Angus Nelson

It’s no huge revelation to discover that the chaos in our lives contain one denominator, me.  It’s like dating the same person over and over again except with a different face.  We stand there wondering “how could I have possibly picked the same kind of people each and every time?”  We do it to ourselves.

We’ve all experienced times of craziness where we wanted to blame people or  circumstances around us.  Yet, these things are never the root of the problem.  I believe it’s our thoughts that are at the core of our life’s experiences.  For instance, if you’re not feeling good about yourself, maybe some insecurity or a lack of confidence, and you walk into a situation that demands your leadership, you’ll make decisions out of fear or desperation.  Those decisions will most likely be the wrong ones.

Maybe you’re single and would really like to have a significant other.  If you approach the situation out of need, loneliness or desperation, you’ll attract someone just like you; two needy people miserable and co-dependent.  You’re motives, from your thoughts, will lead down the wrong paths.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks, so is he.”

How we think is ultimately everything, for thinking creates beliefs and beliefs create behaviors.  Let me say that again, beliefs create behavior.

So here’s a nugget to remember:  What you hear about, you think about.  What you think about you’ll talk about.  What you talk about, you’ll bring about.

Hear about – think about – talk about – bring about

God gave us a way to develop ourselves in light of this, just as in nature: sun shines, grass grows, and seasons come and go.  I call it God’s “Organic Nature”.  We can naturally and effortlessly experience transformation of our self-worth, habits and behaviors simply by following His methods of thought process.  Not “positive thinking”, but “purposeful thinking”.

I dare you to listen to this teaching and implement it into your lifestyle routine.  Just as John 10:10 says, you CAN experience “…life, and life more than abundant”.  It’s all about RENEWING your mind.

One guy sneezes across the room, “God bless you!” is the phrase echoed around the room.  We’ve all said it or heard it.  We actually believe God might just follow through on that declaration.

Then there’s the phrase “God love ya’”, exemplified by our new Vice-President, Joe Biden, when we accidently told a guy in a wheelchair to stand up.

We’re all good to speak on the big guy’s behalf and on some level, we believe it’s true.  Of course God loves you, He loves me, He loves everyone, right?  We all connect to that on an intellectual level, no doubt – God loves me.

However, when you go to an emotional of spiritual level, things can get a little buggered.  After all, there are days that perhaps, you don’t even like you, how in the world would God like you at that moment?  This is a deeply vulnerable revelation to admit that you’re not sure if God really, truly loves you – no matter what you’ve done or said.  Can that possibly be true?

Yet, it’s a fact that He says that “God is love”.  And if this is true, than 1 Corinthians must be a description of God:

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.

It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever…

There are three things that remain — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.

God loves us.  In fact, He’s enamored, infatuated and completely head-over-heels with all that you are.  When you connect to that understanding, suddenly you will grow in confidence, assurance and peacefulness.  His love for us strengthens our resolve, causes us to walk tall and speak boldly.  If this doesn’t describe someone, it is sure that they haven’t connected to the real love of God.

The love the sees past your mistakes and accepts you just as you are, like the parables of Luke 15, the story of Hosea and the woman at the well.  God is RELENTLESS in his pursuit of love FOR YOU!

God is RELENTLESS IN HIS LOVE FOR YOU!

Those little chive onions that seem to sprout out of the ground anywhere seem to elude me.  I planted some of these little buggers in a pot and proceeded to care for it as I would any other soil based organism; I planted, watered and provided adequate sunlight.  Yet, without fail, each time I’ve tried this, the chives get thinner and thinner until they take a dirt nap of eternal proportions.

It’s baffling to think that a plant that literally grows like a weed in my lawn could so effortlessly go limp and deprive me the satisfaction of herbal delight.  Like a taunting mockery, something that, left to its own devices, thrives and flourishes yet when brought into my care, wilts and dies.

Farbeit from me to understand the rascally ways of a chive, a horticulturist I am not. Though, I must admit, I have taken great pleasure in this conundrum.

A chive is alive when left to it’s own.  A chive is deprived when domesticated… at least in my home.

Compare this with academia, micro-management or religion to the heart of man.

A new year upon us and I’ve had two weeks off, two weeks to avoid as much work as possible… not easy for recovering work-a-holic.  Yet, something’s different.

I have stepped into a new year with new perspective and tenacity.  Not because it’s a “new year”, but because I took time to rest, play and breath.  My mind has been released to see things from different vantage points, altering my sense of passion and excitement.  Thus, this is my New Year’s Resolution, “creating time away”.

Purposefully and intentionally, I’ve connected to efficiency and effectiveness being found not in working harder, but working smarter.  Delegation is my new found friend.  Inviting others to the table in accomplishing their own dreams and goals is vital, if not necessary.

So, this year, I don’t have to do everything.  What must be done, doesn’t even have to be done the way I’d do it. I will talk less, say more;  do less, accomplish more; and inspire more, worry less.

Matthew 11:28-30 ”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Erwin McManus – Soul Cravings