Exercise

Do you exercise?  Frankly, I don't....but I get quite a bit of walking in and at my age (70) I'm still working (not behind a desk) so I suppose that counts for something.  Why do people exercise?  The most obvious answer is to stay fit and stay healthy (and ward off, hopefully, down the road health issues). Fair enough !

What I'm about to share here is another kind of exercise.  It is a spiritual exercise, and I'm calling it Threshold Moments.  But first:

• if you are presently "on the fence" about becoming a devoted follower of Christ, this exercise may help you.
• if you are already a devoted follower of Christ, but at times you think, or it feels like, the flame (the passion) isn't what it used to be, this exercise may help you.
• if you are neither of the above, this exercise may help you.

Going back to the reason for exercising....to stay fit and stay healthy.  Spiritual exercise is no different.  There are many spiritual "exercises" that one can do to help spiritual fitness.  Threshold Moments is one that may push you just a little bit harder than some of the others, but it is a perfect exercise to heal and soften your heart.  And it is a challenge!! and very revealing.

Here is how it works.  Devote periods (plural) of time (yes, I know...we are all busy) when you can reflect on your past.  Go back as far as you can.  Here is what you will try to look for:

• any sequence of events, a happening, an encounter with another whereby you now (though at the time you may well not have) recognize that God or God's hand was present at the time of that sequence, happening or encounter. 

Document (in writing or on the computer) each and every one of those times that you now understand that God was at work in you or for you.  Don't worry about being in perfect chronological order.  It you take time to do this, an you may well have to, you will get spurts here and there as you recall your past.  It's OK.  The point is, as they come to you try to document as best you can the approximate dates those things occurred in your life.  If you are anywhere near my age you will be amazed at the sheer amount of things that come to mind, those Threshold Moments.  They are not all going to be "wow" moments or "ah-ha" moments or particularly pretty moments.  Some may be quite ugly, and some will be a bit innocuous.  But put any and all down that you now see as situations that had God's hand in it.  And remember, it may well be that back when some of those happened you chose to ignore the fact that His hand was in it.  Write it anyway.  And know that if you do this you may well write "stuff" that has never been shared with anyone.  That's OK.  You don't have to share this exercise either....but by writing it you are getting it "out there" in raw form for you to see....something much stronger than just thinking about it.

Here is what you will find with this exercise:

• our God is extremely patient with us and never gives up....never, ever
• by looking at the whole "package" you will once again see the full abundance of His amazing grace.
• you will know forgiveness, once again, like you have never known it.
• you will look at yourself with a new light.
• you will find it much easier to forgive yourself of stuff you have been holding on to.
• your heart will feel freer and cleaner than it ever has.
• you will end up being more transparent.
• you will look at others in a new light, and be more accepting of others shortcomings.
• You will look at God in a whole new light
• You will fully appreciate what Christ did on the cross...for all of us.

I'll double dog dare you to do this exercise !