In the morning, I've been listening to the Message Bible on my Ipod. It's a great way to multi-task.
This morning I listened to Matthew 24. In light of all that's going on in the world, I found this scripture as one to hold on to. The Best part??
"STAY WITH IT TO THE END. YOU WON'T BE SORRY AND YOU'LL BE SAVED." - Again, you earn your ending! (See my last entry!)
"...His disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us...What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?" Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming....In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.....(v 32) Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Earn your ending....??
"You have to earn an ending. You don't just fall into one." John Irving
On Sunday James and I watched Anthony Robles wrestle for the NCAA championship. One of the commercials that played just before the match had John Irving comparing the art of wresting and writing - and it captured my thoughts.
How many times have I heard that saying, "It's not how well you start something. It's how you finish." As many times as I've heard it (often from individuals I loved and respected), is as many times I can count men and women who didn't finish as I would have expected.
This time the words brought a new spin, a fresh perspective on how we live life and how, at this juncture in my life, it's good to consider living life from the ending backwards.
What do I want my life to look like when I die?
Living a life of no regrets requires courage to face where you're at now and where you want to be and make the necessary changes in your heart, mind, and soul to get there.
I guess the point is you don't just emerge. A life well lived requires discipline, forethought, determination, and the ability to shed off and let go of things that entangle and keep you from a well-earned ending.
I think of bitterness. How many people do you know who have been destroyed by this cancer? Holding onto bitterness only rots and corrodes the insides. It doesn't benefit anyone, let alone yourself.
I think of unfaithfulness. How many lives have been cut into by the pain of this blind cancer? With no forethought for how things might be in a well-lived life, it's as if all the potential is cut short in a few foolish glances and acts.
I think of less obvious but just as debilitating ways to go. What about laziness? Without wrestling this flesh to the ground and beating my natural human emotions into the submission of my savior, it's easy to sink into the every day lazy fare life.
And that's where I consider God's grace. Sure, by God's rich and lavishing love, I've found a new way to live and have been given the ability to be free, to withstand temptations, to overcome my flesh and see internal challenges become victories.
But there's something to be said about choosing to look to Christ to do and be that every day to see that kind of ending take place in my soul. In some ways, yes, I've fallen into a grace that I absolutely don't understand. In other ways, I must be purposeful about how I'm living my life and what I'm doing to guard and protect this precious gift I've been given.
In the end I want to live a life that honors Christ, where His love shines through. So many times this doesn't happen. On a daily basis I'm reminded of just how janked up I am inside. And yet, I know there's more to the story if I'll continue to look to Him, to be swayed only by His working in me and not give into the flesh.
On Sunday James and I watched Anthony Robles wrestle for the NCAA championship. One of the commercials that played just before the match had John Irving comparing the art of wresting and writing - and it captured my thoughts.
How many times have I heard that saying, "It's not how well you start something. It's how you finish." As many times as I've heard it (often from individuals I loved and respected), is as many times I can count men and women who didn't finish as I would have expected.
This time the words brought a new spin, a fresh perspective on how we live life and how, at this juncture in my life, it's good to consider living life from the ending backwards.
What do I want my life to look like when I die?
Living a life of no regrets requires courage to face where you're at now and where you want to be and make the necessary changes in your heart, mind, and soul to get there.
I guess the point is you don't just emerge. A life well lived requires discipline, forethought, determination, and the ability to shed off and let go of things that entangle and keep you from a well-earned ending.
I think of bitterness. How many people do you know who have been destroyed by this cancer? Holding onto bitterness only rots and corrodes the insides. It doesn't benefit anyone, let alone yourself.
I think of unfaithfulness. How many lives have been cut into by the pain of this blind cancer? With no forethought for how things might be in a well-lived life, it's as if all the potential is cut short in a few foolish glances and acts.
I think of less obvious but just as debilitating ways to go. What about laziness? Without wrestling this flesh to the ground and beating my natural human emotions into the submission of my savior, it's easy to sink into the every day lazy fare life.
And that's where I consider God's grace. Sure, by God's rich and lavishing love, I've found a new way to live and have been given the ability to be free, to withstand temptations, to overcome my flesh and see internal challenges become victories.
But there's something to be said about choosing to look to Christ to do and be that every day to see that kind of ending take place in my soul. In some ways, yes, I've fallen into a grace that I absolutely don't understand. In other ways, I must be purposeful about how I'm living my life and what I'm doing to guard and protect this precious gift I've been given.
In the end I want to live a life that honors Christ, where His love shines through. So many times this doesn't happen. On a daily basis I'm reminded of just how janked up I am inside. And yet, I know there's more to the story if I'll continue to look to Him, to be swayed only by His working in me and not give into the flesh.
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