TERM 2 VALUE – Striving for Excellence

Winter is certainly here! It’s part of the cycle of life. The dying of the old in preparation for the new (in Spring). A time for rest and renewal. A time of contemplation.

During the winter school break, take time to reflect on how you are striving to live an excellent life for God.

Scriptures tell us that every Christian should strive for excellence in all that he/she does.  

 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That you may approve things that are excellent;” Philippians 1:9-11

For many today, living the Christian life is summed up in the words: “God is still working on me.” This is true. But God wants us to keep striving for excellence in our everyday living and conduct so we might reflect His own goodness in our daily living 

Excellent living is the kind of living that seeks to represent God’s character of holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness and righteousness in daily lives.

We need to continually strive to live the excellent lifestyle that is pleasing to God, and the only way we can do this is to practice a love, which comes from God and is therefore rooted in truth. If we are going to love people with an overflowing agape love (“your love may abound”), then we need to first open our hearts to Jesus’ love for us.

"I love Thee, I love Thee

And that Thou doest know;

But how much I love Thee,

My actions will show."

Lord,

From the rising of the winter sun to its setting, on these short winter days…

Make me short on mindless activity, long on reflecting on your love for me.

Make me short on being driven, long on paying attention.

Make me short on rushing and tiring, long on walking and wondering.

Make me short on focusing only on myself, long on looking beyond.

Make me short on mean thoughts, long on offers of words of comfort.

Make me short of obsessive lists, long on spontaneous acts of kindness,

Make me short on tradition as a habit, long on rediscovery and re-owning.

Make me short on false jollity, long on stilling and rooted joy.

Make me short on guilt, long on being merciful to myself.

Make me short on being overwhelmed, long on peacefulness

AMEN