Somewhere in the Middle

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me...

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me...

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You’re by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I’m caught in the middle

I heard these powerful words last night at a Casting Crowns concert... wow... to hear him speak straight to my heart in the middle of thousands of people was a humbling thing. Even that night as I got ready it crossed my mind... what was my focus on? Looking good for people who mean a lot to me but are only part of this physical world or preparing myself to actually worship Him? I have to admit that looking nice won out and I never stopped to pray, to ask Him to show me His word last night. Yet even in my absolute contrariness He found me. He was by my side bringing me back closer to Him and away from the middle.

In my reading time this morning the devotional I get talked about Christ's returning and how we shouldn't count the day's because we can't know when He is coming back: "I don't think friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would." 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-2 (the Message) yet we do know the burglar is coming and we need to prepare ourselves for that... the kids and I sometimes watch a show called "It Takes a Thief"... the premise is that we don't prepare ourselves for the eventuality of a break in and these former thieves come in and break into your house and show you how easy it it... of course they give everything back and set up peoples houses to be safe, the kicker is that before the guy breaks in they set everything up with producers, add cameras to the houses and people know that at some point this guy is going to try to break in... I don't get why they don't prepare, they just sit there like it will never happen... how like that are we? We as His children have been told He is coming , "like a thief in the night", and yet we live our lives day to day like it's either never going to happen or like it won't be that big a deal when it does and it's a long way off so why get prepared... my heart has been so stirred to get ready; to prepare my kids, to ready my home, to live a quiet life that points others to Christ, to follow 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 " Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Lord, create in me a clean heart, clothe me in your righteousness, for my own desires and my own choices in life are like filthy rags, show me the path you want me to take, the life you want me to live (and love), Thank you for walking by me daily, for never leaving my side even when I turned away from you and spent my time in communion with my other walking companion, temptation, I ask that you help me keep my focus on you so much that the temptations in life begin to weaken and fall back to walk behind us, I know they will never be gone but I am on my knees asking you to help me diminish their strength. Thank you for being my God and God alone, I praise your holy name. My life is yours.