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Even me. Amazing grace.

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Oh how foolish a life this old man of flesh lived before I found Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I proved myself doomed to destruction time after time with my choices,  with my actions,  with my words. In my ignorance,  I used the idea of salvation like a trickster,  twisting words to fit my own goals – excusing my rebellion and continued sin, wearying the Lord with my foolishness and disobedience.

I knew nothing of Christ. I knew nothing of a renewed life surrendered to the Lord. I just knew the example of hypocrites around me practicing their religion and buying their get out of hell free tickets. But oh, how things have changed.

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What does forgiveness look like?

Do I really understand forgiveness?

Luke 23:34-35 NLT
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

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Am I holding back?

Aren’t there so many times when we hold back,  when we procrastinate,  when we either become trapped in our complacency or our indecision when we could be helping?

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Proverbs 3:27-28 NLT
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

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Don’t try it, don’t fake it, don’t do it – just BE it.

Proverbs 3:3 NLT
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.

Loyalty. It speaks to a right relationship with God, because we are to be loyal to God,  not to other men. Loyalty divided is not loyalty at all,  but is treason. Our loyalty is to God and God alone,  not to a person,  not to a nation,  not to a cause – but to God. The first five of the ten commandments speak of loyalty to God.

Kindness. It speaks to a right relationship with others, because we are to be kind to others. And kindness is not doing good for others so they will repay you with good in return. No,  that is manipulation. Kindness is doing good to others regardless of the outcome. The last five of the ten commandments speak of kindness to others.

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Faith. Crazy Faith.

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How many times do we get urges about what we should or could be doing for the Lord, but we dismiss them as being too grand, beyond our capabilities, or just a dream?

How many times do we keep ourselves from stepping out in faith because we don’t yet know exactly where we are headed or we don’t have a solid plan for reaching our destination.

Genesis 12:1 NLT
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.

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How are you?

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“How are you?”

A wise friend recently asked, “Is there any other question that leads us to lie more consistently on a daily basis?”

Hasn’t “How are you?” become the social norm for acknowledging someone’s presence, while dismissing their value?

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Convicted to a LIFE SENTENCE

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Just because I’m convicted,  that doesn’t make me a convict.

EPH 1:5-6 ESV
He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

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What a know it all!

Oh,  how I used to be a know it all.

In fact, many might misunderstand why I share each day,  thinking that I’m proudly displaying how much I know. But you see, what I share is what I am being taught – so these daily journals are a chronicle odd how much I need to learn and apply,  not a pile of trophies to be displayed.

PRO 1:7, 22-23, 32-33 ESV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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