Patrick O'Connell

TV Fast for Lent

I've decided to fast from television for Lent. My estimate is that will give me 3 to 4 hours back every week. I have nothing against TV. I am just trying to become more wise how I spend my time.

As I've grown older I am more sensitive to the finite nature of my time.  I am not interested in being more productive  with my extra time. I suspect I'll just read more. In fact, last week I sat down and read a book about the Civil War in Missouri. I would not have added that to my reading list unless I had the extra time.

If I am going to honor God with my life I must be willing to offer every part of it to him. My time is on the offering table.

Lent Begins Today

Lent begins today. It's one of the six seasons of the church calendar. Lent is an opportunity for the Christian to prepare his/her heard for Easter with reflection, repentance and prayer. During Lent Christians focus on human sin and God's grace as a solution. It's a somber season, one of devotion and introspection.

This Lent I am going to fast from television. I want to recapture some of my time and use it in more creative endeavors.

Jesus has done so much for me. I am not missing the opportunity.

The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near

Day two of the One-Year Bible and I read this in Matthew:

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 3:1-2 (TNIV)

I've been asking myself all day, do I really live this reality? I mean the kingdom of heaven in near according to this verse but do I acknowledge it? Is this having an impact on the way I live my life and my relationship with Jesus?

To be honest, I am not so sure. I would like it to. I think it would create some profound change in my priorities and the way I viewed my relationship with the world.

After praying about it, it dawned on me that I haven't done often enough what the verse commands and that's to REPENT. Literally, turn around. That's what I've been doing all day. Telling God that I repent of my sins, my iniquities, my failures, etc. and instead turn toward Him. This cannot happen once or even a dozen times. It must happen all the time. My heart becomes hard with accumulated sin and I am unable to acknowledge that heaven has come near. When I repent my eyes are opened to the fact that the kingdom is near.

What about you? Do you agree with me?

    

    

Saturday Morning Run And A Promise

I just got back from a fairly easy 6 mile run with Tony and Ben. We start out early (6:30AM) and with the sun rising, hit the trails.

Dawn is simply the best time of day.

We kept a good pace (just about 8 minute miles). The grass was covered in dew; the trees were blooming; birds were singing.

Ben made an observation that Spring is evidence of God's promise. The world comes back to life--just as God planned it. Tony and I agreed, the abundance of that promise all around us.

After the run, we stretched and prayed before heading home.

It's hard--really hard--getting up early on Saturdays, but I never regret it. I think of all the benefits of an early start: The whole day is before me and I've got a good work out in. I've spent time with friends, and I've been reminded that God always fulfills his promises. Now, if only every day could begin this way.

Trying to Follow

Ariah Fine attempts to explain the title of his blog, Trying to Follow, in this post. His reflection on trying to follow Jesus is rather timely for me as we are facing several 'big' decisions in the coming weeks.

Once we start trying to follow Jesus, our priorities for our life change. I couldn't agree more. 

Are You an Instrument or Obstacle?

In our 90 Day Bible class we've been coming back to this notion that people in the Bible are either instruments for God to use in implementing his greater plan, or, they are obstacles to what God us trying to do.

Take David for instance. In the early part of his life, he was an instrument to God's plan that culminated in a new covenant with God. (2 Samuel 7). But later on he became an obstacle when his lust for Bathsheba caused him to sin. It's recorded in Samuel that God was forced to punish the house of David as a result of this ordeal.

So it's really just a question of whether we are getting in the way of God or really trying to be an instrument for Him to use.

I'll admit that for many years I was an obstacle. I pray that this has changed. My life is now is more focused on my being an instrument for God. I don't always get it right of course, but I am trying.

What about you? Have you given this much thought? I'd love to hear from you.

Yielding

Jesus asks me to yield my life to him. This is why following him is so hard. I resist. I procrastinate. Some days I go through the motions of following him but I don't mean it. I resist yielding because Jesus wants everything from me. Why isn't he satisfied with just a little part of me. Why everything?

And yet, my sincere desire is to yield to Him.

I began this journey yielding small parts of my life to him. It's increased over time. I have yielded more and more to him but there is still more of me to give. It seems there are still parts of me that wont let go

Love. That's the only justifiable answer. God is relentless in his love for me. He wants everything because he loves me. I am incomplete without him and he knows it. I am not wholly human if I am not giving myself to God.

The more I pray about it the more I realize what is best for me is best for him. I yield because when I do so he gives me life.

This year I started Oswald Chambers devotional, My Upmost for His Highest. It's my way of yielding a another part of myself to Christ everyday. Chambers cites Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV) in the fist devotional of the year:

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage to so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

And so I am determined to absolutely and irrevocably surrender myself to Christ no matter the cost.

What about you?