Thursday, April 30, 2015

XYZ - eXamine Your Zeal

Since I fell behind, I am finishing with a triple, but I am finishing. I hope to spend May visiting the other A to Zers because I fell behind on that as well. It's called a challenge for a reason, but it's also a fun way to stretch myself. I'd like to thank Arlee Bird again and all the team of A to Z helpers. You all are a wonderful inspiration and encouragement. Thank you for putting this together and inspiring so many. Here goes:


A to Z Challenge


XYZ - eXamine Your Zeal. When you think about what’s been breaking out in cities across the U.S. right now, the riots and the mobs and the protests, can you help but wonder what’s going on? Is their zeal well grounded or unfounded? What is under it or behind it?

I believe within each of us there is a need, a desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We may not know it or see it or understand it, but it is there and it shows itself in someway. I believe we are witnessing the ugliness that it can produce when we misidentify what that bigger something is. That the need was placed in us for a purpose. Yes, we have a real need which fuels a real desire, and it is for the something bigger that we were created for, God Himself. We were created to belong in the family of God.

However, we also have something else naturally in us, a rebellious nature. So when that need for something bigger intertwines with our nature to rebel, it can produce the kinds of things we are witnessing in our society. We search to belong to something bigger in all the wrong places. Only God Himself can give us what we long for, what we are created for, relationship with Him. The Bible tells us God has made Himself known within us.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures
                                                                               Romans 18-23 (NASB)

We should eXamine what we are Zealous for. With what do You Identify? In what do You find You Reality? How do You determine Truth? What is You Ultimate? Are You Equipped to defend or offer an Apologetic Your Worldview? Can You Lay it Out for someone? How do You deal with Your Doubts?  Are You willing to make some Observations to Make the Most of  the Quality of Your Life?


EXamine Yourself and direct Your Zeal towards the One You were created for. You were made to be an Heir of the kingdom of God. Jesus has made a way to restore us to what we were intended for, Glory as children of the King of Kings.

God bless, Maria

70 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I keep trying to comment and keep having trouble! Testing!

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  3. OK, looks good. Hello Maria! We connected a few years ago during the a-z. It's good to see you are still proclaiming God's truths. Love it! We truly are created for God's glory and everything else is secondary. :-)

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  4. Thanks for your comments Mare. Sorry you were having trouble. I'd like to get back to regular posts, but seem to be constantly derailed. One of these days.

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  5. Congrats on finishing the challenge. Happy Blitz Day!

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  6. From the looks of things it appears you've decided to take an extended break following the challenge. Can't say that I blame you! That won't stop us from BLITZING you though! :)

    Enjoy.

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  7. Hello, Maria! Today is your BLITZ day! Now you can recharge those batteries and start posting for June! ;)
    Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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  8. Great work on finishing the challenge! :) Happy blitz day!

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  9. Cool way to wrap up the A to Z Challenge. Happy Blitz Day!

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  10. Great job with the challenge, and happy blitz day!

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  11. Happy Blitz! I love your line "examine yourself and direct your zeal towards the one you were created for". So much wisdom in that!

    betty

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  12. I love the line Betty liked too. That's so important. Happy Blitz Day!

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  13. Enjoyed your post. The only true peace we can find is through Jesus.

    Happy Blog Blitz Day!

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  14. Congratulations on reaching the end of this year's Challenge!

    And a Happy Blitz Day as well!

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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  15. Stopping by to wish you a Happy Blitz Day!

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  16. Congratulations on finishing the A to Z Challenge. Happy Blitz Day!

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  17. Powerful post. It's so frustrating to watch people stand up for such a very good cause in such an evil, nonsensical way. I don't carry things to such extremes, but I"m definitely one who needs to take a breath more often & examine my zeal so I can better direct it.

    Happy Blitz Day!

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  18. A To Z challenge is always a busy time of the year. Congrats on finishing. I had to drop out last year and couldn't sign up this year. Hopefully next year will be a better year for me.
    Happy Blizting:)

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  19. Thought you were gonna take a break from the ol' blogosphere, eh? Nope, ain't gonna happen, because you are getting BLITZED today! Enjoy.

    (Very nice XYZ post. Congrats on finishing the challenge.)

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  20. Happy Blitz Day!!! Congrats on finishing the challenge - what an accomplishment!

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  21. Happy to drop by and wish you a Happy Blog Blitz Day today.

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  22. I like the way you ended the challange! Congrats on finishing. It was my first year to participate over at Down Home Thoughts.
    Happy Blitz Day!

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  23. Hello Maria, stopping by to say Happy blitz Day!

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  24. Happy Blitz Day!! Have a good one.

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  25. Happy Blitz & congrats on finishing A to Z!

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  26. Congrats on finishing the A to Z! I didn't quite manage it. Happy Blog Blitz :)

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  27. You had a great A to Z. I have missed it for two years now. Maybe next year. I agree we were all created to be in His family. One day soon we will join Him in Heaven. The Goodness of The Savior will be ours forever. Happy Blitz Day. *waves*

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  28. congrats on finishing A-Z! I'm always so daunted by the challenge but I love reading the blogs :) happy Blitz day!

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  29. I'm always impressed by those who do the challenge. I could never do that many!

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  30. Kudos for finishing the A-Z challenge! One day I'll work up the nerve to participate.

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  31. Happy Blitz day and congratulations on finishing your A to Z challenge! See you next year :-)

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  32. Congrats on the Challenge! Hope to see you next year as well.

    Happy Blitz Day!!

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  33. Congrats on finishing the A-Z Challenge! Happy Blog Blitz Day! Eva

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  34. Happy Blitz Day! Good to see you made it all the way from A - Z….

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  35. Well done for finishing A To Z :)

    Happy Blitz Day!!!

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  36. Congratulations for finishing A to Z! Hope your break is over soon and you get back to some more good posts!
    Have a wonderful Blitz Day!

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  37. Woot on getting through AtoZ. Happy Blitz!

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  38. Happy Blog Blitz Day to you!! Enjoy the rest of your day! Eva

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  39. What a creative way to wrap up the A-to-Z! Have a Blessed Blitz Day, Marie

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  40. An intriguing way of catching up. I like how you combined the last three letters. The world does seem to be an embittered place lately. I am sure something will eventually pull everyone back together.

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  41. I give you a lot of credit for completing A to Z. I would've been drawing a blank by D! Happy Blitz Day :)

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  42. What a clever end to the A to Z challenge and congrats for completing it.

    Happy blitz day!

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  43. First off, what a wonderful post with a message everyone needs. Examing yourself is only part of it. Thanks for sharing this.
    Second, congratulations for completing the A to Z Challenge. I still haven't been brave enough to take it, but I will one day.
    And third (lastly), Happy Blitz Day!

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  44. Congratulations on completing the A to Z Challenge!

    Happy Blitz Day!!!! :D

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  45. Great that you completed the A to Z Challenge! Happy Blitz day.

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  46. It's easy to forget sometimes that He is the beginning and the end--or as with this post, the A and the Z!

    You've been blitzed!

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  47. Congratulations on crossing the A to Z finishing line!
    Happy Blog Blitz Day!
    I hope you enjoyed the flood of comments.
    Writer In Transit

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  48. I think it's great that you've kept going with the A to Z!

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  49. A proper, unbiased self-examination with eyes wide open to truth and a zeal to improve is crucial if we want to achieve lasting growth and fulfillment. (Sorry I'm late to the blitz.)

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  50. Happy belated Blitz Day.

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  51. BAZINGA!

    You've been blitzed!

    Hope you had a great day!

    Heather

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  52. Thank you to everyone who participated in my blitz. I'll express my appreciation more personally when I get over the flu. You all are great. Thanks.

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  53. Wow, a triple whammy to finish off your A to Z. Nice work :)

    Happy Blitz day!

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  56. You made an article that is interesting.You are so amazing.

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  57. Wow what a creative way of closing the challenge, I like the choice of the words examine what we are Zealous for... congratulations for completing and thanks for sharing, appreciate you :)

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  58. Wow, what a very interesting content you have there. Every line i read is just like i open a new world. Please post more often,because this is exactly the type of content i want every day. i promise to visit everyday.





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