Amazing. I had totally forgotten about this from last year… I can honestly say that I failed dismally in ‘letting the message about Christ fill my life’.
Instead I filled my life with many other things, distractions and more.
Listening to the Bible this New Years Eve, *the same* verse jumped out at me:
“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.” (Colossians 3:16 NLT)
New Years morning, we had a great discussion about what that looked like:
“How could we let the message of Christ fill our lives? “
Some foundational answers and onto to the rest of the day which was great.
Then tonight, discussing our hopes, desires and concerns for 2023, the question was asked:
What do you spend *too much* time doing? (as opposed to the message of Jesus filling it)
As the first person went to answer, it was joked that other people should comment / guess what the person was spending too much time doing.
An amazing thing happened: Everyone *wanted* to know if there where areas that needed attention! Far from trying to hide, ignore or deny, they wanted to be challenged or judged so they could make adjustments!!
Amazing! I spent my whole life try to avoid scrutiny, trying to present my best side or performance. I hated judgment or criticism – but these kids actively want it!
We went around each person, with everyone in the room commenting on what they though this person needed to work on, then the person commented.
Thoroughly enjoyable – I can’t imagine doing life without these people, they really are an incredible display of what God has done in them.
My prayer is that He will help me as my natural mind wants to run, use distractions to deal with pain and get busy. I know the results though: allowing Him to fill & control leads to a *far* better outcome!
“In 2023, more of Him and less of me”
#ThankYouJesus
#2023
#newday
#newyear
#familylife