Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

priorities

Left Over’s

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Claire Cain Miller recently wrote an article for the New York Times titled, “Stressed, Tired, Rushed: A Portrait of the Modern Family”. While not pointed out in the article, it reminded me how our relationship with God often falls victim to our stressed out, fatigued, and busy lifestyle. The life of a Christian in modern society looks ridiculously similar to that of a non-Christian.

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We play the game of pursuing the American dream and keeping up with the Jones’s. None of which has anything to do with following Jesus, of course. But more often than not, we live our busy lives and give Jesus our left over’s. We give God whatever time and money is left over after pursuing our selfish desires.

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This Is Not Our Home

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I believe the reason so many Christians feel frustrated or ineffective is because they are too firmly planted on earth. It’s so easy to be wooed by all the beautiful things this world has to offer. Rarely do we realize everything we see here is a cheap knock-off of the real thing. No matter how beautiful something is, it is tainted and forever obscured by sin. What we perceive as amazing is far less than ordinary when compared to the original God had in mind when He created the necessary parts of which it consists.

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This isn’t an esoteric discussion; the more value we ascribe to things of the here and now, the less desire we will feel for things of eternity. Until we recognize the world we are striving for far outshines the one in which we live, we will remain too firmly anchored to the realm of death and confusion.
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Live Humbly

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In his classic work, “The Imitation of Christ”, Thomas à Kempis wrote: “Strive to do another’s will rather than your own. Always choose to have less rather than more. Always seek the lowest place and be subject to everyone else. Wish and pray at all times God’s will be fulfilled in you. If we will do this, we will enter into the inheritance of peace and rest.”

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These words, written nearly six hundred years ago still hold great wisdom for us today. If we would live our lives in such a way, we would slough off much stress and anxiety. I believe most of the stress, regret, and worry we feel is due to our focus being on ourselves rather than on God and others.

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Your Christmas Focus

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Where is your focus this Christmas season? As I write this, “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” are now behind us and now the shopping season is in full swing. Seasonal songs flood the radio airwaves and every store you enter. Decorations hang down light poles, over doorposts, and stretch as far as the eye can see. Families and friends arrange to gather and employees take extended time away from work to prepare for and celebrate the holiday.

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With all the hustle and bustle it can be all too easy to forget the reason we actually celebrate Christmas in the first place. Christians all know the reason, but few give it much space in their hearts, let alone allow it to alter the way they live.
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Holiness over Happiness

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A vile disease has wormed its way into the hearts and minds of modern Christianity.  The teaching of “God wants you to be happy” is preached from pulpits across the nation regardless of the fact this principle is not found in Scripture. I don’t find anywhere where God said to “Be happy because I am happy”.  What I do find He says is to “Be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) There is a vast difference between holiness and what we equate with happiness.

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Before you get too depressed, know this: there is no joy like being obedient and faithful to Jesus Christ. Happiness is a fleeting emotion, counts for nothing, and fades as quickly as it came. Holiness lasts forever, counts for everything in the eyes of God, and is hard to shake once you’ve tasted its beauty.
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