With day-long pajamas, hot tea in hand, two snuggly kitties and a break from technology, the last several hours were largely spent reviewing my most recently completed journal.
This is not my "typical" third Friday of the month exercise, but it was both necessary and worthwhile.
The objective: Discovery of overarching and/or recurring
themes, ideas, etc. in recent months.
The question: How will I leverage this post-mortem analysis
in the days and months to come? (How
will I live, love, think and worship differently?)
The Lord blessed this "review" by pointing out areas that clearly need development. He also revealed paths necessary to get nearer the ultimate destination of
Holiness. There were a few
areas where growth occurred….with plenty room for more! (Clearly, He was
pointing and revealing things throughout the last 4 months of 2012 – but today
was a sweet time of “hearing and seeing” more deeply - and I'm amazed at how much I forgot occurred in recent months!)
For kicks – these are the most frequently recurring words in
four months of musings (no incriminating specifics listed about any individual although several people played a vital role in these months - positively and otherwise):
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Words I like to see
repeated...
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...Ones I don’t...
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and the Neutral ones...
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Prayer – God’s Will
– Bible – Submit – Jesus - Identity – Values
– Faith – Obedience – Truth – Trust – Abiding – Forgiveness – Righteousness –
Glory - Worship
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“Forgive Me for….”
“Idols”
“Wasting
(opportunities/time)”
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Health – Money –
Time- Schedule – Culture – Research - Simplicity
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Home - Music – Organize – Quiet – Family Time –
Friends – Food – Order – Parenting – Priorities -
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“To Do” lists (far
too many) – “Finish _” - “Catch up” – Redo -
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Health – Money –
Time- Schedule – Culture – Research - Simplicity
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Rest – Relaxed – “low-key”
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Overbooked –
Stress(ed)
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Health – Money –
Time- Schedule – Culture – Research - Simplicity
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Encourage(d) – write
– Gratitude – Intentionality – Humility – Freedoms - Patriotism – art – widows
- beauty – beautiful – sacrifice – service -
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“Sick” – “no energy” - “not feeling well” – tired - sacrifice
(yes, like/don’t like sacrifice!)
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Health – Money –
Time- Schedule – Culture – Research - Simplicity
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Following are: phrases, quotes, sermon and study points, and thoughts that stood out above the rest
(based on illustrative clues in the form of stars; arrows; parenthesis; and
exclamatory notes to self):
“You can beautify the gospel by how you live”
“Mission – we are
born to do SOMETHING.”
“Salt and Light” – our function is to be an influence (matt
5:14-16)
“Dependence on God is everything”
“Biblical Christianity isn’t a list of do’s and don’ts”
Brokenness = a Permanent sense of God-Neediness
The little Foxes Eat the Vines (Song of Sol 2:15) - sometimes it's not cancer or profound loss that takes us off track, but a myriad of "somewhat seemingly minor" issues that wrecks us for a season.
“The deeper I go, the greater He uses me – I am my own lid.” (Dr. Crawford Loritts)
“We waste time doing things we “kinda can do” and see
incremental improvement. Stop fooling
around with what you “want to do” and do what God has called you to and
equipped you for.” (Dr. Crawford
Loritts - that was a great staff meeting!)
Holy Attraction = Repentance; gratitude; sacrifice; service
“As we read and study the Word of God, we must at the same
time be pursuing God of the Word.” (cannot recall where I read or heard this)
"Reflecting on God’s grace is the antithesis of: pride,
anxiety and indifference." (Dr. Tim Keller)
Reflect on God’s
grace until He is MY JOY.
Jesus must become my overmastering passion.
Glory: God’s person and presence (nothing shall compete with
or shroud it.)
My life is not about me – when I write out the stories of “my
life” – I am not the main character, but a secondary one. My life story is about God. He orchestrated each step,
event, placement, trial and gift. Only He as the author knows if I am mid-plot, or if today will be the last page of the final chapter. He is the author - and this story of me is really all about Him.
Jesus is Real. Jesus
is sufficient.
Jesus came to Redeem us;
Forgive us; Give us Purpose; Give us Peace
* * *
Our heart obedience to God’s Word will produce (ps 119) : (FBC
Sermon – CWL – 10.28.12)
Correction and Discipline (67)
Direction and Insight (105)
* * *
"God’s plans are ink – all others are pencil.”
“It truly is a paradox that laying aside the pursuit of
fulfillment eventually produces fulfillment.
To gain my life, I must lose it.
To really live, I must die to self and let Jesus be Jesus in me. When I do this, my whole life becomes an
expression of adoration. When living is worship,
what fills my heart begins to show up on my lips. Adoring God is not a ritual to perform, but a
product of a life given to Him.” (Eddie Rasnake.)
* * *
“Christianity is the only hope for this broken world because
there’s no other way for the Broken to get the nails they need to rebuild.
That’s what this week needs most: More than meeting schedules and productivity,
this week will need a Savior and prayer.
God’s not asking me to produce – He’s asking me to pray. God’s not asking me to climb ladders – He’s
asking me to Kneel and let go.
His grace will be more than just sufficient – His grace is
guaranteed to actually SAVE. Time, me,
the week, all redeemed and miracles happen.
God only allows pain if He’s calling something new to be
born.” (Ann Voskamp – 09.28.12 – A Holy
Experience)
* * *
At the end of it all, I just want to hear a voice from
Heaven saying, “This is MY Daughter; whom I love and with her I am well
pleased.” (Matt 3:17)
Well, that's it for now - I've plenty to marinate in. He said a great deal! Maybe I'll choose several "points' on which to go deeper. Maybe I'll fashion a personal mission statement for 2013 (even though we are 18 days in!) I just cannot "do nothing" if I desire to hear the words of Matthew 3:17.
