I spent some time with my February calendar this evening and I realized just how incredibly full of activity this month is going to be. There is a lot going on, professionally and personally--and more and more those two distinctions are growing blurred. I've always known that one can't separate their ministry from their personal life or even their identity (as much as they may want to try sometimes). Afterall, who am I if I don't first identify myself as one who follows Christ? This is an identification that more and more influences every decision I make. As it rightly should.
While Christian is the term used to identify one who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, very rarely do I think of myself in terms of that word. There is just more to it than that--at least for me. And I have to say, we Christians haven't been doing a great job of protecting or promoting the inherent meaning in that word. Don't think I'm going to spend the next thirty paragraphs detailing all the variety of ways we Christians have failed to live up to our name, calling, and identity. Sorry, but I'm just more concerned with myself.
That's right. I have failed my Savior in more ways than I can count. Of this, I am not proud. But I know I can and have changed in ways that truly count. And in the words of one my favorite songs, I continue to be "a change in the making." I wouldn't have it any other way.
I had a conversation today about how much I realize that the choices I make, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem on the surface, speak volumes about who I am. They say more about who I am than any label I could place on myself--even if I make it facebook official. My choices matter. How I use my time matters. How I spend my money matters. How I treat people matters. How I treat my body matters. But I believe how I exist in this world by showing I am not of the world matters most. I have to believe that if God knew me before I was born, knew the number of every hair on my head and breathed me into existence, then I matter. Period. And I need to act like it. So my hope is that I will continue to get better at preaching the gospel, and to paraphrase Mother Teresa, sometimes I may even use words.
While Christian is the term used to identify one who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, very rarely do I think of myself in terms of that word. There is just more to it than that--at least for me. And I have to say, we Christians haven't been doing a great job of protecting or promoting the inherent meaning in that word. Don't think I'm going to spend the next thirty paragraphs detailing all the variety of ways we Christians have failed to live up to our name, calling, and identity. Sorry, but I'm just more concerned with myself.
That's right. I have failed my Savior in more ways than I can count. Of this, I am not proud. But I know I can and have changed in ways that truly count. And in the words of one my favorite songs, I continue to be "a change in the making." I wouldn't have it any other way.
I had a conversation today about how much I realize that the choices I make, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem on the surface, speak volumes about who I am. They say more about who I am than any label I could place on myself--even if I make it facebook official. My choices matter. How I use my time matters. How I spend my money matters. How I treat people matters. How I treat my body matters. But I believe how I exist in this world by showing I am not of the world matters most. I have to believe that if God knew me before I was born, knew the number of every hair on my head and breathed me into existence, then I matter. Period. And I need to act like it. So my hope is that I will continue to get better at preaching the gospel, and to paraphrase Mother Teresa, sometimes I may even use words.
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