Beholding...
Do you tend to have a "cup is half full" outlook or a "cup is half empty" outlook? If you know my husband Rex and me, we look at things from different angles. I'm the optimist. He will sometimes joke with our kids, "Mom is using her Jedi mind trick" when I try to paint a rosier picture of a situation. In chapter 9, the author wants us to behold our God who operates out of "abundance. Plenty. Fullness. Overflowing" (page 116). This is not a mind trick -- God truly IS the God of abundance! The author brings up an interesting habit we commonly have -- it's easy to trust God "to save us from spiritual bankruptcy but forget that He saves us to soul abundance (page 116).
Rex and I have been watching The Chosen, a really good series about the life of Christ (you can find it at: https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen ). Last night's episode showed the Samaritan woman at the well and like her, we need to stop being fixated on our own resources and to remember that Jesus offers His unending supply of mercy and grace (page 119).
Becoming...
Turn to page 124, bottom paragraph. The illustration about water struck me most: "But subtler than a blatant chasing after the god of money are our day-to-day patterns that form a routine, and a routine that sets a course -- the way water carves a chasm little by little, year after year. Daily choices make deep channels." This makes me want to evaluate what are my subtle daily patterns that become deep channels. It is easy to point out obvious channels carved out (you cannot miss the Grand Canyon!). But what about the small trickle of water along the side of the house? No one notices that until it leaks into the house and causes a problem. Our daily patterns need to aim Christ-ward because the "enemy, Satan, is not neutral. He actively works to distract us with seemingly harmless desires that ultimately lead to destruction" (page 127). Friends, let us stay alert for ourselves as well as our families!