Viking in a thoughtful mood, July 31, 2005

wild grapes taken july 31, 2005

lakeside ginger taken july 31, 2005

August 5, 2005

Denial of Self Mt 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."
If you lose your life, you will gain it. A denial of self needs to follow God's will is at the center of the Christian faith. There is a daily call to leave behind one more attatchment, one more selfish need, one more part of the false self in order to turn to God daily. There is a suffering in doing the act that is only for the Kingdom of God and choosing it over the worldly, selfish act. As Christ died so my own false self must die in order to walk honestly and faithfuly in the way of God. It is never simple, never clearcut or painless but somehow the way of Christ and the plan of God are constant choices. At any point, I can continue to walk in the light of faith and turn to God. Daily conversion is a call to carry the cross of doing the Christian action in every event the occurs. To see life through the eyes of love with a heart open to give totally of self and not count the cost. I pray for the heart and mind of Christ daily.