Good Intentions vs. Commitment

This season of Lent that just ended reminds me how important commitment is.  You see, I intended to write a bit each day of Lent in my blog, but I didn't actually make a commitment to do that.  Without the commitment and stick-to-it-ive-ness commitment brings, I only jotted a couple of daily notes in my blog.  My commitment was to read the book I wrote daily and I believe there was only one time I had to "catch up on" a day that I missed.  Commitment was the key. I knew I had about 50 people reading along with me, and I wanted to be faithful to the commitment, just as they were.  

What a reminder for our lives.  I am certain we all have good intentions that just never get followed through with.  It is such a human trait.  I don't feel overwhelming guilt for not writing in my blog this Lent, though there is just a twinge of that.  The key would have been committing to it.  I didn't.  

So - what am I committed to?  

Number one is faithfulness to God.  Basic to that is my commitment to God's Word as the written authority over my life. My goal is that my relationship with God will be reflected in my relationships with others.  Only God will know if I succeed in mirroring Him. One day I will stand before Him, and His grace to me will cover the times I didn't succeed. 

Two is faithfulness to and unconditional love for my immediate family including the very dear "chosen people" they bring to the family through marriage.  

Three is to extended family, people I "adopt" as family, and to my dearest friends. 

Beyond that I am committed to trying to be kind in every circumstance.  Kindness is not to be confused with nice.  Sometimes kindness means being forthright and honest even when it isn't welcomed.     

The Covid-19 Pandemic has been very strange in its isolation.  One of my most salient commitments prior to the Pandemic was the Biblical mandate:  Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is, even so much the more as you see The Day approaching.  (Not sure that is the exact word-for-word quote so I am not putting it in quotes.) I haven't been in church since early March  2000. I quarantined on March 8. But my desire to be in worship corporately is not forsaken.  I "go to church" online, and while it is wonderful to have that opportunity, it does not take the place of congregational worship and connection with others who are in worship. Worshipping together is powerful. It gives me pause to think about how things have changed.  

It is good for us to think about what our true commitments are and actions speak louder than words.  Food for thought!  

DAY 23 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

FOCUS, FAITHFULNESS & FOLLOW-THROUGH

In May 2008 when I first went to my friend’s church as a “safe haven” it was called Faith Assembly of Lacey (aka FAL).  During the first years I was there FAL had annual themes:

2009: YEAR OF imPOSSIBILITIES:
God intervening to make the impossible possible by HIS power!
The im was crossed out – by a cross – symbolic of the reality that it is only through the sacrifice represented by the cross of Christ that the impossible can become possible. 

2010: YEAR OF COMMITMENT:
The theme was accompanied with a reminder that who we are is the sum-total of our commitments, and that first and foremost we need to have a full and complete commitment to serve and honor God. 

2012:  YEAR OF TRANSITION:
2012 year marked the passing of the baton from the Founding Pastor to the former Associate Pastor, who was definitely called, mentored and nurtured to become the new Senior Pastor.   

During those years the motto of the church was “Live Well.  Die Ready.”  I would have preferred “Live Holy. Die Ready” or “Live Ready. Die Ready” but the point was still made – even if it required an explanation.  

I’ve never attended a church that had themes – or a motto – but they are good. They provide focus. There is no wandering blindly wondering. It is faithfulness with intention and direction. And, God is honored in the process. That’s the key. 

The current pastor went through a very respectful process to change the name to reflect what the focus of the church most profoundly professes under his leadership:  Truth and Grace, thus the new name of the church – True Grace.  We may not always succeed as well as we’d like – but it is good to have the stated intention reflected in the name.  Good intentions matter because they are the seeds of achieving reaching that goal.  And, the name literally serves as a motto!

The day prior to my original writing of this entry I was sitting in a medical facility waiting room, waiting for someone who was having a procedure done, and I had the joy of talking with a stunning lady who was seated a few chairs away from me. Our conversation covered a lot of territory, but it reminded me that God is the God of fortuitous circumstances. Sometimes we also refer to those as Divine encounters – but generally only in retrospect if we see something good that came from the conversation. 

I already know there was something good that came out of the chance meeting: I met an amazing woman who has very good intentions toward her employees, and does something about it – even to the point of paying them while they do their homework if needed so they can succeed in school. Her work ethic puts people first. Her stated goals for her employees include what is good for them – even over what might be good for her financially – and in the process, what is good for them turns out to be good for her, too.... I hope it is not our last encounter. 


When we walk intentionally in our relationship with the Lord, good is also His goal.