“I don’t know what your destiny will be but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
-French physician Albert Schweitzer

Ortberg begins by answering questions I think that you and I both wrestle with… For instance, I often have a hard time discerning what a more healthy, alive, godly me looks like….. And I’m in the picklesque-headspace again. Don’t get me wrong…I want to be holy. But not with the cringe-side-effect-benefits!! Not a cultural-cool-obsession, nor a swing out to pietistic-aloofness….I so don’t want to be “holier than thou.”

Ortberg says this, “As God helps you grow, you will change, but you will always be you. An acorn can grow into an oak tree, but it cannot become a rose bush. It can be a healthy oak or it can be a stunted oak – but it won’t be a shrub. You will always be you – a growing, healthy you or a languishing you – but God didn’t create you to be anybody else.”

He goes on to say, “When you flourish, you become more you. You become more that person God had in mind when thought you up. You don’t just become holier. You become you-ier. You will change: God wants you to become a “new creation.” But “new” doesn’t have to mean completely different; instead it’s like an old piece of furniture that gets restored to its intended beauty.”

Now that’s a picture of a more alive, healthy, godly me that I am so up for!! What do you think a more alive, healthy and godly (stick your name in the gap here) looks like?

Oh, and stay tuned or read it for yourself! I am sure this book is going to provoke much more blog fodder and good stuff in me. True is, I’d settle for the latter every time.

ps. and,….the goal in this entry, was NOT a dull book review… just a taster, a little-bookish-sample….?!….so let me know… did it work?!

Captivating image, and great question….

” Good morning heavenly Father, good morning Lord Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Lord Jesus, I worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world. Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God. Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen.”

as first written by John Stott.

One of things I love about NOT giving up things this Lent is using the forty-ish days till Easter as a journey. A time of increased personal examination.

During this Lenten Season, I’m asking myself……

1. Where is there forgiveness and grace needed? (like extra dollups!!)
2. Where is a (soul) blockage that would keep the Holy Spirit from moving freely?
3. Where are the places where there isn’t resurrection life right now? (stale, stuck or stagnating places!!)

All of it (even already) has sharpened my hunger and desire for greater intimacy with Jesus! The preparation for Easter could and should be a time to improve and renew your relationship with the Risen Christ! So let Easter result in daily resurrection (now!!)

“… So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” 1 Corinthians 2:5

The season of preparation has begun.