The Spiritual, Relational, and Lifestyle manifestations of God’s GRACE in my life have come about because I’m learning to RESPOND to His Presence in me. I lived most of my life trying to fulfill an endless list of REQUIREMENTS before I could consider myself worthy of His GRACE. It was seldom (never?) enough
“…while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion…; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 NIV
http://bible.com/111/luk.15.20.niv
This Mrng as I was reading “Jesus Calling“, I came to understand more fully why I sometimes struggle with the idea of GOD CHOOSING ME to be on HIS Team!
The phrase that leapt off the page for me was: “Remember, I am on your side….” (May 8)
If you’ve never been picked last, simply because you’re the ONLY ONE LEFT in line, you don’t know one of the deepest pains known to mankind.
BeenThere, DoneThat!!
TooManyTimes!!
In hindsight, I can see how easy it was for the teacher to pick two kids (always the best) and let them take turns choosing. Did anybody know/see/understand/care
about the pain inflicted on us who were always last?
A lifetime later, I recognize it as one of the reasons I sometimes resist the idea that
GOD CHOOSES ME!
“Who, ME?!”
“YES, My Son, YOU!!“
“I want YOU as a member of MY Team FAMILY!”
The Process of becoming all I can be for God has a lot more to do with
HIS work of GRACE in me than it does MY work on me or for Him
ThrowBackThursday #14
Recovery Step 3 – “We surrendered our Lives and our Wills to the care of God…”
Monday night I listened as a guy explained the difference between the two. He said we first surrender our Life to God – we do that once. But then, on a daily basis, we need to surrender our Will. Makes sense to me!!! So how come it gives me so much trouble?!?
Yeah, don’t laugh, I bet it does for U, too! If Not, give me a call, let’s talk!! I need to know what U know!
P.S… I must say, since I started this journey, I’ve learned that I (and other people) worry more about my times of failure than God does! So many times, I’ve seen Him turn my failures into important changes that brought great blessing into my life – and to others.
IT’s CALLED GRACE!
I posted this about a year ago:
Check it out…
I Asked God to teach me to Trust. Him
He taught me about His Love. For me
I Asked God to teach me to be better so He c/would Love me more
God said He already Loves me and that He can’t/doesn’t do “More”
I Asked God to help me love my fellowman.
He taught me how to love myself in Him and to let His Love flow through me to others
I Asked God to make me good so I could stay in His Presence more
God said: “My Son, Come. To me. Just Come, as U.R. – Now”
I Asked God to light my path
He said He’s with in the dark and that I can trust Him there.
I Asked God to help me solve my problems
He used my problems to change me
I told God I needed to preach
He told me He made me a writer
I Asked God to let me see Him more clearly
He taught me He’s (my) God – even in the fog {I was the one in the fog}
I Asked God; “But what about my sins?”
God said: “My Son already paid the price for that! Come to me – sin and all!”
I Asked God to show me the plan He has for me
He taught me to seek to know more about Him
I Asked God to help me understand
He said if I understood I would not need to trust – Him!
I told God I needed to be strong
He said He is strongest in my weakness
I Asked God
He showed me His Grace
I Asked God – “Where R.U?”
He said: “I am in U, I will be with U… Always!”
I Asked God…
He taught (is teaching) me to Praise – HIM
“There is a war between guilt and GRACE!”
The other day, as I walked into our bedroom, I noticed these words written on the notepad next to the dual recliner where my WW sits. They come from the song by Matthew West, “GRACE WINS“
Lately, I’ve been pondering the effects of GRACE in my life. I’m beginning to realize that I have greatly undervalued what GRACE DID, what GRACE does, what God wants GRACE to do in, for and through me.
Matthew West continues his song with these words; “GRACE WINS!! Every Time!! For the woman at the well, GRACE WINS!! For the beggar on the street, GRACE WINS!! For the prodigal son, GRACE WINS!!“
This morning’s “Daily Verse” from “YouVersion” was Psalms 139:23,24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” NLT
This morning, I’m saddened to think how many times I’ve prayed that from a place of guilt and shame, standing (or kneeling, as the case may be) before God but seeing him as my Judge. It makes me want to run away. Sometimes I do.
This is not the prayer of a guilty man waiting to hear sentence passed for his guilt and shame. It’s the Q posed by the prodigal son to his Faithful Father at the breakfast table the morning after the party as they enjoy steaks leftover from the fattened calf and eggs the servants gathered that morning from the free-range hens in the yard. (Luke 15:11-32)
It’s the Q from the heart of a recovering, wandering son who has once again been embraced by “Abba-Daddy”
Let me see if I can put this in my own words as I picture myself sitting at that table:
“Dad, I came back yesterday because I knew you are a man of compassion. All my life I’ve seen how you treat your servants. You’ve always treated the men and women who work for you better than most of my friends were treated by their fathers.
Last month, I remembered that about you. Someday, maybe I’ll tell you where I was and what I was doing when I remembered, but I think I’d rather just forget about it. But let me simply say that I woke up in the blackest, darkest hole of my life.
Then I remembered!
YOU!
Dad, I came back to be your servant. I came back to sweep the dung out of your stables. I came back to clean the hen house on my hands and knees. I came back to…
YOU!!
NEVER in my wildest thoughts did I think I would come back and be your son!! I fully expected to grovel. I fully expected to spend the rest of my days trying to pay penance for the way I hurt you. But you… You!!! Dad, You put the family robe around my shoulders. You embraced me!! You put your ring on my finger. You brought out the finest wine, and Oh! Wow!! This steak…!!!
Dad, (by the way, it feels strange to call you ‘Dad’)… Let me take this moment to ask you, from the depth my heart, with all the gratitude I can manage; “Teach me. This morning, Dad, search my heart; test me and show me my hurtful ways. Daddy, I want to spend the rest my life letting you teach me how to be your son.”
THAT is the war between guilt and GRACE. The battle in my life between guilt and GRACE is fought at the gateway to the homestead. Because of my guilt, I hesitate to respond when He calls. The Father beckons me forward. I hesitate. The Father says: “Come, my son, all is ready. For you. I’ve been waiting. For you. Too often, I’ve turned away. In shame. “I’ve been watching every day. For you. But… I’ve done all can can do. For you. Unless you come home. The Choice is yours. I chose you, but I cannot make that choice FOR you.”
BECAUSE OF MY GRACE, THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN FOR YOU, MY SON! COME HOME!!
RELATED POSTS
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/50shadesofgrace
If U think God’s Love depends upon Ur goodness, then Ur acceptance of His Love for U will be limited by how good U can be.
That’s OK on the days U’re good!
But…!
What if…?
We don’t HAVE to be good for Him to Love us??
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/2015/06/04/t-b-t-8-7things-god-always-says/
“I have Loved you with an EVERLASTING Love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness”
Jeremiah 31:3
It was an amazing day when I discovered I could trust God beyond my capacity to understand Him.
My ego says: “God, I need to understand You before I trust You.”
Truth says: “Because He’s God, He’s beyond my understanding.”
Faith says: “I can have a relationship with Him that is Beyond my Understanding.” That allows me trust Him more.
GOD says: “Jim, if U understood, U would not need to trust.”
Rick Warren tweet – Nov 9, 2013: “If God was small enough for me to completely understand him, he wouldn’t be big enough for me to completely trust Him.”
It was about 8 years ago when I wrote in my journal; “God, I’m beginning to realize that I don’t trust U in the way I know U want me to.”
“Please teach me to TRUST YOU MORE!”
I had NO IDEA what I was praying for. My life turned upside down and inside out in ways I did not know was possible.
Today, I still have to say: “God, I’m beginning to realize that I don’t trust U in the way I know U want me to.”
“Please teach me to TRUST YOU MORE!”
The thing is, today I better understand the “danger” of that prayer – kinda like praying for patience, there might be only one way to learn it!
ThrowBackThursday #11
My wife’n I just celebrated our 49th anniversary. I brought her these flowers and a card. Silly, romantic fool that I am, I spent an extra $3 for another Rose ’cause ’13’ has ALWAYS been our special number!!
And that’s all I / we did. This was the most laid back anniversary we’ve had in 49 years. Except for the first two when I was in Japan, Okinawa, Vietnam, and she was living with my parents in Antioch, California. We usually manage to get away for at least two or three days. This year we didn’t and that was OK. Oh – we did go to breakfast the next morning. Next year is 50! So we’re making plans…
Part of the reason it was quieter this year is because I spent the day with my Teen Challenge boys at New Life Church.
At the end of the day, as I left to go home I was remarking to a couple of the guys that I’d be making a stop on the way to buy her some flowers. I said:
“Imagine with me for a moment how I would feel if, when walking through the door with the flowers, I get this response from her:”
“Sweetheart, that was so nice of you to do that for me, but I’m afraid I just can’t accept your gift. BECAUSE I’M NOT WORTHY OF IT!” I haven’t done enough for you. There are too many things in my past I still need to make up for. I still have to get you to Forgive me before I can accept the flowers. Honey, you know that I keep trying to be a better wife for you, but I’m just not sure how I can ever be deserving. Please tell me how I need to change!”
As I spoke the words, I realized how crushed I would feel to get that response from her. I was reminded of this post. How many times in my past have I wanted to come before the LORD, but because of my past, because of my sin, because of my failure, because I felt unworthy, because I thought I needed forgiveness FIRST, I turned away?
If I, as a husband would be crushed to have my offer of Love rejected, do we not grieve the heart of God by rejecting His Love?
I wrote this on my blog 2 years ago last week. Please follow this link and let its words pierce your heart as it did mine (again) this morning…
https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/2013/10/20/know-gods-love/
It Really IS Just That Simple 