The passing of time this morning and the urgency of some other requests are not allowing me to right anything of any meat or substance this morning. I may update it later. Sorry..
26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, American Standard Version)
Woot Woot, Fall is finally here. Give it up for a few days when the temperature is not ninety bazillion degrees. And what was that falling from the sky? -yes rain! I actually put on a jacket this weekend, and had some hot tea this morning with breakfast, It’s finally Autumn. Yes I am sure we will have Indian Summer, Dogwood Summer, Pumpkin Summer and all of those other warm fronts that we have before Winter, but wow, isn’t Autumn a welcome reprieve from the heat.
So here is something to get you going on a Monday morning. Using some motivation you see in the transformation in the world around you, remember to transform yourself each day to the person who are striving to be.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)
I went round and round this morning in my normal indecisive way. Work from home,drive to the office, work from home, drive to the office. It’s been paralyzing this morning. Should I enjoy the pleasures and comfort and solitude of home, or should I dare to engage traffic, ( especially the day after I had a dream that I received three speeding tickets in one afternoon), and burn the gas to just sit at my desk , type on my keyboard and talk on my phone. Oh the agony of the decision.
There was something this morning just urging me to go downtown. It’s a thing called people. ( Now for someone with a previous Meyers Briggs score of INTJ people usually don’t cross my mind). However there was something today about people, and about being able to impact them. Can you impact people remotely – sure- and I will find other days to work in the solitude of my home office, enjoying the views that it affords. But today, there is something that says, maybe just staying at home just because may not be the best?
(I know right now several of you are thinking – Are you crazy!!! Stay at home!)
But I started thinking about these verses today:
It’s not that there’s a command there, and its not that I am going to go around touching people today and healing them. But there is something about presence sometimes that is important. There is something about personal interaction that’s good.
So, today, I will go off and see how I can impact people face to face, versus over the phone. How will you “touch” those you come in contact with?
Maybe today holds something incredible? (or maybe I am really insane)
This week I have been thinking about grace and the gift of mercy and salvation that we have. Also, I have been listened to the David Crowder Band. There are two lyrics from two of their songs that have just stuck with me all week.
The first is from Oh Happiness, a very fun and uplifting song. The song starts like this
Oh, happiness
There is grace enough for us and the whole human race
That’s pretty cool isn’t it!
The second comes from How He Loves. It’s just one part towards the end of a song full of pretty pithy and catchy phrases.
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
Wow, that’s a great description of the grace that we have been given because of the death and resurrection of the Christ.
14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. Romans 5:14-16 (New International Version)
If you have been given that much grace and mercy, how about sharing it with those around you? It’s a pretty cool thing!
Shine your light and let the whole world see.
While I was in college, occasionally after strolling down the hall to the common bathroom to brush my teeth, I would continue around the corner to some of my friend’s room and “talk” with them for a while. This may be TMI, but it is funny. Usually, this was with my toothbrush in hand and my boxers on.
Years have past since those fun days but yesterday on my Facebook wall this is what I saw:
Yep, A reference back to those great days, by one of my very good college classmates. We have joked about this one and off for years. I am sure you have friendships like this as well, where you can meet after years and pick up just where you left off. Those friendships are special, but how do we arrive at those.
I think its from shared experiences. Experiences like the trauma of me coming into your dorm room in my undies. Well, maybe, put probably deeper and more meaningful experiences then that. I think it also from trust and “exposing” yourself. No no, not in that way. I mean, by opening up, and becoming a trusting soul, truly interested in what others are interesting in, and at the same time becoming slightly unguarded. These relationships are special and are important, and I think are worth the risk.
In 1 Samuel 18:1, David and Jonathan “become one in spirit”. They created a bond that we can continue to study as a great example of friendship.
So today, work on those friendship. Continue to take an interest in the people around you and show them the love and mercy you have been shown. Who knows what sort of bond you may develop.