The Week After

April 27, 2011

My goal during the Lenten season was to obtain “new Life.” The journey included many challenges and distractions, so did I actually reach my goal? Did I empty myself of bitterness, and negative thoughts and spirits that were preventing me from being who God intended me to be? Am I perfect now? The answer is a resounding NO! There are still a few cobwebs that surface from time to time, as cobwebs do. But the good news is that I am more conscious of their presence and their clinging nature. I am more aware that like the cobwebs that form in our houses that have to be cleared way on a regular basis, the cobwebs of our souls and spirits have to be cleared on a regular basis. If not, we will become entrapped in webs that stifle my relationship with God. No, I am not perfect. I defy anyone who says he/she is. But I continue to press on toward the goal, which is perfection, (like Christ) in order win the prize with full knowledge and belief that God loves me so much that He will never leave not forsake me. Like Paul, "I am convinced that neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

My daily prayer is that God will use me as an instrument of His peace. So, I have to be willing to empty myself daily of all that hinders me obtaining inner peace and being at peace with others. It’s the simple things that I am learning to perceive more value in. For instance, my mother used to always say, “A soft tongue turns away wrath.” Today’s ODB (odb.org) lesson reminds us to guard our tongues. The very words that we allow to come from our mouths can be a detriment to someone who is already not where they should be spiritually. As Christians we have the power to either turn them on or off. So I am learning how to simply think and pray before I speak. It’s a simple exercise to do, but perfecting it takes practice. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19) Oh, I still put my foot in my mouth occasionally, but I recognize it as soon as I have done it.

That’s the discerning spirit within which helps me choose to make things right. The trouble with some people is that even though god has graciously given them a discerning spirit to enable them to “make things right,” they allow bitterness, the “cobweb,” to rule, which of course is sin. Do you see why it is so important to do a thorough dusting away of these little “entrapments” daily, no, more to the point, minute by minute?

What kind of progress did you make during this journey? Did you achieve perfection? Or do you have more work to do? I surely do. I have to restock my “cleaning supplies.”

Be blessed today and always know that I love you. Please continue to remember all of our prayer concerns. Oh, yes, remind everybody you talk to that the banquet table is still open. The chef is refilling the serving dishes regularly. He told me that the harvest is plentiful so everything is fresh each day. The only problem is that “the laborers are few” so He has a HELP WANTED sign posted. abp