His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it,
jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four
years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very
bright.

He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from
the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church They want to
develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about
it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his
T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill
starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely
packed and he can’t find a seat.  By now people are looking a bit
uncomfortable, but no one says anything.  Bill gets closer and closer
and closer to the pulpit and, when he realizes there are no seats, he
just squats down to sit, right on the carpet.

Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this
had never happened in this church before! By now the people are really
uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the
minister realizes that from the back of the church, a deacon is slowly
making his way toward Bill. This deacon is in his eighties, has
silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant,
very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts
walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you
can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of
his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the
floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is
utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane.  All eyes are
focused on him. You can’t even hear anyone breathing. The minister
can’t even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With
great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill, to
worship with him so he won’t be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion.

When the minister gains control, he says, “What I’m about to preach,
you might never remember. What you have just seen, you will never
forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people
will ever read.”

Originally Posted Here:
http://skypilot.netfirms.com/devoti~1.html#Expectations

References on the Word being in your heart:
http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/written.html

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Happiness… an idol?

I didn’t have to look far within myself to see how much energy I put into trying to be happy.  It almost makes me wonder  how long I’ve been undertaking such a pointless endeavor.

Ok now here we go.  Happiness… a pointless endeavor?

Strong, bad tasting wording I know, but please keep reading!

So here it is.  We all want to be happy.  We have a desire to be happy.  I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want to be happy and I’m pretty sure that anyone who says they don’t want to is merely saying that because they’ve spent so much time being unhappy and so much energy trying to obtain happiness – that they just don’t want it anymore.

So we can go from wanting happiness, to not wanting it?

If we get “happiness” how long does it last?  Until another area of our life demands that we place happiness on a shelf and try to make that new area happy instead?  Is there any way to keep all areas, all parts of our being completely happy all the time?

That right there sounds like a pointless endeavor to me.

I think I want to spend all that time and energy on something else.

I’ve had my share of really awful moments in life, so much so that I personally have been on a happiness quest for about 10 years now.  Am I happy?  Today yes! Yesterday, I was miserable.  Sounds like happiness isn’t as committed to this “relationship” as I am.

So if I’m pouring almost a decade of life and energy into “happiness” just to find that one day I’m unhappy and the next I am happy.  That means right away that in 10 years I have 3,650 days of happiness, unhappiness, or any combination thereof.  Not to mention that I could be happy in the morning but not happy in the evening.  That doubles the figure!  Ok so what about hours?  That’s 87,600 chances of feeling “happy.”

Again, this is feeling really pointless about now.

What if I had taken that energy and time and invested in someone else’s life? What if I had written a song for every hour?  What if… just what if I used that energy to tackle my to-do list?  Wow… I would be really bored right now instead of fighting the urge to think about all the things I have to do after this, such as buy turkey for my lunch sandwich and get back to work.

What if I had put all that time and energy into a relationship with Jesus?

Now that makes me free-fall into a moment of “spiritual opportunity cost.”

So based on these feelings – it feels (ha) like this means that I am submitting my time, energy, and life-span for that matter… into something that is extremely fickle, doesn’t care what the result is, and is dependent on an infinite amount of factors.

I am submitting… that sounds like happiness then has some “authority” or “power” over me.  It also seems that I “submit” blindly, knowing that I can’t figure this out, that I can’t control it, and that it actually takes away things from me.  This sounds like an “idol” and some form of twisted “happiness worship.”

Check out the definition of “idol” over at Merriam Webster ( Click here.  Opens in a new window. )

So wait, now happiness is an “idol?”

Before this sentence turns you off, happiness is only an idol if you let it be!  If you submit to it, give it your all, give it blind faith.  If you recognize it as merely a “word” describing a “state of being” then you’re fine.  If you chase after it, base your life on how much of it you have/don’t have etc, then yes it is an “idol.”

So that’s enough talk from me, what does God’s Word have to say about this?  Let’s take a look:

Matthew 10:39

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 16:25-26

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Mark 8:34

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Proverbs 10:22

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.

Psalm 40:8

8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

Matthew 5:3-12

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

James 1:2-8

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

1 Timothy 6:1

6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

Philippians 4:10-12

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I’m really going to try and submit my “happiness” to Jesus from now on. I’m tired of trying to “build” happiness. Besides, if you are “building” happiness is it the real thing? Is it reality? Or just something you made. After all if we could just make happiness, then why are we seeking it?

God is Good.
Jesus is Life,
-Randall

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The Word of God ( the Bible, Jesus ) lights us up! It disassembles us into our basic components. Soul, Spirit, Body. It shines God’s Love on those parts and lets us see ourselves for what we are. It draws clear lines between our sin nature, and who God Created us to be. God’s Word can bring all our components together into something that makes sense.

I gave focusing my whole self a try after an awesome sunday school lesson on this subject…

Bringing it all into focus does mean you need to submit it all to God. This isn’t some “new age empowerment” but a chance to worship and serve God by allowing His Love and Word to unite you in that worship.

The Psalms are an excellent place to start if you’re interested in understanding how to let God’s Word bring you together into one whole functioning person. As you read them pay attention to how the writer uses these words: soul, spirit, flesh, body, heart. Watch how in particular they are references during times of negative and positive emotions.

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

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These three words don’t exactly sound fun.  Upon first glance perhaps even the word “slave” comes to mind or perhaps “servant.”

Some of us, myself included would say “Me a captive?  Submit?  I could go along with “serve” but these others you won’t find me doing;  I’m a captive to no one!”

Funny thing is upon further reflection it is a hard task to find something that I’m not captive to, submitting to, or serving and it comes in the oddest of ways.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” ( Matthew 6:24 New International Version )

Seems to me that you could substitute ( humbly ) anything in for the word “Money.”

You can’t serve God and Money.

You can’t serve God and Pride.

You can’t serve God and Lust.

You can’t serve God and Selfishness.

You can’t serve God and Power.

I find myself trying to serve God, my Wife Anna, my job, my friends, my church, my hobbies and each category has its own list of challenges!

Sure it’s good to look after all those things, but what’s my motive? Outside of God my motives are pretty lousy a lot of the time. Without some kind of anchor I find myself getting lost chasing tangents of responsibility in each area.

I don’t know about you, but I find myself feeling spread thin when I don’t start by serving God first.

If I start with God first, all usually goes “well” with my perspective and ultimately good.

So for example I can’t fully look after Anna until I’ve submitted to the Lord.

It continually amazes me how God shares His Will through marriage.

Casting down idols, lifting up Jesus,
-Randall

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I don’t trust God. Trust me, I don’t. Interesting enough I’m able to ask you the reader to “trust me.” Somehow I deem myself worth of the title “trustworthy” although I can’t seem to keep promises, arrive on time, etc. You get the picture.

Somehow I can convince myself so much that I am trustworthy, that I’m willing to ask you to believe it. I’ll advertise myself as trustworthy, dependable, and true. Maybe I should get a billboard – after all if it’s in big bold letters that should mean I’m even more trustworthy right?

Right. Wrong.

Check-In: I’m not that trustworthy on some things, but I really want you to believe it, yet I can’t trust God.

Does this mean I think I’m more trustworthy than God? Yuck. Ok for the record typing that last sentence ( the one before “Yuck,” well it really was a hard one to type. )

Sigh.

You see I trust my view on things. I trust my own brain to receive input of any kind of source: family, friends, job, life and filter it correctly. After all I’m perfect… wait no I’m not. I tell you what, ever want to really put things in the “right” perspective? Pray, then write it out and listen to how silly the “logic” we as humans create really is. I sound silly.

I’ll even tell you to trust God, but for some reason I have trouble trusting Him about whether I’ll have a good week at work or whether I’ll be happy. ( There’s a post coming about the idea of being “happy” so stay tuned. ) To keep this on topic though, I’ll sit and wonder, analyze, problem solve and do all of these things… wait a minute… I should just jump through time using my “Doc Brown Time Traveling Brain”… oh that’s right… I can’t. Because that’s not reality.

I say leave the time travel technology behind and give me the flying ability because quite frankly I can’t handle the “present” too well. I would really hate to see myself stuck in those tangents of a “choose your own adventure” life.

Check-In: I can’t travel through time, even though I try to in my brain by analyzing everything, I know I’m not trustworthy but want you to believe that I am ( looking for validation for something I can’t prove myself ) and I trust myself more than God even though I’ll tell you to trust God over me.

Wow – that’s pretty messed up thinking.

I was thinking about all of this today while I was at work. I was taking a small break and it hit me. I always label situations, things, events in my life according to a “happiness threat level.” I’m so concerned about where the next problem is coming from that I pretty much miss what’s going on around me. Later on when I come to my senses I realize what I’ve missed and become sadder… and it comes full circle. Wishing I had done something different and then waiting for the next “chance” to come and hope it doesn’t overwhelm me and I don’t mess up.

How do I break this cycle?

Well… I can’t. I’ve been trying for about 9.5 years now. I can tell you this: I’m exhausted from trying.

This is where, in my opinion, God Showed me some extra Grace today. Taking this thought and some other principles that I’ve learned through my faith in Jesus I came to a realization that sounds so simple… I would almost like to go back in time and tell myself… just kidding.

When I became a Christian, that is when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Realized that I was a sinner, and I couldn’t make up for the wrongs in my life, that I needed something more “trustworthy” than me to help me out and show me the way… wait I just typed “trustworthy.”

And that’s the point.

Check-In: I struggle with trusting God as a Christian, but in order to be a Christian I told God that I trusted Him.

I started off right it seems. What happened? Life happened? Ok that sounds easy to use as an excuse. I’ve been through/am going through a mom with a chronic disease, failed relationships, financial struggles in college, wondering where my next meal came from, selling things for that meal, packing up and moving to a state and city I had no clue about. ( I’m now wonderfully married… God is Good! )

Check-In: You know what? Simply I was already in a “city” and in a “state” when I was saved and thought God was Trustworthy. I had the same “mom” even though she was healthy at the time. I tell you what, a tree is still a tree no matter what season of weather we are in. What I’m driving at is that things in life are apart of “life” – they may change, mom got sick, the leaves on the tree turned orange in fall – but when it comes down to it, mom is still my mom… and well lots of trees turn orange in the fall. Did I become sick when mom did? No. Do I turn orange when the leaves of a tree do? No. So I guess life only affects me if I let it. Therefore I changed. Weird… and revolutionary.

How do I get back?

So here I am in a life, that I can’t go back and “edit,” that I can’t go into the future, come back and prepare for, inside a faith in Jesus that started by saying I believe and trust You God, I can’t do this on my own – worrying about what the rest of today will bring, whether I’ll sleep well tonight, whether I’ll get to work on time in the morning or not.

I can’t get back. Just like going back in time. I just simply can’t. To be honest I don’t think I would if I could. The journey I’m on has led to good things. My Wife, my current friends and job, etc.

So life ( people, places, things ) changed. I changed. Is there anything that hasn’t changed?

Yes. God. He’s still the same exact way He Was, Is, and Will Be. He’s Still the Same as when I first told Him that I trust Him.

If I do look back without putting on my “woulda, coulda, shoulda” glasses I can actually see that God Was Helping me the entire time. Amazing. So in the end I can’t trust life, I can’t trust myself, but it seems that I can trust God. He’s Still the Same. I’ve been praying to Him this entire time, and even in the midst of all this He Spoke to me today and helped me see this oxymoron of what I’m putting my trust in.

When I realized what was going, I felt a burden lift off my shoulders. When I prayed and told God, “I trust You, I can’t do this, I don’t want to, I need Your Help;” God Answered.

A verse came to mind:

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Then more later in the day:

Proverbs 3:5-7

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Interesting note, on this Jeremiah passage. In verse 14 it says that “I carried you into exile.” God carried them there? Interesting. Sounds harsh. But then I realized, what if God Said, “I sent you” or “I banished you” – that delivers a whole new meaning. It would seem God carried them. That sounds a lot nicer as it means that even in “exile” God Was Still With them. He even Says that if they seek Him, they will find Him.

Check-In: This means that really – I’m going to sleep tonight… I’ll wake up Lord Willing and go to work, right now will disappear into an inaccessible point in the past and I’ll forge ahead with God to discover what’s new tomorrow.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sometimes it feels hard to trust God. A lot of bad things have happened to me, maybe have happened to you. It’s easy to confuse why these things are happening. Wrong choices by people or blame God? I see now that I am choosing not to trust God. Again Romans. No person, place, or thing is twisting my arm or taking over my brain and making me “not trust God.” That’s my own choice. Seems every reason I come up with for not trusting God somehow either falls under people, places, or things changing – but not God. He’s Always There.

Romans 8:37-39

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He’s Brought me out of my 9.5 year “exile,” ( Jeremiah verses ) and His Promises are fulfilled every day. I have seen Him Answer my prayers over a span of years and in less than a second. I am struggling with my past, present, and future only because I don’t actively put my trust in God knowing that He Has them all in His Hand. Knowing that 5 years ago when I was worrying He Had it all in His Hand then too… and look here I am typing this. Looks like using 5 years ago proves that things weren’t as bad as I had thought. This makes me really interested, hopeful this time, as to what God Will Do in another 5 years.

Worry and distrust – hope and trust.

John 20:24-27

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

I encourage you to uninstall the desire to time travel.

Live in the now, actively trusting God, and trusting Him to take care of the “quantum logistics.” Today I’ve committed myself to trusting God. A simple mental exercise is that with every fear and concern try to make your immediate response “I trust You Lord, please help.” Say it in your head, out loud, write it down – whatever works.

The quickest way to trust Him, is to ask Him for help. Accept Jesus as the “Help.” The everlasting saving trust comes from a relationship with Jesus only. Relationship with Jesus sound hard? It may sound that way, but it’s not. May not be easy, but it can bring stability and peace to life’s hard situations. Give it a try, talk to God about it. Trust that He’s Listening.

Trying to trust God more and more in Jesus,
-Randall

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I learned not to take my energy for granted.  Not to take my health for granted.  As a person accustomed to long-distance running, it was a huge blow to not even have the energy to do laundry.  I would literally wake up, go to work, come home and sleep.  Randall would cook, do laundry, and put me to bed.  It sucked.  I was tired and cranky and moody all the time.  Who wants to feel that crappy  especially when you have no idea why you feel crappy to begin with?

I’ve gotten back up to maybe a mile and a half at this point, which compared to how I used to run, is like a power-walk through the mall.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.  Even though I am still recovering, still looking to be able to do everything that I once could, I am so grateful to our Father and Redeemer who has renewed me.  My spirit and my body are being renewed.  It has been a painful process at points, for sure.  And, through this process, I’ve had to come face to face with a big hiccup for me – not being able to do what I want to do.

As a write those words, I’m afraid to even publish this blog post.  Do I want to admit that I have a problem sometimes with not getting my way?  No, I don’t.  But, I think that might be the biggest thing that God forced me to learn through all of this.  Life isn’t about doing it your way, or getting your way, or doing what you want to do.  God can and will take control when we drop the ball.  I’m afraid to say that I did drop the ball in some ways.  I hope that I am finally freed from the throes of the Lyme disease, but more than that, I hope that this learning experience sticks with me and forces some permanent changes in my life.  I hope that in 4 months, or whenever this Lyme disease fully gets out of my system, I will look back and be grateful that I was sick.  If that’s what it takes for me to finally get it, that LIFE, Life in Christ, is truly greater than me and my whims, then I’ll take it.  And, if you read this, and you see me being princess-y, unnecessarily, just remind me of Lenny, as my mom likes to call him…Lenny the Lyme….

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YouVersion.com has given you the ability to engage with Scripture like never before, and with YouVersion mobile you have access to the Bible, corresponding contributions, and online community no matter where you are.

With YouVersion mobile the Bible is with you…during your morning commute in the tube, while waiting in line at the grocery store, or in church on Sunday. YouVersion gives you the power to engage in 40 different translations, in 22 languages, on one device that rests in the palm of your hand. Download the free App and enjoy regular time with the Bible, right when and where you need it.

Online community where apparently you can share Bible bookmarks and commentary etc.  Going to sign up and see how it is!

Link opens in a new window.

http://www.youversion.com/

-Randall

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We belong to God and like a young man who has lost his way – we must return, humble, aware of our condition – that everything we hold on to as a means to define ourselves in fact disrespects who we are, what we were created to be.  Relying on worldly things is settling.  Choosing to turn a blind eye to what is right is giving up.

The self we create is easy – it’s easy because it’s something we made.  An existence defined within one self is no existence.  Existence implies interaction.

Dare to interact with God.  Taste and see that He is Good.
Return to the Creator Father God and discover who you really are.

Put that poor reflection of a self image to the Cross, and walk again as a new creation in Jesus.

Define yourself within God and discover what you truly can be.

1 Corinthians 13:12

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

*
^“12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

*
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13″Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17″When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21″The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]‘

22″But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25″Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27′Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28″The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31″ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

John 10:10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

*
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

*New International Version

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Marianne Williamson, from Akeelah and the Bee

What inspired me about this quote is the part about the role we play in the manifestation of God’s glory.  Which is exciting!  The problem is we let ourselves get in the way of that.  I know that’s true in my own life.  As I struggle with my own flesh, I want to be inspired by this idea that if we can get over our own selves and focus on God’s role and work with us, how much inspiration can we be to those around it.  Think about it.  If we each tried it, only for a day, it would be like Pay it Forward, but Pay God Forward.  And I bet it would be so enlightening and refreshing that we wouldn’t want to stop.  So that’s my plan…Pay God Forward.

-Anna

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