Abide

I try not to 'be' religious but there are some things I do religiously.  Daily events that I don't even think about and before the day is done I realize that 'religiously' I have entered in - and sometimes not even noticed.

It's not lost on me the naked tree.  It stood in our living-room a whole week naked before it was drug outside into the cold and piled on top of the other trees - way back at the end of our yard and in the bush.  I sat with my coffee staring at the empty branches remembering the beauty and now seeing only the death of it all.  Everything stripped bare with the exception of one small reminder.  I left it hanging there on purpose so that my heart would remember the reason.  Oh yes, the reason of the season, but more so the reason of the season still to come, and 'It Is Finished' hung from that dead tree.

And I knew it was.

And today I know it is.  But there is something in me that NEEDS to remember that often.  To remember the death - and not just of a tree.  But MY death, my death to self as I bowed low beneath that cross - that dead tree and received MERCY and SALVATION. 

And the need to remember calls deep and I want to respond but without the religious...ness of it all.  I need to remember in worship and surrender and commitment and obedience and yes even death. 

I've died - at 17, its no longer me that lives but CHRIST LIVES IN ME.  And I AM DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO CHRIST ... and I yearn for more alive, more life ... more obedience ... more abiding in the vine.  Yes, that's it ... I WANT TO ABIDE ... I want to learn to abide...

And today marks the start and for the next weeks, days, 40 in all - I sacrifice to abide ... in that one, true, living Vine.  That which is not dead but that which is fully alive.  And I WANT fully ALIVE. To live days fresh to the Spirit.

Lent.  Jesus never observed lent - but he was drawn away for 40 days.  Led by the Spirit ... into a desert ... to be tempted (Matt 4:1)  That's what it says, and my mind boggles - led away to BE TEMPTED.  And the Word was fresh on His tongue 'It is written' and three words pierced the darkness when temptation came and HE CONQUERED all things that would bring death - and He came to set the captive free.

And how can I not worship ... and follow ... and abide.  

How can I not, for such a short time, choose to remember -to reflect - to sacrifice in such a small insignificant way.  And so my abiding begins, and I'm ready to learn - because truly, IT IS FINISHED and I am ready to start, and may the Word be fresh on my tongue ...

To Follow Like Him

He finds me in every room and comes to sit close.

He's the only one out of the five.

Anticipating my move from one room to another he walks ahead with a constant glance backwards,  

or 

he pushes in close to my heel and walks in rhythmic step pressing hard against the movement,

sticking close,

moving with the beat,

never straying from the chosen path.

And. I. Want. That. 

I want his desire to keep constant company. 

His desire to enter a room to seek companionship.

His desire to walk in step. 

His desire to anticipate each move before its sinks into well worn fibres. 

He lays at worn out feet. 

Laying humble.

Keeping company.

Listening for a voice with familiar tones and inflections.

And submissively he obeys.

The others, not so much, he often goes it alone.

Following not the crowd.

I want to follow that example.

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

Acts 2:28, Psalm 16:11

Last Words

Lord when you are GLORIFIED

My HEART is satisfied to know . . .

ALL praise and honor are yours.

And when all creation sings

To you the KING OF KINGS

We know . . . 

ALL PRAISE AND HONOR

ARE YOURS!!

Happy New Year Lord

Thank you for another year

of walking with you.

I love you x