And...just like that...part 2

 And, just like that...it's June, 2023...

Almost half-way through the GOAT year as it has been labeled...you know, "23", you know, Michael Jordan...okay...as long as we are on the same page (had to throw that in).

One of the many things about God's grace and His work in our lives is the opportunity to hit the "reset" button. In fact, every morning since His mercy's are new each day, is really an opportunity to hit "reset". 

Even with a desire to faithfully walk with the Lord each day and be obedient to Him, we often (more often than we want to admit) just flat out blow it. We say a cross word here, we have an ungodly thought there -- sometimes, it's just like -- Ugh!

Yet, in God's mercy and the promises of scripture grounded in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, in humble confession and repentance, He allows us to hit "reset". And, for that, I am so very thankful. 

So, as we head toward the middle of the year and make the turn, maybe you need to hit reset -- maybe on your goals for the year, your spiritual goals, your physical goals, your relational goals -- maybe there are others. Well, hit the reset button. Take Philippians 3:14 to heart - "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".

And...just like that...

 And...just like that...January is gone. 

Time marches on. The hours and minutes tick on by. 

Did you think 10 years ago that you would be where you are today? 

While I am by nature a nostalgic kind of person (most of us are at various times I suppose), as I approach 50 years old in just 15 months, questions of that nature are more prevalent in my thinking these days. I mean, most likely, more than half of my life is in the books. Wow!

Have I been as faithful to the Lord as I could have been? How many times have a made excuses for the sins I've committed along the way rather than owning them before the Lord? Have I learned from the mistakes I made along the way? Why am I still struggling with certain things in my life -- I mean, I figured I would have "mastered" that by now. 

Yeah, I know. Too much introspection can be unhealthy. And, there is that verse in Philippians that says "forgetting those things which are behind". Yet, I can't help but wonder -- what if we used introspection in a healthy manner as a tool to motivate us toward the days ahead to endeavor by God's grace to "press on toward the mark" our our calling in Christ Jesus?

That's what I want moving forward -- because, just like that...it'll be 10 years down the road...what will that blog post read like? I wonder...

How about you?

13 Days In

We are 13 days into what has been termed the "GOAT" year. Not sure about that? Well, it's 2023...the last two digits happen to be the jersey number for arguably the greatest basketball player of all time...ole Michael Jordan himself. 

But...I'm thinking...what would it take for it to be the "GOAT" year (at least up to this point) for us personally -- spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally? In the midst of the chaos, how can we maintain a growth mindset for developing our relationship with the Lord this year?

In my office at school, there is a white board. On that whiteboard, I have written two phrases:

• No more excuses
• First Things First (Yes, I realize that's a book title. Just work with me.)

No more excuses -- we (at least, I am) are really good at making excuses. And...sometimes, if we are being truthful, we couch those excuses as "legitimate reasons"...even though, we really know they are not "legitimate reasons". This is especially true when it comes to the sin in our lives that clings so closely & so entangles us. This is especially true when it comes to being distracted from that which is most important.

First things First -- ah, the issue of priorities. For whom or for what are we leveraging the best of our time, energy, and resources? The roles you are fulfilling and what those roles require will determine how you leverage the best of your time, energy, and resources. Man, when the tyranny of the urgent & unimportant strikes, it is a challenge to stay on track.

A GOAT year ahead? I'm praying toward that and pursuing that for my own life as I seek to follow Christ with everything I have. What are you pursuing?

Friday Fodder (12/31/21) - Reflection and Anticipation

Another year has come and gone. No doubt we are all reflecting on the past year's events--personal events, family experiences, national & global events.

As we ponder those experiences, how have we grown in the midst of them? What has the Lord taught us through those experiences? What are we anticipating in the coming year? What goals are we setting?

In setting goals, do we have some goals for our spiritual life; goals that will move us forward in our Christian life toward spiritual maturity?

I'm reminded of the exhortation in 2 Peter 1 that says, "make every effort to supplement your faith". Certainly, the ground of our effort is the work of Christ on the cross. We "make every effort" because Christ has already completed the work of our justification. Therefore, we pursue growth in godliness from the perspective of His finished work.

So, what are you "making every effort" toward in the new year? 

Brokenness

The reality of brokenness can be felt and seen in so many places in the world. The core piece of the brokenness we experience is because of the broken relationship humanity has with its creator. When that relationship became broken, the effects were felt throughout all of creation...especially within ourselves. We are scrambling to find wholeness and significance and peace for the internal part of ourselves; searching for that sense of well-being and being restful. We search and search for ways to fill that void, to alleviate that emptiness--even for a moment. The problem with looking for solutions either within ourselves or in the things of the world like careers, sports, other people, food, technology, social media, activism, etc. -- they are, as Jeremiah said, like broken cisterns that hold no water. Sure, there is a temporary relief from the internal struggle and striving, but it is just that--temporary. It doesn’t last--they overpromise and underdeliver. We have to keep chasing the next feeling of relief like a drug addict or alcoholic chasing the next fix. That’s why we have to keep going to the next thing, the next cistern because that one eventually dries up -- someone betrays us or lets us down -- the “coolness” of whatever activity we are engaged in wears off and we are left wanting once again. The path toward wholeness and deep satisfaction and joy and, dare I say, happiness -- is the restored relationship with our creator through Christ. In Him we find our sufficiency--our wholeness--He is the well that never runs dry. Are you feeling the effects of your brokenness today? Run to Christ -- run to the well that never runs dry.