From Sinner to Saint (In 3.2 seconds)

The difference between free will and predestination is only the measure of the gap between our understanding and His. They are the same thing, just seen from opposite ends of the spectrum. God already has the game planned. The course is plotted and laid in. Time is but the gage of how long it takes us, to be brought up to speed, on what He will have us understand. If we were already perfect, we wouldn't need the time to learn the game. To "wait on the Lord" is to keep the heart faithful during that period our version of reality is catching up with His ultimate reality.

This is HIM of whom there is none and nothing greater. This is HE who's reach extends to the lowest hell. The hardened will of the sinner is broken "without hand" by the featherlight touch of grace and mercy. The crushing results of criminal activity is what strips away his resistance. Granted, we are vessels which do not have the capacity for submission to the Divine prerogative, but this fact only underscores the miracle of His grace. What a work of artistry are the gifts of His salvation and sanctification! These gifts are only given to the willing! He creates the willingness, Himself! He develops His wisdom in us for the purpose of turning selfish rebellion into obedience, honored with the privilege of serving His cause. This is the serene security of knowing all His will is accomplished and the joyful gratitude of realizing His unqualified acceptance and our freedom of choice in being delivered from our slavery.

What makes YOU so right?

What one good thing do you wish that you could accomplish in this world? And what is holding you back from doing it? "The cost of our vitality (ability to live life to the fullest) is the sum of all our fears." Our lack of faith holds life itself hostage. By keeping ourselves safe, we lose all of what is most precious.

Life is not about us. The Lord is attempting to teach us to not hoard our treasures for ourselves. In God's workings, what we wish to keep must be given away. The Lord develops our "leadership" by using us to serve and to give. It's what His authority is.

People hide behind their fear and anger, wishing that things could be different. It is only an excuse when they say that what little they could give would not make a difference. There is no peace in this hoarding of grudges. They are trying to wrest some control out of the situation, hoping to salvage it.

We were never in control. Only God is. He uses our emotions to propel us and motivate us. Only God can give the increase and a harvest from our sacrifices. So again I ask, what good would you do, if you could? Faith throws the bread upon the waters. It will return to HIM exactly how He wants it to! So what have we got to lose?

Faith AND Doubt?

I am not a big fan of this new confession that faith and doubt can coexist in a healthy christian belief. Sure, it's normal to be sceptical, but when it comes to our commitment to Jesus, the book of James clearly tells us that the doubter is an unstable person. Doubt is the opposite of the belief and faith we called to have! The enemy is the one who would have us fear that God is not good, just, and powerful.

I read in the LA Times an essay, by a rabbi, who said that "faith is in the questioning." Not having understanding is not the same thing as doubt. (Compare the stories of Mary and Zacharias when they were both told they would have a son. Mary asked the angel how it would work, and the priest asked for a sign.) Exploring and learning about God and how He works means we will have questions. These questions will not be answered in our time, but in God's, for His ultimate glory. If our desire to understand drives us to, and keeps us on, our knees in prayer, then we will be strengthened in our endurance, maintained by Him in our decision to be obedient in belief, and will be gifted with His patience in hope. These are the character traits that will be revealed, as a reflection of His glory, when the heavens open and the Righteous One is revealed to the whole world.

Unanswered Prayer?

What's with that? I protest the terminology! Those two words should be mutually exclusive. They do not belong together. Jesus will refuse His children no good thing (or He will MAKE it good) and that includes those things which are hard to hear or accept. In answering prayer, He utilizes one of three responses: "Yes", "Wait", or, "I have something better in mind". So we observe that prayer either changes things, or it changes us!

God desires this dialog for the purpose of "growing us up". It is how we "wrestle" with God. We are the ones who are developing our agility and stamina in spiritual matters. We are building up our internal strength and toughness in faith. I have learned from combining prayer with my dilemmas. God and I have come to an agreement. I ask for His will to be done and He gives me whatever I ask for.

I have one simple discipline to advocate as an answer to this issue of "unanswered" prayer. Keep a prayer journal. Make sure you keep track of exactly what you've asked Him for. My own journal started out as a list, every day, of what I wanted from Him. Once I saw that He actually answers, the journal then seemed to degenerate into a pathetic, whiny list of complaints about my life. I don't think, when we are in trouble, that we realize our prayers sound this way. It sure was emphasized in a big way when I had to search through page after dreary, angry, pleading, page to put down His answers. It was just too painful reading that stuff. I resolved to use the journal as a vehicle of praise for Him. I asked Him to help me do it. Now some of my best material starts in those pages. I have also learned how exquisite is the pleasure of giving honor and glory to Him!

Keeping Up Appearances

In the neighborhood I frequent every day, I see Jehovah's Witnesses parading around in their "Sunday best" for all to see. The selling point of their religion seems to be how together and righteous they appear to be. Who wouldn't want to be perfect in and of themselves? The real meaning of the gospel (good news) seems to have escaped them entirely. Anyone who is an actual sinner doesn't stand a chance in their organization. At least that"s what their family members tell me. Anyone who can't "fly straight" need not apply.

This is not to pick on them specifically. (But if they impress you, we need to talk some more.) I am pointing out our own tendency to indulge in the behaviors that tell others, without words, that we, ourselves, have arrived. There is no difference between "us" and "them". We are not to think of ourselves as better than others. If we are thinking this, we are disowning part of ourselves. Evil unacknowledged becomes stronger within us, and inaccessible to grace and forgiveness.

Our actions are only symptoms of the real problem. If we do not confess (fess up) to our actual motivations, we cannot be healed of our disease. Honesty before the Savior is a part of salvation. The good news is that, yes, we are broken, but God knows all about it! That's why there is grace! That's why grace is free for the asking! We are all on the same level of absolute poverty in this matter of rightness before God. Just for the asking, He will attribute to us the perfection He requires from us! (Because of the Son.) Now, if you think that you don't need God, as Jesus, then you're still just keeping up appearances......

God, Where Are You?

When I told You I wanted to serve You,
I was welcoming Your authority in my life too.
In Your name, I've spoken to other's hearts,
Shielded the longing where courage starts.
I never knew my own strength would give out.
Knowing Your mercy,You're gonna hear me shout!
Lord, please just show me where You are now!
I know that You care, and I want to see how:
What You do for me when I can't go on?
Change my sighs and tears into a victory song?
When the sun torments me with it's heat,
Sucks out my life so that I feel beat,
the luminosity of the clouds cover me,
Your visible hand for all to see.
Satan's neighborhood makes music an assault.
If I ask for peace, then their anger's my fault.
While I still ask, Your answer's on the way.
It's no longer their home, so they cannot stay.
Who could ever admit a child is a burden?
Protecting him from the hurt of where he's been?
Now he will see Your provision and power,
Be bold with the gospel, in this the last hour.
Symptoms of sickness bring terror and pain
and loss of hope to ever be strong again.
By the buffeting messenger, I learn spiritual warfare.
By God's grace I can fight him, so I'm no longer scared!
In weakness, I know, that I'm not worth much,
Except, I know He uses me to encourage and such!
I find relief in a compassionate spouse.
His kindness makes a refuge, out of my house.
So in my daily life the evidence proves true.
Almighty God, it seems clear, that compassion is what You do!
Obvious is Your signature, written on my walls.
Obvious is the beckoning siren song, of love for me, that calls!
Abundant tender mercies shield me from harm.
The attacks of the enemy, but chase me, into Your arms!
How can fear touch me when all I see is You?
Holding tightly, to me always, so I know I'll make it through!

Interlude (or you could say, what's happnin when nothin's happnin!)

My heart is consumed by restlessness.
There's got to be more to life than this!
I'm in a race for power and things,
Yet no satisfaction do they bring.
I know I'm worth more than these!
Searching for meaning past material disease.
They judge my worth by what I own,
but I need something more than a heart of stone.
The message which resonates to my core
is sacrificial love that makes me more
a part of HIS plan which is so much higher
than anything else to which I could ever aspire.