What is Your Goal, Your Aim, and Your Daily Pursuit?
“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
(Hebrews 10:24)
Greeting my friends; it’s time to write. I am moved by so many things at this moment; The Christmas season, the great many blessings in my life, the FB posts from people sharing their years in review, and most of all from a devotional I read this morning.
Just about every morning I read from a series of devotionals during my quiet time with God. There is the “flowing river” devotional called Jesus Calling by Sara Young. The deep and intense daily writings of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost). The old-school Christian writings of the great Charles Spurgeon (Mornings and Evenings). And finally, the one that inspired me today, the very practical messages from John Piper (Solid Joys). Some mornings last longer than others depending on the messages I read. I must confess that my goal is to become more consistent with my time with God each day; but my kinesthetic nature usually takes over and I dive deeper into the message in correlation to the degree of emotional movement. Today’s message has especially moved me today; and I feel compelled to write. After all, it is the end of the year and the beginning of another, and as the scripture above suggests; this is my attempt to not only stir up myself; but to endeavor to stir up something in those who try and digest what I write today. So, here it goes!!
The message this morning came from John Piper, a phenomenal writer in his own right; with amazing and poignant spiritual anecdotes each day. Today his daily reminder was about facing each day, preparing for each day, and getting excited about each day by focusing our energy on Christ. You see; many of us just get up out of bed and start our day…..allowing the circumstances of our life to take over. Before we know it, we are swimming in a sea of problems, reactions, and "busyness" that keeps our lens out of focus. Some of us plan the night before, but we plan pursuant to what is on our plate and what we need to get done. That is all fine and good, but how do we prepare each day spiritually? How do we get our “hearts” ready to face the day? I have first-hand experience with this premise and over the last year and a half I can honestly say that the “spiritual success” of my day has a direct connect with how I start my day. The really interesting thing that I’ve noticed throughout this process is that my “spiritual success” each day almost always translates to “worldly success” when I begin each day with Christ. This is most prevalent when I do not enter into the day with any “worldly expectations.” It’s important to remember that expectations can be pre-meditated resentments. Therefore, keeping your aim and focus on Christ each day is preparation enough; do not worry about what needs to be accomplished; just be present and read before you start your day. Christ will take care of the rest.
Let me serve up a bit of contrast to what I’m talking about that might make sense. Imagine a pile of dead leaves on your back porch on a windy day. When the wind blows right, they move right. When the wind blows left, they move left. They tumble, they bounce, and they swirl around with no direction or AIM whatsoever. As John Piper so eloquently states in today’s message; “they are full of motion and empty of life.”
God did not create us to be “busy”; He created us to have purpose. He created us to have spiritual direction each day; but how do we get that? How do we identify with what we are to do today; and which direction we need to go? Here’s the tricky part my friends. This is where FAITH comes into the mix. It’s not about what we plan, it’s about how we prepare. For me, it’s about spending quality time with God every morning, without fail. Do I do this every day? No, not yet; but this is my heart’s desire….this is my quest. In my last piece, I wrote about what I referred to as the “secret to life.” For me, it is the pursuit of who God made us to be!!! Nothing more….nothing less. The pursuit, not the destination. The planning and preparation, NOT the doing. The focus on God and His plan for your life. How do you determine this? Again, not an easy premise; but faith is where you start. Reading the Word of God, aligning yourself with like-minded people. Talking with your spouse, your family members, and your close friends about what is really important in life.
2015; The Year I Come
Clean
Ever sit and watch
people from afar and wonder what they are thinking
Ship that doesn’t seem
to be going anywhere in particular; but it keeps diving
Living each day with
our busy schedules, trying to accomplish what we think will make us happy
Inside because deep in
our soul we know there is much more meaning to life on this earth
(Hebrews 10:24)
Greeting my friends; it’s time to write. I am moved by so many things at this moment; The Christmas season, the great many blessings in my life, the FB posts from people sharing their years in review, and most of all from a devotional I read this morning.
Just about every morning I read from a series of devotionals during my quiet time with God. There is the “flowing river” devotional called Jesus Calling by Sara Young. The deep and intense daily writings of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost). The old-school Christian writings of the great Charles Spurgeon (Mornings and Evenings). And finally, the one that inspired me today, the very practical messages from John Piper (Solid Joys). Some mornings last longer than others depending on the messages I read. I must confess that my goal is to become more consistent with my time with God each day; but my kinesthetic nature usually takes over and I dive deeper into the message in correlation to the degree of emotional movement. Today’s message has especially moved me today; and I feel compelled to write. After all, it is the end of the year and the beginning of another, and as the scripture above suggests; this is my attempt to not only stir up myself; but to endeavor to stir up something in those who try and digest what I write today. So, here it goes!!
The message this morning came from John Piper, a phenomenal writer in his own right; with amazing and poignant spiritual anecdotes each day. Today his daily reminder was about facing each day, preparing for each day, and getting excited about each day by focusing our energy on Christ. You see; many of us just get up out of bed and start our day…..allowing the circumstances of our life to take over. Before we know it, we are swimming in a sea of problems, reactions, and "busyness" that keeps our lens out of focus. Some of us plan the night before, but we plan pursuant to what is on our plate and what we need to get done. That is all fine and good, but how do we prepare each day spiritually? How do we get our “hearts” ready to face the day? I have first-hand experience with this premise and over the last year and a half I can honestly say that the “spiritual success” of my day has a direct connect with how I start my day. The really interesting thing that I’ve noticed throughout this process is that my “spiritual success” each day almost always translates to “worldly success” when I begin each day with Christ. This is most prevalent when I do not enter into the day with any “worldly expectations.” It’s important to remember that expectations can be pre-meditated resentments. Therefore, keeping your aim and focus on Christ each day is preparation enough; do not worry about what needs to be accomplished; just be present and read before you start your day. Christ will take care of the rest.
Let me serve up a bit of contrast to what I’m talking about that might make sense. Imagine a pile of dead leaves on your back porch on a windy day. When the wind blows right, they move right. When the wind blows left, they move left. They tumble, they bounce, and they swirl around with no direction or AIM whatsoever. As John Piper so eloquently states in today’s message; “they are full of motion and empty of life.”
God did not create us to be “busy”; He created us to have purpose. He created us to have spiritual direction each day; but how do we get that? How do we identify with what we are to do today; and which direction we need to go? Here’s the tricky part my friends. This is where FAITH comes into the mix. It’s not about what we plan, it’s about how we prepare. For me, it’s about spending quality time with God every morning, without fail. Do I do this every day? No, not yet; but this is my heart’s desire….this is my quest. In my last piece, I wrote about what I referred to as the “secret to life.” For me, it is the pursuit of who God made us to be!!! Nothing more….nothing less. The pursuit, not the destination. The planning and preparation, NOT the doing. The focus on God and His plan for your life. How do you determine this? Again, not an easy premise; but faith is where you start. Reading the Word of God, aligning yourself with like-minded people. Talking with your spouse, your family members, and your close friends about what is really important in life.
What a better way to start 2015; with a new and repurposed
spiritual alignment with who God made you to be. I have written something each year around New
Year’s Day, pondering thoughts about the year past and the year ahead. Last year, I wrote a poem about believing in
things unseen in 2014. As I look back on
the year, this is the first full-year I spent in my entire life relying on
God’s direction. Have I stumbled? Yes, I do often as most of you do. However, I feel renewed and redeemed living
this way; it’s really a better way for me.
Perhaps you are struggling as you are reading this message. Perhaps you are questioning your faith, your
purpose, and your direction. If so,
maybe this is the message you needed to hear today. That you have a Lord and Savior that awaits
your decision to have Him lead your life.
I’ve tried it my way for so many long and arduous years. The fact of the matter, is that I had quite a
few years of “worldly” success. I’ve made a great deal of money, traveled extensively,
and had many great experiences in my 51 years (OUCH!!). However, living with
Christ in me has made all the difference in my life. I have received so many amazing blessings
this year. I’ve reconnected with my
children and my family members, my career is back on track, I’m getting ready
to embark on a trip to London with my 2 musician sons, and I just got engaged to
the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.
I owe ALL OF THIS to Christ, who has given me new direction and
hope. My eternity is sealed, and my
legacy continues to grow; all because I know what God wants me to do with my
life. The sheer fact that you are
reading this message…..right now….is testament that that premise. I’m living my purpose and pursuing who God
made me specifically to be.
How about you? Does
this message move you today? What will
you do differently in 2015 that will have a spiritual impact on you, your loved
ones, and all those you touch on a daily basis?
It starts right here…..right now!!!
I have an extra jolt of spirituality this morning; so I
think I will conclude with a new poem for 2015.
I hope you enjoy. God Bless you
ALL!!! Tony
Do they struggle, like
me? Are they happy, do they know God? Or are they on a sinking;
Lower and lower, but
something prevents it from hitting bottom, so we keep striving;
But we keep floating,
planning, trying harder to achieve material things; but we still feel crappy;
So we drop to our
knees and pray to God to show us direction, to reclaim our self-worth;
And if our prayers are
heartfelt and we truly believe that Christ will show us the way
The days will feel
lighter, our hearts will come alive, and we will finally be ready to say;
I will follow you
Lord, I am finally ready to submit to Your light and Your direction
I’m willing to get to
know You better, to understand Your Word, with deep thought and daily
reflection;
Regarding what it
truly means to walk on the path You’ve laid out before me
And 2015 will be the
year for me to remove the scales from my eyes and to finally SEE
How great and powerful
You are, and how deep and wide the extent of Your love and grace
And I commit to you
TODAY to spend time with you each day, so I can ultimately take my place;
In Your Kingdom, my
eternal home and final resting place; what a beautiful and magnificent gift
I feel alive with You
in my heart, and as long as I stay aware of Your presence I will not have to
sift;
Through the daily
pressures and quagmire of weeds each day; my senses are more focuses and keen
This feels really
good, YES; this is the year I’m set fee; this is The Year I come Clean!!!!
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