When the New Year rolled around a few weeks ago, I admit…

I was not very eager to create a list of self-made promises and good intentions.

Other than coming up with my ONE WORD for this year (ABIDE), I have carried on as usual with my ‘not-so-very-ordinary-life’.

Until yesterday, that is.

Oh sure, I (like others) danced around the idea of being more intentional about what I eat and more consistent in the way I work exercise into my weekly schedule, but I know myself.

I know that I am a ‘free spirit’ who lacks discipline when it comes to things like diet and exercise in particular.

I understand the value of discipline and I admire people who are.

I just know I will never be a person who wakes up at the same time every day, and sticks to a daily routine. First of all, my FLY-LIFE does not provide me with this type of rhythmic lifestyle. And secondly, even before I became a flight attendant, I despised a rigid, routine-approach-to-life. 

I actually happen to be a person who gets very bored with routine.

I do like big challenges and I thrive on the creative process of arriving at solutions – rather than following a rigid, methodical way of accomplishing a goal.  

But yesterday…

Those words.

They linger strong.

They rang WITHIN ~ and woke me early this morning.

These words – of that dear wise man on video who reminded those of us gathered of this one thing:

Oh, that I, that we, would live each and every day with this in view.

~

We…the undisciplined and quick to fly-by-the-seat-of-our-carefree-pants.

We…who are quick to say we love God but go about our day forgetting that we belong to him.

We…gluttons who indulge ourselves at the table-of-that-which-never-satisfies and allow ourselves to be led away from the God who created us for so.much.more!

We…who are quick to forget all of his benefits and most of all this: 

That we were bought with a great and precious price. 

“Make your relationship with Jesus your #1 priority.”

I am guilty.

Guilty of straying from this discipline of disciplines.

Isn’t this what ABIDING is all about?

I know this is the key to all other disciplines because I have tasted and seen over and over in my 36 years of following Jesus – that the Lord indeed is good!

Life is so much better when I allow my relationship with Jesus to be front and center in all areas of my life..

As a Wife…

Mother.

Grandmother.

Friend.

Daughter.

Sister.

Flight Attendant.

Writer.

And Seamstress.

These bridal gowns are the meticulous and original handiwork of my dear friend Vanni or Lucio Vanni Couture. Please let me know if you are in the market for a custom make wedding gown, or would like to purchase a Lucio Vanni original from one of her recent collections. 

~

This is what I desire above all:

To abide in Jesus.

To sit at the feet of the One who knows me better than I know myself.

To drink of God’s Word daily and allow him to work his truth into my life.

To feed upon the life of the Spirit who fills me with peace, joy, forgiveness, kindness, wisdom and purpose.

~

What about you friend?

Is your relationship with Jesus your #1 priority? 

Has anyone ever told you that you can have a relationship with God through his one and only Son, Jesus?

That God loves you more than you can comprehend?

That Jesus laid down his life for you by taking upon himself the guilt of your sin?

Do you know that your sinful nature and willful disobedience against God’s love and care for you means that you are incapable of living life according to God’s standard?

If you’ve never heard the story of Jesus, or if you’ve hears it One Thousand Times…

May I remind you as I remind myself today, that there is a better way to live dear friends. And it is only found when we turn our eyes off of self and onto Jesus.

Our journey here on earth and how we spend eternity after we die, hinges upon this one reality.

We enter into this with-God-life (now and then) by faith alone – not by works so that no one becomes proud thinking that our good works alone are an acceptable sacrifice to reconcile ourselves to God – or earn his approval.

Jesus is the one and only Savior whom the Father God has approved. His pain is our gain.

And…

When our relationship with Jesus becomes our #1 Priority…

We are able to live life from a whole new perspective and we find ourselves lacking/wanting nothing:

This 2014, will you make every effort to guard your relationship with Jesus…and join me discovering more of what it means to abide with Jesus and let him become your #1 Priority? 

Please do. There is so much at stake if you don’t.

Until next time friend,

May you be blessed and strengthened WITHIN by the grace and love of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Betsy