And that’s the truth

Life is full of oughta’s, shoulda’s, gotta’s - isn’t it? I ought to get out and get those branches picked up after yesterday’s wind storm. I should have made better preparation for that meeting. I’ve got to get a grip on that situation. And, so it goes. Don’t read me wrong today. I am not throwing away my responsibilities. Without constant monitoring, systems quickly deteriorate. Chaos is the default setting of a life without discipline. But, duty without delight is drudgery. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Christianity, as practiced by many, is full of responsibilities. Go to church! Read the Bible! Pray! Tithe! Deal with temptation! Serve faithfully! Those are great practices and we should do them, everyone and all. But, we cannot forget why. We are beloved children of the Heavenly Father. As I stood in worship yesterday, I found myself so emotionally depleted that I could not focus, could not offer praise, simply could not feel anything. My initial response was one of guilt. “What kind of Christian are you, Jerry, that you can stand in church unable to fully sense God’s holy Presence?” Then, I thought, “All right, I’ll just try harder. I will sing louder, raise my hands, and ‘it,’ whatever that is, will happen to me.” It didn’t.

Today, in the stillness of the morning, with the sunshine splashing on the trees and my dog running around in my backyard, I felt the Spirit’s Presence. His whisper was reminder that when I am doing ‘nothing’ the love of my Father is active. He is pursuing me, loving me, surrounding me with grace – everywhere and all the time. That renewal of His love was His gift to me at the beginning of this new week. It put things back into the right order for me. Love, first; then the responsibilities. Delight, then duty.

Here’s a word from the Word.
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and
beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.


I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you." (Psalm 63:1-5, NIV)



And, that’s the truth!