Tres Coisas

I realized that I have less than 30 days here at Casa Luzeiro in Brasil, and I thought some reflection would be good as I enter the final month.

The first thought that stood out was that it isn't what I do that God desires foremost. He desires me and my heart and who I am. The actions will flow out of who I am.
Just because I have followed God here doesn't result in me being in a perpetual state of obedience and pleasing Him. I still need Him, and seemingly, need Him even more than ever because of being in intensive ministry. It can be easy for me to be impatient, selfish, prideful, and these diseases can manifest themselves just as easily here as in 'normal' life.

The next thing that ties in with that thought is that 'normal' life doesn't have to be normal. Because our God is not a normal Being, He shatters any box we can try to put Him in and so our daily lives can and should be reflecting His activity in, through, and around us.

Third thing is that I have seemingly lost importance on the practice of prayer. I have sectioned that off to prayer times, and many times they are scheduled when I have little energy to even think straight. I need to be in continual prayer as Paul wrote.

As I continue here, I desire to be abiding more in Christ and letting Him shine through me, rather than who I naturally am blocking or diffusing His light.

With Davidson and Marcelo
After speaking in a church

Idol Factory

At the center of me is a deep well of self-centeredness, and within that well is my idol factory which is busy producing idols in the image of me. Little Drew idols are produced at every hour of the day. Some days the quota is low, other days the workers need to put in overtime to keep up with the demand. These idols are then placed on podiums in my heart - the place that controls my will, desires, and emotion.

So often my decisions are then made in accordance to what would please these 'gods.' And then my feelings are a direct result of if the gods' appetite for worship and glory has been satiated.

These gods demand my time be given to please them. Even the gifts I have received from the true God are required by them for their purposes and pleasure. Worst of all, they crave my motivations when I pursue acts of love.

Fortunately, I know Someone who makes a business of demolishing such factories. The problem is, whenever I take my eyes off His business card, a new factory begins construction. That's why I need Him in the construction zone that is my heart, every day - every moment. Do work Jesus.