2016 – next

In 2015 I focused on being quiet.  Which is why you didn’t see anything from me on social media.  It was a year to focus on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 and what it means to lead a quiet life.

2015 was a great year of listening and simplifying. It was also a year to refine areas of my life that had been neglected.  A year to slow down and really listen… because when I am quiet… I hear much better.

While I learned principles that allowed me to “live quietly”… I also learned there are a few things,  while not wrong in themselves, make living a quiet life difficult… wealth, fame and power.

With wealth comes responsibility. How do I manage wealth properly? Am I able to maintain a correct perspective on gaining possessions in light of Jesus’ teaching?

It requires wisdom to handle fame without becoming self-absorbed. Even a small degree of popularity can affect my ability to be sensitive to the needs of others.

With power there is always the temptation to use it for my own ends rather than the good of others.

If my ambition is to lead a quiet life I would do well to not seek after these things… and I am completely fine with that.

However, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 does not promise that God will grant us a quiet life even if I do make this my ambition.

I’m sure Martin Luther was making it his ambition to live a “quiet life” in the monastery when he was thrust into a teaching role.

It seemed like Moses was living a “quiet life” when his life was interrupted by a burning bush.

I could site many more examples. The point is, while I may desire a quiet life, God may have other ideas.

In 2016, the TeSelle family word is NEXT.  What is NEXT?  We are not sure.  But we are open to God disturbing our quiet lives and moving us to a different position…  and if he does… our response be one of obedience.

GT