Every year, about 1500 "thru-hikers" set out to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in a single season. Only 10 percent complete the 2,160 miles of challenging terrain stretching from Georgia to Maine. One reason some people drop out early is that they haven't learned to travel light.
A friend of mine launched his thru-hike carrying a seriously overloaded backpack. He had a cassette player and six tapes of bird calls, an air pistol to keep the varmints away, a camera, a radio, and an alarm clock. "If it ran on batteries," he said, "I had one in my pack."
At his first stop, an experienced hiker helped him go through his pack and decide what to keep and what to send home. Each item was placed on a gram scale with the question, "Is it worth it? Do you want to carry this for the next 2000 miles?"
My friend discovered that his biggest problem was an accumulation of little things. Most of his extra weight was in ounces, not pounds. He didn't need half of what was in his first-aid kit nor the extra tube of toothpaste. His heavy multi-tool knife was replaced with one weighing only an ounce. A metal knife-fork-and-spoon set gave way to a single plastic spoon. He sent home 26 pounds of unnecessary weight.
How many of us are trying to walk the trail of faith in Christ weighed down by an accumulation of little things -- anger, bitterness, worry, envy, jealousy, lust, and selfishness? Instead of enjoying the beauty of life with Jesus, we complain about how hard it is to follow Him.
Psalm 32 is for everyone who's ready to shed the weight of sin and regain the joy of walking with the Lord. "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."
What do you need to unload today?
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
I cannot say...
Posting two days in a row...peculiar behaviour for me I know but I doubt I'll go three days in a row so if you're reading this I wouldn't bother checking tomorrow.
Our house has been undergoing a spring clean since the 12th holidays last weekend (perhaps I should call it '12th cleaned') and I'm telling myself there can't be many more drawers, shelves, cupboards, boxes or nooks or crannies left for me to pull everything out and ditch the junk, then hopefully leave everything back looking a little better than it did before I arrived (if ur driving past our house you will know it hasn't reached the exterior of our house yet, and im not sure it will). Anyway this is a little poem I found scribbled in a notebook somewhere that I thought you might find challenging...I did at least. I recommend reading it slowly and leaving time to understand each line...
I cannot say...
I cannot say 'our' if I live only for myself.
I cannot say 'father' if I do not endeavour each day to act like His child.
I cannot say 'in heaven' if I am laying up no treasure there.
I cannot say 'hallowed be your name' if I am not striving for holiness.
I cannot say 'your kingdom come' if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.
I cannot say 'your will be done' if I am disobedient to His word.
I cannot say 'on earth as it is in heaven' if I'll not serve Him here and now.
I cannot say 'give us today our daily bread' if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge.
I cannot say 'forgive us our debts' if I harbour a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say 'lead us not into temptation' if I deliberately place myself in it's path.
I cannot say 'deliver us from evil' if I do not put on the whole armour of God.
I cannot say 'yours is the kingdom' if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.
I cannot attribute to Him 'the power' if I fear what men may do.
I cannot ascribe to Him 'the glory' if I am seeking honour only for myself.
And I cannot say 'forever' if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.
Author unknown
Our house has been undergoing a spring clean since the 12th holidays last weekend (perhaps I should call it '12th cleaned') and I'm telling myself there can't be many more drawers, shelves, cupboards, boxes or nooks or crannies left for me to pull everything out and ditch the junk, then hopefully leave everything back looking a little better than it did before I arrived (if ur driving past our house you will know it hasn't reached the exterior of our house yet, and im not sure it will). Anyway this is a little poem I found scribbled in a notebook somewhere that I thought you might find challenging...I did at least. I recommend reading it slowly and leaving time to understand each line...
I cannot say...
I cannot say 'our' if I live only for myself.
I cannot say 'father' if I do not endeavour each day to act like His child.
I cannot say 'in heaven' if I am laying up no treasure there.
I cannot say 'hallowed be your name' if I am not striving for holiness.
I cannot say 'your kingdom come' if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.
I cannot say 'your will be done' if I am disobedient to His word.
I cannot say 'on earth as it is in heaven' if I'll not serve Him here and now.
I cannot say 'give us today our daily bread' if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge.
I cannot say 'forgive us our debts' if I harbour a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say 'lead us not into temptation' if I deliberately place myself in it's path.
I cannot say 'deliver us from evil' if I do not put on the whole armour of God.
I cannot say 'yours is the kingdom' if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.
I cannot attribute to Him 'the power' if I fear what men may do.
I cannot ascribe to Him 'the glory' if I am seeking honour only for myself.
And I cannot say 'forever' if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.
Author unknown
Monday, 21 July 2008
Random thoughts...
After Simon reminding me that I really haven't bothered my bum blogging in a while I thought I might share a few thoughts...so much for my last attempt in May. But here we go at the end of July. I might add in my defence that I have been kinda busy...doing pre-reg exam, going to Romania, going to england with work etc etc. And I have a husband to serve and care for, and home to make. Not that I'm doing a wonderful job at either (check out girltalk over past few weeks for posts on homemaking).
As I leave my current role in Dromara as pre-reg I am tempted to worry about my new responsibilities come the end of this week. Actually I haven't just been tempted to worry, I have been sinfully worrying and being anxious about it, but am looking to the words of Jesus "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." mat6v34. I have to trust in God that he will be my guide in these days of change.
Also, in church on Sunday we were studying Judges 3. I had never heard this passage before, it is soooo good and I was just like 'God you are so funny'. I won't spoil it for you incase you haven't already read it.....
And before I go I will give Simon free publicity and announce there is a 'Sale' table in the bookshop at Vic Ryn. Not that anybody reads this blog but there Simon - I promised.
As I leave my current role in Dromara as pre-reg I am tempted to worry about my new responsibilities come the end of this week. Actually I haven't just been tempted to worry, I have been sinfully worrying and being anxious about it, but am looking to the words of Jesus "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." mat6v34. I have to trust in God that he will be my guide in these days of change.
Also, in church on Sunday we were studying Judges 3. I had never heard this passage before, it is soooo good and I was just like 'God you are so funny'. I won't spoil it for you incase you haven't already read it.....
And before I go I will give Simon free publicity and announce there is a 'Sale' table in the bookshop at Vic Ryn. Not that anybody reads this blog but there Simon - I promised.
Monday, 5 May 2008
More gems from CJ
Make no mistake: Jesus could have descended from the cross and saved Himself at any moment. It wasn't the nails that kept Him there. What kept Him there was what placed Him there - His passion to do the will of His Father, and His love for sinners like you and me.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
The Cross
The next few posts will basically be little bits from 'Christ our mediator' by none other than CJ. Enjoy :)
The distractions that turn us away from the cross are so incessant and so numberous. But failing to focus on the right spot has serious consequences. So here's my question for you: In the last week, what was your primary preoccupation in your life? What was your spiritual focus? Was it on that spot where God most reveals His personal love for you - the cross? Or was it on your own circumstances, your own condition, your own concerns? Was your preoccupation with your personal pursuit of godliness? Growth in godliness must be pursued, but never apart from joyful gratitude for the cross.
That's why in my own spiritual diet - and I recommend this for yours as well - a consistent ingredient is the study of the cross, primarily from Scripture but also from many of the oustanding books that have been written about the cross from a strong biblical perspective. Let there never be a lengthy period of time where you aren't receiving inspiration and instruction related directly to the cross, since that's where we find a fresh, sustaining conviction of His personal love.
The distractions that turn us away from the cross are so incessant and so numberous. But failing to focus on the right spot has serious consequences. So here's my question for you: In the last week, what was your primary preoccupation in your life? What was your spiritual focus? Was it on that spot where God most reveals His personal love for you - the cross? Or was it on your own circumstances, your own condition, your own concerns? Was your preoccupation with your personal pursuit of godliness? Growth in godliness must be pursued, but never apart from joyful gratitude for the cross.
That's why in my own spiritual diet - and I recommend this for yours as well - a consistent ingredient is the study of the cross, primarily from Scripture but also from many of the oustanding books that have been written about the cross from a strong biblical perspective. Let there never be a lengthy period of time where you aren't receiving inspiration and instruction related directly to the cross, since that's where we find a fresh, sustaining conviction of His personal love.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
more plaigarism for you...
a quote from Gary or else Gary stole this from somewhere and brought it to my attention (and lets face it, probably only Gary reading it) ...but too challenging not to share...
I have met people who knew a lot about baseball, a lot about oldies rock and roll [oops], a lot about computers, a lot about a lot, but I have never met anyone who knew the Bible too well. Not one person. Ever. Especially not in these times.
The ESV Study Bible comes out this October. I see an opportunity here. Could we all give ourselves ESV Study Bibles for Christmas and then set 2009 apart as “Our Year of the Bible”? Could we all give less to other things so that we give more to the Bible? Could we bore down together and discover the wonders of this holy Book as never before? Could we acknowledge our spiritual hunger, and thoughtfully, carefully, attentively, daily feed our souls? Could we shut off the noise and listen? Could we re-set our focus from the voices inside our heads to the Voice in the Book?
And if we did, is it even conceivable that we could then come to the end of 2009 and say, “Dang. I could have done more TV and more computer and more video games and more dumb stuff. What a loser year 2009 has been! Next year, man, it’s going to be different. No more of this Bible-focus for me. I’m going to LIVE again”? Is there any chance, any chance at all, that could happen? Or might Jesus become more real to us? Might the Holy Spirit be poured out? Might we look back on 2009 as our turn-around year?
I have met people who knew a lot about baseball, a lot about oldies rock and roll [oops], a lot about computers, a lot about a lot, but I have never met anyone who knew the Bible too well. Not one person. Ever. Especially not in these times.
The ESV Study Bible comes out this October. I see an opportunity here. Could we all give ourselves ESV Study Bibles for Christmas and then set 2009 apart as “Our Year of the Bible”? Could we all give less to other things so that we give more to the Bible? Could we bore down together and discover the wonders of this holy Book as never before? Could we acknowledge our spiritual hunger, and thoughtfully, carefully, attentively, daily feed our souls? Could we shut off the noise and listen? Could we re-set our focus from the voices inside our heads to the Voice in the Book?
And if we did, is it even conceivable that we could then come to the end of 2009 and say, “Dang. I could have done more TV and more computer and more video games and more dumb stuff. What a loser year 2009 has been! Next year, man, it’s going to be different. No more of this Bible-focus for me. I’m going to LIVE again”? Is there any chance, any chance at all, that could happen? Or might Jesus become more real to us? Might the Holy Spirit be poured out? Might we look back on 2009 as our turn-around year?
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
How are you??
Just reading some of 'Christ our mediator' by CJ Mahaney (Looks brill so far by the way, I would highly recommend it!). One little thing he talks about it how when someone asks how he is, he replies with 'better than i deserve'. Which I think is brilliant cos he then goes on to explain about how we are sinners and need a saviour. Brilliant. Just have to ask for the grace and strength to start using it.
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