The above picture is entitled Accusing Man - Inner Self. I chose this image because it is my disclaimer (as if I needed one) for this post.

I am in no way pointing my finger in this post at anyone other than myself, but if the shoe fits, you know the drill.

I am just as broken and messed up as everyone else in this old world. In fact, most days I feel like I am the perfect "Romans" individual; I do what I don't want to do and don't do what I do want to do.

So please don't think that I am pointing my finger at "you." That finger is pointed at me.

During Lent, many individuals give up a certain thing/things as a way to honor Christ, to prove their devotion to Him and to others, to thank Him for His blood, sweat, tears, and love. Upon coming out of Lent, most of these individuals resume those practices immediately.

Someone asked my husband recently to guess what he had given up for Lent. "Beer." Bingo! What was the first thing he was going to do after Lent? Guess!

I stopped giving up things during Lent at about the same time I stopped making New Year's resolutions. After sooooo many years of trying to do these things, they no longer seemed "true" (for me). Why? EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES SHOULD BE LENT.

Rest assured, I don't live every day as if it is Lent, unfortunately. Also be assured that I am in no way pointing an accusing, judgmental finger at anyone. I am simply sharing what has been on my heart lately.

No one serving as a soldier entangles himself in civilian affairs -

he wants to please his commanding officer . . .

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight.

2 Timothy 2: 4,6

I have been rereading some really old Amy Carmichael stuff lately, and you guessed it. What I have read has been convicting. In other words, I've been reflecting and repenting. Remember, to repent means to turn around and go in the opposite direction, to change.

God calls us His emissaries. (a person sent on a special mission, usually a diplomatic representative) As His emissaries in this world, we are to be DISENTANGLED.

• called to be a Nazarite - separated unto Him
• called to be a Priest - crowned with His glory and light, His purpose, His power and authority
• called to be a Soldier - engaged in a great campaign, a war (paraphrasing Amy)

We cannot afford to be caught on the hooks of the "little affairs" of this life.

So many different lures are dangled in front of us daily. People expect a lot from us.

Family, friends, community, work, and even we ourselves require much from us. The simple and not-so-simple day-in-day-out duties of each day require a lot from us. In the midst of all of these activities, where is the time to nurture a loving, living, personal daily relationship with the living God of the universe?

Plus, don't we need some down time, some play time, some recreation? I won't list the recreation possibilities for fear of creating enemies, and yes, I do realize that recreation is vital, but maybe we've lost sight of what "day of rest" really means. Are we doing activities that will "re-create" us, make us new again?

Recreation (re-creation) - a pastime that will re-equip us

for future work and not cause a leakage of spiritual power

- Amy Carmichael

Some pastimes can take hold of us. Too much of anything, even a good and harmless thing, is not good for us and unfortunately wastes time.

After the events of my past 15+ years, I am so aware and upset about wasting my time. We've been given only so much time, and none of us know exactly how much we have.

The essence of the Nazarite vow was to abstain from things that, in themselves, were lawful and permissible like having an occasional haircut. Even raisins were a no-no for a Nazarite.

Should not we as God's emissaries "treat the world (not just its corruptions, but its legitimate joys, its privileges and blessings also) as a thing to be touched at a distance." (Ouch, Amy!) Being caught by the world's spirit could cause us to lose our awareness of God's presence with us. "If we feed upon the world's spirit, if it gives us our nourishment, we risk missing out on the heavenly bread sent to feed our souls."

God doesn't forbid these things. He isn't cruel and harsh, isn't a dictator in these matters. It's simply a matter of how much we love Him.

If we love someone, that someone is the most important thing to us. Love isn't just an emotion, a feeling. Love is also action. If we love people, we do things for them, just for them. We make time to spend time with just them. Believe me. I know. My husband has to be the most loving man of all in light of how he has served me over the past 15+ years of one health crisis after another. You wouldn't believe some of the things he has done for me and helped me do for myself.

Should not we, who say that we love Him, set our affections/desires on heavenly things? Should not we voluntarily and gladly (with joy) lay aside the things that charm the world so that "we may be charmed and ravished with the things of heaven." (AC)  

May we ever be wholly devoted to our Lover who died to save us, who gave us His all.

May we ever look upon the world and all its charms with wisdom realizing that there are snares and traps and distractions set to capture our hearts and keep us from our mission and to waste our precious time.

May we ever live as if the world is not our real home.

May we ever move and have our being in a higher kingdom, in reality, ignoring the "mirages" of this world.

May we find our fountains, our satisfaction in Him.

Pray that my remaining years however many or few they may be will be lived in this way.