Door

She just sits so patiently and quiet peering in the kitchen from outside the glassed door on the back porch....waiting for a good morning acknowledgment....but more especially something to eat. Bentley, my yellow lab! Today I glanced her way as I was making breakfast and thought...Jesus too sits quietly among us waiting for an acknowledgment. Though he has the ability to be in all places and see all things and do all things..he waits....and waits ...and waits for us to make the move towards him. He will not force a interaction...for that must come from deepened desire of the heart.

It is kind of like losing weight, or making a life change, or allowing Jesus to use your strengths for his purposes instead of holding tight to earthly ways that have no productive results. The desire has to be born within you...and sought with a true and real desire to accept the need for change....knowing that we are too weak to be able to make life changing transformations on our own. We can try but we will continue to be tracking on a slippery slope.....and the only sure footing we have is with Jesus by our side.

Just as my Bentley stands waiting at the back door...so is Jesus waiting at the door of each of our hearts. he has knocked but not pounded and demanded....that is where he allows our "will" the freedom to choose. So think a minute about this morning....is Jesus still waiting for a little acknowledgment from you today? Is he waiting for acknowledgment from me?
Did I wake up thanking him for the blessing of just being alive and getting me safely through the night. And what about the other blessings that surround me daily? Have I thanked him for those? Yikes....I am doing that as I write.

We have been offered a relationship with Christ. The King of Kings...what is it about that that we don't get. Why do we insist on doing things our own way and keeping him out of the mix of our decisions, our daily lifestyle, our relationship with others, our roles as husbands and wifes, our distribution of the fruit of His Spirit; kindness, patience, self control, forgiveness etc.
I contend that is is based on self centered pride....we continue to place ourselves on a pedestal and push Christ away...thinking he won't see how I am acting, he won't know what I am thinking, I can slide my motives by him without notice.

I know this to be true, at least for me, because I have nursed this attitude time and time again. Sin is not something we like to be exposed...we try to camouflage it and rationalize it to ourselves as well as others...and therein lies the problem. Humility and pride cannot occupy the same space. Either we accept our unworthiness....and live knowing that we need help....or we posture ourselves into a masked existence...that holds no true reality.

Ok how did I get to this just by looking at Bentley standing at the door...well just like this. Jesus stands waiting... either we open the door of our hearts and let him in and desire to truly be transformed by His word, his standard his example and His leadership in all aspects of our life....or we continue to leave the door closed and live in discontent and frustration and a constant state of turmoil. The choice is simple. My way or Jesus way! It is a decision I have to make each moment of each day. I have to ask who have I placed on the pedestal? And there are many times that I quiver at my answer...for I know through my actions, my words, and my thoughts the moment that they are released....who was the instigator. Sometimes I am able to stay centered on Christ...and sometimes I get way off track...but one thing I know to be true... is that God continues faithfully to work on this project that he calls "me".....and the more I let go of the self centered deal the more able he is to build me and mature me into being what he originally has envisioned me to be....for His glory!

Jesus waits....each morning...each evening, and all through the night to be included in our lives. He created us, he packaged us according to his purposed desire for our lives. We are not just a happenstance thrown into this earthly world of chaos. we have a purpose....but the only way to figure out what His Heavenly purpose is for us unlock our cleverly bolted door, unveil the masquerade that we are living behind, and invite Christ to participate in our "daily" life. He already knows what is behind the doors...there are no secrets...

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

This is my prayer this morning...Come in Lord...you are welcome in my life...but just so you will know Lord...I know it is a mess and I am having a hard time cleaning it up.....by myself. I am just not able to conquer it alone...without your leadership and guidance and oversight...but most of all without you unconditional love. For you know the plans that you have for me...help me to strive to "desire" your input!...and then let you do what you do best....Lead me! Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!