let us rejoice

Max Lucado is a stud. Just so ya know. I got this excerpt in an email from Max's weekly devotional thingamajigger that I subscribe to:

Sometime ago I was asked to play a game of golf. The
foursome included two preachers, a church leader, and a “Matthew,
B.C.” The thought of four hours with three Christians, two of whom
were pulpiteers, did not appeal to him. His best friend, a
Christ follower and his boss, insisted, so he agreed.

I'm happy to report that he proclaimed the experience
painless. On the ninth hole he turned to one of us and said,
smiling, “I'm so glad you guys are normal.” I think he meant this:
“I'm so glad you didn't get in my face or club me with a King James
driver. Thanks for laughing at my jokes and telling a few
yourself. Thanks for being normal.”

We didn't lower our standards. But neither did we saddle
a high horse. We were nice. Normal and nice. Discipleship is
sometimes defined by being normal.

A woman in a small Arkansas community was a single mom with a
frail baby. Her neighbor would stop by every few days and keep the
child so she could shop. After some weeks her neighbor shared more
than time; she shared her faith, and the woman did what Matthew did.
She followed Christ. The friends of the young mother objected. “Do
you know what those people teach?” they contested. “Here is what I know,”
she told them. “They held my baby.” I think Jesus likes that kind of
answer, don't you?

This really makes me think.

Being a Christian isn't all about doing, doing, doing. What about just being? Sometimes our little section of culture gets so involved in the big things that we forgot all about the small stuff. It's like we aren't sweating the small stuff enough. Working for Christ doesn't mean we all have to ship off to a foreign country and live in a tent for a month, or even hand out lasagna at a soup kitchen. (I'm not discounting these things, in fact, I wish I could do more of them, I'm just saying...)There is much more to it. Our daily lives should really be what speaks for Christ. Our actions, words, and attitudes should make people wonder about us. I once heard that we should live lives that demand explanation. Others should wonder what makes us do what we do. At times of struggle, why do we still have a sense of hope? In times of rejoicing why do we know that it is more than just a coincedence or "luck?" God. He's the reason.

Gosh, He's so awesome.

God has really been with me this week. I'm talking, "Hey Kate, it's Jesus. Let's hang out all week. I just wanna show you some things" kinda deal. It's amazing. He has filled my soul with joy, and I'm so thankful for it. It's as if a fog has been lifted off of my life.

Hang out with Jesus this weekend guys, He's good company. And while you're at it, go outside. Sit in some leaves. It's awesome out.

Love you all.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24