I've learned and/or been reminded of some good stuff this week...

-If I hold on too tight to my schedule, then I'm not leaving room for God to do His thing. I need to let Him not only set my schedule but change it when He sees fit. To obey His promptings sometimes requires switching things up. As I tell my kids all the time, His plans for us are better than anything we can come up with for ourselves, so being too rigid when He's prompting us to change is of no use. Stubbornness will get us nowhere so we just need to heed His promptings and let Him do His thing.

-I just started reading Matthew. As one of Jesus' twelve disciples (often referred to as Levi), he was well acquainted with Jesus. He wrote the book of Matthew to present evidence to the Jewish people so they would know He is/was the Messiah they had been waiting for.

Yet they were waiting for a man who was going to build a physical kingdom that would last forever so they didn't recognize Jesus as Savior.

I'm thinking that a lot of us, including myself, are spending a lot more time focusing on the things we can build with human hands than things of a spiritual nature, which are eternal.

Jesus knew better.

"Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” (Francis Chan)

If we live by this, then we will focus less on what others can do for us and more on what we can do for them. We'll ask for less and give more. As we focus on Him, God will take away our neediness and start working in us to help us to meet the needs of others. That's why we're here anyway.

-If you break down 2000 years into twenty some generations, Jesus' trek on this earth doesn't seem that long ago. Just twenty some lifetimes ago, His feet trod upon this earth, experiencing troubles, trials, and temptations similar to the ones we're experiencing. He felt the sun on His skin, saw the bees buzzing around, and smelled the flowers, just like we do. He walked this earth as a real, tangible person. All that helps me to put things into perspective in ways I can't even explain.

Doing the right thing will not always feel good or make you happy. A consistent walk with God requires though, that you act right even when you don't feel right.

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord." (Psalm 4:5)

When we measure our thoughts, words, and actions against those of the world, we can fool ourselves into thinking that we're doing well. Yet once you are His, He holds you to a higher standard.

The Bible teaches us to "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Measuring ourselves by the standards set forth by the world might boost our egos but will add nothing to helping us to aspire to the true standards of righteousness set forth by God in His Word.

Each step you take and each decision you make has the potential to take you further from or draw you closer to God.

If you are truly walking with Him, there's no such thing as a small sin. While the world sees what is on the outside, He knows our hearts.

As a loving Father, He will not allow us to live sinfully and to experience his approval, peace, and joy simultaneously. If we are holding onto sin in any one area, He will not bless our lives in the other ones.

No righteous and loving parent would.

I'm not standing on shifting sand.
My life is founded on the life of a man
Who lived and died for you and me
For the sole purpose of setting us free.

I won't be ensnared by society's mores
For the Bible teaches it is he who endures
Who ultimately arrives to see His face
And to fully experience His endless grace.

Life lived on this shifting sand,
On this endless landscape, this desert land,
Its rewards will not last, its standards won't pass.
A day will come when you can no longer mask it.

The brokenness, sinfulness, and sadness within,
Only He can dig deeper and then
Uproot the source of your suffering and pain,
Infuse it with truth, turning your pain into gain.

You must do your part in willing surrender.
Give Him your heart for He is the mender.
He who can do it waits for you still,
Though He won't wait forever; that's not part of the deal.