Malcolm Potts February 1st 2015 ~ "When my mind is distracted, my heart runs from you."

Two thoughts this morning as 2015 gets under way.  The first, ‘following’.In my prayers one morning this week, this phrase hit me, "When my mind is distracted, my heart runs from you."  That is worth reading a couple of times and pondering.Last week in church Cheryl spoke to us about ‘following’.  She explained how following always entails leaving good things for better or, ideally, the best thing.  She said, tellingly, that as we get older we find that harder and harder to do.  We are more committed, enmeshed and tired.Frankly, I am unlikely to follow Jesus or anyone else.  I’m the captain of my own ship.  Is there anyone you’d be willing to follow?  Under what circumstances?  Jesus is unequivocal:  Come follow me.  How?Here is the thing.  I always make ‘following’ about external things, the obstacles.  Sure, the disciples left homes and towns but the real following is an internal thing;  it is when I fix my eyes on Jesus and welcome him to captain my heart, my inner life.  When he captains my heart, the stuff I sweat about out there in the world will take care of itself.  Have faith, it truly will.Please work on your inner life.  Fix your eyes on Jesus, open your heart to him – your repentant, dependant, humble heart.  Your inner inheritance is what powers your outer investment priorities.  Don’t screw it up by getting your focus wrong.This morning one of our cycling crew announced that he is moving to Melbourne to study international relations.  He’s never lived in Melbourne, has nowhere to live, doesn’t know much about the course or his subjects - and he doesn’t care two hoots.  He works in Perth as an engineer.  The thing is, he is in his twenties, single and has already done plenty of moving.  He’s following a dream with few obstacles.  Can you imagine doing that?  What would be a big enough motivator for you to do that?Lots of people seem to be making changes or contemplating change right now.  Change implies endings and beginnings.  Back to my reading this week:  "When my mind is distracted my heart runs from you."  Good endings give us a better chance of good beginnings.  It’s time to fix my eyes on the one whose good end opened the way for our brilliant beginning.Last week was about following.  This week I am talking about beginning (the second thought for the morning).  New Year?  Am I talking to God about it?  Am I sharing my thoughts with anyone?  Am I open to him? Am I willing to change direction, trusting Him?As a team at St Philips, we are beginning a new year together.  We spent this week fixing our eyes on Jesus together.  This week Cheryl and I ticked over ten years with you and had our 28th wedding anniversary.  Can we keep at this?  Is it a good end or a new beginning?My eyes are fixed on him, my heart is open to him – repentant, dependant and, hopefully, humble.  The inner life, as we begin 2015 together, will determine the fruitfulness of the outer life.  I have a hunch as we begin 2015 that we are going to see lots of fruit.  Please, join in.  Be embraced and may his peace be upon you.Malcolm