Grace and Obedience Are Not Opposites

Grace and obedience are not Biblical opposites, so why do they seem to be consistently set in opposition to one another? 

Love for God can no more simply be an emotion, than marital love can. If you can just fall in love with God then you could presumably fall right back out when things get difficult, or boring. Love involves emotion, but love is ultimately a choice and love is action. I didn't make that up. God did.

God's love is not earned by obedience, but our love for Him is demonstrated and seen through our obedience to His Word. If there is no fruit of obedience, dare I say, works, then, perhaps, there is no love. 

Why is this a problem for people? Seriously. What are people afraid of when love, grace and works are all mentioned in the same sentence?

Here's Where I Say Some Weird Stuff and Show My Debbie Downer Side

It is an absolutely gorgeous day here today, so we took advantage of it by spending most of the morning outside. After I played a few rounds of Memory with Christopher, he was happy to go searching under rocks for bugs. That gave me a few minutes to just lay down in the grass and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine - a very welcome thing after months of cold and clouds.

Over the last few years, more often than not, when I have moments like that, I begin to feel that what I am enjoying is almost a false reality. I know that might sound strange, and I don't know if I really have words to express what I feel, but I feel that somehow it won't last, as if it isn't real at all. Like one day the ability to experience peaceful moments like that will be a rare opportunity.

In a sense it already is, I guess. For most of us peaceful moments don't come around often enough. For some, they never come around. This morning, because of some conversations I've had with Dave and Caeley, I found myself wondering if people in concentration camps ever found/find themselves able to enjoy a few minutes of sunshine, undisturbed, and imagine themselves in a better place and time, only to be snatched back to reality.

I know these sound like strange thoughts, and I have no explanation for it other than God must have made my mind to think this way. I couldn't begin to say why, but I am well aware that while I lay in the back yard, there is a war going on in the world around us. We see it on different levels, but it's real. It feels like quiet moments are glimpses of heaven and the pain and suffering and wickedness are reality in this world we live in.

For the most part trouble has remained an offshore problem as it relates to Americans. I dont believe that will always be the case. Isn't that encouraging? The good news is that God never leaves or forsakes His people. So, all I know to do is maintain my relationship with Him and keep myself in a position to hear His voice. He is trustworthy.

In the meantime I'm going to enjoy every ray of sunshine and every glimpse of heaven I get.

Exodus 33:18,19

Creative title, huh?

I've been thinking about Exodus 33, where God showed Moses His glory, which was His goodness. Glory, in many cases, refers to the true essence of God. It's the revelation of who He is...His character. 

In Exodus, God showed Moses His goodness, which is the essence of who He is. Everything He does is good. All His judgments are good and all His works are good. Over the last year or so I have found myself trying to take that truth and make it mean that everything that happens in our lives must also be good, if it was allowed to happen. Maybe it came out of a desire not to question God's goodness.

I certainly don't understand the ins and outs of the sovereignty of God, but I do not believe that is necessarily true. I think things happen in our lives, in our world, that simply aren't good. Tragic things happen. Sad things happen. We live in a fallen world and I don't think God calls all things good. I might be wrong. Those wiser than me may correct me on that.

What I do know and believe is that while bad things happen, He promises to turn them for good. Or, maybe it is better said that He promises to bring good out of tragic circumstances, in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 

He "works" things together for good. In my mind I envision it as the wringing out of a wet washcloth. Twisting, squeezing, wringing, every last drop of water out. Nothing wasted. I don't know if that makes sense. It's just what I see. I don't know if we are the ones being wrung out or if it's the circumstance. I know it can feel like we are the ones being twisted and squeezed.

It can be so hard to trust Him when it hurts. But I believe that if we don't give up, and we keep pushing and reaching to touch even the hem of his garment, that He will be faithful and we will be able again to see clearly the goodness of the Lord.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.  For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay. (Psalms 103:13, 14 NET)

The First Commandment

You know, I think if our hearts are turned toward God, toward righteousness, toward humility, then He smiles at our weakness much more than we realize. I am constantly aware of the ways I fall short, and no doubt He is, too, but I believe when He looks at me He doesn't see that first. Since He looks at the heart, He first sees the direction and intention of my heart, despite the way it plays out in my life.

At church this past weekend, Mike Bickle reminded us that the first and primary commandment is to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. That's our purpose and highest calling. Not ministry, not work, not marriage, not parenting or anything else. If you wonder about your purpose start there. All else flows out from that place. This is a new way of thinking for me. I've known it but not known it, know what I mean?

The Lord has been teaching me, reminding me, often over the last several months that He is my audience. His opinion is the one that matters most. And His opinion of us is not nearly as negative as ours often is of ourselves. That is a freeing truth, friends.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the  Lord  has compassion on his faithful followers.  For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay - Psalm 103:13, 14 NET

Freedom!

I love this picture. I love it because it's my sweet Riley enjoying this beautiful day. But what I love about it most is that when I look at it, I see freedom.

 

 

I'm not naturally able to freely run and express myself in this way. Something about being a grown-up seems to suck the freedom out of us and replaces it with self-consciousness.

 

When I think about me in in Heaven, in God's presence, I think of myself this way...the way Riley is running, arms wide, chasing bubbles and loving it, unaware and unconcerned with anyone else. I look forward to feeling that way again.

 

About two weeks before Summer Kempfer went to be with the Lord, I was in a light sleep and had a dream. In the dream I woke up lying in a grassy field on a beautiful day. I realized that I had just finished my race on earth and had gone to heaven. All of a sudden Summer ran up and stood over me, saying, "You did it! You're finished! Come on!" She was healthy, whole and had her wavy blond hair and a huge smile. It was as if she was calling me to get up and go play. There was such a sense of joy and freedom.

 

Today, on Easter, on Resurrection Sunday, I think about that. I think about those who have gone before us and who are experiencing freedom and joy and I am so thankful that because of the sacrifice Jesus made, they are free from the shackles of this life. I'm thankful that I will experience that, too. And so much more.

 

This is the comfort we have in sorrow and death. Even when things don't make sense, we have this hope: the hope of eternal life, fullness of joy and pleasures forever.

 

 

 

And you know I had to add this song...because it's perfect.

 

 

 

Trouble That Brings Revival?

I had a thought today...a question, really.

Are the things we are seeing in our country a result of prayers offered up by the church for revival? Is the growth of our government, the pressing in on our freedom, the things that make us nervous for the future, an unexpected answer to that prayer? 

How many of us can point to a time of trouble in our personal lives as the thing that turned our hearts toward God? Why not on a larger scale?

If historically and currently we can see clearly that the church grows exponentially under persecution, and if we live in a nation with a complacent and shrinking church, then should we expect anything less?

Should we not only expect it, but maybe even welcome it? Yeah, I'm not sure about that one, either. But maybe?

Should we forget that even when God sent judgment to His people in the past that He did so with a heart to draw them back, because that's what it often takes?

When He said nothing shall snatch you from My hand, do we expect Him to let us go quietly? Would that be loving? What does the grasp of God look like to a people who have said, "I am Yours," but then turn to run the other way?

Perhaps revival is a double-edged sword, bringing both pain and renewal. I don't know, but I think maybe so.

Trouble that brings revival is a gift from The Lord (not that I'm pumped about, or invite, trouble in my personal life or on a national level...felt like I needed to say that. I do not like it :)

Just a thought...not a statement of fact. But worth consideration. 

Better to Yield Than Die :)

I was driving this morning and just missed having an accident, one that probably would have been ugly. I was driving straight through an intersection and a girl coming the opposite direction made a left turn right in front of me, without hesitation at all. Then, she had nerve to look at me like I was crazy!

I, of course, threw my hands in the air and said, "Wha-T? (emphasis on the "T," in a Madea sort of way). Why are you looking at me? Are you crazy?" Then I caught myself, and calmed down. I said to God, she is crazy. And wrong. If I had not stopped, and had hit her, it would have been her fault. Not mine.

And He said (in my heart, of course), and this is paraphrased, "Yes. She would have been wrong and you could be dead...but she was wrong. Or you could both be badly injured, but she was wrong. How's that sound?"

Well, when you put it like that...I suppose it wouldn't really matter who was wrong, if we were both bleeding. If I held my ground because I was right, and hurt us both in the process, I wouldn't really win.

The lesson I took away was this: not every hill is worth dying on. Not every argument is worth having. Sometimes it's better to yield, even when the other person is wrong. Just back off, slow down and let them go on by with their wrong selves.

Not every wrong needs to be addressed and pointed out. Not every wrong thing said needs to be confronted or defended.

Easier said than done, but it's the way I am called to live.