Light Steps: Walking in the way...

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Walking in the way...

I love being intentional. Now, I don't want to give the impression that I've perfected it. I haven't. I am growing. The following passage was given to the people of Israel, and it's absolutely full of exhortations to intentionality. (Yes, I know, "intentionality" is not a real word. It is now.)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)

Do you see this girl? ---------------------------->

That's my daughter. She's awesome. She'll be 9 in November, but I'm in the midst of enjoying 8, so 9 can take it's time.

Tonight, we went to Wal Mart. I do my dead-level best to not shop anywhere, save my trusty Food Lion. It wasn't planned. I was locked out of the house, and my office, and Care was over an hour away. Well, I should say, it wasn't planned by me. See, I'm learning intentionality from God. He's the Master, and the master of it.

We talked about stewardship (which is always a great shopping subject) dieting, movies -- the Avengers in particular, and The Hulk -- school coming to an end, a classmate's burden that she's concerned about, thunderstorms and several other items. In each case, I brought biblical principles and precepts to bear upon the subject. Despite her young age, Rachel is thoughtful and engaging, and quite impressive, at times, in her understanding. We were "walking in the way..." and were enjoying it.

We made a plan to do some nothing on Saturday. Thirty minutes later, post much exciting discussion, and long after our 30 second talk about plans to do nothing, Rachel wanted to know if her mom and sister didn't want to do nothing would she and I do nothing -- and here's the kicker -- "like we've been doing."

It hit me. God intentionally allowed me to be locked out of my house. God intentionally allowed me to be locked out of my office. God intentionally gave me conversations with one my Beautifuls. God intentionally gave me recall of Scripture and relevant application. God intentionally birthed Rachel into our family. God intentionally created her to know Him, and He intentionally equips and opportunes me to serve as His undershepherd for my daughter. Wow...

My daughter wanted surety that she and I would repeat our fellowship soon. That's intentionality.

We have walked in the way this week. Guess what...we'll sit in the house, too. Intentionally.

I will be diligent.

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This Says it for Me!

Every Christian is a contradiction to this old world. He crosses it at every point. He goes against the grain from beginning to end. From the day that he is born again until the day that he goes on to be with the Lord, he must stand against the current of a world always going the other way. God expects him to be "beside himself," "a fool for Christ's sake," "drunk on new wine." If he allows it, men will tone him down, steal the joy of his salvation, and reduce him to the dreary level of the general average. If the devil cannot keep us from being saved, he next endeavors to make average Christians of us, and in this he usually succeeds. He tames the holy recklessness of God's dare-saints until they sink into the drab pattern of most of us, "faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly dull." The devil does not mind our joining church if we behave like most of those who are already inside. But when a real, wide-awake Christian breezes along, taking the Gospel seriously, the devil grows alarmed and begins plotting his downfall. He gets plenty of assistance right in the church, for many church folk do not like to have their Laodicean complacency upset by these who turn the world upside down. So they conspire with Satan to turn the young Christian's fever into a chill. There are always plenty of human wet blankets to smother the zealot's flame, and they have put out more spiritual fires than have all the skeptics and infidels. -- Vance Havner

A Little About Me...

I was born in South Boston, VA, but was raised on the state line in the Person Co., NC - Caswell Co., NC - Halifax Co., VA region. I always tell people you know you are a country boy when your idea of being a "multi-national" means you've been to three counties in your lifetime.

Enough of my geographical meanderings...I became a Christian (ask me about THAT!) at the age of 25 and have done my utmost to serve God since that day. I worked as an associate pastor for 4 1/2 years and now serve in the role of Executive Director of My Life Matters, where I've been since March 2005, and I also serve as the pastor of East Rock Community Church, a church plant, along with fellow elders, Brett Carver & Casey Adams, where we've been since June 2007.

I love to write. I share a devotion in our local paper each week. This blog site is really just an extension of my writing. I really hope to share the Word of God with people...any kind of people, every kind of person. I also do a weekly podcast called "Light Steps Live," which can be found on several platforms.

Thanks for "stopping by"! Y'all come back now, ya hear?