It's a mad world...

As I reflect on the year past, I am reminded of the constant state of flux of everything around me. This year, especially, brought so many relational shifts that I never would have anticipated. I would have called you crazy if you'd told me it would be this way. Lesson learned: There is no certainty in the relational realm. Explanation is not always offered, either.

Despite many harsh situations and hurtful words, it all balances out, somehow. God is gracious in His provision--he really does give AND take away, and all for His glory and our good. He also provides us with the strength to withstand whatever is thrown in our faces. I am so grateful for that. Left only with the advice of this world, I would be ending the year with much bitterness (See Romans 3:13ff).

Worldly-minded gurus like Oprah would insist that "you don't deserve to be treated that way!" and that I should tell the aforementioned people that and give them what they "deserve".

God has a better way.

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seeks to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing."

1 Thessalonians 5:14-17

So my prayer for this year is that we would all learn to be more loving, more gracious, and more truthful. Remember, it's not about you or me. It's all about Him :)

Your many defects and corruptions

Sooooo good, I just had to share it!!! Very encouraging!!!

(From Arthur Pink's "Christ our Exemplar")

"Leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21 Sincere believers are often cast down by the realization of how far, far short they come to measuring up to the standard which Christ has set before them. According to the yearnings of the new nature--you have sincerely endeavored to follow Christ's example, but being weak in grace and meeting with much opposition from the flesh and temptations from the Devil--you have been frequently turned aside from the holy purposes and designs of your honest hearts--to the great grief and discouragement of your souls. You can heartily say with David, "O that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5), and you have tried hard and long to follow after exact holiness, "if by any means you might attain unto it." But your efforts have been repeatedly thwarted, your aspirations dashed, and you have to cry out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin!" (Romans 7:24)

First, let us assure the genuinely exercised soul, that such defects in obedience do not invalidate your justification, or in any way affect your acceptance with, and standing before God. Your justification is not built upon your obedience--but upon Christ's. However imperfect you are in yourself, you are "complete in Him" (Col. 2:10). Woe had it been to Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul--if their justification had depended upon their own holiness and good works. Let not, then, your sad failures dampen your joy in Christ--but rather be increasingly thankful for His robe of righteousness, which hides your filthy rags!

Second, your heart-anguish over your unlikeness to Christ, evidences that you have a sincere acquaintance with the evil of your heart, a deep loathing of sin, and truly love God. The most eminent saints have made the bitterest lamentation on this account, "My sins have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness!" (Psalm 38:4-5)Third, the Holy Spirit makes an excellent use of your infirmities, and turns your failures unto spiritual advantages. By those very defects--He humbles you, subdues your self-righteousness, causes you to appreciate more deeply the riches of free grace, and to place a higher value upon the precious blood of the Lamb. By your many falls--He makes you to long more ardently for Heaven--and gradually reconciles you to the prospect of death. The more a holy soul is buffeted by sin and Satan--the more sincerely will he cry out, "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest!" (Psalm 55:6). "O the blessed chemistry of Heaven, to extract such mercies--out of such miseries!" (John Flavel), to make sweet flowers--spring up out of such bitter roots!

Fourth, your bewailed infirmities do not break the bond of the Everlasting Covenant! That holds firm, notwithstanding your many defects and corruptions. "Iniquities prevail against me" said David--yet in the same breath he added, "You shall purge them away!" (Psalm 65:3)

Fifth, though the defects of your obedience are grievous to God--yet your deep sorrows for them are well-pleasing in His sight, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit--a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise!" (Psalm 51:17) Sixth, your very grief is a conformity to Christ--for when here, He was "the Man of sorrows." If He suffered because of our sins--shall we not be made to weep over them?

Seventh, "Though God has left many defects to humble you--yet He has given many things to comfort you. This is a comfort--that your sins are not your delight as once they were--but your shame and sorrow! This is a comfort--that your case is not singular, but more or less the same complaints and sorrows are found in all gracious souls in the world!"

I'd like one of those stretchy brains, please.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.

John 1:1, 14

I have been thinking a lot lately about the paradox of grace and truth as they relate to living Biblically. They aren't really paradoxical, I'm sure, our brains are just small and not very good at wrapping around the things of God. They are shaped by human logic to such a degree that we have a hard time stretching them to understand things outside of our small scope. When I was younger, I didn't really learn about either one as being more important than the other. As a teenager (big surprise coming, haha) I focused on the grace part, and submersed myself in a culture where God was not treasured. I continued this in to my college years, but eventually learned that I wasn't doing anyone any favors by having a flawed & shallow understanding of the truth part (especially myself). The truth is, I didn't know the truth part! It came as news to me that everyone is seen as wretched before a holy and righteous God, and deserves nothing but eternal fire. (I know, I know... it's in the Bible... but I missed it, somehow.)

After I graduated from college, I jumped on the truth bandwagon. I think this happens to most people when they first learn the truth--they swing that sword around like it's going out of style. That generally leaves a bloody, bitter mess on the other side, at least when it is not coupled with grace. Unlovingly proclaiming the gospel (in my opinion) is more harmful than helpful.
Thankfully, in the past year I've seen what one without the other can do, and I'm trying to get back on the horse. In his book, The Grace and Truth Paradox, Randy Alcorn says that Satan doesn't care which side of the horse we fall off, he just doesn't want us in the saddle. He'd have it that way for everything in the Christian's life, I think. And he probably gets his way much of the time, because it is really hard to find a balance between grace and truth! This makes me think of the battle for the truth going on between Christians and Emergents, but I could write a book about that, so we'll save it for another time.

I'm hoping the book, along with studying the scriptures, will help me to stay in the saddle and not despair when I start slipping towards one side. As a Christian, I have no choice. I am required to be full of both grace and truth.

With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and much grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:33