Isn't it great that we never need to stop learning about God? I find, though, that I need to be purposeful about dragging my mind back and back and back again to focus on God, Himself. It's so easy to get caught up in doing things FOR God... or for my family for God, or for the church for God, etc. Pretty soon, I'm about five steps from God, Who becomes the reason--somewhere--I guess--way down deep, but not my conscious reason for living. It's not enough to busy myself with the things of this world. I need to be conscious about God more and more in the moments of my day!

Turning 50 really is turning a corner. Suddenly, I realize that I'm probably a whole lot closer to Heaven than I am to earth. I'll be spending an eternity with God, so how much time am I investing now so that I'll enjoy Him to the fullest? I don't want my life to be so taken up with tasks for God that I forget to spend time with God or contemplating and enjoying God himself.

So, my recent Bible readings have been focused on Phillippians. In chapter 1, there's a beautiful prayer by Paul that I decided to dwell upon. And, while doing so, I dug out A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers by D. A. Carson, who investigates the Epistles to see what lessons Paul taught in his "school of prayer." I also made a new playlist, which I entitled "Joy." I combed my iTunes list (and even downloaded a few new songs) to put together songs that were rejoicing in either God or the life He has provided for us here, so that while I worked on Week 6 of Year 3 today, I might rejoice in the God Who loved me enough to give His life for me. It is He Who is waiting for me in Heaven... not that far from now. I am finding myself refreshed today as I take time to remember Jesus more through the day through these simple, but purposeful, disciplines.

Labels: encouragement, recommendation