Midweek Tweak

You're not perfect.  Congratulations - neither am I.  We don't need to be perfect to perform in ways that bring about good things.  What is required?  Willing beliefs, yielded behaviors, submitted beings whose hearts and minds incline them toward our ultimate goal of growing Christlike and glorifying God as we do life.  Do you know you're the reason Jesus departed Heaven, humbled Himself and took on our form, and endured scorn, shame, poverty, and unjust punishment to the point of death in the most cruel and embarrassing method?  He did that because He loves you.  That's what Easter and the weeks leading up to it help us pause our loud and busy days to consider - the road to the cross, the baggage of our penalty for sin...the unspeakable and incomparable love of God.

Without the Cross, there is no Christmas celebration.  Christmas is a moot point if that Baby never grows up, grows wise, groans with the pain that was ours to bear, grins at the daybreak as the stone rolls from His tomb, greets His disciples, grants us witness, graces us with mercy...

Today, 06 March 2019 is Ash Wednesday.  I don't have any marks on my hand or head to denote this occasion, as many of my brothers and sisters do today.  I have the seal of the Holy Spirit, though, and it is enough for me to honor Him.

I'm not talking about that which I'm "laying aside" over Lent - it's irrelevant, and may be triggering to some.  That's between me and God anyway.  What I'm seeking to "lay aside" or better yet, "put asunder" is any attitude or arrogant stance that would erect a barrier to fellowship with God.  As we have established, I'm imperfect, fallible, and flawed; but I sincerely wish to submit myself more fully than ever to God's will - and His alone.  I'm laying aside the need to please others.  I'm laying aside the need to rescue when seed-time and harvest are at stake in the lives of others.  I'm laying aside my need to avoid things that frighten me, choosing instead to be fierce, steady, and bold when called to do so.  These things are harder to type than it would be to say what material things I'm "laying aside."

Jotting with Johnna
You alone see what you write when you respond; so what is it that you need to cast off, lay aside, or tear asunder in order to more readily and more effectively follow the leadership of Christ?

Remember:  you are so very worthy of the determined effort you will need to exert in order to crucify your flesh and walk in the steps ordered for you.  God's plans are not to harm you but to make you more like Jesus, to ensure you live your best life, to keep you from lasting harm.

Stay tuned.  Stay focused.  Stay well.