I need mercy - SO much mercy. As my eyes scan the words of Scripture and my heart attempts to make sense of it all, I am broken - stricken with repulsion towards my own sinful soul. I am paralyzed and left trembling at the feet of Jesus. I am humbled. I am broken. I am trembling. Recognizing that no matter how much I "do" the Christian life - I fall... I always fall. I am so very weak.
In is in these moments, I desperately thank God for his mercy. I thank him for not condeming me to the eternal damnation that I so rightfully deserve. I thank him for exposing me to my own sinful nature. Shamefully burying my face in the ground, I plead for him to restore my heart. Through tears and a faint smile, I praise the Lord for breaking me again and again and again... all for love.
Truly, life ruled by human nature is empty, hopeless and wretched, but life - oh, what a glorious life penetrated by the love, hope and MERCY of Jesus Christ - that, my friends is “life indeed" [Timothy 6:19].
Savior or Genie?
Lately, I have been spending alot of time studying, praying and wrestling through an epidemic that seems to be infiltrating Christian thinking. I stumbled upon a sermon clip by John Piper on this issue, and I haven't been able to move past it. It is sickening, devasting and so far from the true Gospel. I like to call it the "Genie in a Bottle" Gospel.
Where did we get this idea that God is some genie in a bottle that we can whip out whenever we "need" him? Where did we get the idea that it's okay to live our lives for ourselves, doing what we want, not pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly, moment by moment -- and then say, "oh crap, this is a tough circumstance, let me drop to my knees, rub my genie and pray for some guidance." How heartbreaking this must be to a God that so desperately loves his children. How completely devastating for the God of the universe to be so insulted, under-utilized - shrunken down to a mere good luck charm.
Revelation 16 reminds us that it is better to be hot or cold, rather than lukewarm. Francis Chan writes in one of his books, Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
Savior or Genie? Something to think about...
Where did we get this idea that God is some genie in a bottle that we can whip out whenever we "need" him? Where did we get the idea that it's okay to live our lives for ourselves, doing what we want, not pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly, moment by moment -- and then say, "oh crap, this is a tough circumstance, let me drop to my knees, rub my genie and pray for some guidance." How heartbreaking this must be to a God that so desperately loves his children. How completely devastating for the God of the universe to be so insulted, under-utilized - shrunken down to a mere good luck charm.
Revelation 16 reminds us that it is better to be hot or cold, rather than lukewarm. Francis Chan writes in one of his books, Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
Savior or Genie? Something to think about...
You trusted in your beauty.
I have so many weaknesses... so many things the Lord has had to reconstruct within me. I am impatient, short-tempered, discontent, materialistic, and selfish, to name a few. Quite frankly, I define human err. My heart wants what it wants and often times I find myself seeking after such incredible waste. Yet, I never cease to be amazed at the Lord's ability to knock me off my feet. When I fall, I fall hard. When I fail, I fail miserably. What can I say, I'm an "all or nothing" type of woman.
For this reason, I have always loved Ezekiel's raw account of the allegory of the unfaithful Jerusalem. Maybe it impacts me so greatly because in my own life I have often shown such blatant unfaithfulness to my Lord... maybe it impacts me so greatly because of the way he portrays the Lord's beautiful, unwavering pursuit of his wandering children... or maybe it's the repulsive, yet captivating picture he paints that moves me.
If you haven't read it, I suggest you do. Read it over and over and over again. Grab your favorite pen and mark, write, draw all over it. Allow it to haunt you. Allow it to stir you... trust me, it will.
But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore... [Ezekiel 16:15a]
For this reason, I have always loved Ezekiel's raw account of the allegory of the unfaithful Jerusalem. Maybe it impacts me so greatly because in my own life I have often shown such blatant unfaithfulness to my Lord... maybe it impacts me so greatly because of the way he portrays the Lord's beautiful, unwavering pursuit of his wandering children... or maybe it's the repulsive, yet captivating picture he paints that moves me.
If you haven't read it, I suggest you do. Read it over and over and over again. Grab your favorite pen and mark, write, draw all over it. Allow it to haunt you. Allow it to stir you... trust me, it will.
But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore... [Ezekiel 16:15a]
Peace is coming
Never have I seen so much tragedy strike in the first week of the new year. My heart breaks. My heart breaks for many people - some I have never met, as well as some who are very dear to me. Last night as I was driving home from work, I was begging the Lord to bring comfort and peace...and all I could hear was, "My darling, there will be hope in the future. I promise. Peace is coming." With tears in my eyes, I began longing for heaven in a way that I have never longed for it before. I dreamt of peace. I dreamt of a place with no pain, no tears - a place where everything is as it should be. Through my tears, I pleaded with God to return soon. [Lord Jesus, how long until you relieve your children from such pain? How long until you take us out of this painful world and into your eternal glory?] Once again, I heard the Spirit say, "My darling, peace is coming."
Lord Jesus, come quickly...
Lord Jesus, come quickly...
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