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Naivity Scene

If my life was on display this Christmas, I'm sure some would call it a naievity play. I've swung from one form of naiveity to another, gradually learning to keep my eyes and ears open for what could be true.

Paul writes:
Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 The Message

My first take on these words was to throw out everything in my record collection that wasn't obviously God-focused. Over time I started learning to hear the wisdom of the Spirit in the voices I'd previously rejected. I've learned that evil can sometimes be found within as much as without. I've learned that suppression and stifling can be done in the name of purity.

So with that in mind, I'm keeping an open mind this Christmas about what God is doing in my community, in and beyond the Christian community.

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moving in next door

who lives in your neighborhood? who lives next door? now, i am not talking about "do you know the people next door" thing, because to be honest that is getting rather thin - what i am talking about is knowing your community, and knowing who lives in your community. do you know the baker, and do they call you by your first name? do you know the gas station person, and do they call you by your first name? this week, when the trash people come by and pick up your garbage do you know them, and do they know you? will you offer them something to drink?

i love the way the messahe puts the words of john when it says:

"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.[john 1:14 - the message]

it may sound silly, but we need to treat those who live in community with us as if they were "the word" - living among us. we need to treat people as if they are close personal friends, because we need to make people just that - close, personal friends.

working in us:

when nGod is working in us, and when we are allowing God to work in us - we get to feel:

"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you." [2 corinthians 13:13-15 the message]

we need to keep the grace, love and friendship ideas in our hearts today - and express them to others - live the faith, not just talk about the faith.

murder?

ever read scripture and ignore it? i have. for years i did not care for those things that caused me to change my life. here is one of them:

"Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together. [1 john 3:15]

this one gets to me, because for years i hated people - come on, admit it, we all did - but that can change. when i realized that my hating someone was so wrong that it caused me to murder another - wow - that changed my life. today, think about those you hate and ask yourself if it is worth it all.

satisfaction

how much do you need? i love watching those "get rich with __________"...real estate, ads, internet, or anything else you want to place in "the blank." how mcuh do you need? and,i might add, at what cost? your health, your family, your marriage, your relationships, your future? what is the cost you are willing to pay? in his first letter to timothy, paul puts it out -

"after all, you did not bring anything into this world with you, and we will not take anything with us when we die. so, if we have enough food and cloths let us be content." [1 timothy 6:7-8]

what is enough? how much do you need? take today and spend some time thinking about what running for the dollar is moving you away from.

what is your intention?

today, as you start your morning, think about this: what is your intention today? what is driving your motives? what is driving your walk? the idea that we live each day with a heart on our intentions is never seen with our faith. today, that the words of paul and walk in another direction, and live intentionaly for christ:

One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. 18They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. [Romans 16:17-19 (The Message)]

poor?

does money matter? someone once said, "it does if you don't have any." well, i don't have any and i am not sure it matters much. money is not the answer to anything. some of the happiest people iknow have very little. in fact, they could place all they own in a small bag and carry it over one shoulder.

here is a test to see if you place money over your relationship with God - give it all away. if you have, give till you have nothing - this is the only real way of knowing if money rules your life. if you are not willing to give it all away, then it controls your life.

jesus said, "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." [in mathew] - sould like something you are willing to do?

a confession

i have not been very good at keeping up with this - and i have no excuses for not getting on the stick. all i can say is that i will start to post in the evenings, so it will be here for those in the morning :) i think this will be easier and allow me to be "regular" in posting - so, i will post this evening - God bless