I'm Back!
Hi! I know it has been a loooong time.... almost 6 months. Life was full but now has shifted with my contract at Nova House being completed. I am still on the casual staff list there plus working a small job with Children's Ministry at St. Margaret's Anglican Church and about to start a training program for Spiritual Direction. That's my quick update!
I have no plan of how much I will blog in this new season of my life or on what themes or topics but I thought I'd tell you about my current (like, in the last 15 minutes) thoughts.
It's about garbage cans and litter. Yes, I was walking Pepsi and saw a garbage can pushed over and thought, "do I put it back up straight or walk by?" Can you guess what I did? I put it back up. This got me thinking about life and our positive actions - how they can fall into three categories.
1) not making things worse
2) making things right
3) making things better
With litter, it means
1) not littering ourselves
2) picking up litter when we encounter it
3) putting garbage cans in accessible places or planning community clean-ups
How does this relate to me? to you? and our day to day lives of walking with Jesus?
Well, I think that commands of God may fit into one of these three categories .... remember this is first draft thinking as I've only been contemplating it for 25 minutes now!
For example, here are some Pauline commands regarding speech:
1) Do not lie to each other (Col. 3:9)
2) Speak truthfully (Eph. 4:25)
3) Encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11)
Thinking about my actions (which includes my words) in this way, can help me frame what exactly I am doing and what expectations I have of what my obedience will accomplish. It also helps me rely on God for particular things - the power to resist temptations, the courage to do the right thing, or the wisdom to determine what my #3 type of step looks like. Clarity about what it is that the Lord is asking of me in a situation can facilitate my obedience. Which is what I want ... to walk in God's ways!
Something else I find interesting is that I am personally more drawn to different types of engagement in different aspects of my life. My work I get paid for, my community engagement, my family atmosphere, my Church involvement, my political activity, and even how I take care of myself physically may be marked by an emphasis on one of these three things:
1) not making things worse (resisting)
2) making things right (restoring)
3) making things better (redeeming)
(I just thought of those words and look.... they all start with "R's")
Well, I am off for today but I'd love to hear from you. Either through comments on the blog or responding to the email (if you get this directly in your inbox). Here are some things I am interested in hearing about from you...
Does this framework benefit you in any way?
What type of the three action do you tend to focus on?
Have you experienced the Spirit's empowering in all three types of actions?
Anything else you'd want to say!
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
I have no plan of how much I will blog in this new season of my life or on what themes or topics but I thought I'd tell you about my current (like, in the last 15 minutes) thoughts.
It's about garbage cans and litter. Yes, I was walking Pepsi and saw a garbage can pushed over and thought, "do I put it back up straight or walk by?" Can you guess what I did? I put it back up. This got me thinking about life and our positive actions - how they can fall into three categories.
1) not making things worse
2) making things right
3) making things better
With litter, it means
1) not littering ourselves
2) picking up litter when we encounter it
3) putting garbage cans in accessible places or planning community clean-ups
How does this relate to me? to you? and our day to day lives of walking with Jesus?
Well, I think that commands of God may fit into one of these three categories .... remember this is first draft thinking as I've only been contemplating it for 25 minutes now!
For example, here are some Pauline commands regarding speech:
1) Do not lie to each other (Col. 3:9)
2) Speak truthfully (Eph. 4:25)
3) Encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11)
Thinking about my actions (which includes my words) in this way, can help me frame what exactly I am doing and what expectations I have of what my obedience will accomplish. It also helps me rely on God for particular things - the power to resist temptations, the courage to do the right thing, or the wisdom to determine what my #3 type of step looks like. Clarity about what it is that the Lord is asking of me in a situation can facilitate my obedience. Which is what I want ... to walk in God's ways!
Something else I find interesting is that I am personally more drawn to different types of engagement in different aspects of my life. My work I get paid for, my community engagement, my family atmosphere, my Church involvement, my political activity, and even how I take care of myself physically may be marked by an emphasis on one of these three things:
1) not making things worse (resisting)
2) making things right (restoring)
3) making things better (redeeming)
(I just thought of those words and look.... they all start with "R's")
Well, I am off for today but I'd love to hear from you. Either through comments on the blog or responding to the email (if you get this directly in your inbox). Here are some things I am interested in hearing about from you...
Does this framework benefit you in any way?
What type of the three action do you tend to focus on?
Have you experienced the Spirit's empowering in all three types of actions?
Anything else you'd want to say!
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
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