I've never put much stock in being trendy - and although being a "blogger" seems to be pretty popular these days, I decided to become one anyway. It's not because I have anything incredibly profound to say, or that I believe that I'm some great spiritual guru - it's only because I am excited about what God is teaching me as I'm on my life journey with Him.
There's this overflow that I feel compelled to share. My hope is that the words within each post point to Him as our great Leader and that God uses them in His own way to encourage, and even challenge, the hearts of other seekers who are on the path with Him.
Though I was raised in a godly home and gave my heart to Jesus when I was 6; my intense pursuit of Christ didn't really begin until the summer of my 43rd year. It was then that God gripped my heart and slowly pulled me to Himself - that was probably the greatest summer of my life thus far. As I read and studied His Word, as I sat outside in the quiet of nature and listened for Him, He met me there. He opened my eyes to the scripture and gave me new understanding of the words I had heard since my childhood. Since that time, He has continued to guide me on the path He has for me - as I've let him. Something I've learned is that He only leads when He is invited. And that is my reason for the title. God longs to be our Leader, but for Him to take that role - we must agree to follow.
The name "Christian" has become so muddied and overused in recent years that it makes many of us cringe when labeled as such. Not recoiling at the thought itself, but at what the world now associates with that title. Like many other believers, I prefer the label "Christ Follower". It just seems more descriptive of how I perceive my relationship with God.
Recently, however, I began to contemplate the term "follower" and all that it implies.
To follow someone indicates that there is someone actually leading the way. So, I started to wonder how accurate the label "Christ Follower" is for me.
I mean, do I really allow Him to lead me?
The true connotation of the word "follow" indicates some sort of submission; giving leadership away to someone else.
Do I really do that in my relationship with Jesus? Do I submit myself to Him, so He may go before me and lead?
If my answer is anything other than completely affirmative, the label I've given myself is horribly inaccurate and my obedience to the God I claim to serve is sadly diminished.
Of course, there are days when I am better at this following thing than on others. Days when I begin bowed down...but later seem to lose my focus. Somehow I become more engrossed in the road under my feet than I do the directions of my Travel Guide.
So, does God love me any less because I can't seem to stay focused on Him? No, of course not. He loves me as his precious daughter - no matter what.
I do believe it pains His heart, though.
He longs to have me recognize my need for Him; to give me the very best He has to offer; to create unsurpassed peace and joy in my heart.
It's like He's standing there with His arms opened wide, but I'm so preoccupied with the life that surrounds me, many times I cannot even see Him there. How could I do this to the One who gave up His very life for me?
Every day, Father stands in front of me smiling, inviting me to Himself. When he turns to start the day's journey, on His back is a sign that reads: FOLLOW ME. If I'm going to remain alive in Him, I must look up from the ground I've been placed on. I have to focus my gaze and stay behind Jesus. And though it's sometimes frustrating not being able to see around Him to the road ahead, I'm certain He can be trusted to show me the very best way to go.
And this where I belong - running after my Savior, just trying to keep up.
There's this overflow that I feel compelled to share. My hope is that the words within each post point to Him as our great Leader and that God uses them in His own way to encourage, and even challenge, the hearts of other seekers who are on the path with Him.
Though I was raised in a godly home and gave my heart to Jesus when I was 6; my intense pursuit of Christ didn't really begin until the summer of my 43rd year. It was then that God gripped my heart and slowly pulled me to Himself - that was probably the greatest summer of my life thus far. As I read and studied His Word, as I sat outside in the quiet of nature and listened for Him, He met me there. He opened my eyes to the scripture and gave me new understanding of the words I had heard since my childhood. Since that time, He has continued to guide me on the path He has for me - as I've let him. Something I've learned is that He only leads when He is invited. And that is my reason for the title. God longs to be our Leader, but for Him to take that role - we must agree to follow.
The name "Christian" has become so muddied and overused in recent years that it makes many of us cringe when labeled as such. Not recoiling at the thought itself, but at what the world now associates with that title. Like many other believers, I prefer the label "Christ Follower". It just seems more descriptive of how I perceive my relationship with God.
Recently, however, I began to contemplate the term "follower" and all that it implies.
To follow someone indicates that there is someone actually leading the way. So, I started to wonder how accurate the label "Christ Follower" is for me.
I mean, do I really allow Him to lead me?
The true connotation of the word "follow" indicates some sort of submission; giving leadership away to someone else.
Do I really do that in my relationship with Jesus? Do I submit myself to Him, so He may go before me and lead?
If my answer is anything other than completely affirmative, the label I've given myself is horribly inaccurate and my obedience to the God I claim to serve is sadly diminished.
Of course, there are days when I am better at this following thing than on others. Days when I begin bowed down...but later seem to lose my focus. Somehow I become more engrossed in the road under my feet than I do the directions of my Travel Guide.
So, does God love me any less because I can't seem to stay focused on Him? No, of course not. He loves me as his precious daughter - no matter what.
I do believe it pains His heart, though.
He longs to have me recognize my need for Him; to give me the very best He has to offer; to create unsurpassed peace and joy in my heart.
It's like He's standing there with His arms opened wide, but I'm so preoccupied with the life that surrounds me, many times I cannot even see Him there. How could I do this to the One who gave up His very life for me?
Every day, Father stands in front of me smiling, inviting me to Himself. When he turns to start the day's journey, on His back is a sign that reads: FOLLOW ME. If I'm going to remain alive in Him, I must look up from the ground I've been placed on. I have to focus my gaze and stay behind Jesus. And though it's sometimes frustrating not being able to see around Him to the road ahead, I'm certain He can be trusted to show me the very best way to go.
And this where I belong - running after my Savior, just trying to keep up.
