Living in the Present

I live with my fingers on my phone. My eyes occasionally leave its illuminated screen. I look at those who are angry and respond to them by giving them some credence. I remember the situations that are terrible. I think of the future as some large black hole that must be jumped into.

But I want to see that change. I want to live in the present.

I'm tired of every situation being an Instagram post; every funny moment is to be posted to Facebook; every situation happening in my life is a possible like on a social network.

I want to remember the good times. I want to see the beauty and just marvel at the greatness of God.

I want to be able to laugh and not feel that this is some sort of moment that needs to be broadcast to my acquaintances who I have the pleasure of friending on Facebook.

I want a simple life. A life where God is very real. A life that is not consumed by a fanatic desire for fame, money, sex, pride, and that assortment of sins that calls out to the heart of man.

Life is so beautiful with Christ. When he is a very evident part of my observance of the past, a living in the present, and the plans of my future, life is good.

When I abandon him for my attempts at fame, a fill of lustful desires, and a prideful heart, life becomes a turbulent pool of living hell.

And yet, the fool's burnt and bandaged fingers go wobbling back to the fire. The dog returns to his vomit. And I turn my eyes back towards hell.

"O God, do not be far me;
O my God, make haste to help me!"

Normal

Hard hearts are normal. Sexual deviance is normal. Anger is normal. Men with no ambition is normal. Women with a proud look is normal.

But why?

Sin is filling a normal man's heart.

His heart is corrupt. He is out for himself.

Life is about him and only him.

And yet. Although this is normal, we hate it.

Nobody loves being lied to.

No one loves being stolen from.

No one loves someone screaming in anger.

Men were made perfect. And yet we fell.

Normal is full of filth. And a pride for our filth.

Christ came to this earth. And he has restored a normal man.

And made him special.

Special in His eyes.

And that which is normal is shown to be what it really is.

There is a new normal.

A beautiful normal.

One that is filled with peace. Joy. Humility.

And the greatest of these is love.

Get Less Selfish; More Satisfied

Contentment. Needed. Always.

It's interesting how if you just settle down and accept what God gives you, you can all of a sudden see His plan. You see His work. Yes, it might not be the most pretty to you. It may not be your "perfect" plan. But generally your perfect just messes everything up anyways.

Be satisfied in Christ. Then go do things.

Because then, when you do fail.

It won't hurt so much.

Christ doesn't fail.

Never.