Acutely

a-cute \ adj. 1 : Keenly perceptive or discerning 2 : Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive 3 : Of great importance or consequence; crucial.

In a simple term, acute is to be deeply aware. Lately I have been under the conviction that as a Christian it is imperative that I be acutely aware of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost/the Spirit of God/the Spirit of Jesus; whatever specific term one may choose to use, regardless, it's God's Spirit indwelling in us. In Acts 1 the disciples are asking Jesus about His plan to restore the Kingdom of God. In response Jesus states,

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:7-8

To paraphrase and slightly expand upon Jesus' words, He is basically telling them that "I've got it guys, your mandate is for today; by the power of my Spirit, to go into the entire world and be my witness; to display my Kingdom until it's fullness through my return". God chose the most intimate means of relationship in order to restore His people - He first chose us, and now chooses to dwell within us. 

Jesus is a purposeful and proactive God. For this reason I see it imperative that I be acutely aware of His Spirit in me. Not saying that there will be a perpetual state of "heightenedness". Not at all, rather, to be acutely sensitive to the Holy Spirit is to recognize God's involvement in every aspect and season of our lives. How does one do this? I suppose it can be unique to each individual. For me, it is becoming more and more the recognition that Jesus is everything, this meaning that He is the number one most important thing to me. To recognize that He has been before anything else has, and that He has gone before me. Therefore, since He has the "first-ness" in my life, every experience I have has the potential to reveal an aspect of His being present with me. 

I have resolved to live a life acutely aware of Jesus; aware of His Holy Spirit indwelling within me. And more so, to act upon His leading in whichever way He so desires

Much blessing,

Nick B.  

Shed What is Old

WOW - It seems the insanity of academia life has kept me in a vortex of books, papers, and 10,000 other things to do. But alas I have returned, my friends.

It truly has been a whirl-wind of a couple of months; Papers, midterms, a trip to Florida for a conference, and Spring Break on Vancouver Island, etc. etc. As busy as this season of life has been I can say I have definitely been learning a plethora of invaluable lessons. The beauty of life is that something is always to be learned; Regardless of age or context, life presents to us lessons that stretch us and expand our horizons.

As I lay in bed last night I reflected upon preceding months that have flown by. I noted in that moment how I felt, how to put it...new; fresh; as if a layer of myself had been shed, only to reveal a more beautiful self - not a physical, but an internal beauty. It seems as one grows up and embarks on their journey of life, they go through significant season of shedding self. It's as if in order for them to break forth into a new season of life, they must first shed the layer of self that restricts them of doing so.

Personally, I find this past season to be one of expanding my worldview - The lens in which I have viewed the world in relation to self has been developed into a more God-pleasing format. In order for this to be accomplished it was imperative that much of the past be shed. And this is where I find myself; shedding a layer of past, only to reveal a more beautiful present-self that is able to move forward in my journey of life.

Rather abstract, perhaps, but I am a rather abstract individual - and I like it.

Be blessed
Nick B.