This time of year I like to sit down and really focus on what has happen in the last year and what is coming ahead for the next. This year I am attacking things a little differently. I am looking at what “Mission” God would like me to accomplish in the next year.

After some good seeking and searching with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I think I understand what that mission is for 2009. Toward the end of 2008 and now in the beginning of 2009, God has been teaching me, in many ways, what it really means to love. To Love God and Love Others.

That’s my mission for this year. I desire to really know what it means to love God and to love others and then actually apply it to my life. So many times I hear great practical teaching but then I don’t apply it.

What’s the point if you don’t apply it?!?

So with that said, I want to share with you what God has been teaching me over the last couple of days (since the beginning of 09). Keep in mind that this is God teaching me – some of this may seem obvious to you but it’s exactly what I needed to hear.

1. Love is selfless and unconditional
- Wow, that sounds easy (not). This was obvious for me but revolutionary at the same time. Some times we make things so complex when really they are simple.

I had the opportunity toward the end of 2008 to read a book titled “The Shack” and it rocked my world. I highly recommend it. This book really caused me to look at things in a different light as it relates to God, love and relationships between us and God.

2. Love is based on commitment and not on feelings or desires.
- True agape love is more stable than feelings and desires will ever be. To really love the way God designed us to love, we need to base it on something way more stable than feelings and desires (phileo and eros).

When you’re committed to something, you are locked onto it come hell or high water. You could have the worst possible day with a spouse or with your kids but you still love them, why? That makes no sense based on how you feel.

Right, but if your love is based on your commitment to loving them no matter what, then you will love them through anything.

3. God is the Creator of the Universe and yet loves the most intimate details of my life.
- I have to give credit to Francis Chan for this one. I am currently reading his book, Crazy Love. And chapter 1 is totally focused on explaining who God really is and what He created and how in the midst of his Awesomeness he still cares deeply for you and me.

I encourage you to watch a video on his site, http://www.crazylovebook.com/ – the video is called “The awe factor of God” and you’ll get a sense of how huge God is. The amazing thing is God is the creator of the universe and He is bigger than that. Logically a Creator needs to be larger and than it’s creation and after watching that video it gave a real sense for how awesome God really is.

But what is even more amazing is that he cares intimately and deeply for us humans on this little spec in the universe called earth. Not just humans but you and me. Not just knowing who we are but knowing what we think and the plan for our short life on this planet. WOW! absolutely mind blowing – that is crazy, deep, intimate love – I so want to be like that!

5. A continual submission to the work of God in our lives today through the daily filling of the Holy Spirit.

Once you are in God’s camp the journey is not over, it is just beginning. It reminds me of the movie, “Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring.” In the first film of this trilogy, Frodo and his friends embark on a mission to take the evil ring to Rivendale – land of the elves. When he arrives, he begins to dream of going back home to the shire but soon begins to realize that this journey he has begun is far from over, and it is not going to be an easy journey.

Embarking On The Journey
Like this journey, embarking on the journey to follow Jesus is not over after you pray and accept what Jesus has done for you. It is just beginning and you are in for quite a ride!

Sometimes this journey will mean enduring things that we never wanted to endure. Sometimes it will mean doing things we never intended on doing. And sometimes it will mean giving up things we never intended to give up. Just as Frodo saw his mission as more important than keeping himself comfortable and safe, we need to think less of ourselves and more of the greater good that God’s plan is seeking to accomplish.

This journey requires a continual submission to God and to the work He has called you to. The important thing to remember is that your dreams and goals need to be in submission to His. God has a plan and it is worth following it, why? Because it is His plan and He created you. Who better to submit to than the one who knows you better than yourself.

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me. – Psalm 139:1-5

It Takes Commitment
Ultimately, Frodo commits to complete his mission no matter what it takes. At the end of “The Fellowship Of The Ring,” Frodo is off to accomplish his mission and he had no idea what he would be in for.

A relationship with God requires a similar type of commitment. It is a 100% commitment of our resources. Everything we are, everything we have, and everything we can do needs to be focused on the mission that God has given us to take on.

God is not looking for followers who are half-hearted or only looking for “fire-insurance.” Jesus made this point clear in a letter to the Laodicean church in Revelation.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16

Think about that – Jesus would either have you 100% for Him or 100% against him but He can’t stand this wish-washy weakly committed “christian” thing.

Don’t Go At It Alone
As he continues on his journey, Frodo does not go alone. While Frodo felt this was his mission and he had to do it alone, his friend Samwise Gamgee would not let him go alone. Sam served as Frodo’s friend, guide, protector, and strength while they journeyed together on this mission.

On our journey with God, we have a “Sam” that tags along with us guiding, protecting and giving us strength. Jesus described our “Sam” this way

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. – John 16:13-15

The Holy Spirit comes on us at the time we accept and believe what Jesus has done for us. He joins us on the mission God has given us to accomplish.

The Holy Spirit is resident within us and willing to help and guide us down the path. Just like Frodo did with Sam, we have the choice to hear that guidance and follow it or to go against it and endure the consequences that result. But through it all, the Holy Spirit is 100% committed to us, not matter what happens. God would let us go at it alone. He loves us to much to allow that. Moses reminded the Israelites of this fact shortly before he handed the reigns of leadership over to Joshua. He said,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

Everyday we need to ask the Holy Spirit to make Himself obvious to us and guide us in the way we should go.

This commitment is needed to accomplish our mission is foundational to following Jesus because it is exactly what Jesus did. He came to earth to accomplish His mission and He gave up what He wanted to accomplish what God the Father had planned in order to redeem the world.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. – Matthew 26:39

If we are going to follow his example then we need to be 100% committed no matter the cost. We need to be willing to give up our comforts, dreams, and desires – just like He did.

How do you recover a lost focus? What do you do when the mission you are were created for becomes fuzzy?

Over the last two weeks I have really felt like my focus is off. It is usually at this point where I return to scripture to remind me where I am going and what my mission truly is.

Jesus found himself in this position during his ministry. What did he do?

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, ‘“Everyone is looking for you.’”

But Jesus replied, ‘“We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.’” – Mark 1:35-38

The night before this passage occurs, Jesus spent pretty much the whole day healing many people. While this was a good thing for the people it distracted Jesus from His mission. So He pulled away and communicated with His father. When found by the apostles Jesus had a renewed sense of purpose and direction. “I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”

I think I found my starting point for coming back into focus. Time alone, in prayer with my Heavenly Father. Not just the prayers of my requests but honest meaningful prayer in which my heart is shared deeply with my Creator and Sustainer.

With His direction, I can be reminded of what my mission and purpose is on this earth. Acts 17:28 says, “For in him we live and move and exist.”

These times of solitude and prayer were something that Jesus did more than once. In fact, He and the disciples frequently went to the Garden to pray. That is an example that all of us, in the busyness of 21st century, need to be following.

The next step is to act upon what I have learned. In this case, I need to set aside a specific time to communicate with God away from the noise and chaos of life in the 21st century.

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends…In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. – Proverbs 16:3,9″

Who better to consult with on the issues of life than the one who created life.

As a committed Jesus Follower, I need to become better at following this example of solitude with God. Please pray that I find time to spend in honest communication with God and that I would make it a priority.