Happy 2011 bloggy friends. With each new year, I'm amazed at how fast time goes. This year I will celebrate my 14th wedding anniversary, will turn 35, and my oldest child will turn 11!! I've never thought 40 sounded so young! :)
When I was younger I would hear others say that they just couldn't wait for Jesus to return. They wish He would come right now. I remember not quite understanding that because I wanted to get married some day and I wanted to have kids and I wanted..... lots of things. With age comes wisdom, they say, and as I'm watching the years fly by, I'm praying Jesus comes quickly. Life can be so uncertain and hard. And if the right person reads this blog they would laugh at my words and say I don't know what hard is. They are right. I don't have to wonder where my next meal will come from, or where I'll sleep tonight, or if I'll be safe walking down the street. I've always had a family that loved and protected me, not harmed me. I've always had friends who I could trust. I've been given so much. And therein lies the problem. I'm safe and comfortable and comfot can lead to complacency. When our physical needs are met, our spiritual needs can be so easily masked.
American christians are comfortable. Most of us have never experienced any kind of persecution. And yet, Jesus said that if we are His disciples we would suffer. Where's our suffering? Jesus said that anyone who doesn't give up everything he has cannot be His disciple. What are we giving up? Jesus said to be His follower we must take up our cross and follow him. The cross in his day was ultimate humiliation and the cruelest of deaths. Are we willing to be humiliated and murdered for Him? Jesus said that anyone who doesn't hate his father and mother cannot be his disciple. Are we willing to forsake everyone else for Him? He didn't mince words so why do we? We make Jesus fit right into our perfect little lives instead of dying to ourselves and being transformed to His image.
A while back I said I'd do a blog post about a great book I read. A lot of these thoughts came from this book. The book is Radical (taking back your faith from the American Dream) by David Platt. Great book. He's become one of my favorite Bible teachers. I told Bart that when I listen to David preach, I'm drawn to Jesus not David Platt. And I think that is really cool.
I've been challenged big time by this. What about you?
8 comments:
Wow Janell. Thanks for sharing this! So challenging and right on. This is our quest but its so easy to get cloudy/unfocused in it if I'm not in the Word enough or rubbing shoulders closely with like-minded people. Thanks again-Im challenged and encouraged.
Andrew and I have had a lot of conversations about exactly this in the past year.
How do we live and raise our family so it is clear to us and the world around us that JESUS, not money or success or comfort is our LORD?
I have the feeling that the answer to that question is going to look different for each person. And therein lies part of the struggle.
My hubby is reading this book right now and I can see it changing him. Can't wait to get my hands on it - sounds like a great read!
How can any book be so convicting & yet so "can't put it down" exciting!!?!! Gave out about 10 copies for Christmas!!! I think it has change my life like no other book besides the Bible! Praise the Lord!
Hey Janell...I had to read this post when I saw the title because I just finished the book too. I agree with Cherise that this can definitely be a life-changing book, and not just short-term. I still feel a little overwhelmed and confused about what to do with all the thoughts/conviction/emotion I feel...feel free to post all your revelations and tell me what I should do! ;)
Never heard of Radical, but can't wait to pick it up and read it. These are so many of the thoughts I have had the past few months. God has really been working on my "American" heart and challenging me with many of these same thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
Great post Janell, I'm almost scared to read the book:) Love your thoughts, so very true!
hey aunti you need to post something new it was fun staying with you guys last weekend, cant wait to come back in a couple of weeks!!!!!!! love ems
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