive. Past hurts, poor choices, broken, unresolved relationships are all obstacles that can keep us from truly living our best life.
It's alright to ask "why" when it seems we've been roped into one of these circles. But, if we've committed our lives to Jesus, he'll walk us through the purpose of the encounter. Even though we feel like running away or assuming the worst, it's important to simply trust that He has it all under control and our best interests at heart. We need to face the challenges ahead and not run from them. Otherwise, it's very likely we'll be brought around to face the same issues at a later time. Let's be conquerors, not cowards.
A couple of months ago, a new manager was hired to oversee the department I work in. It turns out that the person whom was hired for the job, was the very same person I worked for some-10 years ago. This person heavily inspired the search for employment elsewhere, as tension and stress from work was mounting, taking it's toll on my overall health and marriage.
Over the past few years, I'll find that my path has aligned with someone from my past, while shopping for groceries, going out to the movies or simply from an unexpected phone call. Why is it that when we shut the door on a person, situation or simply walk away, that more often than not we're brought back around to face it? What is God doing in situations like these?
I've come to the realization that God is working through things I'd previously left undone, or ran away from. He's putting me on these circular paths, so that I face and conquer whatever it is that I'm meant to overcome. I think that Jesus is after my heart. In order to have complete access to every part of it, He needs to purge it from things that are holding it captive. Past hurts, poor choices, broken, unresolved relationships are all obstacles that can keep us from truly living our best life.
It's alright to ask "why" when it seems we've been roped into one of these circles. But, if we've committed our lives to Jesus, he'll walk us through the purpose of the encounter. Even though we feel like running away or assuming the worst, it's important to simply trust that He has it all under control and our best interests at heart. We need to face the challenges ahead and not run from them. Otherwise, it's very likely we'll be brought around to face the same issues at a later time. Let's be conquerors, not cowards.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Closing out the year
Today was actually a pretty good day. I began my day by listening to the 1 Year Daily Audio Bible podcast (www.dailyaudiobible.com), as I do on most weekdays while commuting to work. I was a few days behind due to the bustle of Christmas, but I was listening. I've found that I really need to listen to the word each day, even if I'm not immediately absorbing all of what I hear. I can't explain it, but once you get used to hearing the spoken word of God each day, you feel strange if you go without it for a few days. We're wrapping up the Bible this week, but we'll begin in Genesis on January 1st, 2010, for those whom want to begin the journey. (Do something with that iPod you received for Christmas!)
What did I get out of my trip through the Bible this year? Well, the sky didn't part, nor was I given a vision, but I'm beginning to see that God truly loves us. Over and over again we push away from Him to chase after our own stupid distractions, only to find ourselves in trouble. Once there, God often uses the situations we've found ourselves in, to try and bring us back into his will, to repent and turn away from our sins. He's right there, ready to forgive and restore, if only we'd turn back to him.
All through the Bible, God's chosen people cling to Him for a time, then gradually begin to wander into the darkness, only to find themselves completely lost at some point. God warns them throughout the process to turn around, patiently waiting for repentance. When it didn't come, corrective punishment often ensued. Even through these times of pain, God was always right there, stating clearly that healing and restoration were on the way. It really took me a while to get my head around all of this. God is the perfect parent to imperfect children. And it's not just in the history books; it's just as applicable to our lives today as it was 2000 years ago. Think about the things you do or say each day that you'd change if you knew God was watching or listening. I know that in my own walk, I'm convicted almost daily by the Holy Spirit.
What did I get out of my trip through the Bible this year? Well, the sky didn't part, nor was I given a vision, but I'm beginning to see that God truly loves us. Over and over again we push away from Him to chase after our own stupid distractions, only to find ourselves in trouble. Once there, God often uses the situations we've found ourselves in, to try and bring us back into his will, to repent and turn away from our sins. He's right there, ready to forgive and restore, if only we'd turn back to him.
All through the Bible, God's chosen people cling to Him for a time, then gradually begin to wander into the darkness, only to find themselves completely lost at some point. God warns them throughout the process to turn around, patiently waiting for repentance. When it didn't come, corrective punishment often ensued. Even through these times of pain, God was always right there, stating clearly that healing and restoration were on the way. It really took me a while to get my head around all of this. God is the perfect parent to imperfect children. And it's not just in the history books; it's just as applicable to our lives today as it was 2000 years ago. Think about the things you do or say each day that you'd change if you knew God was watching or listening. I know that in my own walk, I'm convicted almost daily by the Holy Spirit.
The Walk Begins
Hi there,
For the most part, this blog is an experiment. You see, I've never been great at finishing things. All of my life, I've left projects half done, books half read and dreams half lived. Certainly not everything in my life is neglected or incomplete, but you get the idea. I sometimes have issues seeing things through to completion.
I've tried blogging before, however it's not been something I've stuck with over the long haul. What makes this attempt different, is that I hope to find some interested parties whom I can share a virtual friendship with each day, and through this [albeit somewhat one-way] relationship, forge a form of accountability so that I keep going. Maybe that will keep me blogging for more than a week. We'll see.
The Title of the blog is The Daily Christian Walk. The reason I chose this as a running theme, is because I'm a Christian whom struggles with various things on a daily basis. I know I'm not alone in this, and frankly I think people are inhibited at times to share the things they may think, feel or do, for fear of being judged by others. James 5:15 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
I take this as the Lord's instruction to confess the issues I struggle with each day. Then, maybe others can do the same and spiritual healing and growth can begin for everyone involved.
Here we go.
-Surroundu
For the most part, this blog is an experiment. You see, I've never been great at finishing things. All of my life, I've left projects half done, books half read and dreams half lived. Certainly not everything in my life is neglected or incomplete, but you get the idea. I sometimes have issues seeing things through to completion.
I've tried blogging before, however it's not been something I've stuck with over the long haul. What makes this attempt different, is that I hope to find some interested parties whom I can share a virtual friendship with each day, and through this [albeit somewhat one-way] relationship, forge a form of accountability so that I keep going. Maybe that will keep me blogging for more than a week. We'll see.
The Title of the blog is The Daily Christian Walk. The reason I chose this as a running theme, is because I'm a Christian whom struggles with various things on a daily basis. I know I'm not alone in this, and frankly I think people are inhibited at times to share the things they may think, feel or do, for fear of being judged by others. James 5:15 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
I take this as the Lord's instruction to confess the issues I struggle with each day. Then, maybe others can do the same and spiritual healing and growth can begin for everyone involved.
Here we go.
-Surroundu
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