“We have to chase them, Grammy! We have to chase them!”
Despite trying to convince Piper that she could enjoy the hot air balloons without having to chase them, she never wavered. Although she delighted in the sight of crayola-like bubbles floating overhead, pursuing them remained at the forefront of her mind.
As the words We don’t have to chase them, we can simply enjoy them! spilled from my lips I somehow sensed they were not meant for Piper alone.
Like on those days when I get caught up in the chase “doing” part of my life and ignore the “being.” Jesus beckons me to slow down, to rest in His accomplishments, and delight in His presence. He doesn’t call me to chase after Him, but instead, to stay in step with Him.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
Or, for instance, when I felt pressure from within during last week’s conference to chase “make things happen.” Lynn Blackburn’s words to Edie Melson awhile back echo in my spirit today, Jesus is your agent and He’s doing a pretty good job of it!
I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2
Now, am I saying we shouldn’t seek God? Absolutely not! No one explains this quest better than John Piper via his post What Does It Mean to Seek the Lord? I am saying, however, motivation played a key role in the above pursuits. I’m learning that when I sense a bit of frenzy churning within, chances are I’m chasing the wind instead of resting in what Jesus has already accomplished on my behalf.
Needless to say, I will never look at those crayola-like bubbles floating overhead quite the same as I did before. Thank you, Piper.
Father, thank you for using the innocent desire of a child to draw me closer to You, revealing misguided desires on my part. Help me to rest in You as I seek Your face in all I say and do. Amen.
Summit’s series on sharing our grace stories continued this week. Jason’s voice may have faltered a bit but his message did not.
Snippets follow, but I encourage you to listen to the sermon in its entirety when it’s posted Tuesday/Wednesday.
———————
Jason began by reminding us that there are many doomsday people out there but we’re to remember that nothing thwarts God’s plans. Nothing! (Job 42:2) We are not to put our hope in the wrong kingdom.
Luke 10:1-20
To follow Jesus means to be on His mission, with His message, and the right motivation. We now have a church culture focused on me, my issues, my needs.
Jesus says to His followers: I’ve given you a story of grace and there are needs out there that only you can meet. You’ve been sent. You’re on a mission with a message. Your grace story matters.
Don’t rejoice in your ministry or significance. If you rejoice in anything you do, you’ll end up disappointed. Everything we say and do should be Gospel motivated.
The Gospel is the love you’ve been searching for.
Sharing snippets from such a powerful sermon is a challenge, to say the least. I hope you’ll stop by for the entire sermon on Summit’s site.
In celebration of the first day of Fall, I’m sharing a re-post from 2010, as it still rings true today.
It doesn’t feel like the season for:
Roasted marshmallows Apple cider Kaleidoscope leaves Cool breezes Pecans An abundance of candy in fun-size packs Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin Colorful mums Pumpkins
Mountain trips Fresh apples (especially Honey Crisp!) Long sleeves and weathered jeans Warm fuzzy sweaters
But it is that season, according to the trusted calendar, even though we are experiencing temperatures in the low 90’s.
It does not feel like fall, but the calendar says it is. Which am I to believe?
The
same question is sometimes asked, although rarely audible or even
consciously, when we are faced with believing how we feel versus what
the Word of God says.
While God created emotions to complete the
whole person, it’s easy to get swept away by them—only to be swept up in
the deception that can sometimes follow.
Just as the calendar
has the final say as to when we are truly embarking on the fall season,
so God’s Word is our final say as to what is true—regardless of how we
feel.
I may not always feel His presence, but God says He will never leave nor forsake me (Heb. 13:5)
I may not always sense His working in my life or those around me, but God says that nothing can thwart His plans (Job 42:2)
I don’t always trust Him as I should, but God says that even when I am unfaithful, He is faithful. (2 Tim. 2:13)
I can feel defeated, useless to the Kingdom, beaten up by all my
weaknesses, but God says that in Him, there is in no condemnation,
regardless of what the enemy says. (Romans 8:1)
Emotions can be
a beautiful expression of our worship to the Lord. In fact, if we are
rarely moved by the words we read or sing, or if we can watch a
resplendent sun rising from the east without a pause of praise welling
up from within, we may be in need of an emotion intervention. It’s all
about balance.
So, while it may not feel
like my favorite season of the year, I rejoice in the fact that it is
indeed fall, and that summer has been left in the dust of 2010 (and my
grass along with it). I may have to break out my long-sleeved shirts and
fuzzy sweaters in celebration of this truth!
Care to join me?
Cathy Baker
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