(This post turned into a really dis-jointed collection of thoughts. Sorry about that! Sometimes everything God is trying to teach is hard to fully explain.)
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"Do not worry about tomorrow, today has enough trouble of its own."
-Matthew
These words that Matthew wrote as He was moved by the Holy Spirit, scream a very important message. The message is simple: live all out, where you are, TODAY.
These few words implore us and urge us to live passionately.
Many phrases like this can be found in the Bible.
"Take up your cross and follow Him."
"Leave everything and follow Jesus."
"She loved much."
"Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only."
These verses, at their core, challenge every part of our lives in America.
We live in a culture where dying to your own desires, is unheard of.
We live in a culture where people want what they want, right now.
We live in a culture where we want to keep things to ourselves, and get more things.
Our culture teaches us to love ourselves, instead of loving others or loving God.
Our Churches are filled with people that merely listen to the Word, and then go live the "American Dream" the other 6 days of the week.
How can this be so?
How can "radical Christians who love Jesus" sit around and play video games, watch movies all day, watch the latest reality TV show, spend thousands of dollars on food and entertainment, settle for shallow relationships that only leave hurt and bitterness, and live every day as if the whole word revolves around them?
Ya, ya, ya, none of these things are "wrong" or "bad"...I get that.
All I'm asking is a simple question: is it right?
Is it right for us to live like that?
Or is something missing?
Is passion missing from our lives?
I thought it was for a long time, but I don't think so anymore.
Sadly, I think the problem isn't a lack of passion, but a mis-guided passion.
We are too often passionate about things that God isn't passionate about.
Isn't that really the point of prayer and of reading the Word?
When we do that, when we genuinely seek Him, we find Him, and when we find Him, His will finds us.
His passions BECOME our passions.
When we find Him, we no longer live as we used to live.
We are no longer OK with indulging in the worldly pursuits that we once used to walk in.
The scary part here is this: if we say we've found Him, but we don't live for Him...it's probably time to examine where we stand before the Creator and Judge.
The truest reflection of our state of salvation is the fruit we are producing or the deadness of our lives.
There is a lot of deadness in America. The Church is sick...very sick.
Many of us in my generation talk about being radical...and that's great!
We see there is a problem, and that is a good thing.
Many see the fix. We want to "go be a missionary someday." We want to "be in ministry." All those things are great. If that's God's calling on your life, go do it! Don't wait!
But perhaps, for some of us at least, the beginning of a radical existence lived solely for our Savior, is a life that simply uses time well.
Praying instead of watching sports.
Choosing to read our Bibles instead of read the latest celebrity gossip.
Writing deep thoughts and reading deep books instead of...(you fill in the blank.)
Etc.
The Gospels unmistakeably call us to a "radical lifestyle."
But we don't understand what this really means.
To paraphrase John Piper: Jesus calls us to a "war-time mentality."
In war, people sacrifice. People cut out the things that are unnecessary.
They focus on the ultimate goal. They focus on the task at hand.
The challenge today is simple.
What is the goal? To live like Jesus tells us to live.
What are the steps to get there? God reveals this to us in His word!
What do we need to eliminate from our lives so that we live fully for Jesus, right here and right now? Why would we take part in something He isn't passionate about?
Remember: "the way we live our days, is the way we live our lives."
I am in the process of reading the book "Radical" by David Platt.
One of the sections talks about "American Wealth and a World of Poverty."
The author says: "More than twenty-six thousand children today (did you catch that? that's 26 THOUSAND...TODAY) will breathe their last breath due to starvation or a preventable cause."
Think about that? Today, 26,000 people died...because nobody was willing to help...because the Church in America is selfish...because I'm selfish.
Think about how many of those kids will die tomorrow while we go to a nice air-conditioned Church in the middle of one of the richest counties on the planet.
Is this a blind spot in our lives?
We are quick to condemn the Christian's who approved and even encouraged slavery 150 years ago. What will Christian's say about us in 150 years if Jesus doesn't come back first?
What will Jesus say to us?
Does this seem backwards to anybody?
We live in HUGE houses...drive INCREDIBLE cars...go to BEAUTIFUL churches...
We indulge in American prosperity whether we want to admit it or not...and I am afraid it has stolen our passion.
Our passions don't really line up with the passions of Jesus, and that scares me.
At the very least, I've realized that my passions aren't fully aligned with Jesus, and I need to diligently and desperately seek His face about that.
One of my favorite lines from Tenth Avenue North says:
"If there's no other way, I'm done asking why."
Stop asking why, and go live all out for Jesus.
Let's live TODAY, like He wants us to live.
Be passionate about the things that He is passionate about.
Dare to strive for excellence.
Dare to live on less, so others can live and find life in Jesus.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Adoption
For the last 9 months, God has been teaching me TONS about the word "Adoption."
I have much I want to say about it, and I want to build the Biblical case for adoption, but that will have to wait until after finals.
For now though, I will say this:
Tonight I have been listening to a couple tell the story of their adoption of two little boys.
The boys they had adopted had never seen the light of day.
They had been kept inside with all of the other babies in an orphanage overseas.
They were adopted when they were one, and the first time they went outside they screamed because it was so bright.
When we look at this from a salvation standpoint, what does this symbolize?
This is incredibly symbolic of our own salvation...of our own adoption.
Before Christ came and rescued us from ourselves, we were that little baby stuck inside in the dark.
We had no hope, no real nourishment, no real life, no real love...
But then...
But then Jesus came and shattered the darkness, He tore down the walls, He ripped us violently out of the kingdom of darkness and ushered us lovingly into His Kingdom of light and of love.
I think tonight would be a good time to thank HIM again for such incredible love.
"I once was lost
in darkest night
yet thought I knew the way
the sin that promised,
joy and life
had led me to the grave.
I had NO hope
that You would own
a rebel to Your will.
And if You had
not loved me first
I would refuse You still."
-All I have is Christ
Because He loved us first, because He chased after us and adopted us and calls us His sons and daughters, we can be fully satisfied IN HIM.
Thank You Jesus, for the wonderful gift of adoption.
Thank You Jesus, for rescuing me.
I have much I want to say about it, and I want to build the Biblical case for adoption, but that will have to wait until after finals.
For now though, I will say this:
Tonight I have been listening to a couple tell the story of their adoption of two little boys.
The boys they had adopted had never seen the light of day.
They had been kept inside with all of the other babies in an orphanage overseas.
They were adopted when they were one, and the first time they went outside they screamed because it was so bright.
When we look at this from a salvation standpoint, what does this symbolize?
This is incredibly symbolic of our own salvation...of our own adoption.
Before Christ came and rescued us from ourselves, we were that little baby stuck inside in the dark.
We had no hope, no real nourishment, no real life, no real love...
But then...
But then Jesus came and shattered the darkness, He tore down the walls, He ripped us violently out of the kingdom of darkness and ushered us lovingly into His Kingdom of light and of love.
I think tonight would be a good time to thank HIM again for such incredible love.
"I once was lost
in darkest night
yet thought I knew the way
the sin that promised,
joy and life
had led me to the grave.
I had NO hope
that You would own
a rebel to Your will.
And if You had
not loved me first
I would refuse You still."
-All I have is Christ
Because He loved us first, because He chased after us and adopted us and calls us His sons and daughters, we can be fully satisfied IN HIM.
Thank You Jesus, for the wonderful gift of adoption.
Thank You Jesus, for rescuing me.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Hope
At first, I thought this may be too shallow of a post for a day as big as this.
But after pondering a few thoughts, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
In fact, perhaps this is one of the most profound aspects of the resurrection.
I will try to make my point as simply as possible.
Big idea: With Jesus, there is always hope --- You never know what can happen in a day.
Have you ever thought about the disciples?
Have you ever thoughts about what was going through their heads on Saturday night?
While their eyes stared upwards at the ceiling from their beds, when sleep wouldn't come, what filled their minds?
Were they wondering if the last three years with Jesus had been real?
Were they wondering what was next?
What were they going to do now?
What's going to happen tomorrow?
I can't say that these were the questions going through their mind, I can't say if they were worried or anxious or afraid. But I can guess, that they were at the very least a little bit afraid or fearful or unbelieving or bitter or something like that.
That's not the point though.
The point is that Saturday night, things looked REALLY dark.
Jesus had died on the cross the day before.
Everybody was calling them crazy.
What was there to live for anymore?
He was just another fake.
Here's the point, don't miss this...
As they drifted off to sleep, things were utterly hopeless.
When they woke up the next morning, He had risen as He said He would!
One single day had passed, and now, everything had changed.
Jesus was alive!
Their hope was back.
Their joy was back.
It had seemed hopeless, and now, everything was going to be fine.
Jesus is alive, He is alive.
Whenever our lives seem "hopeless," remember: With Jesus, there is always hope.
We never know what can happen tomorrow, we never know when Jesus is going to break through in our lives and fix everything that seems broken.
He doesn't have to do this.
He doesn't have to "fix" everything in our lives.
But we know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that HE holds tomorrow in His loving hands.
"Sometimes our greatest "disappointments" are just blessings in disguise."
God doesn't have to fix everything...He doesn't have to fix anything!
But sometimes He does, and sometimes He does it in a single moment.
And that is breathtaking.
Even if He doesn't fix things to be like we want them to be, we can rest assured that the same Jesus who conquered death is completely worthy of our trust.
He is always worthy of our trust, no matter the circumstances.
With Jesus, there is always hope.
With Jesus, we never know what can happen in a day.
Thank You, Jesus for being completely trustworthy.
But after pondering a few thoughts, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
In fact, perhaps this is one of the most profound aspects of the resurrection.
I will try to make my point as simply as possible.
Big idea: With Jesus, there is always hope --- You never know what can happen in a day.
Have you ever thought about the disciples?
Have you ever thoughts about what was going through their heads on Saturday night?
While their eyes stared upwards at the ceiling from their beds, when sleep wouldn't come, what filled their minds?
Were they wondering if the last three years with Jesus had been real?
Were they wondering what was next?
What were they going to do now?
What's going to happen tomorrow?
I can't say that these were the questions going through their mind, I can't say if they were worried or anxious or afraid. But I can guess, that they were at the very least a little bit afraid or fearful or unbelieving or bitter or something like that.
That's not the point though.
The point is that Saturday night, things looked REALLY dark.
Jesus had died on the cross the day before.
Everybody was calling them crazy.
What was there to live for anymore?
He was just another fake.
Here's the point, don't miss this...
As they drifted off to sleep, things were utterly hopeless.
When they woke up the next morning, He had risen as He said He would!
One single day had passed, and now, everything had changed.
Jesus was alive!
Their hope was back.
Their joy was back.
It had seemed hopeless, and now, everything was going to be fine.
Jesus is alive, He is alive.
Whenever our lives seem "hopeless," remember: With Jesus, there is always hope.
We never know what can happen tomorrow, we never know when Jesus is going to break through in our lives and fix everything that seems broken.
He doesn't have to do this.
He doesn't have to "fix" everything in our lives.
But we know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that HE holds tomorrow in His loving hands.
"Sometimes our greatest "disappointments" are just blessings in disguise."
God doesn't have to fix everything...He doesn't have to fix anything!
But sometimes He does, and sometimes He does it in a single moment.
And that is breathtaking.
Even if He doesn't fix things to be like we want them to be, we can rest assured that the same Jesus who conquered death is completely worthy of our trust.
He is always worthy of our trust, no matter the circumstances.
With Jesus, there is always hope.
With Jesus, we never know what can happen in a day.
Thank You, Jesus for being completely trustworthy.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Little is Much
Right before Jesus begins to tell His disciples what will happen in the last days, and right before the events leading up to the cross, He tells a story about a widow.
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Once upon a time, there was a widow that lived during Jesus' day.
The Bible doesn't say more than a few verses about her,
but her actions have forever left an imprint upon my all too often hardened heart.
The scene sets up like this:
Jesus was sitting in the temple...
He was watching.
Think about that for a second!
Jesus was sitting in the temple, watching PEOPLE.
He was watching people He had created Himself.
This boggles my mind.
Anyways, Jesus was watching.
He happened to notice the rich people giving their gifts.
Their tithes as it were.
How did He know they were rich?
He's God obviously, so He just knew.
But I think that something about these people stuck out to Him.
Maybe it was they way they carried themselves.
Perhaps they were arrogant.
Perhaps they were dressed really nicely.
But I bet the thing that really gave them away was something simple.
They were LOUD people.
When they gave, they clanked their coins loudly into the jar.
It was almost like they were saying "Look at me! Look at how much I am giving!"
We soon find out what Jesus thinks of this kind of giving.
But first, we meet the main character here other than Jesus.
Jesus sees an old widow.
She puts in two small copper coins, which was about a days wages.
Much could be said about this, and I won't really get into it - but perhaps she did this every day. Perhaps she gave her days wages to Jesus everyday, but it doesn't say that.
Anyways, she puts in two coins.
The average person watching this situation unfold would hardly notice, or they would say "the rich are very important because they give so much! but the widow hardly gave any."
This isn't how Jesus sees things though.
He makes a shocking statement by saying that they widow gave MORE than ALL the rich!
Not in terms of a dollar amount, but He says she gave out of her poverty and the rich gave out of their abundance.
What does this mean?
Well, let's break it down.
If you have $1,000, and give $10, how much do you have left? $990 right?
Well, if you have $10, and you give $10, how much do you have left? ZERO.
That's right.
We are getting closer to fully understanding this concept.
When He says she gave out of her poverty, it seems that He is really speaking to how much she had left. She had NONE left. She had nothing else to give her Master...and because of this, Jesus was very pleased.
The rich still had TONS left.
This goes back to the heart of Jesus' call: Leave everything and follow Me. He who does not forsake father, and mother, and brother, and everything He has CANNOT be my disciple.
this is what Jesus says! These are hard words!
The rich give a lot in human terms, and they think they are doing the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.
The poor widow gives everything, and probably thinks: "what else can I give? I've given everything else away."
This attitude brings the praise of Jesus.
But the attitude that hoards for our own desires is not pleasing to Jesus.
This is a life principle: Jesus wants everything, He wants our best, He wants us to give everything we have. It can be just a little, but as long as we give Him everything, He is satisfied...that's all He asks for: everything.
I heard a story about a missionary that was laying on His death bed.
His children had come to be with him in his last days.
With tears of peace in his eyes he said to his kids: "I wish I had something to leave you after I go home to be with God. But I gave everything to Jesus long ago."
There is a man who understands the principle of storing up treasures in heaven and giving all of our earthly possessions, talents, and efforts away.
May people look at us and see JESUS!
May we be the kind of people to whom Jesus says: "he gave more than everyone else...he gave out of his poverty...he gave everything he had to live on."
Luke 21:1-4
-----------------
Once upon a time, there was a widow that lived during Jesus' day.
The Bible doesn't say more than a few verses about her,
but her actions have forever left an imprint upon my all too often hardened heart.
The scene sets up like this:
Jesus was sitting in the temple...
He was watching.
Think about that for a second!
Jesus was sitting in the temple, watching PEOPLE.
He was watching people He had created Himself.
This boggles my mind.
Anyways, Jesus was watching.
He happened to notice the rich people giving their gifts.
Their tithes as it were.
How did He know they were rich?
He's God obviously, so He just knew.
But I think that something about these people stuck out to Him.
Maybe it was they way they carried themselves.
Perhaps they were arrogant.
Perhaps they were dressed really nicely.
But I bet the thing that really gave them away was something simple.
They were LOUD people.
When they gave, they clanked their coins loudly into the jar.
It was almost like they were saying "Look at me! Look at how much I am giving!"
We soon find out what Jesus thinks of this kind of giving.
But first, we meet the main character here other than Jesus.
Jesus sees an old widow.
She puts in two small copper coins, which was about a days wages.
Much could be said about this, and I won't really get into it - but perhaps she did this every day. Perhaps she gave her days wages to Jesus everyday, but it doesn't say that.
Anyways, she puts in two coins.
The average person watching this situation unfold would hardly notice, or they would say "the rich are very important because they give so much! but the widow hardly gave any."
This isn't how Jesus sees things though.
He makes a shocking statement by saying that they widow gave MORE than ALL the rich!
Not in terms of a dollar amount, but He says she gave out of her poverty and the rich gave out of their abundance.
What does this mean?
Well, let's break it down.
If you have $1,000, and give $10, how much do you have left? $990 right?
Well, if you have $10, and you give $10, how much do you have left? ZERO.
That's right.
We are getting closer to fully understanding this concept.
When He says she gave out of her poverty, it seems that He is really speaking to how much she had left. She had NONE left. She had nothing else to give her Master...and because of this, Jesus was very pleased.
The rich still had TONS left.
This goes back to the heart of Jesus' call: Leave everything and follow Me. He who does not forsake father, and mother, and brother, and everything He has CANNOT be my disciple.
this is what Jesus says! These are hard words!
The rich give a lot in human terms, and they think they are doing the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.
The poor widow gives everything, and probably thinks: "what else can I give? I've given everything else away."
This attitude brings the praise of Jesus.
But the attitude that hoards for our own desires is not pleasing to Jesus.
This is a life principle: Jesus wants everything, He wants our best, He wants us to give everything we have. It can be just a little, but as long as we give Him everything, He is satisfied...that's all He asks for: everything.
I heard a story about a missionary that was laying on His death bed.
His children had come to be with him in his last days.
With tears of peace in his eyes he said to his kids: "I wish I had something to leave you after I go home to be with God. But I gave everything to Jesus long ago."
There is a man who understands the principle of storing up treasures in heaven and giving all of our earthly possessions, talents, and efforts away.
May people look at us and see JESUS!
May we be the kind of people to whom Jesus says: "he gave more than everyone else...he gave out of his poverty...he gave everything he had to live on."
Luke 21:1-4
Monday, April 18, 2011
Impossible
Starting today, this is the theme: Impossible is not a word, it's just a reason for someone not to try.
All of my goals, and all of the reasons for staying home this summer are wrapped up in that sentence.
Everybody says it's impossible...
I will dare to say it is possible, we just have to try.
All of my goals, and all of the reasons for staying home this summer are wrapped up in that sentence.
Everybody says it's impossible...
I will dare to say it is possible, we just have to try.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Crisis Man
"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me." ~ Jim Elliot
“I don't know... maybe there aren't many men like that left : ‘crisis men.’
Men who want to study the Word with their wives and lead them in spiritual work.
Men who have a vision to raise a family for the glory of God and impact a generation with the knowledge of the saving power of Christ.
Men who want to expend their lives doing hard things that MATTER instead of building a career and living comfortable, useless lives.
Men who value purity above beauty and passion above personality.”
I want to be that kind of a man...I want to be, a crisis man.
“I don't know... maybe there aren't many men like that left : ‘crisis men.’
Men who want to study the Word with their wives and lead them in spiritual work.
Men who have a vision to raise a family for the glory of God and impact a generation with the knowledge of the saving power of Christ.
Men who want to expend their lives doing hard things that MATTER instead of building a career and living comfortable, useless lives.
Men who value purity above beauty and passion above personality.”
I want to be that kind of a man...I want to be, a crisis man.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Grief
Everyone knows that life is hard sometimes...
but when people have to walk through unspeakable grief...when people have to literally walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and you can't do anything to ease the pain...that's when your heart simply breaks in two.
It's comforting to know that God is with you always.
I believe that always, always, our Savior never fails.
It's wonderful to know that we have a strong and perfect plea before the Throne of God. And His Name is LOVE, even if you can't fully see that now.
He has it all under control, and I admire your courage through unspeakable grief.
My heart hurts for you and my prayers are for you.
This is just another reminder that this is not our home, and things will never be the way they were meant to be until Jesus comes back for His bride.
My heart longs for heaven today.
but when people have to walk through unspeakable grief...when people have to literally walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and you can't do anything to ease the pain...that's when your heart simply breaks in two.
It's comforting to know that God is with you always.
I believe that always, always, our Savior never fails.
It's wonderful to know that we have a strong and perfect plea before the Throne of God. And His Name is LOVE, even if you can't fully see that now.
He has it all under control, and I admire your courage through unspeakable grief.
My heart hurts for you and my prayers are for you.
This is just another reminder that this is not our home, and things will never be the way they were meant to be until Jesus comes back for His bride.
My heart longs for heaven today.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Blessings
Laura Story - "Blessings" Lyrics
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet Love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet Love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
Friday, April 1, 2011
Driving
I am probably going to be guilty of over-spiritualizing this concept, but hang with me and see if I can make this analogy.
This morning I was driving home from taking my little brother to a test.
About halfway home, I began noticing some extremely impatient drivers around me.
Most of them would get right up on someones tail, and then make a quick maneuver around them and speed away. Some made split second decisions. Some made decisions in the nick of time to avoid disaster.
All were impatient. All were trying to get somewhere faster.
And I began to think: isn't this the way that many of us live?
We are impatient people who try to hurry the process. We tap our foot repeatedly while standing in line at the grocery story so we can hurry up and get out the door. We have invented microwaves so we can cook our food faster. We live in an instantaneous society...we want everything...and we want it NOW.
Often, we fail to live with any vision.
We drive ourselves as fast as we can and then we make a herky jerky move at the last possible second as we change lanes.
Everything goes smoother if we drive steadily and plan ahead.
The Bible says in Proverbs: "For lack of vision the people perish."
Could this frighteningly be true of us? For lack of our vision, we perish?
Because we love to run through life so quickly, have we missed the main thing?
Have we missed Jesus in our haste to live life quickly?
Whatever happened to patience and waiting on Jesus?
What's wrong with slowing down and simplifying our lives?
I dare to say that we all need to slow down, simplify and live with clarity and vision...or else, we may perish.
This morning I was driving home from taking my little brother to a test.
About halfway home, I began noticing some extremely impatient drivers around me.
Most of them would get right up on someones tail, and then make a quick maneuver around them and speed away. Some made split second decisions. Some made decisions in the nick of time to avoid disaster.
All were impatient. All were trying to get somewhere faster.
And I began to think: isn't this the way that many of us live?
We are impatient people who try to hurry the process. We tap our foot repeatedly while standing in line at the grocery story so we can hurry up and get out the door. We have invented microwaves so we can cook our food faster. We live in an instantaneous society...we want everything...and we want it NOW.
Often, we fail to live with any vision.
We drive ourselves as fast as we can and then we make a herky jerky move at the last possible second as we change lanes.
Everything goes smoother if we drive steadily and plan ahead.
The Bible says in Proverbs: "For lack of vision the people perish."
Could this frighteningly be true of us? For lack of our vision, we perish?
Because we love to run through life so quickly, have we missed the main thing?
Have we missed Jesus in our haste to live life quickly?
Whatever happened to patience and waiting on Jesus?
What's wrong with slowing down and simplifying our lives?
I dare to say that we all need to slow down, simplify and live with clarity and vision...or else, we may perish.
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