Revisiting Words
Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Another day,
During a recent discussion with a friend, I emphasized the importance of revisiting. Revisiting past experiences we seek to deny or avoid, revisiting healthy life seasons, revisiting songs or days or events. Revisiting conversations or confrontations, sermons or stories, smiles or tears.
I'll not go into detail, but offer just a few lines for a summary. Then, we'll join together - revisiting words from my past.
The reason for a healthy revisit or return isn't to dwell on past pain. We don't need to become obsessed by previous occurrences. Most of us fail by never moving beyond our past pain and mistakes. The purpose is to reinforce a willingness to move through, to endure, to forgive, to pursue new days in new ways. Or, to replay positives when love with God and others was more genuine, more pure, more real.
God invites us to return to our first love.
After that conversation with a friend, I decided to revisit words I wrote while studying how Jesus welcomed people around Him. In my busyness to lead and teach and write and mentor, I must never fail by forgetting what matters most. A revisit can help. It can reinforce. It can remind. And it can re-invite me to live as a recipient of the best invitation of all time.
Join me in revisiting words from Beggars Can Be Chosen:
"He see us as people, not as numbers. He knows each address, phone number, financial portfolio. The oil in our engines and the gas in our tanks. He knows our every thought. He even knows the hair on my head, how much has fallen out, how long it was during my preacher-can-still-find-ways-to-rebel days, how much my stylist cuts, and the rays of the suns reflection on my bald, bold head. What a view He has."
"We are individuals in His eyes. We have potential. He believes in what He can do with us."
Well, I need to re-read, remind, remember, receive, and reinforce my own words. I often fail to see myself through His glasses. My goal this week is to re-look. My goal is to remember.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: "God, I'm sorry for trying to make myself important."(Beggars Can Be Chosen, Chris Maxwell)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Another day,
During a recent discussion with a friend, I emphasized the importance of revisiting. Revisiting past experiences we seek to deny or avoid, revisiting healthy life seasons, revisiting songs or days or events. Revisiting conversations or confrontations, sermons or stories, smiles or tears.
I'll not go into detail, but offer just a few lines for a summary. Then, we'll join together - revisiting words from my past.
The reason for a healthy revisit or return isn't to dwell on past pain. We don't need to become obsessed by previous occurrences. Most of us fail by never moving beyond our past pain and mistakes. The purpose is to reinforce a willingness to move through, to endure, to forgive, to pursue new days in new ways. Or, to replay positives when love with God and others was more genuine, more pure, more real.
God invites us to return to our first love.
After that conversation with a friend, I decided to revisit words I wrote while studying how Jesus welcomed people around Him. In my busyness to lead and teach and write and mentor, I must never fail by forgetting what matters most. A revisit can help. It can reinforce. It can remind. And it can re-invite me to live as a recipient of the best invitation of all time.
Join me in revisiting words from Beggars Can Be Chosen:
"He see us as people, not as numbers. He knows each address, phone number, financial portfolio. The oil in our engines and the gas in our tanks. He knows our every thought. He even knows the hair on my head, how much has fallen out, how long it was during my preacher-can-still-find-ways-to-rebel days, how much my stylist cuts, and the rays of the suns reflection on my bald, bold head. What a view He has."
"We are individuals in His eyes. We have potential. He believes in what He can do with us."
Well, I need to re-read, remind, remember, receive, and reinforce my own words. I often fail to see myself through His glasses. My goal this week is to re-look. My goal is to remember.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: "God, I'm sorry for trying to make myself important."(Beggars Can Be Chosen, Chris Maxwell)
5 Comments:
Denying and avoiding. Now there are two practices I am good at. I definitely don't like revisiting certain days/events. But after reading the purpose of doing that I may just risk it. Thanks.
I try to make myself important all the time and it never seems to work. Thanks for reminding me God thinks I am important.
Thanks for your timing on this. I loved that book then and now I probably need to read it again. May you be blessed.
Remembrance was also a key theme in a sermon I listened to yesterday at the church that I attend. It would appear that God is trying to teach me a lesson here.
I find it fascinating that Jesus himself said, "Do this in remembrance of me." Not so you can get grace from it or so that his followers could have another ritual to follow, rather that there minds could be focused on him.
I still like that chapter you wrote in that book about breaking the rules. Pretty cool my friend. We need to break the rules that are not needed. Those religious rules made by man.
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