Making An All-out Effort!

Greetings in the name of our Awesome and prayer-answering God!

I want to back pedal today to the DEVO from last Friday.

Mark 11:22 “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake' - no shuffling or shilly-shallying - and it's as good as done.”

I love telling people about when Jorge first met Rachel’s husband.  It was a little awkward to do more than shake hands.  But guess what? Jorge wanted Emilio to know that he was fond of him.  That he fully expected him to become another son.  The greetings steadily progressed from a handshake to a handshake and a hug, and now – watch out! – it’s a love fest.  It’s a handshake, a hug, and I-kiss-him-and-he-kisses-me-back display of affection -- when he arrives AND when he leaves.  And during the visits, I make fun of them because they sit kind of close on the couch.

Truth is, we the Cuban people are known for our affectionate greetings, but occasionally I encounter those who take a short cut.  Rather than make lip-to-cheek contact, they will smash their cheek into mine and not follow through with the actual smooch.  It feels so incomplete, and more than once I have called the offender out and made them re-do the salutation. 

I want to be wholeheartedly welcomed and loved, and so does God.  That’s what embracing the God-life is all about: Making an all-out effort!  When we really embrace Him we show it.  We spend time with Him, even when there’s no immediate crisis, and we tell Him we love Him and need Him. 

Think about how you would feel if those who say they love you never called, never visited, or worse, never gave you a complete and thorough full-contact kiss?  It wouldn’t take you long to start questioning the degree of their devotion. 

Let’s not forget the advantages of embracing God either.  We will always get so much more in return than what we give.  For one, we will be confident in our faith and live lives of peace and joy.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us move past any reservations we have about fully embracing You.  You are worth getting to know, and we love You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~