I'm proud to announce that on a individual player level, I'm moving on from the "easy" category and heading into "Medium" difficulty--ready to start using that blue button!
Rock On!
Thoughts about living real life as a real follower of Jesus....and other things to ponder.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. "
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2: 7-16
And the picture below is our family after experiencing Grizzly River Run for the first time. (I'm seriously considering using this as our Christmas card!) I got absolutely SOAKED! I was hard pressed to find a dry spot. In fact, this was the last picture taken on our digital camera which became a victim of water damage from the ride. Thankfully the picture card was still okay and we salvaged the few pictures we had taken. The rest of the trip was finished out with several disposable Kodaks!
I am under vows to you, O God;What this spoke to me was this: I need to remember my covenant with the Lord. He is my savior, Lord of my Life, I am his, totally. This is not "my" life, but His.
I will present my thank offerings to
you.
For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from
stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Secondly, I need to be mindful every day, always, to be thankful, give God thanks, tell him what I'm thankful for, etc. Scripture is filled with the importance of coming to the Lord with thanksgiving, before we present our requests. This passage even reminds the reader--reminded me--that a foundational item of thanksgiving is the realization that God delivered me from death (salvation through Christ), and that He is the one that keeps me safe, steadfast, on the path rather than stumbling along in the muck and mire.
The final verse really resonated and is carrying me through the day today:
"...and I may walk before God in the light of life."
Wow! That is a promise--not a "maybe"--but assurance that remembering that God is the Lord of my life, that He is the one who is keeping me, holding my hand and keeping me from stumbling about today--because of that, I get to walk before God in His floodlight that is a vibrant, vital life. Apart from this light, there isn't any real life. The world offers substitutions that are at first alluring and attractive, but eventually disappointing. Nothing is fulfilling if it isn't covered in God's light.
When I place the things of my every day life into the context of this scripture, it gives a right perspective. The situations and circumstances may not change, but how I view them does. For example, my part-time administrative assistant job has been almost excruciating to go to these days. (I know...strong sentiment...but I'm really at that point!) Really great, generous boss, but the work itself is boring and requires very little of my mind or abilities. It is a very unsatisfying job in that I don't really feel like I'm doing what I was created to do...but it is an income so I keep doing it...and although I've been looking...the Lord hasn't opened a door to anything else. (I am VERY aware that this is how the Lord has been providing and very thankful, so don't get me wrong. In fact, in light of the scripture I read this morning, I thanked the Lord first thing for providing a job for me when I know there are so many looking for work.) What I struggle with is that I'm a person who needs/wants to do a job that really matters, long term, in the greater scope of things, so working in a small office that is centered around someone earning commissions and driven by making money, is hard to wrestle with everyday. I can't quite see how it fits in with eternity.
After reading this passage, I felt the Lord reminding me that even in my work situation, He can give it purpose and "life" because I'm walking with Him, in His light. I may not know what that is, or be able to see it, but if I keep focused on Him, giving Him thanks, He can take a very basic job and give it meaning beyond what the world offers. I'm thankful for that hope.
I know this post is a little disjointed...open journaling really...but felt I should share it. I titled this post, "Floodlight Living" because that is the perspective I want to have, especially in these days of a life that seems so "out of whack". I want to remember and be intentional about viewing the "everyday, ordinary-ness" of my life, bathed in His light of life.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful
songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us,
and not we are ourselves;
we are his people, the sheep of his
pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with
praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good
and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.