Happy New Year 2020!!, I plan to post weekly going forward, likely on Wednesdays.
Now back to the more important things.
If Jesus Christ is not the real foundation under our lives, we are headed for real trouble. The sort of trouble that may not come to us until the end of life, or it may come next week, but it IS coming either way.
If money or a nice home, or a nice set of kids, or a nice neighborhood, a set of easy life circumstances is the foundation of our lives. Then there is coming a bad time for us. It will be very unsettling and upsetting. It will feel like our lives are being turned upside down, in a confusing way, against our will.
But if we can get Jesus Christ under our lives, in a real way, not a fake or sentimental, pretending-for-church way. If we can do that then he will turn our lives upside down in a way that we can understand and accept and perhaps even enjoy. Better this happen sooner than later. Get him alone under you, with intensity, while you’re young, and repeat every day if necessary. Let him shape your life-circumstances according to what he wants, not necessarily according to what you want, or what is easy for you.
Either way, for the Christian, our lives are not our own to control and optimize for ease and comfort. If we are a Christian we WILL lay our lives down for new ones, sooner or later, lives founded solely on him.
I’ve found an amazing little book about Jesus Christ written in the 1680s by a woman in France. The book is called Experiencing The Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon. I just had to plug it, because it is a great read for those who want more of Jesus Christ.
“There is only one way to conquer your five senses, and that is by inward recollection. …Your soul must turn all of its attention and energies within, not without! Within to Christ, not without to the senses. When your soul is turned within, it actually becomes separated from your external senses; and once your five senses are separated from your soul, they receive no more attention. Their supply of life is cut off! They become powerless. … Your main concern, therefore, is with the presence of Jesus Christ. Your main concern lies in dwelling continually upon the God who is within you. Then without particularly thinking of self denial or “putting away the deeds of the flesh,” God will cause you to experience a natural subduing of the flesh!” pp..50-51 Jeanne Guyon
Here Guyon is teaching a great deal about turning to the Lord. I believe what she teaches here is synonymous with seeking first the kingdom of God for the Christian.
She refers to the subduing of the sins of the flesh as a natural result of this inward centering on Jesus Christ. It happens naturally and rather easily. It’s not a matter of trying hard to overcome the flesh. Which really is a fruitless meaningless exercise in failure.
Turning to the Lord within is a great way to describe what she is teaching.
Guyon did not originally intend to write this to publish but to help friends. It was so helpful that she decided to publish.
I wonder if she imagined that her book would be helping people 340 years later on the other side of the world. Goes to show how important it is for Christians, men and women, to let their light shine, to share, to write, to speak, and to publish.
The 80s song “every breath you take” by The Police, vocals by Sting is a brilliant example of a love song. I remember listening to it during my youth thinking of crushes and girlfriends.
But now I see a much greater purpose for this song. With a few minor tweaks to the lyrics it could make a wonderful love song from the church to Jesus Christ.
Jesus, when on earth in the flesh spoke of doing nothing except for what he saw the father doing.
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” John 5:19-20 ESV
Jesus knew how to watch the father. And now we who live and follow him can learn how to watch Jesus in the spirit.
Are you watching Jesus Christ in the spirit? Do you know what I mean by that? If you do then this song expresses the love you must have for watching him. I am growing in love for Christians because I can see him in their lives, and words, and eyes.
Every breath you take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take, We’ll be watching you Every single day and every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray. We’ll be watching you Oh, can you see we belong to you How my poor heart aches for every step you take Every move you make, and every vow we take Every smile you display, every claim you stake, We’ll be watching you
Without you we are lost without a trace We dream at night, we get to always see your face. We look around but it’s you we can’t replace We feel so cold and we long for your embrace
We keep crying, “Jesus, my Lord, please”
Oh, can you see we belong to you? How my poor heart aches with every step you take Every move you make and every vow we take Everything you say, every claim you stake, We’ll be watching you Every move you make, every step you take, We’ll be watching you We’ll be watching you Every breath you take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray (We’ll be watching you) Every move you make, every vow we make Every thing you say, every claim you stake (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night we pray (We’ll be watching you) Every breath you take, every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every game you play, every night you stay (We‘ll be watching you) Every move you make, every vow we make Every thing you say, every claim you stake (We’ll be watching you) Every single day, every word you say Every thing you say, every night I pray (We’ll be watching you)
I am looking for someone with musical skill and love for Christ to perform this, email me at collierak@me.com if interested.
English