Writing Prompt 20230903

Why do you blog?

To become a better communicator.

I’d like to think that I’m a fast learner. And that I have a good level of curiosity on many topics and can quickly get the general idea of things. But I’ve always wanted to become better at communicating what I have learned and understood.

I know that the way to become a better communicator (or better anything, for that matter) is to practice, practice, and practice. That is why I (used to) blog and, for a time, wrote regularly on my (physical, private) journal.

Of course, it also serves as a way to unload my thoughts, to give structure for the days ahead, and a form of entertainment for future me to look back (and cringe at).

Who do you want to be?

One of the suggestions on setting goals and building habits is that instead of answering the question “what?” (i.e., what are my goals or, what do I want to achieve), answer the question “who?”, that is, “who is the kind of person I want to be?”

Let’s try that out, shall we?

  • A person whose family is filled with and spreads joy, and is biblically grounded
  • A person who lives a healthy lifestyle: spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially
  • A person who is knowledgeable on a wealth of topics and is able to make a logical stand on certain issues as a result
  • A person who is able to give sound advice, largely thanks to his own experiences, or if not, at least through the experiences of others.
  • A person who creates things that are useful and inspiring
  • etc?

I feel like there’s more, but the list is already a lot.

The next step is to list down the actions I will take to become the kind of person I want to be.

Repent, Return, Rejoice

Thoughts on Hosea 9

“Rejoice not, O Israel!”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9:1‬a ESV‬‬

This word is for us.

Us who have seen, and known, and experienced,
the goodness, the glory, and the grace of God.

Us who, by whatever reasons, have left His wondrous presence and have gone away from Him, indulging instead in worldly pursuits. Giving our hearts, our minds, our strengths, our souls, to man-made idols. False gods. The temporal for the eternal.

Us who by habit, or tradition, or simply following the patterns of this world, celebrate with feasts, and festivals, and parties, and other kinds of merry making. (Because why not? What’s wrong with having some fun?)

But this is not the time for rejoicing. Not for us.

Because the jealous love of the all-powerful God is coming to claim what He has so preciously redeemed.

It is foolishness to be hard-headed and hard-hearted against this relentless, fearsome love. That which we hold dear, but is ascribed incorrectly to idols, will fall away and fall apart. The severity of our pain is proportional to our stubbornness. Don’t be like Pharoah, don’t be like Israel.

This is a time for remorse, of repentance, and of returning.

Only then can, and will, we truly rejoice.

Instructions from the Promise-keeper

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 12

While in the previous post I was stuck in a passage for a few weeks, this post is many many months in the making. I don’t know how many revisions I’ve done up to this point. Maybe my heart just wasn’t ready this whole time.

It’s difficult to read through this part of the Israelites’ journey without thinking that maybe – just maybe – I, too, am about to experience a “claiming the promised land” moment in my life.

Is it just me? I get excited and begin to imagine what my “promised land” might be. It’s a great motivator: as I imagine future possibilities I find myself making commitments to “be careful to do all” that is commanded of me. Unfortunately, I am not always able to keep these commitments.

Now, by God’s grace, I have learned that the “promised land” is not a Country, a Company, a Career, or (for some) a Companion. Infinitely better than all those things is Christ. Being in the Center of his grace and purpose in my life is the best place I have been and will ever be.

So for this passage, I am led to meditate not on the land of promise – and all the great things about it – but on the instructions of the God of the promise.

  • When you’re given a fresh start – start well. Take the opportunity to change previous wrongs and remove bad habits. Not only is it benefitial to do so, but it is disastrous if it is not done. Be merciless, do not allow yourself be tempted. Do not be fooled to think that you are as strong as you think you are. You might be okay now, after a spiritual high, but eventually there will be plateaus and valleys. It is better to be safe than sorry.
  • Listen well to instructions. When God tells us to run away from something, He gives us something to run towards instead. Seek, and listen well. Replace those wrong and bad habits with good ones – right ones. God’s instructions are laid out for us in the Bible, so seek Him there.
  • Persevere in doing well. Once you’ve received your instructions, obey to the best of your ability. God says to do “all”, not “some”. Even if you’ve made a fresh and clean start, temptations may still come from outside your area of control. “Take care that you be not ensnared to follow them”, the Bible says. In other words, there will be snares/traps. And traps by definition is something that can catch you off guard. Take care, and Persevere.
  • Rejoice! and lead your household to rejoice as well. All these instructions are beneficial to you. These are not to restrict you, but to free you from needlessly unnecessary burdens. And although the blessings should not be the focus, God is always clear to say that blessings are a natural by-product of obedience. Not only for you, but also for “your children after you forever.”

Uncommen World

I’m reading the @YouVersion plan ‘UNCOMMEN: Uncommen Words Of Husbands, Dads, & Leaders’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/19H

Day 5: Uncommen World

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV

There’s a person in the Bible who took this passage quite literally: Moses.

Moses didn’t even realize it at first. But every time Moses came back to the people after spending time with God, his face would shine so bright that the Israelites needed a veil to cover his face.

The lesson for me here is straightforward:

  • This light is not of our own, we only reflect God’s light.
  • The more time we spend with Him, the brighter we shine.
  • As that happens, don’t waste it, don’t hide it!
  • Jesus didn’t say to his disciple that they should be a light, Jesus said you are the light.
  • This light will let people see the reason for your actions, ultimately bringing glory to God.

Somehow – because of the many different issues and concerns at work and at home – for 3 weeks I “got stuck” meditating on this partcular passage. Looking back, I realize that being “stuck” actually helped me really internalize the theme of the IDMC from weeks back: discipleship happens from the inside – out.