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January 11, 2017

Since the middle of February I have been consciously collecting a list of things that will help me (or have prepared me to) DO this thing called BASKING that I've set out to do in the year ahead. If I'm honest, the occasional blue skies and the sun poking out from behind the clouds are my steadiest reminder, but there are things along the way that have done a lot of work too.

Here are some resources that have prepared me for 2017:

A sermon: The Glory of God in the Good Resolves of His People by John Piper - I'm not sure how many times I've listened to this sermon, but I've had it on my iPod for two whole years now. It's a theme that's on my mind often. I wrote about it here and it influenced the word I chose to focus on last year.

A book: Grace For the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman - I've read Freeman's blog for YEARS. She writes the way I long to write, connecting her faith to the most ordinary of moments in her everyday life. I read this book a while ago, but it was in its pages that I finally GOT what it was for Jesus to be about His Father's business. This book made me DIG around in the Bible. It encouraged me to look to Christ's example as I sought to BE a Christian. This is NOT another women's book about "letting go and letting God". It will breathe TRUTH into your soul and it will  challenge you to stand firm.

Some prose that reads like a poem: Scrolling through instagram one day back in October, I came across these words by C.S. Lewis (it turns out they were taken from a section out of Mere Christianity). It goes like this:

NEARER

"If you want to get warm

             you must stand 

            near the fire: if

           you want to be 

               wet you must get 

           into the water.

             If you want joy, 

                    power, peace, eternal 

              life, you must get 

                  close to, or even into,

        the thing that 

 has them."

                         - C.S. Lewis

Here are some things that are keeping me focused in 2017:

A playlist: Bask 2017 - This won't be for everyone, but it's the kind of music that I can't help but be grateful to have in my life. These songs have been encouraging me and teaching me and challenging me for years. Hit shuffle and ENJOY!

A plan: Stay in the Gospels - In light of the task this word spurs me onto, I felt the best place to go was to the example of Jesus Christ, Himself. So, I've been spending time with Him in the Gospels. I started with John, then moved on to Mark, and I'm going to start Matthew today. I can't remember who said it, but a theologian of old encouraged every Christian to always have their thumb in the Gospels no matter what other Scripture they were focusing on. In different seasons, I've attempted to do that.

Resolves: Going for walks in silence. Keeping a list of prayer requests handy and going over it or checking back in with the people that have asked me to pray. Journaling out Scriptures and lessons and prayers and preaching the Word to myself. Staying in touch with friends and listening to the stories of grace that they have to share or the burdens of faith they are carrying.

Is there anything you would recommend to me? 

What are some things that have been pointing you to God lately? 

Praying in 2009

At Bethlehem Baptist Church, it is time to focus on prayer and more specifically the personal prayer life of each person. This is a topic I greatly enjoy and I look forward to the messages that John Piper gives during this time.

I recently listened to the message: "Put in the Fire For the Sake of Prayer". I came away from this message with this:

"1) Set aside a time and a place to pray each day - and do not leave this to chance. The devil defeats most praying before it happens because we didn't make a plan.

2) Combine your praying with reading the Bible. Take what you're reading and turn it into prayer.

3) Pray in concentric circles (i.e. begin praying for yourself, then your family, then your co-workers, your church, the global Church, lost sinners worldwide, politicians, etc. etc.) Include the basics of the Lord's prayer as you pray for each circle."

I also came away with these points:

• Do not let good things keep you or distract you from prayer.

• Recognize there is room for improvement in my prayer life.

• Improvement is needed- God's glory is at stake.

• Prayer is a weapon, tool, and a huge essential of my life as a Christian, I must not let satan keep me from it!
  

This year, I want to stop focusing on my weaknesses and begin focusing on becoming a praying person dedicated to God. Yes, fruitfulness is important; but fruit without heartfelt dedication is worthless. Prayerfulness must come first, or my fruit is rotten!

2009- A year for prayer!