surpirsed to be loved

2 Samuel 22:17-20
But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved! (MSG)

I read this passage this morning and the phrase that really stood out was the last four words "surprised to be loved". I think that would be the battle cry of our generation if we genuinely understood how much God really does love us.

It doesn't matter what you've done.
You'd be surprised by His love for you.

It doesn't matter how many times you've failed or doubted Him.
You'd be surprised by His love for you.

It doesn't matter how you feel.
You'd be surprised by His love for you.

Your past doesn't matter.
You'd be surprised by His love for you.

His love is so overwhelming and surprising...so now the question is what is our response to that love?

peace.
glo

Don't just do it.

No, I don't have anything against Nike. I do have something against the mindset that their marketing slogan can produce in a society such as ours though.

Last week God spoke to me out of Colossians 3, verse 24 where it says that we are working for the Lord and everything we do we should do with the understanding that we are doing it for Him. This week I read in 1 Timothy that this "faith" that we are living is something that has to be fought for. (1 Tim 6:12)

These are not terms and ideals that are synonymous with "just doing it". I am afraid I am part of a generation that has learned better than any before how to "get by" in life by "just doing the minimum" and when any opposition, attitude or just plain "not feeling like it" comes along, we quit. Or worse, we don't quit and we do it in a fashion that we know is not truly good enough.

I didn't intend for this post to simply be a rant against a mindset that bothers me...but it appears as though that is what it is becoming.

The real problem is that Jesus called us to love people and to love God...above everything else. And if we accept the attitude of "just" doing it, then we will not be fulfilling what Jesus commanded us to do when he said we should "love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength." If we're not careful we'll end up just loving others and God with our "leftovers, free time, our when I feel like it."

It definitely isn't an original thought, but have you considered the fact that if you truly want to "well done, my good and faithful servant" when your time is done here you might actually have to fight for it...you might actually have to not

just
do
it.

Don't just do it.

Do
it
well.

peace,
glo

whatever you do...

You know, if you follow Jesus seriously for long enough He'll challenge you with something that is hard. That may not be a very popular message today in our "microwave culture", but none-the-less, it's true.

I ran across a verse today that God used to encourage me and challenge me.

Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

It seems as though, if we're (or at least me) honest with ourselves, it's very easy to find reasons to not do something, or at least to not do it with all of our heart. But if we want to truly say we are followers of Christ we don't have that option.

Last weekend I had to go work on a couple rental properties for the majority of the day on Saturday. I didn't want to do that. But I did, and amazingly enough, God encouraged and strengthened my while I went about doing my business at the properties I was working.

There is a satisfaction in doing a job well. In genuinely accomplishing something we find a part of who we were originally created to be.

We are created to work. That was part of our original being in the garden.

Whatever you do...do it well.

Whatever
you
do
.

peace,
glo

Best Sound Ever

This is my beautiful daughter Hailey. She is a very happy baby. Last night my wife was playing with her on the floor and got her to laugh...so, of course, I had to get it on video and post it on my blog. It brightened up my day...I hope it will do the same for you!

peace,
glo