Number Three.........

Coming in at number 3 on my Upsidedown Bucket List is .......Refusing to Receive. Most of us are brought up to be responsible individuals and concerned citizens. I am definitely NOT saying we should not be responsible, but Jesus taught His disciples to receive. In fact, in order to have eternal life we must receive!

In John 13, Jesus demonstrates. Jesus said, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." We are familiar with Jesus becoming the Servant of All, but I want to look at it from a different perspective. Had Peter refused for Jesus to wash his feet then he could have never been prepared to wash the feet of others. Sometimes we must be willing to receive before we can give. Jesus continues, "For I gave you an example that you do as I did to you."

No doubt, we are more comfortable being on the "giving" end of the stick. However, God wants us to receive ALL that He has for us! In His infinite wisdom there are times when He wants us to receive. Trust Him! He places His people in our path that are sensitive to His Spirit and will use them as His vessels to pour out His extravagant love in our lives. Once we recognize who is really doing the giving, we are blessed and much more capable of giving.....because we have received. Afterall, "We love, because He first loved us." I John 4:19

Never Forget

Coming in at # 2 on The Upside Down Bucket List, (and I confess a few days later than I had hoped) is

"Never Forget Where I Came From!"

Luke 18:13 states, "The tax collector stood at a distance." This particular passage of scripture indicates to me an attitude of respect and thanks (make sure you see # 1 on my list). It is an attitude of remembering where Christ found me and the depths of which He went to save me! The only thing that makes me worthy of anything is the blood of Jesus.

I think John Newton probably said it best, "I remember two things; that I am great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior." Once we have experienced the overwhelming, extravagant love of Christ in our lostness......we are forever changed! As Christians, I am certain that we become casual about being in God's presence. In this passage, I am reminded of the great distance that once stood between me and God, and the bridge that Jesus became for me. I do not have to stand at a distance, as a matter of fact, He invites me to draw near to Him and call Him Father. We have been in a relationship now for about 36 years. I pray I never forget where I came from!

My Upside Down Bucket List

Recently our family had the blessing of vacationing together at the beach. I love the beach for many reasons, but most of all because God's presence is SO close. As I watched the tide come in and out and searched for treasures I was impressed with things in my life I DO NOT want to do based on some scriptures.

So I am calling it my Upside Down Bucket List! So until the Lord leads differently I will be sharing posts that are things I DO NOT want to do!!

One thing I never want to do is Fail to Say Thank You!

Luke 17:17-18 references a manifestation of Jesus bringing healing to ten lepers. Out of the ten, only one, just one......returned to say Thank you. I am most grateful for all that he has done, is doing, and will continue to do in my life! May I never forget to say thank-you. I try to carry this to the extreme by thanking the waiter every time he/she fills my glass of tea, someone holds the door open for me, or the clerk at Walmart remembers to turn and check for any bags she might have missed.

One day I will have the chance to say Thank-you to Jesus, face to face! I pray I never forget all the things I have been redeemed from and the pit of sin that I have been lifted out of!! I am by no means greater than anyone else.....in fact, I generally sign my name with a lower case "t" just to remind me to be humble! (My English is better than that.....i think) But there is one thing I know for sure, I have been bought with a very high price. So for everyone who sowed seeds in my life over the years, thank-you. Or as Gomer Pyle used to say, "Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye." Wow, that was a long time ago :)