Tax Season- Mark 12:17

We pay taxes because they're easy- more or less. They're even automatic in a sense. A couple of bucks out of every hour's worth of pay, we never see it so it's almost like it was never there. When we shop of go out to eat, we don't grumble over the tax that's been added because we're only concerned with the total. So, we pay up. Taxes are easy.

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's."

Check. Here you go, State, Local, & Federal Government. Use it wisely. Hah. (That was a joke, did you get it?!)

Then comes the tricky part. It would be nice if God slipped us a bill at the end of the day that told us "how much we owed." You know a general estimation for how much time worth of prayer and repentance all of our sinning and ignoring God would cost us for the day.

Let's see, Alyssa. Today you spent 47 minutes watching that dreamy Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds and two hours doing homework while listening to secular music (how dare you!) Not to mention the fact that you made fun of your mother today. That's definitely in opposition to the fifth commandment. So, after using the magic formula, you owe: 45 minutes of scripture reading/meditation, 20 solid minutes of prayer, & 15 minutes planning for devotions this weekend.

I can only imagine that it would be printed out but have a little signature on there with a little something like, "See you tomorrow!" to keep you coming back. There might even be a little heart drawn in there, on a good, "spiritual day, of course.

"Render to God the things which are God's."

A lot of times I wish that God would give me a check list of what He wants: what prayers I should pray, what verses I should reference, what sins I should confess- all tonight before I go to bed, kind of a "sleep easy, you did the bare minimum" list. But to render to God the things that are His? Are you kidding me? Have you read Genesis 1 & 2?! That's EVERYTHING.

Exactly, Alyssa.

"Do you not know that you were bought with a price?"

God owns us. He paid a lofty price for us. We ARE His.

After finishing Crazy Love and an excerpt of Forgotten God, 1) I love Frances Chan and 2) Although it is so simple, my life is not my own. It is not up to me to drag Jesus around behind me, like a kid on a leash, while I live my life. This life is Jesus' life, I'm just along for the incredible ride.

Life is a dance. Jesus leads and a lady ALWAYS follows.

Dogma- Part III: The First Commandment

If only I spent as much time making sure that God knew my love for Him as I do reassuring Molly of my devotion. When I say it, I mean it. I mean, Emma & Sage are fun but COME ON! Jack is absolutely adorable and cuddly but Molly, she's a whole lotta pup. She's perfect. She's the only pup for me.

Maybe you can't relate- or perhaps you can- but we jump through hoops to show our devotion, our loyalty to our friends, our families, even our jobs. We do CRAZY things like read Twilight when your best friend asks you to, go to our grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary with chipmunk cheeks from having our wisdom teeth removed, we even stay late and come in on our days off of work. All of these to say, "Yes, I am committed. Yes, I care."

If only we, if only I took that "you shall have no other gods before me," - you know, the FIRST commandment- thing a little more seriously. Maybe then we'd be more apt to give more- of our time, our talents, our moolah; serve more- not JUST in the places where we feel "called" or comfortable but out of the abundance of grace & total provision that we have been given; love more- both our Father and His children, and not just those who can love us back or pay us back, but have compassion on those whom God has compassion.

"We love God because He first loved us." --1 John 4:19

God doesn't mail us all Valentine's or dedicate songs to us on Delilah (said in song). He GAVE and GIVES us all things. I mean, Molly's pretty great but even she doesn't, she can't do that.

The truth is, God does not get a complex when we don't say "I love you" or rub Him behind the ears. God does not need us nor does He need our love. He is God- He is all things; He is complete in Himself. Instead, He desires our love, delights in it. Our love for Him brings about praise which is rightfully due to the One who loved, loves; gave, gives; came, will come. Amen & amen.

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more,

with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve

what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of

Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through

Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." --Philippians 1:9-11

Dogma- Part II

A couple of summers ago, my family and I went down to my uncle's beach on the river for a family party. My family AND Molly. The sand was hot, the breeze was warm, & the water was surprisingly tepid. August heat was in the air. We swam in the water, my mom and I, while Molly cried at the end of her leash so we let her go. She loved the water, but more than just the water, she loved being with us.

Several hours later, my mom and I took off on a jet ski, just a little joyride if you will. My mom loves to drive fast and I liked to close my eyes and feel the wind- it works out nicely. We had left Molly on shore with my grandmother, who stood at the shoreline, one hand on Molly's leash, the other pressed to her forehead as she watched us squintingly. Molly cried and tugged and barked and then...she broke lose of her cheetah print collar and started, not to run away, but to relentlessly swim towards us. My grandmother shouted at her and flailed her arms, signaling her back towards shore but Molly just kept on paddling her little heart out. Luckily, I noticed her before she got out too far because, well, Molly's a little rotund and has legs the length of my big toe so she wouldn't have made it far. I scooped her up, greeted by kisses and affection, as we rode back to shore.

How often do we tie God to the shore in hopes to escape, even if just for a minute? How far do we run, worried we're being watched? And how great is the love of God for us that even when we flee from Him, He comes to find us?

We are so foolish: "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me." Psalm 139:7-10

Ropes, leashes, time itself cannot keep God from us. "NOTHING can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus" --Romans 8:39. He loves us & He will swim and kick His stumpy legs as hard and fast as He needs to in order to reach us. Sometimes we'll spot Him not far off the shore and run back to His side or sometimes He'll meet us in the middle of the river, in the middle of the treacherous ocean, perhaps gasping for our last breathe. We are still running and jet skiing away but God is still swimming and He will not rest until He gets you back to Himself.

Where I Am

Where I am, there You are- never to leave nor forsake. The places that hold me are the places You've placed me. Your promises urge me to trust You, seduce me to succumb to Your goodness. Where You are, there is joy, not always happiness but certainly joy- inexplicable joy, unchangeable joy. Deep, salvation-seeded joy. Happiness is superficial, joy is internally and eternally rooted. Where I am, there You are, even if I'm not where I want to be. I'm with You, all that I need. I will follow You into darkness because I know that You are light. Good things You have prepared, good things You will do. Only the best for me, who deserves only the worst, from You.