Celebrating Mercy

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21-24

     My life changed when God opened my eyes to see His heart.   I can remember sitting in a church hearing Louie Giglio teach on the story of the Prodigal Son.  And I remember being blown away at the depth of mercy and love in the father’s heart in that story, and finally made the connection that it was Father God’s heart for me...for all.

     No matter what I thought about Him before - for whatever reasons - I realized a foundational truth listening to the message of that parable.  He is a merciful, loving Father.  He longs to embrace us and offer us all He has.  There is mercy for the worst sinner.  There is mercy and grace that reaches deep, deep down into our pits of despair to pull us up and out into freedom.  

     There is a Savior, Jesus, Who took our sins to the cross with Him and rid us of them forever.  What should have been our punishment, became His.  What should have been our demise, He converted to triumph instead.  He took our place and died for us so that we would be restored to a relationship with the Father.  

     It says in Romans 3, “He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be.”  Since the beginning, in the garden, He has desired relationship with us.  He has longed to be a Father to us.  While we have run far and wide, making poor choices, wasting our gifts, starving for a life worth living, and making a scandalous name for ourselves, Father God has been planning our return to His family.  He has been preparing the celebration made possible by the gift of His salvation in Jesus.  This precious gift.  This precious, pure, heart-gift.  How much mercy is reflected in the gift of Jesus!  How much love in the Father’s eyes!  

Thank You, God, for setting things right.  Thank You for the mercy You bestow on us.  You didn't have to show us mercy.  You could have chosen to leave us, as our sins and our unholiness earned.  No, You chose to send a Savior.  You chose mercy.  You are so beautiful, Lord.  My words will always fail to describe what my heart feels.  Deep, deep wonder and a love like I've never known stirs within...

Celebrating Mercy as Family

O Spirit of the living God, 

thou light and fire divine, 

descend upon thy church once more, 

and make it truly thine. 

Fill it with love and joy and power, 

with righteousness and peace; 

till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, 

and sin and sorrow cease. 

Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow 

until our minds are free 

from mists of error, clouds of doubt, 

which blind our eyes to thee. 

Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips 

with flaming love and zeal, 

to preach to all thy great good news, 

God's glorious commonweal. 

Teach us to utter living words 

of truth which all may hear, 

the language all may understand 

when love speaks loud and clear; 

till every age and race and clime 

shall blend their creeds in one, 

and earth shall form one family 

by whom thy will is done. 

So shall we know the power of Christ 

who came this world to save; 

so shall we rise with him to life 

which soars beyond the grave; 

and earth shall win true holiness, 

which makes thy children whole; 

till, perfected by thee, we reach 

creation's glorious goal! 

-Henry Tweedy

     These lyrics were written in the 1930’s by a man named Henry Tweedy.  Music always has a way of getting to the heart and soul.  When I hit shuffle on my ITunes today, a version of this song, recorded by Audrey Assad, played.  It brought to mind the many revivalists out there that are hungry to see God pour out His Spirit on the masses.  It reminds me of those who are hungry to see all people turn to God and live according to His Word and will.  It reminds me of how so many of us long to see the Church be the church and people love one another as Jesus taught us to.  

     These lyrics, written so long ago, still carry such a current message.  There’s a longing in the words to see transformation of hearts by the indwelling of Christ.  A longing to see the Spirit heal our minds of the lies and doubts and fears that plague us.  A longing to see the people of God give witness to the One who saves...for the people of God to live out the commission to share the good news of the gospel and praise the name of the Lord.  

     I’m struck by the third verse as it speaks to a unity of the body of Christ and the idea of how we are one family under God.

God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering.  Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. He says, “God, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you.  Before all your people I will sing your praises.” (Hebrews 2:10-12) 

It’s easy to look around and see the division in the world.  Race, politics, etc.  But I long for the day when God’s people stand united under His reign and stand in the knowledge of our true identity.  I long for the day when we speak “living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand, when love speaks loud and clear”. (Tweed)  The language taught to us by God through His Son and now through His Holy Spirit.  I yearn for Him to impart wisdom and understanding so that we realize our place in His family and stop striving to make a name for ourselves and trying to create our own identity apart from Him.  

     The struggles to be someone apart from Him will only lead to more division and despair.   It’s been this way for generations.  We can read through the scriptures and see that it doesn’t work.  God gives life and light to the world and sent His Son to save, heal and deliver His family.  And those who believe and are saved and filled with His Spirit have a role to play.  Jesus called us the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).  He was the example, and now we are called to step into that role with confidence and with joy.  

     God, we ask for wisdom and revelation as to what it means to be in Your family.  We ask You to speak to our hearts in the deepest places about who we are.  We ask You to heal our hearts that have been broken and longing for this familial connection with You.  Fill the voids within us that are only filled by relationship with You.  You are our Father - our Perfect Father - Who never leaves.  Thank You, God, for calling us Your own.  For making a Way for us to be grafted into Your family.  For providing a place for us, now and forever.

Community Building

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:19-21 MSG

In today's world, it seems people live rather isolated lives.  Social media becomes our avenue for communication and what used to be a "live" phone call with someone has now become a quick text or email.  We use emoticons to reveal the temperature behind the words.  I'm not saying it's wrong - it's actually quite efficient.  But I wonder if we are letting go of some priceless gifts.

God created us to be in community.  Out of community comes protection, provision, encouragement, growth, and countless other treasures.  In community, we find ourselves stretched to new heights.  We learn from one another and witness the unique qualities God created in each individual.  We discover things about God in one another - His glory, His creativity, His power, His beauty.

Being in community releases the Holy Spirit in us.  The fruit being produced in each of us is released for the benefit of those around us.  Non-believers are introduced to our God.  Believers are encouraged to keep running their race.  We are astounded by the work of the Spirit within us, as He matures and stretches us.  We become intoxicated by the joy that fills us as we live and serve Him in our communities.

Don't you feel good when you help someone?  Don't you feel like you made a difference in the world?  Not because you "performed a task" but because you practiced love.  He wants us to practice His love with those around us. Practicing love is not always easy or comfortable, but it's essential to our faith and life-giving to our souls.  It builds authentic community.  It builds a community of believers that can chase after God together and grow deep roots together.  It builds a community that releases Kingdom qualities - things like joy, peace and love.

I have been deeply encouraged by God showing me the value of community lately, and I want my children to know the value of it as well.  I want them to build community with classmates and youth groups and neighbors.  I want them to see the beauty in it.  I want them to reap the benefits of it.  I want them to learn through their relationships with those that are lovely and those not so lovely.  Each encounter shapes our character.  Each moment we practice love we are transformed into His likeness.  Not always easy - especially when we are rejected or made fun of or the like - but necessary nonetheless.

Our kids look to our example.  They want to see love in action so they know how to practice it themselves.  They want to see what works and what doesn't.  They want to offer their whole hearts.   They want to love and be loved.  I think we are created that way.  When that changes and we become isolated, it might be time to ask what happened to trigger that isolation.  What lie did we begin to believe or what event caused us to shrink back from others?  Often, forgiveness is the key to unlock our hearts once again and release us back into relationship - both with God and with others.

Father, please help us to live intentionally towards others.  Help us not grow weary of trying to build community, but find joy and goodness in practicing love in community instead.  We ask you to impart to us the wisdom for reaching out and staying faithful to our communities and to You.  We look to You as our example of relationship and love.  We ask You to show us when we shrink back and ask You to speak courage to our timid hearts and to help us forgive when we've been hurt.  We ask that You equip us for every good work You've prepared for us to do.  We remember that You loved us first so that we could love.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You, Jesus.  You are everything good!

Be Generous

 Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

1 Peter 4:9-11 MSG

The picture above is of my son looking at two trees who's roots have become intertwined.  The roots reach deep down into the earth to find the nourishment and strength they need to thrive in such an exposed place.  The picture reminds me of "being rooted and established in love" (Eph. 3).  We, too, must grow deep into God's love, where our roots can draw upon Him, for He is our Source.   Deep in Him, we find the ability and opportunity to fellowship with Him, learning of His love and character.  Out of our relationship with Him comes an ability to relate to fellow believers, as well.  We start to look around us and see the others God has placed us in community with.  We begin to look at them through God's eyes of love and kindness.  We look around and realize we are not alone.  Sisters stand beside us.  Sisters we can lock arms and stand strong with. 

I went to bible study with a group of women, yesterday, and was in awe of how encouraging it was to look around the room and see women demonstrating their unique gifts and practicing authentic relationship.  There was an honest need in every woman there for authenticity, transparency, fellowship, and love.  And those needs were being met by the other women around them.  It is a beautiful thing to witness and even more beautiful to participate.  

When our roots run deep in Him, we are strengthened and nourished and can bear much fruit.  That fruit is useful to the people around us.  If we produce love, joy, peace and the other fruit of the Spirit, others can reap the benefits.  Peter exhorts us above to "be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it".  No matter where you go, there is a need for the kindness being produced in you.  No matter where you are, there is a need for the peace that is in you and the joy that is in you.  Not all people on this earth are growing roots into Him.  There are many that don't know the Love that we know.  They need to see where our hope comes from.  They need to see why it is that we stand strong, even when adversity comes against us.

Reach down deep into the fullness of His love and then reach out.  Be generous with your heart and with your endless supply of His love.  It will not only bless someone beside you, but will bless you with a joy beyond measure.  I will close today with the prayer Paul prayed over the Ephesians at the end of Chapter 3.  I was encouraged by it this morning and think you might be, too.   

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21

Song for today:  Sinking Deep, Hillsong Young & Free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UruRQwI8pRE

Encouragement

Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.

In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person will bow down to honor the name of Jesus.  Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow. They will all confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord,”and this will bring glory to God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11

Sometimes, we need look no further than the Scriptures to find encouragement.  As we read them, we find an ancient yet current truth that surges through us like a bolt of lightning.  The scriptures are said to be "living and active and full of power".  (Hebrews 4:12AMP)  I believe this to be true and have experienced this personally.  From the time I came to know the Lord, He put in me a love for His Word. There are times that it speaks straight to my heart with such precision and personalization, that I am just astounded, for lack of a better word.  It moves me to tears.  It fills me with wonder.  It challenges me.  It corrects me.  Joy, peace, and love are enveloped by every page.  

Romans 15:5 says, "All patience and encouragement come from God."  If we believe God to be in the hearts of His people, then we have to consider ourselves as an important vessel of encouragement, as well.  Those scriptures that we meditate upon are not just for our good, but the good of all.  There is a humongous space in this world for us to share His truth and be an encouragement to one another.  I have witnessed time and again, the strength of an encouraging word spoken.  It is God's Spirit pouring forth a blessing.  It is timely, personal and uplifting.  It can be life-changing!

Today, I encourage you to reach into His Word and engage the Holy Spirit.  Then reach out to someone He highlights to you and offer encouragement.  It will bless you and them!  

Jesus, You are the most encouraging One I know!  Help me to lift others up like You do.  Help me to notice the ones that are in need of a "leg-up" and help them back in the saddle.  You are so full of joy and peace and love, and I come to You as my source of all I need.  Pour Your Spirit into me so that I serve with the same humility and grace You display.  

Learning to Love Like Jesus

Amanda Cook sings a song that is called "Pieces".   It grips my heart when I hear it, because I believe not only is it the way God loves us, but how we are to love Him and others.  His commandment to 'love Him with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love others as yourself' (Matt 22:37) comes alive for me in these lyrics.  They provoke me to want to live more intentionally and more unreservedly towards Him and towards others.  To offer my whole heart - not just pieces of it.

Unreserved, unrestrained

Your love is wild, Your love is wild for me

It isn’t shy, it’s unashamed 

Your love is proud to be seen with me

You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

Uncontrolled, un-contained 

Your love is a fire burning bright for me

It’s not just a spark, it’s not just a flame 

Your love is a light, that all the world will see 

You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

Your love’s not fractured

It’s not a troubled mind

It isn’t anxious, it’s not the restless kind

Your love’s not passive

It’s never disengaged

It’s always present

It hangs on every word we say

Love keeps its promises, it keeps its word

It honors what’s sacred, cause its vows are good

Your love’s not broken

It’s not insecure

Your love’s not selfish, Your love is pure

'Cause You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

As I hear this song, I am made aware of how God offers His whole heart to us.  He holds nothing back.    It is this faithful, trustworthy love that reaches deep into our own hearts, beckoning us to come close.  I want to love this fully and fearlessly.  I want to realize that because of being connected heart-to-heart with Him, I can begin to love this way, too.  I want to be so fully convinced by His love, that it's my automatic response to love Him and others in the same way.  "We love because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19).

Community is all around us, and yet so many of us fail to take part.  We fear rejection or hurt, and so we end up living isolated as a way of self-protecting.  And yes, some people have and will mishandle our hearts.  It is inevitable that we will experience this in a broken world.  But that is why we look to Jesus as the example.  He gave His whole heart to the will of His Father and for us on the cross.  He cried out forgiveness over us as He did so.  His forgiveness, like His love, is complete.  And He beckons us to live in this same way, living in this same kind of love He revealed.

We needed His whole heart.  We needed His forgiveness.  We needed to witness a heart fully awake to God and fully awake to us.  Now that we have, what will we do?

I thank You Lord for teaching my heart to trust and move toward relationship - with You and with people.  Thank You for showing me what it looks like in Your Word and even in the songs You inspire in Your people.  Continue to teach me to pursue, to engage, to be transparent.  Show me how worthwhile it is.  Show me the people out there who need to witness this kind of love.  Equip and empower me to reveal Your love to hurting hearts, so that they will turn to You, fascinated by Your glory and goodness.

https://youtu.be/P0FW--zidYA

Partners

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other.  Hebrews 10:24-25

Over the past weeks, we have moved our family to a new territory.  While it has not been easy to transition to 'all things new', it has been good.  I hate to say, but I was surprised by how smoothly the process has gone.  I shouldn't have been surprised.  I should have known He would come through for us.  I'm supposed to have more faith, right?!  But I didn't.  I was in the boat, storm raging, and a big scaredy-cat.  Funny how things seem much more frightening (waves seem bigger) than they truly are at times...

Well, truth be told, I am downright surprised that it has gone so well (oh me of little faith!).  The Lord has provided so faithfully and graciously, as is His nature.  He has met us at every step - the grief of leaving "home", the loneliness of living in a new and strange place, the apprehension of engaging with all of the "new"…   God has been so faithfully present through the whole experience that I prefer to think it was nothing short of miraculous.

The thing I love most about this miracle is how God chose to partner with people on our behalf.  We have been held together, encouraged and loved so well through our transition.  Family and friends have prayed fervently for us and encouraged us to continue walking in faith, believing and anticipating that the Lord has something new and delightful for us here.  Let's face it, there are moments in the midst of change or troubles that you need someone to remind you of the goodness of God and His plans for us.  Moments when you accidentally shift your focus off Him and onto the waves.  The Lord was so kind to knit our hearts together with these friends over the years.  I will forever be grateful to them for loving us so well.   There is nothing like knowing that there are people out there that know your heart and love you.  And to think we have a God that knows us and loves us even more so!

Coming from a community that loved us so well has set my heart upon deliberately seeking the same here.  We have seen the intrinsic value of living in community and how it shaped us.  We would not be who we are today without those relationships.  They walked beside us amidst loss, trials, joyful times…the good, the bad and the ugly.  You just cannot put a price on that.

As we engage in this place we now call home, I find the Lord ushering us into new relationships.  We have been blessed by many on this side of the move already - people that have invited us to participate in their communities and reached out to welcome us.  I am aware of an intentionality in my own heart to pursue relationship and to actively engage in community.  There was a time when I wouldn't have taken the risk, or at least would have taken longer to reach out.  In years past, I might have shrouded my heart in layers of pretense even, out of a fear I might not be accepted.  Here in this new place, though, I feel the Lord calling me to reach outward with haste and confidence and with a raw honesty.  

We have to pursue this connection with others.  And not just for ourselves but for others, too.  It's reciprocal.  I have to remember that God is in me and wants to use me, as He does you.  He has things to say and might just choose to use my mouth to say it.  He has people to comfort, and my arms just might be the ones He reaches out with.  He has love to give and I might become the vessel He uses to embrace.  It's a humbling thought.  That the Creator chooses the created to accomplish His purposes.  He lives within us to reveal Himself throughout the earth.  That every soul would see that He is good and He is God… We just need to make ourselves available to Him and be willing to serve!

God, You are a triune Being.  You are in perfect relationship as Father, Son and Spirit.  You model for us what community looks like.   Lord Jesus, You revealed to us the remarkable communion of God and man, making a way for us to be restored to right relationship with our Holy God.  We thank you for Your sacrifice.  We thank You for being our Friend and teaching us how to love.  Empower us to engage in our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, and schools as people who love well and encourage one another.  Reveal Your heart through us and use us to display Your glory.  It is in You we live and move and have our being...   

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:26-28