Breathe In, Breathe Out, Breathe In Again

“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.” - James 2:18-19 NIV

Not really sure why, but when I woke up this morning, I felt full… sort of heavy…

You know that feeling… bloated.

It might be all the different foods that I ate yesterday prior to the Super Bowl.

It might be because I sat around all day after church watching two of my girls take part in a 3 ½ hour basketball clinic and then watching the Pre-Super Bowl discussions and then finally, the game…

Thus, just sort of ESPNing the day away and not going to the gym… nor riding my bike… nor taking a light jog… nor taking a walk… nor do anything else that might be considered exercise or might make me sweat…

So today, I woke up feeling bloated…

The same kind of thing can happen on our faith walk… as we get filled by all things Christian.

I have a friend who calls it Christian Obesity.

No, I’m not talking about all of us overweight Christians, but talking more about how bloated… how obese we can get by taking in all that we take in… and don’t give back…

Think about it… consider this schedule:

Sunday School and Church on Sunday morning…

A Bible Study or Church Service Sunday night…

An early morning Small Group on Tuesday morning…

A Wednesday lunch with a fellow Believer

A Wednesday night Bible Study (for some it’s a supper and service thing)…

And Friday morning is an early morning men’s group breakfast

Now, all of those things are good and fine… and tend to help us in our faith journey.

However, it can also lead to Christian Obesity…

Where is the giving back?

Where is the going therefore?

Where is the putting faith into action?

Sometimes we are so busy getting filled that we forget to go and give… and live.

So full that we forget to shine and share…

So filled that we forget to become the image of Christ for the world around us… 

So busy taking in that we forget how He gave… forget how to give.

Sort of like a balloon attached to a faucet….filled to overflowing… but unable to be used.

Bloated…

I’m not saying don’t be involved in these things… However, consider being filled… being used… and be filled again… putting our faith into action as we are constantly filled and refilled. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in again.

Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” – John 9:4 NIV

Snow

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” - Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV

I miss snow.

Though Amy and I got our fill as kids, sledding and snow balls and snow forts and snow angels and crossing our fingers that school would be canceled for a snow day (and somehow forgetting about shoveling snow off of sidewalks and driveways)… my girls have never seen real snow.

I miss snow.

I miss a light snow falling over town… ever so lightly covering the ground, covering the dirt and grime and making all things look clean and fresh… and new.

I miss waking up and finding the ground covered with a blanket of freshly fallen snow, causing the world to seem so peaceful and serene.

So often in life, I feel the need to be covered like that… covered in a freshly fallen snow… being made to feel clean and new.

I’m reminded of the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and the crew begin running through the flowers on their way to the great city… only to fall asleep due to a sleeping dust spell from the wicked witch… But as they fall asleep just minutes from reaching the wizard, Glenda the good witch makes it snow on the flower field... covering it and the sleeping dust filled flowers. Thus, allowing Dorothy and the group to awaken and make their way to the city.

And that’s what a relationship with Jesus is supposed to be like… made new every morning, every day… covered… renewed and refreshed… and ready to face whatever the day may bring… face whatever adventure we may face…

Unfortunately… all too often, I forget… and I put off my time with the Lord… and don’t ask Him to fill me… renew me… refresh me… make me new like the fresh fallen snow… and my faith falls asleep in my own field of flowers.

Yet somehow, something always reminds me that I’m trying to do it on my own, while yesterday’s snow melts - leaving the grime and dirt uncovered and visible… in need of a cleansing… of a renewing… of a fresh fallen snow.

And the snow falls… and covers me.

O Lord, let your snow fall on me today… cleansing me… healing me… renewing me… refreshing me… Renew my heart and my mind… and allow me to put on your full armor. O Lord, help me be the man that you have made me to be… Let your snow fall and cover me. Amen

Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – Psalm 51:7 NIV

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV