What do you watch for?

 Earlier I was reading from the book of Mark where Jesus, in chatting with four of His disciples, responds to their questions of when the end will come and what the signs will be as it approaches. Jesus begins His reply with the word… ‘watch’ (Mark 13:5)


...and, He concludes the chapter with a single word… “WATCH” (Mark 13:36)! He uses other synonymous words throughout the text such as: Be on guard! Be alert! Keep watch!

I was challenged by that word ‘watch’ and asked myself… what do I typically watch for?

• Am I actively watching and anticipating Christ’s return, possibly even today, or is my gaze on my own self absorbed interests?
• Does the reality of Christ’s return truly cause me to live differently today – or not? 
• Do I engage with this day with an urgency for the salvation of others?
• Do I wake up each morning with the acknowledgment that this could possibly be my last day on earth? 
• Or, do I function with an entitlement attitude that says, “tomorrow ‘will’ be mine?” 
• What if I knew that the next 8 hrs – 8 days – 8 months – 8 years would be my last?
• What then, would I be watching for?
• What then would my priorities  – focus – attention be?

• Am I actively watching for Christ’s work around me and entering in to what He is doing?

Do I watch ‘out for’ those things that will take my attention off of Christ?

• Am I watching and on guard, fully aware of the distractions of life?
• Am I alert to what I am most susceptible to that will cause my gaze to shift off of my Creator and on to myself?
• Do I keep watch for incorrect attitudes/thoughts patterns that if left unchecked will take me off course?

Father, enable us today, to move through the moments and hours…watching. Watching with expectancy, with hope, with faith, and with joy. Watching for opportunities to extend your love, compassion and hope to this world. Watching out for those things that can subtly sneak in to divert our attention. Watching…

Amen.

Val's Musings...

We are all familiar with the story of the prodigal son. I have been greatly influenced by Henri Nouwen’s writing of this parable where he states, “Whether you are the younger son or the elder son, you have to realize that you are called to become the father.”


In other words, we can all relate to each of these characters, at various seasons of our spiritual journey – always striving to be more and more like the father.

This morning, as I sat soaking in the text of Luke 15:11 (this parable), I found myself being drawn into the person of the elder son and one of the statements the Father spoke to him following his angry outburst towards his lost brothers return. The father’s stmnt that caught my attention was this: “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”

I asked myself:

• do I realize the immense value/gift of having the Holy Spirit in my life? That He is always with me?

Or, have I grown so accustomed to His presence that I no longer remember what it is even like to be without Him?

Relationships can be like that…next month it will be 5 yrs since my Mom passed away and I admit that while she was still here I was often apathetic to her nearness. 

• do I live as though everything the Father has is mine? Do I fully embrace what has been entrusted to me as a co-heir with Christ? (Romans 8:16-17)

Or, do I live with a scarcity mentality, a competitive nature, a misunderstood view of my brother in the eyes of our father?

How easy it is to attempt to gain my father’s approval, attention and favour. Instead of tapping in to the security, buoyancy and resilience that comes through Him.

Just a couple of thoughts to ponder as you serve Him today...

Lord, please save me from myself...

I've had a lot of interesting feedback from last weekend's service, where we talked openly about the fact that we regularly worship 'other gods.' In my last post I listed a few of my gods, but I think I should have mentioned the god that gives me the most trouble. That god is ME.

I'm no different than anyone else who hates being dependent and powerless. This was Adam and Eve's issue. They didn't like the fact that God put limits on them. They sinned (it was a power grab...think about it), and now the temptation to worship self is part of our nature. It's certainly a part of mine.

Reinhold Niebuhr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Niebuhr) believed that our struggle between dependence on God and the illusion that we control our own lives creates a will to power that dominates our world and our relationships. I think he's right.

So here's a simple, but hopefully helpful prayer..."Not my will Father, but Yours be done."

Messing around with other gods

We're starting a new teaching series called "other gods" this weekend. I've been thinking about this one for a few months now...thinking about how much our church and our culture needs this. And, as usual, God turns it all around and smacks me in the head, making me realize that I'm just as much of an idolater as anyone else.

All week long God's been pointing out my idols. I've become a coffee junkie in the last 3-4 years. Well, Starbucks is one of my idols. The USC Trojans are an idol. So is HDTV, a decent balance in my savings account, a good meeting with someone from the staff, and a well delivered talk. My kids are idols...that one's messing with me.

I think the best definition of idolatry is this one: Taking anything that isn't God and putting it in the place where God belongs. It's looking to something that doesn't have God's power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give.

This series is going to kick me around a little. Maybe that's good.