The first day of 2010 – I often think of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 at the start of a new year, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot...” – and you can read the rest and reflect on what time it is now for you, and how you will spend the time God has given you in this new year. Just remember that a lot of choices go into how we spend our time, in positive and negative ways, for our growth or our detriment.
One of the books I will be spending time with in 2010 is Philip Yancey’s Grace Notes. It contains daily heart-to-heart conversations about God, yourself, the world, and about everything else. I like this comment from the January 1 reading: “Because of Jesus we need never question God’s desire for intimacy. Does God really want close contact with us? Jesus gave up Heaven for it.” Did you catch that? Jesus gave up heaven so we could have close contact and intimacy with the Father. That is so beyond my comprehension that all I want to do is get to know better this One who loves us so.
Which brings me to the title of this blog and my invitation for the new year.
A couple of weeks ago Holly and I watched the movie, Julie & Julia. It was a truth-inspired tale of Julie Powell, a disenchanted young woman who decides to enliven her uneventful life and find purpose by cooking her way through Julia Child’s classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julie decides to spend 365 days working through the 524 recipes, and she delights the ever-growing readers of her blog with her steps and missteps. In the end she has done more than master the art of French cooking – she has found purpose and joy in life.
I am not suggesting that you follow Julie’s example and work yourself through a cookbook in a year. As my wife Holly and I watched the movie, I was struck at how much Julie was inspired by what she read and the person (Julia Child) she was getting to know. Writing a blog about each day helped cement things in her thoughts and soul – but I am not suggesting that either.
Inasmuch as Jesus gave up heaven by coming into our midst so we could know Him intimately, I would suggest that you give the next 365 days to a pursuit of Jesus.
Did you realize that if you simply read one chapter out of a Gospel a day, you can cover the four Gospels four times in a year – actually, in 356 days? What’s more, if you seek to apply what you read, reflect on Jesus’ character, make Jesus’ choices, live a life that mirrors His, you will find more purpose and joy than you could ever find in a cookbook, to say nothing of the greater intimacy you will discover. Blog about it if you want, journal it and you will hang on to your insights, but whatever you do, pray about what you read each day and you will find your life changed. You will not only know the Gospels in a way you never have before – with prayer, you will know Jesus as you never have before.
What a great way to spend the time God has given you in this new year!
I like the challenge to spend a year with the gospels and with Jesus - and with a practical way of doing just that. Thanks.
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