The spring flowers are amazing. They come up through the cold ground, springing forth with color that it simply brilliant after gray winters. How do they break forth in color before the leaves are on the trees? To me it is still to cold to hang out in the chilly spring temps. But not for the daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and other beauties. Wow they are breathtaking.
I hope you find that these moments together bring you closer to God's embrace. May these few words strengthen, encourage and comfort you as you continue to walk this journey. Please feel free to comment on how God is at work in your world. Your pilgrimage is encouraging to others as well. We struggle together, encourage one another, celebrate each other's victories and grieve through the losses that come. Again feel free to share your thoughts.
Tonight, Barbara Walters is doing a special on living to be 150. I look forward to see what they have to say. On Good Morning America this morning they documented a woman who at the age of 100 that was taking care of her 80 year old daughter who was suffering from cancer. One of the comments was that these people who live so long have to learn how to handle loss. They have outlived their spouses, children, grandchildren and lived through many of their own life threatening illnesses. Another fact they noted was that each of these people still had purpose for their lives; they had a reason for getting out of bed in the mornings.
I'm not sure I want to live to be 150, but I do want to live each day with purpose. I believe God designs our lives and we can enjoy the adventure. I also know that there is an enemy who wants to steal that purpose, keeping us focused on ourselves. Today is a new day. It is one which God has given to each of us. No matter what our emotions or our mind may tell us, we must stand on the truth deciding to follow Him and love others. Thoughts and emotions are given to us by God and stolen from us by Satan. Discerning the differences and recognizing the truth and the lies can definitely bring us to a deeper relationship with God.
So here are a few questions we can begin to use to develop our sensitivity to God and His Spirit.
... What has happened today that I should be thankful for?
... Do I take His gifts for granted?
... Is my whole life becoming "Thank you" responses to God?.
... What do I find most difficult to be grateful for?
... Am I belcoming more and more Sprit directed?
... Am I open to all the channels by which God speaks to me?
... Did I allow Him to direct me in the events of this morning? this day?
... Do I experience His gifts a new? Peace? Love? Kindness? Gentleness? Patience? Joy? Fidelity? Self-control?
Next consider the following questions for examination of ourselves. Now this isn't to count up our failures and successes. Instead let's begin to look for the growth in our faith and how God is expanding our hearts to look more like His.
Questions could be
... Did I feel drawn by the Lord any time today through a companion, an event, a good book, nature...?
... What have I learned today about him and His ways in the ordinary occasions and in stray moments?
... How did I meet Him in fears, joys, work, suffering, misunderstanding?
... How did His word come alive to me today in my prayer time, scripture, other readings?
... In what ways have I encountered Christ through the member of my community? Have i brought Christ to them?
... In what have I been a sign of God's presence and love to my family, friends, people I work with, people I've met today?
... Have i felt moved to go out of myself in concern for the lonely, discouraged, sad, needy?
... how am I becoming more and more conscious of God's work in the church, in my country, in other countries of the world? How does it affect me?
... Have i experienced a growing awareness of my being loved, my sinfulness, a desire to reciprocate, my dependence on Christ?
... Finally, of what area of my being is Jesus not yet Lord?
This is a process of questions that we can use on a daily or weekly basis to allow God to examine our hearts, becoming honest before Him. If we are really daring, we will allow a trusted spiritual companion to join us in this examination.
Remember this is not used to beat us or shame us for what we are not doing or for the sin we still commit. This is to help us recognize our need for God, to celebrate growth. Without God we cannot grow. In fact left to our own devices and we will continue in the same struggles we have always experienced. But when united with God in the journey, slowly we will begin to experience renewal and transformation.
Be encouraged. Go for it. Embrace the transformation.
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