What's on your mind...the facebook status line prompts us to share what's going on in our lives, how we are feeling or where we are off to. I am often tempted to type into that line the very thing that has been in the front of my mind for days...the thing I am agonizing over...but does anyone really care?
What’s on your mind...the real question should be what SHOULD be on your mind. If we all asked ourselves that before blurting out all our crap for all 645 of our “closest” friends to read, judge and comment on we might start a new trend and actually add something to our lives.
What’s on your mind....frankly I’m not sure I have enough to spare, but if I was to share a bit of it, it would have to be that I wish all our minds were focused on Who they should be instead of our selfish ways. I would also share how sad it makes me to see how many of us, knowing better, still choose the path we want instead of the path that was lovingly cleared and paved for us long before we were here.
What’s on your mind....my mind is on the man hanging on the cross, not because he deserved it, but because he longed to save those of us who mock him, desert him, blaspheme him and spit in his face by choosing our own way. Like spoiled children we run away from his loving arms, taunting him as if He has no control over us. And knowing full well we would do this he hung there, suffering until the blood had drained out of his and his spirit left his body.
What’s on my mind is the model of true love he gave us that could save us from all the heart ache and pain we encounter, but we think we know better than the very One who planned our being, our lives and not only the path, but all the beautiful scenery along that path. And in the midst of our disobedience...he blesses us. He blesses us with breath, and health and children and we spit in His face as if His blood means nothing to us.
What’s on my mind is how He gave a guide to live by and in knowing that guide we know that to step outside of His will is to step outside of His protection. Why would we choose that? Because we don’t understand what a complete love is....because we are putting our own “spin” on HIS TRUTH.
In his book, “Graced Based Parenting” Dr. Tim Kimmel defines the kind of love that can radically change your life and can only come through you if you choose His will.
“Love is the commitment of my will to your needs
and best interests, regardless of the cost”
That’s what Jesus had in mind as He hung on that cross, not only to save us but to give us the model for the kind of love we should choose.
Let’s break it down...
1. Love is the commitment of my will...
In other words, doing the loving thing may not always come naturally to you. You may have to muster courage, say no to your fears, and place your feelings in check. Love is about making decisions based on the covenant we have with that person.
2. To your needs and best interests...
Not “to my needs and best interests.” Love sees our needs as a “B” priority compared to the best interests of the person we are called to love.
3. Regardless of the Cost...
Secure love understands that loving someone is often inconvenient and sometimes painful. It definitely means eating crow, swallowing your pride, and asking for forgiveness a lot.
What’s on my mind....that there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see. They have baffled their own consciences, and so they walk on in darkness knowing full well that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. But alas, a mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise. And so it goes that He gave his very life, he left clear direction and even a Book to live by and we spit.
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God's way; and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally, and spiritually]
What’s on my mind....and my heart is my sincere desire to walk my path dotted with daisies and phlox and to stay on my path even when the bears and lions cross over it because I know whom I belong to and who will carry me past and through the storms of this life...if only I am a willing burden for Him to carry.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.
