Don’t be Afraid of Who You Are

There was a lady dancing in the plaza today with a beautiful flowered dress, a matching hat and a pair of Crocs that completed her outfit. She was dancing alone to the music of a Texas Swing Band and it’s quite possible that she was the freest person I’ve ever seen. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, the music, and the beauty of the day. She seemed as comfortable as she could be in who she is.

I want to be like her. I wish we could all be completely at home in who God made us to be. There are changes involved as we get closer to God but He is not asking us to become someone else or to conform to what others say we should be. It’s very possible the person God wants us to be is quite different from others and isn’t afraid of who they are.

It’s All About Him

Trying to get away from God is as futile an endeavor as you can attempt. He’s everywhere, in everything and there is no escape. We all try and some even think they’ve found a way but His pursuit is relentless. No one is immune. For instance- I need someone to show me, the things in life that I can’t find. – Ozzie Osborn (Paranoid). Ozzie feels the Lord’s love for him but asks for help to understand.

Shouts

All of creation shouts His magnificence! What beauty we are surrounded by, the hills, the trees, the mountains, the deserts, the clouds, the stars, oceans, lakes, wildlife, flowers and fields but the most beautiful of all are the people He has surrounded us with. Oh, He loves us so.

Choosing

Today most of us have the opportunity to choose our attitude. Will today be crappy or will we find the good amidst the rubbish? There’s never a shortage of things to complain about and sometimes we have to look really hard to find the beauty. But it’s there and well worth finding.

In the Beginning

God loved you. There’s never been a moment since when that’s untrue. No matter how well we might know His love there’s even more to be known. Today is an opportunity to realize His special affection for you in a new and deeper way. Let Him show you.

365

Today is the one year anniversary of The Better Thing Blog. What an amazing year it’s been. My wife and I were talking the other night and both feel that it has been the sweetest year of our lives. God has been so near and shown us His astonishing love in so many ways.

We want to thank each of you for being a part of what God’s been up to throughout the year. Thank you for reading these posts. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement. Thank you for your support. And thank you for your critique. He has used you to draw us a little closer to Him each day.

The scriptural inspiration for the birth of this blog is the story in Luke ten where Martha is complaining to Jesus that Mary is not doing enough and while Mary is sitting at His feet, Jesus answers Martha, Don’t worry so much, Mary has chosen the better thing. The thing Mary chose was intimacy with The Living God and I hope in some small way you have been heartened to do the same by what’s been shared here.

Authentic

Authentic religion demands moderation in all things except love. The Gospel tolerates a moderate love between Christians no more than it tolerates a moderate love between God and you. –

Brennan Manning

Proclaim

The passionate pursuing love of God must be proclaimed in season and out of season. Forceful emphasis must be placed on the tenderness and mercy of God, who first loved us. Instead of a light volley of divine love followed by the heavy artillery of rule-keeping, Jesus’ love for the unlovely must pierce the heart of every Christian. –

Brennan Manning

Our Time Here

I’m reminded today how short our time is here. Lord help us make the most of today, not only in what we accomplish but in the lives we impact by sharing your love. May today be filled with opportunities that don’t get lost in busyness or business but along with what we achieve let us touch those around us with your amazing affection.

Access to God’s Spirit

1Corinthians 2:14-16

The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit. God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.