Monday, February 25, 2008

BeastlyOne


I am so proud to be part of this group. I never forward anything, but after being part of this group, I am sharing it with every one I can think of. My excitement does not originate from our great plan. It is rather ordinary. It doesn't originate from the quality of the people. Though they are wonderful, they would be quick to admit their ordinariness. It's not because the blog looks sharp or my picture is so attractive. (Though my wife does look beautiful). It is because I believe that this experiment will create amazing things due to the fact that we are intentionally seeking God daily. Our consistency though is not the main key. We have failed and will fail. Our perseverance will be the key. Even when I forget to engage in Ceaseless Prayer for hours, the fact that it is brought to my attention leads me to engage in it again. Guilt is a great thing if it leads you back to where you need to be.(It is when it becomes your master that it begins to ruin your life). Even when I get tired of journaling or I have to repeat our morning prayer because I just said it, but it meant nothing to me, I will keep after it. There will be times in this experiment when I will feel like nothing is being accomplished and me quitting won't make any difference. I say to myself: "Welcome to the experience of every great man and woman of faith." The things that made a difference in their lives is that they wouldn't quit trusting in our Father, Jehovah God. They waited for decades for promises to be fulfilled and they wouldn't give up. We must choose to stand with them for the sake of this generation and the ones to come. Just remember - If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.(2 Corinthians 4:7-Message) We don't want anybody else to be confused...and I have to be reminded so I don't get confused myself - It is all about Him and us allowing ourselves to be used by Him.
BTW - Today is the one day anniversary of my 13th year anniversary(hence my non-blue picture) - What I've learned: Marry someone who loves God infinitely more than they love you. Then you can spend your marriage reaping what true agape love can bring. I look back on our wedding day and wonder, by point of comparison, if I even loved my wife because our love is so much deeper now. God has been so faithful. Grew us through very difficult times. My life is so rich right now I cannot even express it. I could go on and on about her, but the greatest complement she would want is why I could go on and on about her: she truly seeks to reflect her Father and He is faithful to shine through her. Therefore, she is beyond-words beautiful. Praise be to God!

5 comments:

Zack said...

God bless this experiment to draw closer to Him! I read this entry and the two before it. May He bless all of you who have been challenged to draw closer to God. God bless it!

Anonymous said...

You make great points - everything about this & us is ordinary. The part that isn't ordinary is our God. Thank you for your encouragement, honesty, & perseverance. You are a great tool for God!

Congrats on your 13 years! You, Mrs. Beastlyone, & God make an awesome team!

Anonymous said...

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth FAR more than rubies...She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue...Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:10,26,28-30

Your wife is indeed a Proverbs 31 woman. The two of you are such a wonderful example to us of what a Godly marriage looks like.

As far as the experiment goes, you are so right. Our success, if that's what you want to call it, does not at all depend on our consistancy, faithfulness or spirituality. Our success depends on Him and His faithfulness. Praise Him for that and praise Him that He never fails us. We serve a good God!

Terry Rush said...

Thanks, Jason, for doing so well at so much and inspiring so many!

You bless me!

Jenni said...

So true, Beasty. I think there must be a shift in our lives as we grow up that can lead to greater love and joy, and if it doesn't shift we become "why me?-ers" that blame others for our unsatisfiable unhappiness. When you start loving God above all else, that's the start. That's why THIS blog is so incredible, it's a testiment to that. The next major shift is when you start to truely love others above yourself. A spouse, and definitely children should make that shift natural, but unfortunately people who never learn to love anyone more than they love themselves often seem incapable of this agape love. (ironically Jesus told us Loving God and Loving Others were great a long time ago!)