**If you happened to view this post within the first few hours it was originally posted, it has been revised now. Sometimes passions in my heart become arrogant and unmerciful when they escape into my words. I apologize for not showing grace, and hope that editing myself will show real love that erases my initial crudeness.**
It's back to the blog for me in 2012!
I welcome you back to reading here as well. Happy new days, new opportunities, new joys. I'm glad to be here. My mind has been abuzz the last few weeks with thoughts I'd like to share here with you. I'm also glad to be blogging via my lovely new iPad, thanks to Husband this Christmas. One drawback I just realized, however, is that I don't actually know how to upload a picture -even from the Internet- on here without having memory. I will be working on this. My temporary fix is to upload pictures via my Mom's desktop.
The real thoughts on my mind tonight -and often lately- center on how drastically backwards upside down God's perspective is from our own. That is of course a lie though. We are the ones who have it backwards upside down. I have been learning -sometimes painfully- that God's ways are higher than our ways. I understand so little, and I find myself asking frequently to be humbled, begging to be set straight so I can understand the Truth.
In a sermon tonight, the pastor described the gifts the Magi brought to Jesus. Pagan men, following astrology alone, came to an infant Savior. The gifts they offered represented the magnitude of His mission: King, God, Sacrifice. The pastor suggested gifts we could offer Jesus in this new year; perhaps a few extra minutes with him each day or giving up foul language or dirty jokes.
These offerings are important because Jesus wants to transform us completely. He wants our prayer, worship, and fellowship; yes. He also desires our everyday thoughts, words, and actions; our communication, body language, inner mumblings; the way we spend our time, talents, income; our heart of hearts in all things. Transformation is a work in progress, a work of transforming our everyday ordinary.
Jesus has no need to receive gifts from us. It is us who have the need to give to him.
He wants all of our lives so he can transform us backwards upside down and give us real life in Him.
Oh, the struggle and joy to remain present to the guiding and prompting and intervening of the Holy Spirit.
His ways are not like our ways.
Backwards upside down.
Rich can be poor. Poor can be rich.
Misfortune can be opportunity.
Pain can be joy. Ugly can be beautiful.
If you upload your pictures to iTunes (or the cloud), they should be able to sync to your iPad, and then you'll have access to them there.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm going to ponder your thoughts here and get back to you. I do think lame. But I also think maybe for some people (or for all of us), a small step might be all we can do to start our way into loving him. So.... I'm going to think more about it, and we can talk some. :)
Enjoy the iPad - you'll get it figured out, and when you do, you can show me! :)
Thank you, Friend. In case you were unsure, you are well on your way to becoming your own wonderful version of wise Carrie-Mom. I love you.
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