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Saturday, May 29, 2010

Public Enemy #1










"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." ~1 Peter 5.8
"So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you." ~James 4.7 
"So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing." ~1Cor 9.26

In my younger days, I practiced grappling and kick-boxing as a "man-sport".  No headgear, no "play-fighting" just the blood and guts "good stuff".  A great way to alleviate stress and stay in shape even though I left sore, bloody and bruised most days. 

One of the most valuable lessons I learned was that I could make good hits in spite of the 20/400 vision I've been blessed with.  Yep, no glasses in the ring.  One of the first things my instructor told (yelled at) me was "if you can't see, then hit the blur in front of you!".


Sounds funny now and I still grin every time I think about that one, but there is a lot of truth for living in that simple premise.

Most of the time anger, frustration and other negative thoughts and emotions blind me to who my true enemy is.  Most of the time I rely on knee-jerk, overkill responses to "fix" most problems I face.


God has clearly shown in His Word where the true source of the battle lies and "who" is my sworn enemy.  Fundamentally, I understand and believe this to be true, but need the occasional reminder to submit my will to God's will and strike back with focus, determination and follow-through.


Time to "hit the blur"...


Monday, May 17, 2010

Consistency...





"Since we are surrounded by so many examples [of faith], we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up." ~Heb. 12.1 (GWT)

We've all read the story of the tortise and the hare. The moral of the story is that slow and consistent is best to achieve a winning result. It's a lesson we hear repeatedly as children and is carried into adulthood usually stored away in the back of our mind until it's time to teach our children the same thing.

It has become a point of interest to me lately though...

I have found that I am the world's worst for exploding with vitality, energy and focus when engaging some new, important, all-consuming task, only to lose vision and drive a relatively short time later.

I am witnessing the same thing with others around me and find that it must be indicative of some common flaw - hmmmm....

So, what's the solution? I'm not totally sure at this point - but I know Where the answer will come from.

Maybe the days of trying to regain focus have taught one thing, that is perhaps the distractions lie just far enough off the Path to catch my attention, not necessarily trip me and there-in lies the key.

I need blinders. I need to
"see" the goal, the end result, the end from the beginning.

I need to embrace the realization that change doesn't happen quickly most of the time and be patient - savoring the process of change as it occurs.

I need to value the journey, the lessons learned and the wisdom gained from the experience.

I need determination to win this race, not just finish.


Time to run...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Where am I?

"You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. [Selah]" ~PS. 32.7

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." ~Ps. 91.1

Recently, I was posed with the question: "What is the key to perspective?"

Well? We're waiting...

I have to say that "location" is the defining element to perspective.

Ask the photographer who snaps the shot of a buttercup in a field of tall grass on a windy day.

Ask the 3 yr. old who can't reach the cookie jar on the kitchen counter.

Ask the aging mother of 5 grown children who just received the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Where we are defines not only what we see, but how we see it.

Time to relocate.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Get past the Who, What When and Why....

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." Ps. 46.10 NIV
Sometimes I make too much noise to be able to hear anything that God has to say. Actually, that is the case more oftentimes than not.

I am learning that listening is an active choice.
What benefit do I receive by hearing my own opinions and solutions? None.
What benefit is there in hearing my own voice? None.
How much of what I do is self promotion? hmmmm...
Time to be quiet and listen.