What Really Counts

"No discussion about what is important in life is complete without understandng that Jesus became like us. The temptation is to think of Jesus as the used-to-be Savior; the guy from history who lived so long ago and walked arond the small country of His birth, but it is a world-class mistake to limit Jesus to those years. Jesus is a now Savior, a twenty-first-century solution to the challenges of this life and the next. Each day we can remind ourselves that not only did Jesus like us, He became like us."
What Really Counts, Alton Gansky

Lookng Back - Looking Forward

Thinking about Advent - after all the reading about Jesus' coming the first time, about how few people were really looking for Him or expecting the Messiah to come ~ of course, leads to reflection about His second coming. How many of us are really looking for Him to return? Today is the beginning of a new year. 2011. Could this be the year??? Could this be the day?

Today I'll be busy taking down Christmas decorations; packing away blankets, linens, table arrangements; re-reading this year's Christmas cards . It has been a wonderful Christmas. Five of our children and their spouses and four of our grandchildren were with us. We had a sweet and meaningful Christmas Eve service at our church. Larry, Amy and I sang the poignant lyrics of Strange Way to Save the World.

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far

When He returns for us this next time, it will be very different. No warning. A trumpet blast. A sudden catching away. Then we will be at home. We will be where we were meant to be ~ with Him. We will be complete. We will be at rest.

Help me to be aware each morning when I arise, Lord: This could be the day.

In reading, praying, listening for a specific message from the Father to set my course for the new year this morning, I "coincidentally" came across a prayer written by A.W. Tozer:

Oh, God, I have tasted Your goodness,
and it has both satisfied me and made me
thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious
of my need of further grace.
I am ashamed of my lack of desire.
O God, I want You. I want to be filled with longing for You.
I am thirsty to be made more thirsty still.
Show me Your glory, Lord, so that I may know you - indeed.
Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.
Then give me grace to rise and follow You.