What to Remember

    I just finished an amazing book called ‘The Cross Centered Life’ by C. J. Mahaney.  I would highly recommend this book to any and everyone no matter where on your faith journey you might be.  He just reminds the whole time of simple truths of the gospel that we often over look or neglect to make an every day part of our life.  So so awesome.  I feel like I just finished a week at a church retreat with an amazing speaker.  One of those mountain top moments if you will. 
   I think I was so moved by this because it is exactly what the title says it is; Cross Centered.  I think I live my life day to do thinking about what am I going to do.  I think about stressors I might encounter or places I want to go….. Or don’t want to go.  I think about my friends and family and how I want to spend time with them.  I think about my future and how scary it can look sometimes.  I think about changing careers and try and figure out what it is the Lord really wants me to do with my life.  My thoughts flitter around from thing to thing.  Worry to worry.  Joy to joy and then I pause for a few moments now and again and realize, like I did today, that I desperately need a focus.  Just like a runner has a goal.  Or a series of goals along the path, we also need that same driving force; that same focus. 
    I believe that focus is Jesus.  Just as Mr. Mahaney said in his book and just as Paul writes in almost every book he penned in the Bible, if we are truly focused on Jesus and the Cross, everything else will truly fall into place. It is the most important focal point we as Christians should have.  The closer we cling to the cross, the more of an abiding relationship we have with Jesus.  The more we abide in Christ the more our desires align with His.  Our thoughts become more Christlike, because we are so Christ focused. 
   So all the worries of “Am I in God’s will for my life?”  “Is this relationship one I should be in?”  “Where do I go from here?” “Is this the Church I should be attending?“ They all become less pressing because our focus isn’t so much on what we need or want, it is focused on bringing Glory to our Father in Heaven.  As a result, the worry disappears and we end up with Gods provision anyway, but without the stress we allow to rule our lives.  
     I think that is such a huge tool that Satan uses to distract us.  The worry, the stress, the insecurity, the pride.  All of it used to direct us away from the Cross and onto ourselves.  My challenge from here on out is to make an intentional time every day where I remind myself of the Cross.  I remind my self of the gift Jesus gave me and the grace the was so richly poured out over my life.  Knox Chamblin writes “ Vital to Paul’s effectiveness as an apostle is that he never forgets his day as a persecutor…..An ongoing awareness of grace reminds Paul of the appalling sin from which he has been delivered; an ongoing awareness of sin keeps him dependent on grace.” I think this is true for all of us.  I know it is for me.  If we took a moment and thought about all that the Lord has done for us and redeemed us from, think of how great our reservoir of faith would be.   If we remembered that every day, the freedom we could live in knowing that God is faithful.  If that is not a reason to serve out heavenly father I don’t know what is.  He has given us so much.
     Anyway, I know this blog might be a little intense or full of buzz words and rambling, but the simple truth is enough to make it worth the read.  Jesus is everything.  He loves you.  He died for you. If we focus on that, freedom is ours. Freedom from whatever you might be struggling with. Freedom from yourself.   So embrace that freedom.  Embrace the cross.  Embrace Jesus. 

More Lessons I Learned From My Dog

    So it is time for yet another blog about what sweet Charlie Dog has taught me about life.  This off season has been nice to work with him more on some training things.  Not having any travel plans and wanting to make a solid routine for my days made time with Charlie a welcome addition. 
    My biggest thing I am trying to teach Charlie right now is to stay with me without a leash on.  This allows for a greater opportunity for him to learn commands based on my voice and not a yank of his leash.  Needless to say this has been a bit of trial and error.  I have a treat in my hand and walk with it the entire time we are out.  He knows the treat is there and that he wants it so he stays close.  The test of how bad he wants the treat is if he stays in the midst of other stimulus.  For example, were walking around one night and all of a sudden Charlie sprints away toward something.  Next things I see running away is a cat.  They sprint around the parking lot and I am calling Charlie’s name, but of course he has totally forgotten about the treat he wanted so badly before and has taken to the chase of  a cat who will either scratch him or get away…leaving him either wounded, without the prize, or both.  He chased the cat for what seemed like 30 min until finally the can climbed a tree and Charlie was left staring up at the one that got away. 
    I walk over to him and pet him a little and then break of part of the treat to remind him of what he can for sure have if he listens to his master.  He gets back on track following me, but still looks back at the cat that is laughing at him for its safe perch on top of the tree.  Eventually we are far enough away from the cat the he has moved on and is focused again totally on his original goal.  This is aided by the verbal affirmation from me, his master.
    I feel this is totally applicable to us in our Christian walk.  We start this journey on fire and ready to go.  We see the treat and we have a desire to attain it.  So we stick close to the master and journey on , eyes focused and ears listening for the commands.  Then we start to get distractions.  Work, friends, insecurity, pride, greed, etc.  Little by little our focus is drawn away from the master and the goal, and instead set our sights toward something entirely different and fleeting.  Something that can leave us stranded where we never thought we would be.  Something that leaves us wounded and looking for where to go next. 
   The great thing about this is that, just like me going to Charlie after, our Heavenly father is there for us.  He reminds us that he loves us, he shows us a reminder of the joy of the goal he had originally set for us, and he affirms us as we start the journey back.  Just like Charlie we look back, wondering if what we originally were chasing could still be in our grasp.  Could still be something that would be better than what our master has.  Our master gently affirms us though each time we pause, to keep going.  To follow close.  To only take his best because he k now what is truly best. 
     All of us at some point have chased a cat of temptation and realized only after we were exhausted and alone that we made the wrong choice.  Our job is to listen, to obey, and to grow closer to the master as a result.  Trusting all the while that He has what is best in his hands.  Something that will leave us far more satisfied than anything else this world can offer us. 
      Thank you Father for the reminders of your grace and mercy in our lives.  Thank you Lord for your Son who died for us so that we can have the best!   A life with you!  Let us be mindful of your prompting and trusting of your will for our lives and may it bring glory to you alone.