One of the most popular misconceptions about grace is that it needs something added to it. Honestly that couldn't be further from the truth. There's a passage in scripture that says My grace is sufficient for you. There's another that indicates saved by grace, through faith in Christ, and this not by works so that no one can boast.
I believe these two passages really cut through the garbage in our thinking. They get right down to the fact that grace is all about what God already did for us. They tell us that God is big enough, strong enough, present enough, forgiving enough to forgive our sins and restore us to a right relationship with himself.
It blows my mind how many people are in the world who say they have to add to God's grace. Or better yet that they've done too many wrong things that they can't be forgiven, as if they could take away from how amazing God's grace is.
Here's the truth of the matter - you can't make God love you any more than he already does. And the reverse is true - you can't mak God love you any less than he already does. That's what grace is about -getting the undeserved love and goodness of God.
Today I encourage you to bask in the grace of God. See everything around you as God setting you up for something great. It's truly amazing how God can take something that looks terrible and frightening and turn it into something amazing, wonderful, and full of blessing.
Lord, open our eyes that we might see you today! Amen.
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
When God Breathes
One of my favorite concepts in all of scripture is that the Holy Spirit is the very breath of God. With a mere breath he brought life to a ball of dust, then named it Adam. With a simple breath he assured Elijah that he was present. With a breath he began a movement of people that we would end up calling the church. And over the past couple of weeks his breath has been a bit too much for us to handle.
The news is startling. The faces of homeowners say it best. The devastation they feel cannot be put into words. The tornados that have ripped through this country over the past couple of weeks have contained in them the power that only God could allow, or potentially even cause. But why? Why would this happen? Why would our God, loving and all that, allow this vast devstation and death to occur on his watch?
I struggled a bit with this question as I anxiously awaited to hear from a friend of mine who was in the path of these storms in Alabama. But then something hit me. Perhaps God was breathing on us a bit. Perhaps God was using his breath, sometimes gently and sometimes a bit more powerfully, to show us that he still contains the power of wind, wave, earth, and all things. Perhaps God has a great plan for this devastation. Perhaps God has noticed that as a church we've become increasingly comfortable with the things around us so he's giving us something to react to. Perhaps God has a desire for his movement of people (aka the church) to start moving again.
I know that none of this sentiment will help rebuild homes. I know none of it will restore power or house displaced families. It won't raise the dead or bring healing to the hurting. But there is something that we can do in response to this breath of God that just might change the entire outlook in the long term.
You see it wasn't until God breathed into Adam that he woke up and began to live a life of faith and service toward God. So now that we've seen, and some of us experienced, the breath of God the past couple weeks perhaps we will be able to mobilize. I believe that the church is only the church when it's moving, serving, loving, doing, walking, talking, living the message of God's undeserved goodness. Today I challenge you to start moving. I challenge you to respond to the breath of God and come alive with his power and his love and start serving. Maybe your service will take you to the hardest hit areas to serve and rebuild. Maybe your service will keep you closer to your home to serve and care for your neighbors and friends.
No matter where you go just go. No matter who you serve - just serve. No matter who you talk to - just talk. No matter who you love - just love the way God calls us to love - with hands and hearts and lives.
Lord protect those without homes today. Provide shelter for them. Encourage them. Show them that you are ever present. Move your church into great acts of service as these thousands of people attempt to put their lives together again. God don't let us sit. Remind us of the wonders of your breath. Amen.
The news is startling. The faces of homeowners say it best. The devastation they feel cannot be put into words. The tornados that have ripped through this country over the past couple of weeks have contained in them the power that only God could allow, or potentially even cause. But why? Why would this happen? Why would our God, loving and all that, allow this vast devstation and death to occur on his watch?
I struggled a bit with this question as I anxiously awaited to hear from a friend of mine who was in the path of these storms in Alabama. But then something hit me. Perhaps God was breathing on us a bit. Perhaps God was using his breath, sometimes gently and sometimes a bit more powerfully, to show us that he still contains the power of wind, wave, earth, and all things. Perhaps God has a great plan for this devastation. Perhaps God has noticed that as a church we've become increasingly comfortable with the things around us so he's giving us something to react to. Perhaps God has a desire for his movement of people (aka the church) to start moving again.
I know that none of this sentiment will help rebuild homes. I know none of it will restore power or house displaced families. It won't raise the dead or bring healing to the hurting. But there is something that we can do in response to this breath of God that just might change the entire outlook in the long term.
You see it wasn't until God breathed into Adam that he woke up and began to live a life of faith and service toward God. So now that we've seen, and some of us experienced, the breath of God the past couple weeks perhaps we will be able to mobilize. I believe that the church is only the church when it's moving, serving, loving, doing, walking, talking, living the message of God's undeserved goodness. Today I challenge you to start moving. I challenge you to respond to the breath of God and come alive with his power and his love and start serving. Maybe your service will take you to the hardest hit areas to serve and rebuild. Maybe your service will keep you closer to your home to serve and care for your neighbors and friends.
No matter where you go just go. No matter who you serve - just serve. No matter who you talk to - just talk. No matter who you love - just love the way God calls us to love - with hands and hearts and lives.
Lord protect those without homes today. Provide shelter for them. Encourage them. Show them that you are ever present. Move your church into great acts of service as these thousands of people attempt to put their lives together again. God don't let us sit. Remind us of the wonders of your breath. Amen.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Respond or React?
I've started thinking of something a little differently lately - the difference between responding and reacting. There may seem to be a minor difference but I believe that there can be an enormously different outcome between the two. I think this can be seen best in Jesus' response to his crucifixion in Luke 23:34, where Jesus says, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
It would have been easy for Jesus to react. He could have gotten all upset and called down the angels and tore the people apart. He could have made it rain down fire and hail and cause everyone to regret the actions they were taking against him. But he didn't!
Instead he responded. A response is gentle and well thought out, while a reaction is hasty and doesn't have the other person's best interests at heart. Jesus responded to the crowds calls for his death, to their mockery, to the pain, to the anguish, to the ridicule with a simple and well thought out response - prayer!
How much different would our lives be if we responded instead of reacted! If you're human, then you've probably let your temper get the best of you and you've reacted to a situation in a very unhealthy manner. But rest assured - Jesus response to you is the same as it was to the men and women of his day - Forgive them for they don't know what they're doing!
It was his death that won our forgiveness. It was the very event that he was suffering from in that moment that bought our forgiveness. It was his resurrection that guaranteed us our place in heaven. Jesus' death and resurrection then were meant to bring us back into a healthy relationship with God the Father. Jesus loves strong relationships. He strives to keep us in healthy and vibrant relationships. When we react - we are not focusing on the relationship or the person but we're focus on the situation. But when we respond, we are seeing the other person as a child of God - someone for whom Jesus pleaded while on the cross - Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
May you know the Father's love for you today. May you hear Jesus' cry for you and know of his well thought out response your brokenness. May you feel the embrace of their Holy Spirit welcoming you back into a healthy and life-giving relationship with them. Lord today we need your help living in peace with those around us. AMEN.
It would have been easy for Jesus to react. He could have gotten all upset and called down the angels and tore the people apart. He could have made it rain down fire and hail and cause everyone to regret the actions they were taking against him. But he didn't!
Instead he responded. A response is gentle and well thought out, while a reaction is hasty and doesn't have the other person's best interests at heart. Jesus responded to the crowds calls for his death, to their mockery, to the pain, to the anguish, to the ridicule with a simple and well thought out response - prayer!
How much different would our lives be if we responded instead of reacted! If you're human, then you've probably let your temper get the best of you and you've reacted to a situation in a very unhealthy manner. But rest assured - Jesus response to you is the same as it was to the men and women of his day - Forgive them for they don't know what they're doing!
It was his death that won our forgiveness. It was the very event that he was suffering from in that moment that bought our forgiveness. It was his resurrection that guaranteed us our place in heaven. Jesus' death and resurrection then were meant to bring us back into a healthy relationship with God the Father. Jesus loves strong relationships. He strives to keep us in healthy and vibrant relationships. When we react - we are not focusing on the relationship or the person but we're focus on the situation. But when we respond, we are seeing the other person as a child of God - someone for whom Jesus pleaded while on the cross - Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
May you know the Father's love for you today. May you hear Jesus' cry for you and know of his well thought out response your brokenness. May you feel the embrace of their Holy Spirit welcoming you back into a healthy and life-giving relationship with them. Lord today we need your help living in peace with those around us. AMEN.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Faith like a child.
Today I spent time reading from Luke 18, 1 Timothy 3-4, and 2 Chronicles 8-9. There were many wonderful things to mine through in today's readings but I was able to choose one verse to meditate on today. It's from Luke 18:17 - I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
I've often wondered what faith like a child meant. When my twins were born, I never gave much thought to how much they depended on Carrie and I caring for them. Now with Natalie, my eyes are much more open to the things that God wants me to learn. With experience comes wisdom, I do believe! Nevertheless, I'm reminded of the times when I'm holding Natalie and drinking a glass of water. She loves to drink out of my glass whenever she can. It's actually cute. She simply trusts that what's in that glass will not harm her and that I have her best interests at heart. But the other day I was sitting on the floor in the living room, having a beer, when she crawled up to me and grabbed for the glass! She wanted a drink. Now for all of you worry warts - no I didn't give her any! It just reinforced in my mind that she would have received anything I gave her, at least for an instant, with complete trust that it was best for her.
In our reading today from Luke 18, Jesus says that we need to be more like these little ones - who simply believe that he's not out to harm them but rather out to build them up and save them. We need to exercise faith like a child! When's the last time you asked yourself, What's God up to? or perhaps, Why is he allowing this to happen to me? We all do this from time to time - expect that God will treat us better or assume that because the world sees it as bad, that it's really bad. Jesus doesn't give as the world gives. Jesus doesn't give what the world gives.
He gives us grace, forgiveness, hope, mercy, love, and new life! These are his promised blessings to us. Nothing can make God love you any less than he does today! He loved you enough to give up his own son to die for you. What an amazing thing! Now you don't do anything to earn it. You'll never deserve it. It's just yours. Just receive it, like Natalie received the glass of water. Receive it knowing that it is yours and that it's there for your good. When rough times hit, and they will, remember the wonderful gifts of God and receive them all as teaching moments when God is forming you to be the person that he has called you to be.
God is calling you to live like a child today! Cut loose and trust in God above all else! He's right here with you every step of the way! Thanks daddy! We love you!
Father God, we are clay in your hands - mold us and form us into the people that you've called us to be. Give us hearts that trust what you say and lives that live what you teach. AMEN.
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| Natalie at 9 months |
In our reading today from Luke 18, Jesus says that we need to be more like these little ones - who simply believe that he's not out to harm them but rather out to build them up and save them. We need to exercise faith like a child! When's the last time you asked yourself, What's God up to? or perhaps, Why is he allowing this to happen to me? We all do this from time to time - expect that God will treat us better or assume that because the world sees it as bad, that it's really bad. Jesus doesn't give as the world gives. Jesus doesn't give what the world gives.
He gives us grace, forgiveness, hope, mercy, love, and new life! These are his promised blessings to us. Nothing can make God love you any less than he does today! He loved you enough to give up his own son to die for you. What an amazing thing! Now you don't do anything to earn it. You'll never deserve it. It's just yours. Just receive it, like Natalie received the glass of water. Receive it knowing that it is yours and that it's there for your good. When rough times hit, and they will, remember the wonderful gifts of God and receive them all as teaching moments when God is forming you to be the person that he has called you to be.
God is calling you to live like a child today! Cut loose and trust in God above all else! He's right here with you every step of the way! Thanks daddy! We love you!
Father God, we are clay in your hands - mold us and form us into the people that you've called us to be. Give us hearts that trust what you say and lives that live what you teach. AMEN.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Too Big!
Today's readings are from: Luke 17, 1 Timothy 2, and 2 Chronicles 6-7. And our focus today is from 2 Chronicles 6:18 - The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
What a thing to realize! Solomon just finished building this huge and very elaborate temple so that the presence of God might dwell there. But then a strange turn happens. Here Solomon acknowledges that this temple, no matter how big it might be could never contain all of God's glory. Not only that - nothing in all of creation could contain him either! If the heavens (also read as skies) can't contain God then surely nothing made by the hands of men and women will be able to contain him.
I wish that we could learn and really remember this lesson on a regular basis. Many of us know that God is big. Most of us would acknowledge that we can't keep God in a box or anything like that, but we still try! We do this when we strip parts of his teaching away, remove him from certain parts of our lives, and don't let him into the dark places of our day to day living. It's way too easy for us to treat God's word like a buffet - only taking from it what we want and leaving the rest. The things that give us indigestion we leave for someone else, but we need to take all of it in.
That's how big God is! You can't separate one part of his character from the rest of him. It's an all or nothing kind of deal. True enough, God promises to be wherever two or more are gathered in his name; but he's also wherever you are - at any time! You can't go far enough or fast enough to get away from God! He'll always be right where you are headed, waiting for you. He'll always be right beside you - making the journey less lonely, if only we would open our eyes and see him right there! He'll always be behind you - ready to catch you when you get caught up in sin. He'll always be above you - raining down his blessings on you at every turn! And he'll always be beneath you - supporting you and holding you up as you keep his word your foundation.
Today we move forward expectant of God's peace. We go into our day or night ready to be touched by the presence of God!
Lord - we need to see you today! We long to know of your presence. Show us how big you are today! Show us how truly all encompassing your love and mercy are in our lives today. We need to see you today! AMEN.
What a thing to realize! Solomon just finished building this huge and very elaborate temple so that the presence of God might dwell there. But then a strange turn happens. Here Solomon acknowledges that this temple, no matter how big it might be could never contain all of God's glory. Not only that - nothing in all of creation could contain him either! If the heavens (also read as skies) can't contain God then surely nothing made by the hands of men and women will be able to contain him.
That's how big God is! You can't separate one part of his character from the rest of him. It's an all or nothing kind of deal. True enough, God promises to be wherever two or more are gathered in his name; but he's also wherever you are - at any time! You can't go far enough or fast enough to get away from God! He'll always be right where you are headed, waiting for you. He'll always be right beside you - making the journey less lonely, if only we would open our eyes and see him right there! He'll always be behind you - ready to catch you when you get caught up in sin. He'll always be above you - raining down his blessings on you at every turn! And he'll always be beneath you - supporting you and holding you up as you keep his word your foundation.
Today we move forward expectant of God's peace. We go into our day or night ready to be touched by the presence of God!
Lord - we need to see you today! We long to know of your presence. Show us how big you are today! Show us how truly all encompassing your love and mercy are in our lives today. We need to see you today! AMEN.
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