the.<3.of.worship

Monday, November 3, 2008,8:03 PM
Diversions

Hi guys, currently i'm reading a book by my newest favourite author(oh how fickle i am) Brennan Manning, titled The Importance of Being Foolish. so i hope to bless you with an excerpt from it.

There are certain burning questions that every Christian must answer in total candor. Do you hunger for Jesus Christ? Do you yearn to spend time alone with him in prayer? Is he the most important person in your life? Does he fill your soul like a song of joy? Is he on your lips as a shout of praise? Or has he been smothered by distractions, nullified by pride? Do you eagerly turn to his memoirs, his Testament, to learn more of him? Do you thirst for the living water of his Holy Spirit? Are you making the effort to die daily to anything and everything that inhibits, diminishes, or threatens your friendship with him?
To ascertain where you really are with the Lord, recall what saddened you the past month. was it the realization that you do not love Jesus enough? That you did not seek his face in prayer often enough? That you did not care for his people enough? Or did you get depressed over a lack of respect, criticism from an authority figure, your finances, a lack of friends, fears about the future, or your bulging waistline?
Conversely, what gladdened you the past month? Reflection on your election to the Christian community? the joy of saying slowly, "Abba, Father"? The afternoon you stole away for two hours with only the gospel as your companion? A small victory over selfishness? Or were the sources of your joy a new car, a Brooks Brothers suit, a great date, great sex, a raise, or a loss of four inches from your hips?
When all Christians surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within; when we submit to the saving truth that we reach life only through death, that we come to light only through darkness; when we acknowledge that the grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die, that Jonah must be buried in the whale's belly, that the alabaster jar of self must be broken if others are to perceive the sweet fragrance of Christ; when we respond to Jesus's call of "Come to me," then the limitless power of the Holy Spirit will be unleashed with astonishing force upon the church and the world.
But that will happen only when we break away from the lives we have grown accustomed to living, lives ruled by our desires for security, pleasure, and power. It is these desires that hold us back from recognizing the truth of our need for God's mercy. It is these desires that prevent us from peeling off the filmy residue of our lives without God and prevent transparency.

well, when i read this, i was pretty shellshocked. i mean, i was obviously guilty. this is not to justify myself, but i think the author's thrust was not for those of us who had the right answers to those questions to gleefully jump up and down and feel big headed, but for those of us who did not have the right answers, that we would see our standing once again.
and still believe that we are forgiven. for commiting evil. for not loving our neighbours. for not loving God enough. for everything.
it's funny how things seem tragic and beautiful at the same time. how we are so helpless by our selves, but how that same helplessness is the opportunity for God's strength to be made perfect. and i cannot say that i understand it all, nor can i ever expect myself to, whether in the near or distant future. but what i do, is that i take a step back, and ask God to take over.

yeah yeah i know this sounds cheesy. but even if it sounds cheesy, i'm not going to let it stop me.

so this week's prayer pointer is that we would desire God.

>>and i live just for you my lord.

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