We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,
the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Hebrews 12:2a NLT
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Refresh Rate. Have you heard this term before? I heard it for the first time about a year ago when I saw my cousin’s television. We were talking and some kind of sitcom was on in the background that looked oddly like a home made movie. All of a sudden I stopped talking out of shock because I realized that the “home movie” had famous people in it! (You would stop talking too if you just realized that your cousin makes homemade crime sitcoms with famous people…)

The excitement was short-lived. Nope. I will not be getting any autographs. It was just real tv on a television with a faster “Refresh Rate.” I did not like this refresh rate. It made me angry. All the visual appeal of my favorite shows was gone. It was like finding out the secret to a magician’s greatest trick and then sitting down to watch his show again.

But, once I got over my disappointment, I had a really cool reflection moment. Now that all the “smoke and mirrors” had been removed, I could actually choose what to watch based upon something other than special effects. Do I like the structure of the plot? Do I enjoy the raw talent of this actor/actress? Does this show/movie reveal anything new or fresh about our culture?

In short: When I get to take a peek behind behind the Wizard of Oz’s curtain, do I still want to talk to him?

Obviously I’m talking about more than just a Hollywood production here. I’m taking this challenge to a spiritual arena. What happens in my heart, mind and soul when I am faced with God’s “refresh rate”? When I read the Bible regularly and start to see the world through his eyes, am I disappointed that it’s not as “pretty” as I once thought it was? Or do I fall even deeper in love with HIS plan for my life and HIS movements in my day?

Christmas presents, trees, food and drinks are SO fun, but what if there was only a dirty manger and a baby? Easter baskets and pictures with big bunnies are SO exciting and cute but what if there was only an empty tomb? What if all the “pretty” were refreshed away and we were forced to look only at his story of grace and truth? What if we only looked at Jesus? Would we still celebrate?

“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NLT)

God gives us the freedom to strip off the extra weight and just run, free from the crosses and distractions we get tied to. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we have a chance to live at a higher refresh rate than any television could produce. We would actually live Refreshed.

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Dear Lord, thank you for coming to us without the smoke and mirrors, without the tricks or treats. Some days I struggle with wanting to be distracted and falling in love with the pretty creation of life, rather than creator OF life. Thank you for loving me and Refreshing my perspective today and always. Amen.

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/44423341@N00/4589801946″>Christmas lights</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>(license)</a>