When We're Worlds Apart...



Yesterday I wrote the post at the bottom. It was triumphant, and approaching, euphoric, and maybe even risen. Today, I write from a somber place, because I've fatigued. The day wore on and so did grace and my vision of heaven. I think of the appropriateness of Keith Green's "I want to be more like Jesus". And, yes, "I seem to have a wealth of so many thoughts about myself." 

This morning, I took to the routine I'm trying to get going with God, listening to God Songs to start the day. One took me as particularly fitting, by Jars of Clay: "Take My World Apart". And so that is my prayer, Lord Jesus. Take my world apart. 

Did You really have to die for me?
All I am for all You are
What I need and what I believe
Are worlds apart
And I pray

Have you ever had a Jesus cocktail? C'mon, you know what I'm talking about. It's 1 or 2 parts Jesus, another part something else, and another part something else. Even as I write this, I'm thinking, "it can't be all Jesus all the time". But yes it can. We find all the other parts through Jesus and as He leads. (all these things shall be added unto you).

I am really stuck on "lead us not into temptation". Why say that? Why not say "lead us into truth". What stands out to me is that that part of the prayer starts with God leading. And it's pretty instructive considering that we have such inclination toward sin (see James 1). 

So, we read Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that's how I'm tying together the ideas of trying Jesus neat, no chaser, and letting that lead the way that avoids trouble. 

Prayer

Jesus, You are The Way. Help me take You at Your word on that and find my course in You. 

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I've Found Jesus

Image
Reflection: I'm reconnecting with the early days of my faith by listening to Delirious? Cutting Edge. It's a huge record that has always sounded like what the music of heaven from the voices of men will sound like. And whenever I listen to that record I'm summoned back to my grandparents house, in my bedroom, also my mom's bedroom in her time, praising my ass off! All the feelings come back of that new sense of redemption and enormous love, when I was bursting at the seams for God. Now I am still bursting at the seams, but it's a little bit more due to middle agedness, and maybe less to do about the fire of God. But I pray that it is shifting.  I was curious about Delirious?'s front man, Martin Smith, because he had such an impact on me. I read an article and what I got from it was sort of what I got from reading the Lecrae book, I Am Restored: there are these two phases of a life. There's an early part that is more power than wisdom, and then a later part t
Read more

I Vow an Ego Crushing Vow

Image
Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself, it means thinking of yourself less - Ken Blanchard. Jess and I had a conversation last night about assumptions and expectations. I can't remember how the conversation began, but she concluded that we both drive each other crazy and I shared with her my frustration with her assuming that I am incompetent and other things I cannot remember. Alcohol. One thing that we agreed on is that the things that get in the way are tiny little things. They are inconsequential, forgettable. Ego! The ego is at work in us! I did a quick search "how to deal with ego in marriage" and the top hits were articles on how ego destroys marriage, how ego is coming from a place of deficit as an individual, a need to be right. I think that the "wanting to be right" part is more me, while Jess is more "give me what I want". The bottom line is that the central figure is me, myself, and I. Not a good basis for relationship.
Read more

"Follow Me" Crazy Horse Summons Jesus Christ

Listening to an audiobook by Joseph Marshall III, a Native American in story and upbringing. He tells stories of Crazy Horse and his relations that are reminiscent of Jesus. I'd like to share a few of those stories one being about a man who follows the path alone and finds a path of self-discovery found himself in the end but not the beginning. He, in his isolation, was observant about his surroundings; he became the best at knowing the land knowing the ways that you can find shelter. And peace. There came a time when the warriors were away and this man had to be relied on to get the women and the elders to shelter. from that time on he became known as the man who knows the land. There's another story written about Crazy Horse where a man came to him and said I want to join your people your community and Crazy Horse said to him kill your horse and this didn't make sense to the people that he lived with and the community because your horse is your livelihood. What Crazy Ho
Read more