MY SHEPHERD--THE LORD!

The Lord is "my" Shepherd----  

    That's RELATIONSHIP!

An eternal relationship! 

The Lord is the WHO, above all others, in the lives of Jesus followers! 

*Thx to Carolyn F. for 2006 relevant notes. 

CHOOSE: RELATIONSHIP

It might be February but I'm still mulling truths from Tim Keller's Hidden Christmas---in particular the name Immanuel. Immanuel is the person of the incarnation.

He is God. He is human. He is with us. He is God with us! (p.53)

Christ chose twelve that they might be "with Him." (Mark 3:14)

What does "with Him" mean contextually as Matthew and the other gospels describe this relationship as well? Being in their Rabbi's presence. Sitting at His feet. Close enough to Him to be "sitting in His dust." (John Ortberg)

Being with Him is all about relationship. 

Being in Jesus' presence, for us, is also about that intimate relationship with Him---conversing with Him, (prayerful conversation is two-way and involves both listening and speaking) learning from Him and having His comfort moment by moment.

The purpose of the Incarnation was to have that relationsship with Him.

To be able to choose relationship, one must know a relational God and desire to be with Him!

NEW BEGINNINGS

....welcome 2016! The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Or is it???

It seems that I'm always in the midst of a struggle as old years transition to the new ones. This year is no exception. Except....that I'm making NO resolutions.

My hubby and daughter, on the other hand,----along with a friend, a doc and a wise counselor are resolving to "help me" cut back. Maybe it's a reflection of the inner disarray that becomes "outer" when I let down my guard around them.

For a Christian, all new beginnings, in new years or new seasons, start at the cross and continue with obedience to His word.
For me, I want a renewed emphasis in my life on worship. My study in Revelation has been an impetus for that. Loving God and serving others are an overflow of worship..... so, how do I pare down? Relationships take time----time with the Lord and time with others. What a conundrum!
So far, the only fresh start I have made is to begin with a "new" Bible and a new journal. (Thanks, Nancy)

For a journaling junkie, these are essential tools. Maybe the new "journaling" Bible will help me see anew. See truth from Him rather than relying on years of "scribbled notes" (tho marginalia sounds better) in my old Bible. Maybe the new journal will help me keep up with sermon notes and improve my memory and "scattered thinking. "

Yet, the quandary remains---how can there be a "new beginning" when the old ways are so familiar!

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : sal-TEA and luminosi-TEA

Today, brother Buddy and I (via Ma Bell) discussed the availability of devotional books---from Sarah Young and Billy Graham to Mrs. Charles Cowman's, Streams in the Desert. So many choices. So many varying lengths.

At Blackberry Farm last week I came across a new one, new to me, at least. Salt and Light by Memphis CUMC pastor, Shane Stanford, had only 25 entries. Could be used during Advent. (Seems perfect for our friends who have taken those 3 week river cruises over these last few years.) Not overwhelming. Refreshment from a new perspective in a given time period that would fit with those travel plans----as 4 days would be left over to cover the 2 travel days bookending the trip.

Also a good starting point for folks trying on "quiet time" ideas. Written with Dr. Ronnie Kent, two perspectives are given on the "devotional" experience. My favorite part was the emphasis on God's Presence!

Division, of 4 "alliterative" sections,----Watch, (Recognizing God's Presence, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9) Wait, (Being in God's Presence, 1Peter 3:8-15a) Witness (Sharing God's Presence, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, & John 1: 6-8, 19-28) Worship (Celebrating God's Presence, Luke 1:26-28 & Romans 16:25-27) gives an overview to the reader and are seen as the natural progressions of our relationship with God. (p.12)
Consistency of time in word and prayer are given, along with life objectives and things to consider and principles to live by.....along with a "warning"---"If you have a time with God each day to prove your devotion to Him, It will not work!

 I appreciate an honest man of the cloth.

CUL8TR

5/3/13 Not being a texter & only rarely an internet "chatterer," I thought the cul8ter acronym stood for "call you later"---BUT it means "see you later." So simple. Yet I missed it. I didn't read it as it was. I misread it.

As I'm preparing to teach on simplicity, the duplicity found in internet/text speak seems contrary to what I'm learning. In the beginning, "text-type talk" was used to "deceive" parents who might be looking over the kids shoulder as they "chatted" on-line with their friends. Now, the abbreviations are universally used to expedite the message----the shorter, the better. Making it simple. 

Yet, the relational part is omitted. So, as I prepare to teach, I want to remember that though I want to keep it "simple," I don't want to leave out the relationship part.

Simplicity, in the spiritual realm, goes hand in hand with developing a deeper life/walk with Him, the One who created us for relationships. Therefore shortcuts, no matter how simple, can not be used. Otherwise, the meaning might be "misread."