Ask Yourself

With summer coming to a close, school starting and the holidays quickly approaching, things can easily seem to add up on our daily to-do lists. Recently, three questions were put forward at Brad Powell’s church which when heard at CORe gives us food for thought too. . . three daily questions that one could imagine Jesus asking us.

1. What are we really dreaming about today?

Do we dream about our church making us known so we can have more money? Or do we dream about this place making Jesus known? Do we dream about using this church for the opportunity for us to grow? Or do we dream that this place is about can work through other people’s lives. To do something great for God rather than for ourselves?

2. What are we really crying about?

Easy to say we care about the broken, hungry, need, the lost, those who don’t know God. But do we act on it? Do we cry about our needs or do we cry about the needs of others? Do we cry about other’s brokenness or cry only when we are feeling broken? Do we cry about other’s loss or just when we experience loss?

3. What are we really celebrating?

Are we celebrating history and tradition. God celebrates when lost people find God and hope on this side of eternity. God celebrates the folks who bring others to him. God celebrates his love being expressed through once loveless people. Heaven celebrates people who once needed forgiveness now revealing to others God’s forgiveness through them. That would be celebrating the fruit of this parish going OUT to make disciples.

What are we celebrating? Eternal abundance, hope and love shared out or temporal issues to argue over? Are we celebrating people or accumulated stuff that has lost it’s meaning for this time? Are we celebrating other people’s successes or just mine, yours? Celebrating what we are getting out of life or the generosity we are experiencing in life, by giving life.

Our life depends on our listening and studying outside of our comfort zones. God speaks. Read scripture, seek out commentary. Be aware of the company you keep. Do they encourage you to positive things that God celebrates? Be aware of what you dream for, the true tragedies you weep for, the things you celebrate. Pray, listen, ask, allow God to shape you. Move forward into God’s vision and find joy and peace – and companions in Christ with you on the journey.