A personal question

"God, do you love me? Do you like me?"

Dare you ask this question? Ask it and take the answer personally. And if you even dare to, ask why too.

Blessings,

Jo.

What I want to live out.

Our Daily Bread

Saturday,
December 4, 2010

Inspiration To Perspiration

Read: Titus 3:1-8

Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. —James 1:22

My grandfathers were both gardeners and so are many of my friends. I love visiting beautiful gardens—they inspire me. They make me want to create something equally beautiful in my own yard. But I have trouble moving from the inspiration to the perspiration part of gardening. My great ideas don’t become reality because I don’t spend the time and energy to make them happen.

This can be true in our spiritual lives as well. We can listen to the testimonies of other people and marvel at the work God is doing in their lives. We can hear uplifting music and great preaching and feel inspired to follow God more diligently. But soon after we walk out of church, we have trouble finding the time or making the effort to follow through.

James described such Christians as being like those who look in a mirror, see themselves, but do nothing to fix what is wrong (James 1:23-24). They hear the Word, but it doesn’t lead to action. James says we need to do—not just hear.

When we move from the inspiration of simply “hearing” about the good being done by others to the perspiration of actually “doing” good works ourselves, the implanted Word of God (1:21) will bloom into a beautiful garden of spiritual fruit. — Julie Ackerman Link

I’d rather see a Christian Than to hear one merely talk; I’d rather see his actions And behold his daily walk. —Herrell

Life works best when we do.

Bible in a year: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 3

{Credit for devotional material: http://mobi.rbc.org/odb/2010-12-04.html . Thank you, people at Our Daily Bread for posting it online for all. Its such a blessing. }

Ashamed to say, I wandered away

The last post on this blog was 26 November. The date I'm posting now is 4 December. I missed devotion for 4 days and in those days lots of ground was lost. I sank back into the dark and took God's grace for granted.

I don't have real repentance. A change of mind.

Or is it that I did have real repentance? But I allowed myself a look back at the past and decided, despite my past experiences, to choose again the errant path?

I'm sorry, Lord. Here on this blog that is yours really, I say I'm sorry. Search my heart, Lord. You know that I'm worried that You'll stop loving me. That after this time that I sinned the same sin I promised and declared I had victory in your name over, You would give up on me. I'm ever plagued not just by the thought that You will leave me but also by the thought that You have every right to. It would be so easy for You to walk away and leave me there alone. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO. But please, please don't. Really really. Please don't. I dread the days without You to guide me. I'm sorry. Life as it is can go on. Phones can still ring, people laugh, cry and work. Trees grow, computers hum, I eat dinner. But Lord, it will not be the same when you are gone. Please please don't leave me. Please cleanse me again so I can talk to you and you to me.

I need the blood of Jesus. I cannot live thinking that You cannot bear to be near me. I cannot do without You. Right now I realize this because I have sinned. But when I haven't committed sin that rocks me to my core, I take your grace for granted. Lord, I want to live knowing what it is to be under grace everyday. Whatever the consequences Lord. Everyday. I want to be broken. Everyday. Please forgive me.

Remorseful and asking,

Jo.

{Get up off your knees. Wipe the tears from your eyes. Lift up your head and let the king of glory come in. And the Lord's warmth and love engulfed my soul and would not let it go. Thank you, Lord. }