I was just reading some Rabbi's instructions/comments about Rosh HaShannah. Here's a quote I found interesting, especially the analogy he drew: "There seems to be an attitude prevalent in the modern world, certainly in America, of not making commitments, of keeping one's options open, of holding back as long as possible. I know many people who appear to be sold out for a week or two, and then drop out for a month or so, and then appear again to be sold out, and so on. Imagine someone who wanted to boil water to make tea, but instead of boiling it for ten minutes at a stretch, he boiled it for one minute, then let it cool for an hour, then boiled it for another minute, and so on. At the end of ten hours he still wouldn't have boiling water!" Let us all examine our own lives and make sure we're not 'boiling water for a minute then letting it cool for an hour', etc. Let's be sure that we accomplish what we start . . . that we stay on fire for Him . . . that we don't allow lukewarmness to become a part of our lives! This morning we had Bishop Muthee, from Kenya, speak to our congregation and he brought out a profound truth that goes in line with this. He said that when Mary was chosen to give birth to the Son of God, she submitted to the will of God . . . totally. It was not her choice to back out, that once she submitted to God's will, she was bound to see it through regardless of the personal or social pain and discomfort it afforded her. Look at this from a little different angle: When God births a vision in us and we submit to His will to see it through, if we stop mid-stream, back off of our zealousness, we are in essence committing spiritual 'abortion' . . . allowing that which He began in us to die before it was allowed to come to full maturity. How many times have we all done that? I want to make a commitment to the Father that from this point on, when He births in me a vision, a mission, a calling, that I will not quit pursuing that vision, mission, or calling until it can be presented back to Him in its full maturity. Lord, help us all during this time of personal spiritual reflection to make new commitments to You, to continue to die to our own wants and desires and to submit to that which You desire to birth in us until we can present it back to you complete and mature. Amen! Blessings, Jan Ross jross@... http://focusontheword.com ICQ#18767082 "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim" (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6 ~*~*~*~*~*~* Focus On the Word Banner Exchange--Sign Up Today and Receive 2,500 Free Credits http://focusontheword.com/banex