Haywire

I read somewhere that Haywire is defined as broken and in a state of chaos; not working. That would be a fitting description of much that goes on in this world. We all experience trials, see devastation, things we don’t understand; yet I maintain there is hope. 

My Dad had a plaque he kept in a storage room in our house. He kept it kind of hidden; to keep us kids from seeing it, but kids will be kids and at some point I saw it. As a kid I often wondered what it meant; I was old enough to know that to him it was just a joke, a somewhat cynical view of things. The plaque said; “People are no damn good.” You have to let that sit for a while, let it ferment, let it mature. 

As a Christian, I come to see that plaque as more truth than any of us would like to admit. However, I think that is the key; that as a Christian we must first recognize our true natures; our sin; our personal haywire. Matt Chandler; in his book “The Explicit Gospel”, makes the statement that “if we don’t understand the bad news, we will never grasp the good news.” That is profound to me as we must come to grips with the depths of our brokenness, we must understand the dire straights we are in, we must see our need of rescue in order to be saved. 

We must come to see that with the fall in Genesis 3 all perfection, all harmony was fractured. Sin entered our world and our world groans. Again, there is hope, there is rescue and it comes in the form of God in Flesh; Jesus Christ. 

This particular blog may seem negative or depressing, but not so! Not so, because I truly see and know the hope; I see the light of a new day; a new life; a new way! Romans 8:18­‐28 becomes so clear to me... 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 

Abba Father, we love you and with creation we wait in eager expectation. We wait patiently in hope for your wonderful, amazing and grace-­filled promises. We thank you for our Lord and Savior; our rescuer and we thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. 

Grace and Peace!

Believe

As my spiritual journey finds me digging deeper into the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ; I find myself taking an introspective look at myself. It seems as if I am doing more and more with a feeling that it is never enough. Can you relate to that? Do you find being a Christian tiresome and full of doing this and doing that? As I continue to take this look at myself I want to make sure my heart is positioned correctly; to make sure I am doing out of love and not guilt. 

I found John 6:28-­‐29 very helpful:

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 

This is the story of Christ having fed the crowds then moved across the sea and the next morning the crowds followed. It is asked what must we do and Christ answers simply; believe – amazing. You know, as we believe our hearts are transformed and our love for Christ and His finished work grows and as it does we begin to love scripture, to love the poor, to desire to be in true community. We find ourselves giving generously and joyfully. We find ourselves forgiving as we have been forgiven. This is a proper heart position and I need more and more of the Gospel to keep me on that wonderful and glorious path. To insure that I am living a Gospel Centered life. 

J. D. Greear in his book titled “Gospel” (imagine that) says:

“Gospel centeredness is about saturating your heart in the good news of Jesus – letting it so remake your mind that you see everything about yourself and your life through its lens.

Growth in Christ is not going beyond the gospel, but deeper into it. Make the gospel the center of your life. Turn to it when you are in pain. Let it be the foundation of your identity. Ground your confidence in it. Run to it when your soul feels restless. Take solace there in times of confusion and comfort there in times of regret. Dwell on it until righteous passions for God spring up within you. Let it inspire you to God-­centered, death-­defying dreams for His glory. 

My soul has found its resting place. No longer do I struggle, in anguish, over what I must do for God to be pleased with me. Christ has accomplished it all on my behalf. I can add nothing to it, and I can take nothing away. I have a lot of room to grow in my Christian life, but my position in Him is secure. 

Having found (or better yet, been found by) Him, and overwhelmed at His grace, my heart is growing in love for Him and others. Generosity is like a stream that flows ever-­stronger in my heart. I give away more money now that I ever have, not because I have to, but because I want to. I think about myself less now than I ever have – mainly because I have found a greater, more captivating kingdom to live for than my own. The splendor of his kingdom has made me bored with mine. 
 

So I invite you to dive deeper into the gospel. Study it, deeply...like you study a sunset that leaves you speechless; or like a man who is passionately in love with his wife studies her, until he’s so captivated with her...The gospel is not merely the diving board into the pool of Christianity; the gospel is the pool itself.” 

Father, may we all understand that the gospel is not just the ticket to enter the club of Christianity it is the lifeblood of the Christian life. Abba Father, help us to know as we are in Christ there is nothing we can do to make you love us more and even more amazing is that there is nothing we can do that make you love us less. Father God, thank you so much for the finished work of Christ. Oh Great and Glorious Father, we believe; help our unbelief...Amen. 

Grace and Peace!

Mom

Today would have been my mother’s 75th birthday. It has not been that long since she left this world and I know there is still healing to come, but I also know we will always miss her. 
 
A good friend of mine; a pastor that has been so supportive of me shared that his mother described losing her parents as a weird feeling she even went on to say she at times felt like an orphan. 

That stuck with me and I began to think about that statement. It is hard to explain, but for me there just feels as if there is a hole in your heart. I know there will be things that try to fill that hole; there will be good friends, family, other stuff of this world. However, all will fall a little short. 

My friend also shared a favorite verse of his; John 14:18. In this verse Jesus promises something remarkable... 

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” 

So I know it will take time and there is a time to mourn, a time to grieve, but also a time to rejoice. So as we will always miss Mom, if we turn to Christ He will not leave us as orphans; He will come to us! How comforting, how encouraging, how loving! 

I have great peace knowing that my mother is in a better place; reunited with family and friends that have gone before. I have great peace knowing that she is in the loving arms of Christ. I have great peace knowing she will have no more tears, no more suffering. I have great peace that I will not be left as an orphan that Christ has come to me; an adopted child of God. Amen and Halleluiah! 

Happy Birthday Mom... 

Grace and Peace!