I have decided.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. –Theodore Roosevelt

I have decided.

In many evangelical circles of the church, at the end of every worship service comes an altar call, a chance to come forward, profess your faith in Jesus Christ and assure yourself that you will reside with Jesus in heaven for all eternity after you die. Making this decision for Christ is a rite of passage; for some folks, this is where it stops. My soul is safe. Thanks be to God.

I’ve made the decision to follow the Christ, but for me, it means more. If I am following Jesus, I am living my life here and now, until I die, as closely to the way Jesus lived as I can manage. So what does that mean? Here’s what I think:
  • Take care of one another. If someone is hungry or thirsty, if we see a need in the world—do something. Offer a sandwich. Offer a jacket. Offer a hug. 
  • Take care of the earth. All of Creation is a gift from God. Be a good caretaker of all living things, even if it means making sacrifices in our lifestyle.
  • Love one another. Besides taking care of each other, really try to see the Image of God in others, especially those with whom we have little in common. It can be hard work, but worth it.
  • Love yourself. Give yourself a break. Do something special and healing for your own spirit every day. That may be as simple as going to bed early. Just because.


Last, but definitely not least. Make time for God. Pray as often as you can manage. God loves hearing from you, no matter what, and loves reminding you how much God loves you.

Just because.

Monday Begin this day by investing thirty minutes (or more) in reading Scripture or a devotional passage. Really sit with it. Pray, listen—and rest. Matthew 6:19-21

Tuesday Just for “fun,” take a look at the stock exchange for recent weeks. Notice the ups and downs. Rest in the knowledge that your worth in God’s eyes never changes. Psalm 20:1-9

Wednesday Take time today to invest $1 (or more) in someone, whether a relative, a server at a restaurant or a total stranger. In blessing another, be blessed. Proverbs 28:25-27

Thursday Take time today to review your budget. (Where does the money go, anyway?) Don’t be critical; simply observe where your spending money goes. Any changes your heart suggests? Isaiah 28:16

Friday Spend thirty minutes (or more) with a child today. Listen more than you talk. Seek to be both teacher and student. John 14:1-4

Saturday Today, invest in at least one hour of loving yourself, just the way you are, as beloved child of God. Has your week been its own “stock market,” with ups and downs? Whatever your lot, give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Sunday Celebrate! You are a child of the Most High, part of the amazing family of God. Welcome, and know that you are loved. Just because. Ezekiel 43:1-5

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. –Tony Robbins


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more