Riding the New Horse

   Day 2 on the new plan, I just have not figured out whether or not to change the blog, but probably will as soon as my daughter tells me how.

   I really looked forward to pursuing this new course this morning, and wanted to see how God would actually honor this new direction. It seems to me to be a more direct way to hear from God. I know that others write good stuff and have insights that I need to have, but I would like to see what God reveals through a direct contact with His Word

   My plan is to use a reading from the Gospels each day and record what I feel like God is saying to me through this. The site I use is Examen.me and everything is self-contained to make it a convenient process. The only thing I need to bring to the table is a quiet spirit, a listening heart and a willingness to be available to the things I need to learn and hear.

   The reading this morning was from John, chapter 11, the story of Lazarus death and physical resurrection. Two of the items that struck me as I read it several times had to do with Martha's sense of "what could have been" had Jesus showed up when he could have prevented her brother's death, and also the question by Jesus to Martha, "Do you believe".

   The story is familiar, maybe too familiar, but a lot of the time, I have stored up these incidents from the pages of the Bible in my brain, without them making an impact on my heart. Head knowledge may be OK, but it is not life changing until it manages to get to my heart. If Jesus asked me that question, and I think He just did, I would quickly answer in the affirmative, but does it transfer to making a difference in the way I live? Would anyone watching my life from the outside know that I made that affirmation, and meant it, or would I have to tell them?

   Even though I change horses in the middle of the stream, my need for HIs help continues.