Don't Ever Quit - Keep it Simple

January 7, 2012

A couple of days ago, I shared on my FB page my verse/passage for 2012.

2 Timothy 4 (The Message)

I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple. (verses 1-2) But you - keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. (verse 5)

I must confess that after sharing on here in September that I had written my last blog post for a while, I felt relieved. As a busy mom with 3 kids and many domestic jobs that needed tending to (and still do!) it seemed best to give up blogging altogether.

Let's be honest. We have seasons in life when we are busier than others and I was putting too much pressure on myself. I believed that if I could not keep up by posting multiple times/week (as I had one time heard at a conference) I should just quit.

In fact, can I just be really honest and say that I beat myself up about a lot of things last year. Hardly keeping it simple. And I would be willing to bet that I'm not alone there.

The truth is I love to write. I may not do it every week, but when I do, I enjoy it. When God lays a verse, or a message on my heart and gives me something to share, why not?

So, in 2012, I'm making a fresh start! If you're following along, don't expect a new blog post every day or even every week, especially during baseball season! ;) But I will continue to proclaim the Message; challenge, warn, and urge; and try my best to do the thorough work of God's servant.

After all, Jesus could break through the clouds at any time and call us up in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4) And I would really hate for Him to say to me, "Hey, why did you quit?"

What about you? Is there a verse you're claiming this year? Maybe you're like me and need to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Is there something you were at one time doing for God's Kingdom, a talent perhaps, that you have stopped? Maybe it's time for some prayer and self-evaluation. Could He be nudging you to simply read His Word more, attend church more regularly, or even find a church home?

Let's thank God for the fresh start He gives us each day and for His forgiveness when we mess up or get off track with His plan. Let's try to remember what's really important and just to keep it simple.

And whatever you do, don't ever quit!

May God bless you beyond measure this year!!!

Christy

(c) 2012 Christy Long.