I feel like my mind is scattered recently, as far as my Spiritual thinking goes. I just have not been focused in one area for very long and have had several deep things I have been thinking about thinking about 
Do you ever do that – ya know plan to think about something! Well I thought I would share with you a few of the things I am working towards thinking about more deeply:
1. Pursuing humility brings joy. While driving across the country for Christmas Brian and I listened to a sermon by Mark Driscoll, pastor at Mars Hill Seatle (aka the “cussing pastor” by Don Miller’s description in some of his books). The sermon was on humility and several things that Mark brought out from the passage in Philippians really made me think. To be honest I often think and know that humility is a needed area for growth in my life – therefore came the decision to think it over some more at another time. Anyway the concept that stayed with me was that no one can or should say “Hey, I am now humble” obviously they would then have lost their humility by their statement. Instead the desire is to be pursuing humility. I like that! I think it sounds like a great pursuit! The second concept was that humility brings joy and that is just worthy of some deep thinking!!
2. What would it mean and what would it look like to have a true contrition, natural compassion and an unshakable longing for God? This comes from Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love. Recently, I checked out 20 Things You Should Read from our church library. It includes 20 chapters of excerpts from famous authors that, in the opinion of these modern day authors think one should be familiar with. I found Julian’s prayer intreging and desiring of more thought!! I am looking forward to reading other chapters by Calvin, Barth, and so on.
3. There is an interesting repetition in the Bible on faith, hope and love. My pastor, Johnny Miller, just started a series on Colossians and this last Sunday he showed us from Colossian 1:1-5 that a great church is founded on faith, hope and love. It really made me think and want to think even more!
4. Sandee told her daughters “Remember this one thing – don’t let this world limit you. Not now. Not ever. People are not qualified to tell you what you can or can’t do. There is only One who is qualified. Your Heavenly Father.” I read this today in the book Where Women Walked by Jean Blackmer and Laura Greiner. I was amazed by Sandee’s story of faith and determination as she worked to provide for her two girls. It reminded me of the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. When Brian and I saw that we left numb thinking there is so much to other’s lives that we know nothing about! So this quote made me want to sit and think – do I let people limit me in areas that God does not desire to do so? Do I teach my girls amazing things like this! Am I actually hindered by the many blessings in my life to not experience faith in God as other’s experience Him?
So those are my future deep thinking plans – along with some dedicated time in Colossians. Tomorrow is our first Study and Share meeting and this semester is all on Colossians. It is going to be GREAT!
