Noticing Others...

I recently commented on what I thought were new hair cuts of one lady and also a young girl. Then I found out that both had cut their hair a few weeks earlier. I really need to work on my observation powers.

Yesterday I was at a friend's house and did not noticed the walls that were half painted until she pointed it out as part of a renovation project. I really need to work on my observation of things.

A few weeks ago I saw an older man in my neighborhood. He usually walks his dog but I noticed he was walking alone. I was proud I'd noticed but was fearful that maybe the dog had died. Yesterday I saw him again as I was doing a cool down from a jog. His arm was in a sling and I made quick chit-chat as we passed. He said it was a rotor cuff injury and I teased him about playing baseball at his age. I said nothing about the dog but silently prayed for him as I walked away.

This morning we passed again and I stopped a bit longer. I asked about his dog. He told me the dog had died - two years ago! So much for great observation!

Failure to observe things - more importantly people - most importantly the needs of people - is nothing more than another indication of self-centeredness. I/we tend to love the things we see and noticed. In a crowded room I can notice a beautiful woman. On a eight lane highway I can noticed a really cool car. Well - more work for me in loving God and others and crucifying self.

I'm so glad God notices all of us. He doesn't just see the pretty sanctified people. He sees those of us who can only see themselves. Then He picks up our head and gives us vision to a whole new world outside of our world.

Who/what have you noticed today?

A Surprise from Loving God

One of my major thoughts lately has focused on loving God more. It's been a good ride as it has kept me centered and helped capture worldly thoughts. I'm still not sure I understand how to love God more - I'm just trying to be more aware of Him, live in His presence, and talk to Him more. Isn't that what love is all about - conversation and communion with another person?

The real surprise that I sense is the growing love I have for others. I feel like my love for others is growing deeper and broader. Real love makes you a servant. Real love removes lust and allows you to enjoy others for all the right reasons. There's a unique freedom in this love that I can't put into words yet. Do you know what I'm talking about? Perhaps you can help me define it and communicate it.

Anyway, this morning I read in my Spurgeon devotional from Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

A heart of flesh is not carnal but tender, grieves at personal sin, and desires to love God more. "The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection toward Him... This renewed heart is prepared to receive every spiritual blessing and every blessing comes to it. It will yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God..."

Pray that we may love God more and see a surprising love for others broaden.

Confessions of A Wolf Pup

The image of being an abandoned wolf pup rescued by a loving farmer still sticks with me. I know the analogy isn't perfect but something about it resonates in me. I love the master but the old wolf nature haunts me some days calling me to do my wolf thing. Self-preservation is the ultimate curse of trying to live life apart from God.

Anyway, I've been trying to be the domesticated best-friend to the master - focusing on loving Him and serving Him. I've decided that it is more difficult to love God than I ever thought. It's so easy to love my wife, kids, and close friends - I think about them all the time. The people we love are always on our minds but the Lord is not always in my thoughts. So, Ive been really trying to focus on Him and think about Him.

Things have been going pretty good but the other day I lapsed into thinking more about other things I love. As I lay down to sleep the image of the wolf pup came again. I didn't do anything terrible, sinful, or evil - any wolf thing - but I wasn't close to the Lord that day. It was like I left the porch and circled the fence line all day long. Maybe I was looking for an opening in the fence, hoping for an opening... None was there and I didn't leave the yard. If there had been an opening, would I have gone off on a wolf hunt?

Anyway, I found myself feeling like I needed to confess and repent - not of a sin or possibility of sin -but of just wandering the yard and not loving God or being ready to serve Him. Does that make any sense?

As I confessed I realized that even my confession is sometimes inadequate and selfish. I wish I could say that I confessed because like Isaiah I saw God sitting on the throne and I fell down in awe and woefulness. Instead, I was confessing because I wanted to be right with God, be in His good graces, and receive a blessing.

Kind of selfish, huh? But you know what? God is always ready to hear us and enjoys spending time with us even if the motivation to come to Him isn't perfect. As we converse with Him, He has a way of clearing up our motives.

So, join me today in coming to God. Walk away from the fence line - that well-worn path we had created - and love God for a while.

"'In that day'" declares the Lord, 'I will assemble the lame and gather the outcasts (wolf pups too), even those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcasts a strong nation, and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever.'" Micah 4:6-7