No Time Like the Present

Let me start with a huge disclaimer: I am a planner by nature. I look ahead and prepare for what I think will or could happen, so living in the moment is not what I do naturally.

But I feel God saying to me: Go! Do! Be! And don't wait until the time is perfect, because you will always find a reason today isn't the day and later will be better. And while you are reasoning away opportunities, life will pass you by. And all you'll have is a bunch of "shoulda" "coulda" "woulda"s.

Unless later is defined, it quickly turns into never. Because life is busy and time flies. If your actions aren't intentional, you are left with a life of reaction, where your life is made of ripples, created by the waves others are making around you. And you never find that time to do what you were created for, to step up and be the catalyst that controls your life movement  (as much as we control whether we are living according to God's will and he chooses to use us in his plan.)

So don't wait until tomorrow! Choose to obey, move, go today and see if God won't honor your obedience.

Joyful Obedience.

Psalm 119:1-2 Joyful are people...who follow the instruction if the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws.

A big part of our human nature is the desire to do things our way. Even from a young age, we are unhappy when we have to share a toy or do anything anyone wants us to do that is different than what we would choose. 

So how can obedience to instruction given by someone else or laws written by another makes us joyful people?

Because God's way is better and brings blessings when our way, at its best, is futile. And it takes some maturity to realize that someone, anyone else could possible know what is better for us than us.

I also think that obeying God brings joy the way a child is carefree and joyful. When we obey and trust someone else to handle it, we live by faith, without stress and worry, without the burden of making things turn out as they should. Kids don't worry about if the bills are paid, parents do. Kids don't worry about having and keeping a job to provide for the family, parents do. In the same way, giving up our control, as hard as that is, and really trusting that God will handle it all if we will just trust him enough to obey him when he speaks brings joy.

Oh for grace to trust him more.

Celebrate Freedom

I am so thankful to live in America and Texas (aka the "Bible belt"). I am aware that our freedoms were purchased with many lives and words can never express my gratitude to those persons who gave their lives and families who gave their loved ones so that I could be free to choose Jesus and free to worship and free from the control of other countries who do not value personal freedoms.

But I am also celebrating freedom in Christ today. I don't have to be controlled by sin any longer because I have accepted his sacrifice, the price Jesus paid with his blood for my sins. I don't have to live in fear of death or hell as my sins were paid for and heaven is my eternal home. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus which gains me access to the very throne room of heaven where I can communicate with God and he speaks to me. I am thankful that I am not bound by a sacred religion that requires perfection from me but am free because of the grace and mercy of Jesus. And I refuse to take that mercy for granted. Jesus is the lover of my soul and I am so grateful he loved me first. Even when I am at my worst, when I am unloveable from all human standards, he loves me and accepts me. And he has given me a freedom in life to serve him that surpasses anything words can even begin to depict.

And if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. John 8:36