Thanks

Thank you…not for reading my rants but for providing enough positive feedback that they have continued and expanded in the number of times published per week. What will surprise you is that my thanks is for a different reason than you may be thinking.

I remember clearly attending an apologetics class where a non-core belief was discussed. Pastor Patrick always distinguishes them between “essential” and “non-essential” doctrine, and this is to do with how they relate to salvation, not importance.

Anyway, I came home and wanted to type up a slightly different slant than the one we discussed in the class.  I sent it to Patrick thinking that he would either agree or point out where my logic fell short. Then I got the call. He wanted to have a devotion on the website and asked me to consider writing some. He wanted them to be anonymously written and maybe from several people. My initial reaction was “No way!”  No part of my education or background experiences did I believe made me even remotely qualified to write them. It made me confront my feelings of inadequacy in both empathy (I truly am a geek and an introvert), and theology.

“But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said,’“Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’” - Exodus 4:10-13 ESV

(If you haven’t read the story of the reluctance of Moses, now would be a great time to head to Exodus)

You might think, if these were any good, that I’d secretly hope for people to figure out who is writing them and give me praise and accolades.  Nope!  I’m fine with the anonymity.

Where I’ve been immensely blessed is in my own faith walk. I go to the website daily to see what’s been published and reread them. I am frequently astonished with them and realize that the Holy Spirit gave me the words to use. Conversely, if a topic pops in my head and I don’t write about it, there are times where the thought almost consumes me until I get it out. I attribute this also to the Holy Spirit.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:25-27 ESV

If you are needing a push in your faith walk, I suggest four things:

1). Pray - praying is your soul reaching out to God

2). Read your Bible - set up a regular plan to read the Bible In a quiet setting without distractions.  There are many reading plans out there.  Pick one and try it.

3). Find a good daily devotion - it doesn’t have to be this one.  In fact, I am signed up to one through the Crossways organization. But use your discernment to validate that it is feeding you through God’s word.

4). Consider journaling - I have unsuccessfully tried to create a diary at several times in my life only to get distracted and stop.  I think, before writing these, I was being a superficial observer of my life rather than looking at a situation in regards to my faith walk.  God gave you all your experiences to exactly make you the person you are today.  It is a huge blessing to consider them.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:18, 26-28

So, if you, by reading some of these devotions, have helped create the situation that has driven me to work on them, I thank you.