MyLeslieNotebook

One of the most exciting parts of scripture study is reading a passage you've known forever in a fresh, new way. I did that this morning with Psalm 23. Now, I remember memorizing that passage when I was a preschooler in my Wednesday night Mission Friends class (shout out to Mission Friends, right!?!?!) and the big hug I got from my teacher, even though I had to say "debts" instead of "transgressions" because a 3-syllable word was just too much for my 4-year-old brain. So I've known Psalm 23 for well over 30 years. Which makes me, #1, OLD. But #2, especially excited when it jumps out of the text at me like it's the first time I've read it. Of course, when God shines His awesome spotlight on a passage, we dig DEEPLY into it. So that's what I thought we'd do for the next few weeks. Let's take a long-handled shovel and see what we can find in Psalm 23. The Psalm opens with this sentence: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not wan...

I'm writing this post for two reasons: 1) It's TRUTH.  2) I wasn't active in church when I was in college. I went  to church in college, but I wasn't active; I'd go with my parents if I was home, or to a church close to campus if I wasn't. I wasn't "plugged in." And, looking back, I see there is a giant hole in my spiritual development that I so regret . So learn from my mistake. (I have many  mistakes. This is just one of them.) And before I get to the actual reasons, I need to make two definitions:  [Note: these are MY definitions; you won't find them anywhere official :) ] ACTIVE : Regularly, (preferably weekly or more) attendance, finding yourself interacting with a familiar group of people in all different stages of life. [Personal note: sliding into the back of a worship service, shaking 3 hands during the welcome, and going home after the last "Amen" does not count. That's what I did. That's not 'active...

Last one. A total of twelve heart-focused, Jesus-commanded, look-into-my-own-life instructions that we who claim to be Christ-followers should seek to be the defining characteristics of our lives. Because they were the defining characteristics of Jesus' life. But before you jump in feet-first to living your faith, you need to know what you're getting into: Jesus had quite the following and more than enough publicity. But when people really got to know Him, they realized He wasn't really the superstar they wanted; He demanded too much and they weren't willing to give that. He also attracted the attention of the "religious" leaders of the day, who hated  Him, and stopped at nothing to make sure He was silenced. They succeeded. (Well, for 3 days :) All the while, Jesus did the things He commanded us to do from the Sermon on the Mount , a living testimony to what it takes to really follow God through Christ.  And He died for it.  You will, too. Oh, likel...

(Quick note: I never, ever intended to have a 12-part series on this blog. And when God led me to the Sermon on the Mount last month, I honestly asked, "Seriously?" But never before have I looked so deeply into my own heart. Never before have I asked Christ to cleanse me, remove my buttons, and make me like Him this passionately. Never before have I been so aware of my Pharisaical tendencies. So, if for nothing else, these blog posts were for me . I just thank you for tagging along while I preach to myself :) I've already written on prayer in this blog ("A New Wardrobe Part 7" on July 24 of this year). [By the way, if anyone can please tell me how to link to my own blog, would you please let me know so I don't look so, well, OLD?!?!? Thanks!] But today's passage is a little different: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him ...

"Do not touch." "Do not enter." "Do not remove." You've seen these instructions before. Pretty clear-cut. Whether or not you actually obey  what the tag or sign or instruction says, you know what it means.   So what about this one: Do not judge . WE. ALL. KNOW. WHAT. THAT. MEANS. So why don't we do it? I'm preaching to myself today. Passing judgment on  others is so easy, so effortless, so natural.  (And have you noticed that most  natural  reactions often are not of God? It takes work to live by His commands!)  I'm coming clean here: I've already passed judgment today. Aloud. About someone I know and love. (But it wasn't you. I promise :) Jesus doesn't mess around with His instruction here: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. In the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you," (Matthew 7:1-2). The Greek word for "judge" used...