A simple equation.

I hate math. There are few things on earth that I can honestly use the word HATE for... but math has earned that honor. I love science though, and sometimes- when they overlap- I tolerate math. Imagine my suprise when God spoke to me today through an equation!

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:30-31

Today, I'm focused on loving the Lord with all my strength. The word used here is the greek word "ischys" which appears in scripture often - translated as strength, power, might, ability, energy, force. It's used to discribe physical exhurtion, mental fortitude, and spiritual endurance. Here's the equation I mentioned.

It's the equation used to calculate things like "horse power"...1 horse power means that 1 horse has the energy needed to move 550 pounds 1 foot in 1 second. ok, ENOUGH MATH. I'm left pondering how well this equation holds up spiritually when we think of ONE LIFE's POWER.

Our Life Power is equal to the effort we put in or the the energy we use, mulitplied by distance or the movement that we create for the kingdom OVER time. Some of the variables we get to decide on, and plug into the equation. (How are we investing in our relationship with the Lord? How are we physcally exhurting ourselves for his purposes? How closely are we following his lead? How much time are we devoting to Him and how long are we willing to surrender? But some of the variables God has to solve for. If we plug in the effort and the time into diminishing the distance, He has promised to both close the gap between us AND stretch the limits of his Kingdom. Ok, so this part isn't mathmatically sound, but hear me out. Notice that the energy is tied to the distance? What if the effort feels easier the closer we get to the Lord? What if the longer we walk the less force it takes? What I do know is that it takes more effort to start rolling a boulder than it does to KEEP it rolling. Stops and starts are more costly energy-wise than sustained momentum. The bottom line is that when we walk steadily, over time, in His spirit, He gives POWER.

"But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~Acts 1:8 [emphasis mine]

God, THANK YOU that Our time and effort draw us closer to the work YOU are accomplishing! Thank you for allowing us to witness to YOU and YOUR work in all the earth! We know that YOU will grant the power and YOU will bridge the divides! Jesus, that thrills me to my core!

If you are left thinking "now what? How do I devote more time? Where can I put my energy and effort to Kingdom use?" ... you probably know what I'm about to say- Check out CarePortal.com. Search your zipcode, or your county and see how you can help a family in crisis in your neightborhood. When you show up for a neighbor, your effort and time not only draw YOU closer to the Lord himself- but they help close the distance for those who might be far from God. You display his power! Reach out to me if you have questions or ideas! I'd love to hear from you.

Lord, continue to empower us, to energize us, to close the gap between us as we draw near to you, and to extend the path in front of us as we follow you! Help us to love you with all our passion and energy and effort and strength and might and ability and life force! And teach is how to ‘Love others as well as we love yourself. ~amen