Desire

Last Sabbath at our church, an ordination service was held for three of our Elders. The night before the service, Keith shared with me 1 Timothy 3. This is the passage of scripture where Paul outlines for Timothy the personal qualities one should have to be a Bishop(overseer) or Deacon. I've read or heard this passage read many times, but all of a sudden, the first verse jumped out at me. "If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work".

Wait a minute: If a man desire the office..?? Doesn't this sound somewhat self-seeking? In the church we're not suppose to go around desiring positions are we? I mean doesn't this sound a little worldly...desiring things?

I grew up with the thought that if you wanted a position in the church, you were supposed to just hope that someone would read your mind and ask you to serve in that capacity. Or maybe you could tell a few people with the hope that they might suggest your name. But, you certainly weren't supposed to DESIRE it. I mean even if someone told you that you would probably be good in a particular position, you were supposed to act surprised and dismiss the comment with Christ-like humility.

It seems like Timothy 3:1 should sound something like this: "If a man desire the office of a bishop, he should be ashamed of himself. If God wants him to have the position, he will give it to him. Now stop desiring things and just wait for God". But the picture seems to be very different. It seems as if God has given the person the desire; as if he has created us with DESIRE.

Wow...what a paradigm shift. God has created me with DESIRE.

A few texts on DESIRE:
Psalm 21:2 - Thou has given him his heart's desire, and hast not witholden the request of his lips. Selah.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 145:19 - He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Lord, thank you for creating me with desire. May my heart always turn to you as I seek to fulfill the desires of my heart.

Resolutions

Tonight I was really looking forward to working out! I have discovered that I'm really not a workout machine kind of person. I prefer the small group classes. I've been doing Pilates twice a week for the last several months and LOVE IT!

After Thanksgiving, I fell off the horse a bit. I've tried to do a few routines at home, but miss going to the classes. It's just not the same when you're at home. I usually find myself only working out 15 to 20 minutes. At class, we workout at least an hour.

Well tonight I was on my way to class. I was so excited! I had my workout clothes on and my water bottle and purple mat in hand. It was rainiing outside, but I was determined to not miss the 6:30 class.

Once I arrived, I parked and noticed how full the place was. I handed the front desk attendant my membership card and proceeded to go to my class. I was a few minutes late, but was ready to get started.

I opened the door and peered through the darkened class to find the whole room completely full. I kept looking, but there were no spaces left to place my mat. I was so dissapointed. I turned around, walked down the small hallway and back out the front door into the rain.

As I walked back to my car, it hit me. It's January 3. All of these people probably just signed up for class. I mean, it's never that full. I guess everyone is trying to turn over a new leaf this new year.

When I came home, I told Keith about the crowded class and my dissapointment. He had me laughing when he told me to give them 2 weeks.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! To God be the glory for one more year. I'm thankful for life and health. I'm thankful for my family and friends. I have so many things for which to be thankful, but in all of my thanksgiving I still have a heavy heart. If I were living in Bible times right now, I'm sure I'd be wearing sackcloth and ashes. So many people are hurting in this world.

My heart goes out, as I'm sure yours does, to the families devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunamis. This tragedy happened far from us, yet it feels so close. We are all brothers and sisters in the Human family.

The stories are almost unbelievable. I spoke to my cousin earlier today who was reading about some of the tragedies. One story stood out to her perhaps because she's a mother with a small son. One lady and her son were walking hand in hand on the beach when a large wave overcame them from the back. Their hands were seperated by the wave. She later found her son dead under some sand.

Yesterday, not so far away, was another tragedy. A beautful person - wife, mother, friend, lost her battle to cancer. I heard that she was sick a few months ago. I prayed and prayed for her healing, as I'm sure many others did. My heart goes out to her young daughter and devoted husband.

It's funny how I remember my parents and grandparents talking about Jesus coming. I didn't say it out loud, but rarely shared their same sentiments. I didn't want Him to come until...I had my driver's license, got married, had children...

Time really brings about a change. I am daily reminded, and gratefully so, that this is not my home. I love to read the promises in Revelation 21 about there being a new heaven and a new earth. It says the old ones (heaven and earth) will pass away. Then it says that God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will be passed away! Hallelujah! Now that will be a Happy New Year!