Godliness

I have to admit when Sarah was talking about our Tuesday evenings coming to an end and how to continue to be vigilant in our walk over the summer months, I was a little nervous. I need to jam pack my schedule so that I can adequately fill my time with praise, study and worship until we meet again in September! I have so many studies I've started....One on the book of Ecclesiastes, one on the topic of justification, one on the book of Ephesians......all I dabble in and return to here and there along with reading a few books and trying to decide which books to place on my summer reading list. I also intend to accept an invitation to a Thursday night study for about four weeks beginning June 17th and I plan to join a Tuesday night study if it materializes. I'm not going to lie, it's going to be difficult without fellowship but I am committed AND convicted!!

During our study in Peter I decided to pursue something....something called Godliness.

Sarah defined godliness this way: Practical awareness of God in ALL aspects of our life. What a challenge. What does that look like? What does it feel like? Today I decided to put it to the test.

Bill and I headed down to the reservoir to do that same five miles we did in the rain last Sunday. This time though Bill took along his fishing pole and while I did the five miles he fished along the shore. I began my workout by listening to WCRF. Totally unrelated to my topic here, but too good not to mention, the host said "We don't realize how shattered we are and we can't begin to imagine how much we are loved". I thought that was a pretty awesome thought. Anyways, half way through my walk I decided I needed some music! I turned my MP3 player to "Oldies". I decided that I would listen to this music and in each song I would find God. Sooooo take a look at some of the songs on my play list:
Disclaimer: I said OLDIES, some of you may recognize these songs and some of you may be just too darn young! :-)

Julie, Julie, Julie - Bobby Sherman
Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
Build Me a Buttercup - ?
I Think I Love You - David Cassidy
Puppy Love - Osmond Brothers
Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Jackie DeShannon
When I Need You - Leo Sayer
Ben - Jackson Five
Got To Be There - Jackson Five
You Are Always On My Mind - Partridge Family

I don't believe there was a single song that did not have the word "love" in it. And many of them were filled with lyrics by which I could make God the subject.

When I Need You - Leo Sayer

When I need you, I just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you, is only a heartbeat away.
When I need love, I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love keeping me warm
night and day.......


Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Jackie DeShannon

Think of your fellow man, give him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide, kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world, will be a better place
And the world, will be a better place
For you....and me....you just wait and see......


You Are Always On My Mind -

You are always on my mind
If I've got to go through this whole life
day after day to find you there on my mind.

Got To Be There - Jackson Five

Be there in the morning
To welcome her into my world
To tell her that she's my girl
And that when she's with me I'm home

Hey, I didn't say some didn't take a little imagination but God is still there when you think of being with him in the morning and welcoming Him into your world and that when you're with Him you're home.....

You get the idea.......

This practical awareness was feeling pretty good.....

At times I found myself singing loudly with my arms in the air.......my finger pointing to the sky......a huge smile on my face.....It was so awesome....just me and God.......and a little nostalgia...........That second 2.5 miles went by lightening fast. So fast that I flew right past where I was to meet Bill. He saw me but I didn't see him so when he came looking for me I have to admit, I wish he hadn't because I would have been able to spend more time finding God in my Oldies but Goodies!! There I was totally drenched in sweat, out of breath, big smile talking about how great it was to workout, the beautiful weather, wonderful music and then declaring loudly PRAISE GOD!! He either thought I was totally crazy or wished he had ditched his fishing pole for a little of what I got on that run!! What cannot be denied is that in every circumstance in which we find ourselves, we CAN be a witness!

My sister in law that just lost her sister told me that her husband (Bill's younger brother) said to her that he went to church and lit a candle for Pam. He told her that he is learning from her and her faith in God!

When we can find God in every little thing, we can be awesome witnesses to everyone we come in contact with just by having conversation with them.

I hope as you begin your week that you can have a practical awareness of God in all aspects of your life.

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1Peter 4:11