“Away, away from the noise, alone with You…”

As the Christmas season is upon us, I am sure you’re well over reading blogs about slowing down and enjoying the REASON for the SEASON. So let me just say this in short: I’m not going to tell you to remember the “reason for the season” or to “keep Christ in Christmas…” or any other amount of religious Santa-fied cliches.

I’m just telling you to get away. In your normal everyday life… GET AWAY. And when you get away, what do you hear? Lemme turn this around. In MY normal everyday life, when I get away–I hear one thing. “To worship You I live.” To worship You I live. To worship CHRIST I live.

Maybe this is why I often want to shrink from reading the Word on a daily basis. And then when I read the Word, why I shrink from letting my heart meditate on it. And then when I meditate on it why I so often shrink from applying it. Because TO WORSHIP YOU I LIVE is in every letter.

Yes, Eliza even in the avenues of life you are not “gifted” in, you are MADE to worship Christ. Get up and exercise – WORSHIP. Go to class – WORSHIP. Go to work – WORSHIP. Sit at home – WORSHIP. Go to church – WORSHIP. Give – WORSHIP. “Do” lunch – WORSHIP. Snapshots – WORSHIP. Oh yeah, and when you play the guitar and sing – certainly – WORSHIP.

My whole life could use a little more worship and a lot less “living.”

^{John 4:23-24}

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

You’re not a PC and I’m not a Mac. Can we please stop identifying ourselves with our stuff?
This comes after skimming through thousands of comments under one of the many new Mac vs. PC commercials. It is a fail to find any ounce of self worth in what you’ve “got.” Just sayin’.

“He who dies with the most toys, still dies.”

As you may be able to tell from my new header, I am entering a new season. Not a more depressed, self-depreciating time in life–rather a healthy view of
my self and of God, the kind that allows my “somewhat stony heart” to become soft and malleable again.

As I journey through BSH with my small group, I am reminded of a ratio. 

The ratio is 10:1. It’s the ratio of things I know in my mind : ways I live. 

In this “new season” I’m asking to speak honestly with Christ (as my bridegroom) before all others regarding the dearest things in my heart. I may write a lot less. I’m definitely not going to promise more… 
The “new” idea is to be faithful to Christ and run to him to baptize my mind and heart before I allow everything/-one else to mold my thinking. I think it should be good… it may even result in a somewhat softer heart!

Sometimes, I let my mind wander so much that I get lost… Not just in my thoughts. Sometimes I get lost on the road. I forget where I’m at. This isn’t insanity… this is what really happens. 

For instance, today as I pulled on Fort Gordon, I honestly could not envision the next road that I was supposed to be driving on. I couldn’t get a mental picture of where I was going… But I knew the road I was driving on was one that I had to use to get to where I was going so I stayed on it. 

I’m sure you get where I’m going with this. Sometimes in my conversations with God, I get bold and ask where the next step is leading. What is the plan? And occasionally He allows me a glimpse into my future. And occasionally the only look I get is the road I’m on.

Today proved something though. I’ll get where I’m going. Even without a “map-quested” life, I’ll get to where I’m going. I like the idea of a faith-driven route. I don’t have to always know, and I’m glad.

             I need You now and forever,

So stay right here with me,

Don’t ever leave.

Love was kept,

From me like a secret,

And I swore that I was through,

Until You, until You.

 

It’s true. I didn’t know real, emblazened, faithful love until You. Lots of exchanges, trade-offs and half-loves but not anything coming close to You.

Good love is here; you’re Christ. When I don’t know or understand love, I’ll look for You. You consistently teach me. Your cross has explained and your people continue to proclaim “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Eph 3:18) 

Will You be my one and only Love?