It's not about me.. or you!

I had some scathing criticism today. It breaks my heart to think that it is most likely true. Well, not most likely.. it is very true. I was told that it is all about me. *sigh* I hate being selfish. I hate being inconsiderate. I hate always wanting things my way and getting sick when they are not. I know exactly what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote; "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Rom 7:24

Why is so difficult for us to realign our focus outward? Well, the true question is; do we want to? Is it false humility/compassion for us when we bemoan the injustices all around us and act appalled at the greed and self absorption in our society, while we continue to live in our own little secure self-centered world, and don't lift a finger to change it? I know, I know... we have plenty of excuses... we are busy, we just don't have the time... we don't have the money... we don't have the talent... we don't.. we don't... IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!

Bottom line... Christ, my God gave and continues to give everything for me! We claim to be his friends and his servants, yet we have the biggest problem doing as he commanded... Oh I know, I know... you go to church, you read your bible, you teach a Sunday School... well, I didn't see any of that in red letters in my bible. What are his commandments? There really aren't as many as you think, because the few take care of every issue we have.

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15: 12-14 NKJV

How does this change what we will do tomorrow? God please forgive us if it don't.

All the Noise

I can hardly stand to turn on the news anymore, but I do. What am I, a glutton for punishment? It would appear so. It is hard to watch the events of our day without feeling a little overwhelmed, even scared. Terrosism, the on-going wars, a financial crisis that is threatening the very foundation of this country. Wow, how are we keeping our sanity?

My fear is, some of us are struggling to do just that. The idea of living life to its fullest seems like a pipe dream right now. Well, God forgive us!

I was just listening to one of my favorite groups, DC Talk, and one of my favorite songs, Jesus Freak. In the second verse it goes like this " I am lofty, they see me as weak, cause I won't live and die for the power they seek". Now bear with me, what is the power they seek? It's all the things of this world friend. It's wealth, power, prestige, all the glitz, even the security! The decay we see around us should not come a surprise. Its all temporal and our imagined security, is just that. I know its scary, I know its hard to focus on whats important, but to whom do you belong? To this world? Or to Jesus, the King of Kings, the Master of all?

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil. 4:8 NKJV

Some good advice! Let us resolve to have a new focus! A focus on the pure, the beautiful, the righteous. Open the sriptures, find a good book, enjoy some good classical music, visit an art museum, expand our realationships with friends and family.

Guys and Gals we have lost our focus. We have put our hopes and faith in our worldy possesions, our government, our wealth, our power. It's an illusion. Turn it off! He is still in control and we are in his hands. Let us fall to our knees and ask his forgiveness for our lack of faith and Lord help me to practice what I preach. Amen

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 NKJV


What a wonderful verse! The entire message of the Bible told in a single passage. For God so loved us!
That’s right, he loved US. We so often have a problem making this personal. We can easily apply it to the world, but forget about his love for us… For you! Can you imagine that if Christ had only one person that would receive salvation for his sacrifice, that he would still do it? He would. If you or I were the only reason, he would still do it. He loves us that much.

God looked through the passages of time and knew you. He knows everything about us, all of our failures, our frailties, our sins, and he still loves us with all of his magnificent being, He would, and did give it all for us, for you. As Christ hung on the cross, he was thinking of you. Paying your debt so he could be with you for eternity. Does this make a difference in our attitude towards the cross? Does it demand something in return? He just wants our love. He knows that love will transform us. He knows that love will change us. He knows that love will bring us home.

Think about it, For God so loved you, he gave all that he had! What will we give in return?