Motive. It's a tricky thing to try to manage isn't it? Often we move and act and live without stopping to think about motive. We just do. And perhaps that's the way it should be - in a sense. We just do, trusting that our motives are ... well .... What are our motives?
As we move through the day, as we face different circumstances, walk into different environments, and engage in our business, what are our motives? Because how we act, walk, or engage will be driven by something.
Paul wrote to the Romans that the Spirit of God resides within us. The divine has taken residence in his creation. The divine lives within me and you (for those who call on Christ and are as we say - Christian). God in Spirit full of power resides within me to guide and direct, encourage and support, challenge and convict, hone and perfect, teach and give witness/proof.
**"... But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ... 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life" because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." --Romans 8:6, 10-14 **
Here's the challenge. We must engage. We must engage the divine within us so that we may live. What benefit does a guest in your home bring to your home when they are ignored? How does that guest feel?
When we engage the divine residing within us He brings us to life. We live, full on, God-powered living. In this living we are transformed to his likeness. His motives become our motives and so as we live then this normal everyday life - we do so with God inspired and powered motives.
No we're not perfect; and yes we need to reengage daily; yet when we do we will reflect the image of the divine within us.
So today as you "do life" what is your motive? How will others see this alive with power within you?
Comment and let me know why it's so hard to engage the divine spirit within us?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A Community Cries Out
A community is crying out.
Recent natural disasters at home and around the globe, searches for missing persons, market-place economic realities hitting home, these and more all cause communities to cry out. These are the stories that make the news. These are the stories that cover the front pages. Theses are the stories that are featured. Yet I would contend that these just scratch the surface of what's happening in our communities.
I know there are families - whose names are not in the papers and whose faces are not on the nightly news - that are hurting, broken, scared, anxious, vulnerable, and weary. There are moms crying themselves to sleep. There are dads wondering how to get through tomorrow let alone next month. There are kids - who we think don't know what's happening - who manifest their anxieties in numerous ways. There are couples lying in bed together yet a million miles apart.
Our community is crying out ... and I wonder if anyone is listening. Our community is crying out and I ask myself if I care enough to do anything.
The week after Easter I'll announce a new initiate that my wife and I are going to launch for our community. Until then, ask yourself if you hear the cry of your community.
Leave a comment and tell me ...
What are people crying about in your community?
Recent natural disasters at home and around the globe, searches for missing persons, market-place economic realities hitting home, these and more all cause communities to cry out. These are the stories that make the news. These are the stories that cover the front pages. Theses are the stories that are featured. Yet I would contend that these just scratch the surface of what's happening in our communities.
I know there are families - whose names are not in the papers and whose faces are not on the nightly news - that are hurting, broken, scared, anxious, vulnerable, and weary. There are moms crying themselves to sleep. There are dads wondering how to get through tomorrow let alone next month. There are kids - who we think don't know what's happening - who manifest their anxieties in numerous ways. There are couples lying in bed together yet a million miles apart.
Our community is crying out ... and I wonder if anyone is listening. Our community is crying out and I ask myself if I care enough to do anything.
The week after Easter I'll announce a new initiate that my wife and I are going to launch for our community. Until then, ask yourself if you hear the cry of your community.
Leave a comment and tell me ...
What are people crying about in your community?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Don't Blow It
Matthew 6:1 NLT
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
Humility is an art, honed by trial and error. Much like our walk with God, trial and error yet learning all along the way.
Compare and contrast the humility we seek and see in the divine to the preparations of Lent we see in Fat Tuesday. The former is designed to bring us into conformation with the Creator while the latter is designed as one last blast before a self-imposed hiatus.
Yet Christ cautions us that even in our humility we can, as a sounding trumpet, blow it badly when we revel in our humility. The humble of heart are crafting an art that begins in the inner man. The humble of heart are going about their every day living in a manner that draws no attention to their humility. They simply are.
The humble of heart are crafting a masterpiece that begins on the inside and overflows in all they do - quietly, inconspicuously, and with clear intention - to reflect the image of the divine.
It always begins with who you are, not what you do.
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
Humility is an art, honed by trial and error. Much like our walk with God, trial and error yet learning all along the way.
Compare and contrast the humility we seek and see in the divine to the preparations of Lent we see in Fat Tuesday. The former is designed to bring us into conformation with the Creator while the latter is designed as one last blast before a self-imposed hiatus.
Yet Christ cautions us that even in our humility we can, as a sounding trumpet, blow it badly when we revel in our humility. The humble of heart are crafting an art that begins in the inner man. The humble of heart are going about their every day living in a manner that draws no attention to their humility. They simply are.
The humble of heart are crafting a masterpiece that begins on the inside and overflows in all they do - quietly, inconspicuously, and with clear intention - to reflect the image of the divine.
It always begins with who you are, not what you do.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
26.2
"But the people grew impatient with the long journey." (Numbers 21:4)
26.2 I'm fairly sure that I could never do 26.2. The literal marathon is 26.2 miles of grueling endurance running. Yep I'm positive I couldn't do that. I don't have the endurance, stamina, or skill to run that far.
While the like-minded rest of us can all look at marathon runners and shake our heads like they are crazy, as we eat our chips reclining on our couch, the reality is that we cannot escape the marathon of life. Life is 26.2 miles of "stuff" that requires endurance, stamina, and some skill to maneuver.
My faith and my God drive my world view and drive the way I manage my 26.2. There are times along the way that this marathon looks pretty ugly ... filled with --- well it's just ugly. There are times when I definitely grow impatient with the long journey.
God calls us to persevere. As we do, that develops our character which in turn gives us hope (cf. Romans 5.4). I think in the 26.2 of the desert wilderness, God's people had lost hope, it affected their character (research their choices) and they then grew weary.
The question isn't can you 26.2 ... you will. The question is how will you handle it. How will I? When we hit the proverbial wall, how will we respond, how will we react?
Hope, character, perseverance!
26.2 I'm fairly sure that I could never do 26.2. The literal marathon is 26.2 miles of grueling endurance running. Yep I'm positive I couldn't do that. I don't have the endurance, stamina, or skill to run that far.
While the like-minded rest of us can all look at marathon runners and shake our heads like they are crazy, as we eat our chips reclining on our couch, the reality is that we cannot escape the marathon of life. Life is 26.2 miles of "stuff" that requires endurance, stamina, and some skill to maneuver.
My faith and my God drive my world view and drive the way I manage my 26.2. There are times along the way that this marathon looks pretty ugly ... filled with --- well it's just ugly. There are times when I definitely grow impatient with the long journey.
God calls us to persevere. As we do, that develops our character which in turn gives us hope (cf. Romans 5.4). I think in the 26.2 of the desert wilderness, God's people had lost hope, it affected their character (research their choices) and they then grew weary.
The question isn't can you 26.2 ... you will. The question is how will you handle it. How will I? When we hit the proverbial wall, how will we respond, how will we react?
Hope, character, perseverance!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Lent Day 28 :: Prayer to Do Good (F.B. Meyer [England, 1847-1929])
"Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where I had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness."
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