I hate rules!! I don't like to be told what to do!! And frankly if I am honest with myself, which I am trying to do a lot lately, I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it!!! Yes, I am 53!!!
Now, as much as what I just said is true, I have a deeper desire. And that is to become the person God desires me to become. To accomplish what God has planned for me to do.
A lot of my life, and I am sure there are some of you that have believed that if I just "follow the rules", if I don't do these things, and I do these things I will be okay. This is not Christianity.
We cannot follow the rules that have been set for us perfectly, it's just not possible. But you know what is so amazing about God? He knew that - he knows that. He does not leave us to do this life on our own.
As Martha says in her very wonderful truthful book (see my previous post) we are to run for the prize. God likens our life journey as running a race. Yesterday, my pastor spoke on finishing our lives well. That at the end it is all about the journey. God not only cheers us on, but he runs the race with us - he knows we cannot do it on our own. We cannot make it to the finish line on our own, but with God and through God we can.
"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:13 (msg)
"My grace is enough, it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:10 (msg)
My pastor had these closing comments:
Are we responsible for how we live? YES
Can we do it?? NO
We need to depend on Jesus not our own strength.
This is the process I am in, learning how to do this. Is it easy? No. Do I screw up? Royally!!! Am I still loved unconditionally?? Oh YES!!!
Blessings dear ones!!
10 comments:
so true, so true....and VERY well said!!!
hugs, :)
Isn't it so nice to know we have God to lean on?!
LOL!! I LOVED this post, Mary! I'll tell ya what, you just seem to have a knack for getting right to the heart of things! This was wonderful reading today....esp. for me! lol
Mar, it's amazing that much of what you said was touched on in my Pastor's Sermon yesterday...Ellie is so right...you do have this awesome way of spilling it out so we can understand exactly what you mean!!! I'm so blessed that you are my sister and that I'm leaning so much from you!!! (((Hugs)))
this is such a Christian revolutionary post!! love it!
Mary,
I just love the way your words are what I need and your honesty is wonderful..LOL.
You ever thought about writing a book?
Katelen
Yep, it's all about him. We'll never be good enough to make it into eternity on our own, but thanks to Jesus, we can find the way. It's such a freeing truth to know that nothing is required of us other than to belive... and then walk in obedience.
I'm with you Mary. It must be the age. We just realize that it is not about being perfect but being real and honest about where we are and keeping our eyes on the One who has the answers. He wants our heart and devotion and the rest falls into place after that.
If I remember right, Jesus deliberately sought out the screw-ups. That's a comforting thought because I screw up a lot!
Thanks Mary!
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