He and I share the same flaw. I lack stick-to-itveness. I would rather do sprints any day than run long distances. And I have lots of what I think are great ideas; some that get started with gusto but soon stumble to a snail's pace or get abandoned altogether. My blogs, artisan mayo, paleo meals, crocheting projects, jewelry making projects, exercise plans and many others are some such evidences of my lack of endurance and focus. Spiritually, I fight with the power Christ supplies to stay on task and continue in my long obedience in the same direction by faith. So when I press on in my marriage, in teaching my kids the gospel, in stretching to reach others, in saturating myself in the Word, in praying, in keeping my focus on Christ, in trusting in the unfailing promises of God, it's purely by the grace of God!
I purchased some books I'm very excited about. God's Names by Sally Michael is one of them. I started into it yesterday with the boys. Tonight we did Elohim. It brought a freshness to the discussion of God. It provoked thought in them about the nature of God as our Creator. I LOVE it! Can't wait to get into it more.
Another is the Proverbs Journible from the Journible 17:18 Series. I think it will be what I'll use to bring to fruition the idea I had for my other blog. I'm really excited about it too... both for me and my boys.
I am not a risk taker. I like safe. I like stable. I like security and comfort. This is a problem for a Christian, and yet, even as I say that, it is the "not" that God calls "is".
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.- 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Being a Christian, I mean a real, Christ-lives-in-me woman, is not safe, and then again it's the most secure and safe of all. It really depends on which eyes I look at my life with. With my self-preserving, fallen eyes, being a Christian is dangerous and too risky. With my fixed-on-Jesus-born-anew eyes, being a Christian is the most sure, guaranteed security and safety there is!
Oh that I would fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, and look straight past the opposition that will come, the suffering that is going to occur, the rejection that hurts, the questions I can't answer, the name-calling that stabs, to the joy set before me!
Oh to stand in the same room with evil, and the missed-the-marked-ness that holds up its protesting sign and brazen face, and lies, and stand. Calmly. Confidently. Humbly. Lovingly. Willing to suffer. Shining light. Bringing truth. Looking up. Giving grace. Showing mercy. I'm ashamed that I would rather hide from it all. Oh let me stand in the room with the hard things that don't like the answer the Savior gives and speak the truth in love with humility! Give me grace to be courageous and bold and humble with happiness!
Quieted,
Sheila
