priorities. what is first on your list....

What is your first thought when you awake?
Is it: Oh no, work again today.
Or, I wonder if i'll get that pay rise/promotion that i should have got last year.
Or, will she(he) notice me today.
I can't afford to take a lunch break today because "high and mighty" wants that report on his desk asap ( meaning yesterday).
How about; Don't know what's got into the wife. Not talking and all skinny eyed. Man i need a drink and it had better be a double.
Not a good start to the day, and then there is still breakfast (if there's time ) and the morning rat race into the office.

Before the day has even begun you are stressed out and heading for that heart attack that awaits the results of your hectic life style.
For you "work" is a dirty four letter word.

Welcome to being "of" this world and subject to the whims of your demented and ever demanding "boss". You may not know it but satan is the "man" in question. He holds the "lease" on planet earth. He even offered Jesus a partnership ( Mtt 4: v8 ,  where we read: Again, the devil took him, i.e. Jesus, to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour."All this I, satan, will give you if you will bow down and worship me").
So all the evil that abounds in this world can be laid firmly on his doorstep.
Satan was served notice, that his lease had run out, when Jesus defeated death, by rising from the cross, ascending to heaven and regaining His rightful place at His Father's right hand. Since then satan has been causing as much evil, misery and hardship as he can, before the end (Jesus' Second Coming) that he knows is inevitable. For all those "of this world" it may seem like a prison with no way out.

I awake to the joyous chorus of birds welcoming the dawn of a new day. A day of opportunity graciously given by a caring God. My first
thought is one of thanks, and my first act, after getting out of bed, is to reach for my bible. Then it's first feed the birds, who so pleasantly eased me into another day, and feed my fish before heading indoors to feed myself.
For me work (if i had some) is an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience. My current status is one of unemployment, a return of my cancer and a continuing loss of critical focus, in my dominant eye, but life is good.

I am not "of" the world but am "in" this world, so the crazy manifestations of satan don't really affect me. I, as a believer, have the protection of the Sovereign Lord.
In Mtt 10 Jesus sends His twelve disciples out into the world with only the clothes they were wearing and no money, with the instruction to preach the message, heal the sick and to cast out demons.
They went with His Blessing and returned triumphant.
They went out as lambs, amongst the wolves, with the assurance that when they were about to give a testimony the Spirit would provide the necessary words to say.

I guess the difference between being "of" and "in" is one of perception, it is after all the same earth that we all share. By focussing our attention upon Jesus we are granted some of His vision ( in the Lord's prayer we pray that Heaven is realised here on Earth. What is blessed on earth is blessed in heaven and vice versa). Jesus' vision was one of Love and Compassion. and God didn't want Sacrifice but Mercy. Jesus and His Father were one so that vision was a shared one. We need to live a life of Compassion, Love and Mercy and not sacrifice ourselves to the temptations of this world.

It is not necessary to stress and worry about our work, money or relationships. If we treat work ( and by inference our lives) as a daily opportunity to live as He lived, satan cannot harm or influence us because we are not "of", but "in" the world.
I am reminded of the saying;" Seek ye first the kingdom of God, then all else will be given thee....."
and finally: " the harvest is ready, but the workers are few...."


16 january
on being a blogwriter:
i first decide on the subject, then do some research after which i spend a few days thinking about what i want to say. one day i'll wake up knowing that today is the day i will write. i don't produce a draft, but dive straight in. very soon the words assume a life of their own and i hand over all pretence of control. at least half of my research doesn't make the cut. so i think that in future i will come back and edit.

i have the Alpha course "bible in one year" on my iPh, so when i'm in the world and need to regroup i find a quiet spot ( and some good coffee ) and read. another opportunity granted to engage with those around me.
remember those special words: Compassion, Love, and Mercy.


17 january
being in this world and not of this world doesn't mean that we are untouched by all of the sadness and suffering. as a believer, we should be sharing Jesus' compassion and love for our fellow "travellers". Jesus' instruction was to love and forgive those that hate and ridicule us, because by showing our love we can transcend the brokeness.
ours is the task to point the way forward to a better life filled with Jesus' love and compassion.