3/10/11

Simple Pleasures ~ Jesus!

Project Simple Pleasures2
Lent is upon us and I find myself challenged to look deeper into my walk with Christ.
At first this seemed a strange inspiration for a Simple Pleasures post, but through these questions He is confronting me with, the Lord is drawing out hidden joy and surrender.
It's all about renunciation and self-denial and the pleasures to be found in the 'letting go' of all that holds me back from fully following!
Can it really be a pleasure to deny oneself and take a cross upon the shoulders and walk the weary road behind the Nazarene?
Would it be easy..is it simple? I doubt it, in fact I know it isn't.
I've done enough trailing behind Him to experience some less than pleasant times that one may be asked to go through as His disciple. So is it worth it-is He worth it?
Many people will gladly endure discomfort for the pleasures they seek from worldly gain and ambition.
Working hard and investing themselves in the pursuit of what they think will bring them happiness and security.
What am I willing to endure? For Him?
Or do I expect Him to make my life sweet and carefree for the privilege of having me as His disciple?
What do I want out of this life I am living anyway - what do I want to gain?
Is it more stuff..money..possessions..prestige..power?
Would I be willing to give it all away? For Him?
For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross for me!!
Can I find joy - even pleasure in simply following Him - all the way??!
Do I even really want to follow Him - do I really want JESUS?
Oh yes Lord. YES!
"Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world..
But give me Jesus!"
"Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves..take up their cross daily..and follow Me." grace & joy..Trish
Posted by at
Labels:

22 comments:

  1. Custom ComfortsMarch 10, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Lovely and so challenging. Thank you for opening my eyes to a deeper walk with Jesus.
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    No...it is not easy. Denying oneself is the hardest choice we must make. Yet, we must clear the path of our old thoughts and practices...in order to allow Him to dwell in those openings.

    Maria.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nikki (Sarah)March 11, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    me too..I'm in...really want to follow Him...with all my heart. Nice song...great post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 11, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    Trish~my struggle this Lent will be to find the joy in the suffering...in the giving up.

    I just love that song. I heard it last week for the first time and play it when I can...so moving. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Janettessage.blogspot.comMarch 11, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    I totally get this...this is what God is speaking to my heart also. Thanks for sharing your simple pleasure, therefore, igniting a passions for Christ in others.

    The last time I saw clothes hung out to dry was when I was about 10 and I am now 50. Everywhere we have lived in my 30 years of marriage had in the by-laws that you could not hang out laundry. Isn't it funny what different people get use to? Thanks for stopping by my blog for simple pleasures

    ReplyDelete
  6. AngelMarch 11, 2011 at 1:29 AM

    What a wonderful post! I love your simple pleasure and this song is great.

    ReplyDelete
  7. CanadagirlMarch 11, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    Yes, giving up things here is sooooo worth what we get in the end...Jesus. He is EVERYTHING my ALL in ALL. Thank you for this post. It was a good and spoke to my heart.

    Blessings and ((HUGS))!
    -Mary

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ms.DaisyMarch 11, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Trish,
    It is all so worth it...to follow Him. I sometimes stumble but He helps me up and to keep going. Love your Simple Pleasure.


    ~Jean

    ReplyDelete
  9. KathleenMarch 11, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    Your post has given me food for thought today. Kathleen.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SueMarch 11, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    I have been asking myself the same questions lately Trish, Thank you for sharing your heart today and for challenging me to examine my heart more fully. I love this song too.
    Hugs,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  11. Barbara NeubeckMarch 11, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Hi Trish,
    What you have said in your post is challenging.
    Do I want Jesus in my life? -----YES PLEASE!!!!
    Lots of Love
    God Bless
    Barb xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. MaveMarch 11, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Thank you for encouraging us to see there is nothing else of true worth outside of knowing Jesus and the Father who gives and love freely.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysMarch 11, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    This touched my heart, Trish. Following Christ isn't always the easy road, but it always brings rich rewards.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Pen WilcockMarch 11, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    I very much empathise with Peter's response when Jesus asked the disciples, 'Do you to want to go?', at a time when so many fell away because the road was a hard one: 'Lord, to whom should we go?'
    The more one understands the way of faith and the centrality of the cross of Jesus in the purposes of God, the less relevant it becomes whether it's hard or easy - what other way is there that makes any sense?

    Thanks for thy lovely blog post, Trish.

    x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Covnitkepr1March 11, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    JESUS...that word kinda says it all.

    I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while now and would like to invite you to visit and perhaps follow me back. Sorry I took so long for the invitation.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMarch 12, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Yeshua told us it would not be easy to follow Him - but I can guarantee you that it is always WORTH it!

    Nothing worth having is ever easy, nu?

    And He loves us so much :-)

    ~Val

    ReplyDelete
  17. JennieMarch 12, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    It's not a simple thing to take up the cross daily, but it is a simple thing to receive the gift from Jesus of his redemption.

    I love this! I don't think it's odd for a simple pleasure at all. It's perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  18. gailMarch 12, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    Beautiful post and yes give me Jesus.

    Blessings Gail.

    ReplyDelete
  19. laughwithusblogMarch 13, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    The eternal perspective is always the best choice!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Blessed HomemakingMarch 13, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    When we have those days that we truly realize how precious (and safe) it is to be in the care of our Saviour...it is so precious! I wish I would never, ever forget it. Thank you for the wonderful post.

    ~Mrs. Q

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousMarch 14, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    My dearest Trish....I did not feel uncomfortable at all dear friend :) Your comments brought on a smile and I chuckled when I read it :)

    Never feel that you have done anything to upset me...your quiet spirit, your love for Our Savior, your simple way of looking at life is so precious to me Trish...You have no idea how encouraging your words are to me...thousands of miles from your beautiful island.

    Thank you for being such a neat lady! :)

    M.

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousMarch 15, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Trish,

    It's never easy to follow Christ, and live the life that He wants us to live. We are always so tempted to do it our way instead of His way. This is a lesson that I feel I will be learning as long as I walk upon this earth.

    -Lady Rose

    ReplyDelete

Dear friends,
I may not get to respond to all your comments, but please be assured I appreciate them and your kindness in leaving an encouraging word as you go. God bless you!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Thank you for visiting me...until next time...God bless you!

Thank you for visiting me...until next time...God bless you!