But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

                                            Romans 6:22 (NIV)

Take me to you, imprison me, for I

Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,

Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

                                            - John Donne

Even in freedom,

we are slaves.

Addictions,

where good becomes bad

and bad becomes worse.

What’s left?

Regret, pain, loss,

the curse.

Chains, shackles, traps,

they bind.

It is death we reap,

in body, heart, and mind.

Rescue comes;

through cross, blood, grace, love,

a Slave, and

slavery too.

The benefit?

Holiness, help, life, hope,

for me and you.

A God and King,

whose enslaved are free.

No regrets!

Bind my hands, feet, mind and

heart;

Throw away the key.

The hours of our lives—they are a precious commodity.

We don’t want to lose a single one. 

So we say to ourselves and to others:

don’t smoke,

stay away from fried foods,

exercise regularly,

cut the sugar,

manage your stress,

get regular check ups,

avoid the lines at the DMV,

and, be careful!

We all want to live.  We want every hour of life we can get.

But why? So we can watch more Netflix? Football? and Fixer Upper?

Too much cotton candy leaves us sick and unsatisfied.

Time flies as the hours congeal into days.

Is it time spent or invested?

Do our minutes have meaning?

We give great attention to the hours of our life;

but what about the life in our hours?

Don’t live for the treasure of the moment.

Live the moment as a treasure.

The former is idolatry.

The latter is worship.

(read Matthew 6:19-20 and Luke 12:13-21)

A Strange Foreshadowing

A strange foreshadowing that God was is working . . .

“And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.”

And Jesus was there, giving approval to his life,

. . . Stephen’s life

. . . and Saul’s Paul’s too?

(see Acts 7,8 and 9 for more) 

A cry brings God. A cry is mightier than the polished phrase.  —Samuel Chadwick

I will never forget the day that Becca broke her arm. We were having fun together at the elementary school playground near our house. Becca was a first grader at the school and was showing me her “skills” on all the different play equipment. She was climbing and hanging and swinging and saying, “Watch this Daddy,” and “Look at me, Daddy,”  and I was close by, watching and “oohing” and “aahing.” 

And then it happened. Becca slipped off the bars and fell to the ground. She put her hand out to break her fall and landed on her arm.  As I ran toward Becca she looked up at me and cried, “Daddy!”  I can still hear her voice—it sounded so shaky and helpless and fearful. It pierced my heart.

I helped her immediately. I gently cradled her hurt arm and calmly told her that everything was going to be OK. I held her close as we walked back to the house. I assured her that her Mom and I were going to take her to the doctor. Two hours later Becca’s tears and pain were replaced with a fancy blue cast and a good story. I was the first person to sign her cast.

“Daddy!”

When it comes to prayer, God isn’t picky. As a loving Father, he wants to hear from us; he wants to help us. Prayer is less about the words we use and more about the Father’s love for us.

Check out Psalm 145:17-19 (NIV),

The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

and loving toward all he has made.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,

. . . he hears their cry and saves them.

God loves us. He delights in us as parents delight in their children. God always wants to hear from us, to live life with us and to help us. Just talk to him. Thank him for the good and call upon him for help. He doesn’t require perfect words or polished language. Your voice gets his attention and your cry pierces his heart. God is a good father to his children.  He hears them, helps them, saves them and then, “oohs” and “aahs” over their story.

With each new dawn, life delivers a package to your front door, rings your doorbell, and runs.   —Charles Swindoll

I like this quote by Swindoll. Even though I am sad to see the Holiday Break come to an end, I thank God for the gift of a new day. I want to live today well, but I can’t do it on my own. I need God’s help and presence. So before I grit my teeth and barrel forward, I give my attention to Psalm 130, verse 6:

My soul waits for the LORD

more than watchman wait for the morning,

more than watchman wait for the morning.

As I read this, I realize that there is an even greater gift than the package of a new day. It is the LORD, his hope, his forgiveness, his help, his presence and his love in my life. What a gift the morning light is, with its promise of life and a new day to live. But greater still is the LORD, the maker and deliverer of the package in which I rejoice.

So, before I charge out the door into a new day . . .

My soul waits for the LORD.

A life frittered away disgusts God;

He loves those who run straight for the finish line.    

Proverbs 15:9 (MSG)

God help me today, and in every little moment of this New Year, to live for you. I want to guard my heart, be attentive to your nudges and exist for your glory. 

Jesus help me to live a life of discipline and fix the eyes of my heart on you. Replace my fear with your love. May I be ever faithful and trust in you alone.

Help me to live the minutes and the minutiae of my life in a way that pleases you. No shortcuts, no detours, no distractions. Keep my trajectory true.

Jesus, give me your holiness.