[ let us love and sing and wonder ]

I haven't written in quite awhile.

I had begun a post a few weeks back chock-full of pictures from seminar. As I was adding photos onto the blog, however, I had a thought: wouldn't it be fun to reformat all my material from seminar into a long magazine-type feature with corresponding photos and text, complete with fun graphics and subheads and so on?

And then - poof! - the semester began.

Anyway, let's take a rain check on that. I really would like to compile that soon.

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I made this graphic quickly on Microsoft Publisher.
It kind of looks like cheesy Sunday School material, but honestly, this is what I need.
Lord, teach me YOUR WAYS.

In the midst of what seems to be a dozen upcoming life changes, I've been struck by a lot of things but slow to write them down or process through them at length.

Here are a few thoughts.

Jessie Marshall in default mode is this one word: forgetful.

This appropriately characterizes smaller preoccupations in my life, but there's something much bigger at hand here. When I fail to walk in the power of God's Spirit, I am indifferent and ignorant to what He has actively done in my life.

I neglect to recall the foundation He has built in place of sinking sand. I revert into me-mode, where my own control seems sweet and prideful thoughts fill my mind and heart. You'd think it would take pliers to open my eyes to the reality of need around me, even in this place.

Okay, so it's not a pretty picture, but seriously, this is the state of forgetfulness. Forgetfulness of what the Lord has done in my life, where He's redeemed me and how He's calling me forward in faith in trust. This is the reality of it all.

Jesus' words in the Gospel According to John came to mind last night as I thought about how seriously I need resurrection-life that comes from connection with Jesus Christ: "Abide in Me and I in you...apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:4,5)

I want to dig through this passage and some commentaries in the next few days, but these familiar words bring me a sort of precious but chilling stand-still.

Oh, that the Lord would call us to transparency not only with others around us, but with the One who knew us and formed us long before we walked the hills of college campuses and job fairs. The God who - by His very nature - cannot back down on His faithfulness to His people, even as we are quick to forget the depths of what He has accomplished for us in Jesus Christ.

Apart from Him we can do nothing. Nothing!

Oh, God - call me to remembrance.

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More later.