Exodus 20:3

"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3 {ESV}

When Moses was first summoned up Mt. Sinai, God issues His commandments to Moses. The Ten Commandments are all common knowledge from early Sunday School lessons, but do we ever "really" read them and understand them?

I claim no divine interpretations, no special "word" for this time. I just see them for what they are and try to interpret them to my life the best I can.

As I am reading through the English Standard Version of the Bible chronologically this year, I am current in Exodus, specifically beginning chapter 20. And as I read this first several verses, I have to stop because it hits me. I fail in keeping these from the very first.

I am not saying I worship another diety along side the Judeo-Christian God. I am saying that I may have several other "things" in my life I have made "gods."

Before I get too deep in this topic, let's defin the term "god" from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

1: capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as
a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe
b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind

2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality

3: a person or thing of supreme value

4: a powerful ruler

From this set of definitions, several could apply to persons, places, ot things in our life (specifically number 3). Is there something in your life that holds a supreme value to you? Does it concern you when you can't find it? Do you need to reference it frequently through out the day to feel connected? Do you spend countless hours with it?

I am not pointing fingers. I know I am very guilty as well. For me, my phone/internet can be described as a god in my life. I know I give it more time in my day than I give to the one, true God, even if I justify it and say that it is just a tool I am using for His glory.

I am an addict. Addicts do not think straight when they are trying to remove the addiction. I can justify why I need it frmo many directions and feel zero guilt for the justifications. Let's face it, it would be SO difficult to get through life these days with out it.

But, ultimately, that is just the point. God doesn;t want us including ANYTHING in out life which takes our attention away from Him. If I think it would be difficult getting through life without a phone or the internet, how difficult would it be for me to do so without Him?

I want to rely completely on His guiding (not the input from my cyber people, though I value their opinions as well). I need Him to lead me (not the GPS app on my phone which only helps me find an address and not true direction). I need to listen intently for His voice (not a specific ring tone for a close friend).

Oh, and by the way.  While I am not really concerned about the numbers game with statistics, I am surprised that I have surpassed 15,000 page views of my blog.  Thanks for reading.  I appreciate it.

2013 Goals Checks
Read Chronologically through the ESV:
We are journeying with Israel through the wilderness.  Moses is recieving the Ten Commandments, and sharing the first Laws of God.  The people are still gung-ho from the defeat of the Egyptians and ready to follow Moses and God anywhere!  Funny, how this is very allegorical to us.  We have a great victory that can only be attributed to the Lord in our life and we are very motivated to seerve and follow.  But sooner or later we get wrapped up in another issue that needs help and we slowly fade away and seek answers elsewhere.

2,013 in 2013 for Hope House Challenge:
Did not run on Sunday.  As I got in to work, I found out about a half marathon down at Big Bend National Park.  I wish I would have known about it, as I would have liked to run it.  Races (even if I know I am ill prepared) motivate me to get out and run.  Plus, 13.1 miles would go a long way towards getting me situated in a better place for this challenge.  I guess I need to keep my ears open for other local opportunities.  The next race I have on my schedule is a 10K in Roswell, NM on February 23.  The Pecos Valley Round Up.  This will be somewhat of an anniversary for me, as this is the race I ran in 2009 on the spur of the moment which sort of got me hooked on races.