Obedience

I have a quick question for you. Are you an obedient disciple of Jesus? (Does that sound like a loaded question?) I am assuming that you said “Yes”, or “most of the time”, or “sometimes”. I would consider myself an obedient person probably just like most people would define themselves as “a good person”! I’m obedient compared to most of the world. [Insert any justification story here!] I have been reading a book with my son at nights about another teenage boy. It’s a true story. This kid is an incredible follower of God – in the literal sense. This young teenage boy at an early age goes on mission trips and seeks to “win the world” to Jesus. His name is B.J. B.J. is bold when it comes to his faith. B. J. journals what God is teaching him. One day when speaking of what God is saying to him, B.J. says, God is teaching me immediate obedience (emphasis added). He mentions that the winds and the waves obey Jesus in an instant. Then he questions himself and us. Shouldn’t we obey better than the winds and the waves? Shouldn’t we obey immediately? This question has been probing my mind a lot – I can’t seem to shake it! Too many times I find myself obeying Jesus, but only after much debate in my mental dialog and inadequacies of finding a loop-hole or escape clause! Why don’t I do immediately what I know I ought to do? What I need to do? What good followers of Jesus do? Probably because my obedience is not grounded deep enough in love, but rather out of too much effort! I believe grace saved me, but I find myself living as if I can earn part of it to be the “good” guy! My goal is to obey – instantly! It will be a tough journey – wanna join me? I pray so!

Adopted - Ephesians 1:5!

Do you know anyone who was adopted? Maybe you are adopted and you know better than anyone else what adoption is all about? Or maybe you have adopted a child and so you understand the process? However, the biblical idea of adoption does not necessarily fit into an exact representation of our adoption process of today. Truth be told the Old Testament doesn't talk about adoption perse. Of course, adoption today has many positive and negative thoughts that surround it. Romans 8:23 points to a fact that adoption is something we as God's children should wait eagerly for as we groan inwardly. We groan because we recognize our desperate need to be adopted. But the interesting thing about our adoption is that we have a say in whether or not we will be adopted! Instead of the power of adoption being with the parents and/or the law of the state is lies in the hands of the kid being adopted - specifically, you and I! We have to surrender to the adoption! Sadly, some choose to remain an orphan! but what about you? Do you eagerly await the adoption into God's family? Aren't you glad that we have the privilege of being adopted into God's family? Let's live in eager anticipation of the day our adoption is finalized when HE takes us to be with HIM forever.

Chosen!!!

Do you remember the horrors of elementary playgroud team selections? As team captains were chosen by the majority vote, you prayed silently that the captain was a friend of yours. You also prayed that the captian thought highly of you, so that you were not picked last! John 15:16 Jesus tells us that we did not chose HIM, but in fact HE chose us! In Ephesians 1:4, Paul shows us that God 'chose' us before the creation of the world - before the foundations of the earth were set in place. Church, this is a chosing before our lives began and He chose you and I knowing we would sin against HIM! We weren't chosen last, but first! He wants us on HIS team. Paul goes on to say that HE chose us for a purpose. Check it out. Ephesians 1:4 NIV "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." HE didn't choose us because it would make him look good or because we could help him win. He chose us because he loved us! It had everything to do with love and nothing to do with our abilities or what we would bring to his team. Isaiah (64:6) tells us that our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Even our best efforts fall short - HE didn't choose you with any hope that you could somehow earn being chosen! HE chose you because HE wanted you - period. Now that's refreshing. Be blessed!

"Bednight Snack"

I love being a mom. I learn so much from my kids - even though, I guess I'm supposed to be the one that's teaching. So many times, God reminds me that I am just like a child and He is the patient parent - always teaching me. Bella has this saying at night when she is hungry. Funny how she doesn't realize she's hungry until it's time for bed....Anyway, she asks me, "Mom, can I have a bed-night snack?" I don't know where she came up with that term. Somewhere along the way she heard someone say bed-time snack and midnight snack maybe and mixed the two. I love it. She just needs a little comfort food before she goes to sleep. I won't deny it, I like comfort food before bed too. Often it's because I just love to eat and a little mouthful of chocolate or something sweet just hits the spot and I can crawl in bed satisfied. Sometimes, though, it's because I'm starving. I have had one of those days where my hectic schedule allowed me time to get the kiddos or hubby something quick to eat but my own meal was skipped in order to accomplish something I thought was more important at the time, you know, vital stuff, like folding laundry or washing the mile-high stack of dishes, checking homework papers, paying bills, picking up toys for the 137th time... stuff like that. So by the time I drag my backside into bed and hunker down under the covers, my stomach is protesting...loudly. David will look at me and raise his eyebrows. "Was that your stomach?" Tiredly thinking back, I try to remember..."What did I eat today? Oh yeah, I think I skipped lunch. Or was it dinner? I really can't recall if I ate breakfast...hmmm did I eat cheerios yesterday?" Bella's words of wisdom float into my mind...I need a bednight snack. God usually speaks the clearest in those times when I've made foolish choices. There have been times that I've neglected to feast on His Word in order to do something I guess I thought was more important at the time... you know, vital stuff, like folding laundry, dishes, etc. etc....and I crawl into bed and I'm hungry. I haven't fed my soul and it's protesting...loudly. God is looking at me, I know, with eyebrows raised, asking, "was that your soul?" Tiredly I think back and remember...I need a bednight snack. It's not recommended to get your total spiritual or physical nutrition from small, snack-sized portions...obviously. If I only let Bella eat a bednight snack and she never got healthy, nourishing meals, she would never grow and mature and develop the way little girls should. If I only snack occasionally on God's Word, I will never grow spiritually either. Bednight snacks are great but regular, full-size, healthy servings are needed, not only to survive, but to thrive. BJL