Far Away No More

The giggles are what I love the most; their laughter as they dance around singing and playing. Even their sad faces are endearing. These are the sights and sounds of the modern age as I see my grandchildren grow up through the wonder of Skype. They have grasped the technology and presence and distance are lost to them. That is until they ask, "can you come and play?" The distance is never more great then at that moment.

In fourteen days they will be back in the U.S. and my wife and I will pick them up at the train station. I am sure we will be there early, anxiously waiting, impatiently chastening the train to move faster. I am sure we will have something for them, some token of our love, but most importantly the hugs and kisses. I am sure that there time with us will be too short and their departure will come too quickly. But for now, that which is far away will be brought near and those we love will be the objects of our affection.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Eph. 2:13

We were lost and without hope. The distance, to the consolation of our souls, was too great to cross. We were far away, longing for something that the world could not satisfy. The Father provided a way, and he stands anxiously for us to act in faith. He has gifts to shower on us at our arrival. He is bringing those who were far away home. I'm just saying......

Disclaimer: our grandchildren are accompanied by their parents, and we are enthused to see them as well.

No Hope In The World

Hope sustains us when all else fails.

Hope gives us direction when the way is unclear.

Hope brightens the path in the darkness.

Hope gives light when the future is difficult to see.

We had no hope and were without God.

Paul reminds us that we were 

Seperated from Christ

Alienated from Israel

And strangers to God's promise

These are the answers to the basic cravings of our heart. We crave a spiritual experience that is only fulfilled in Christ. We crave relationships that is best met within the community of God. We crave significance found in God's promise to redeem our culture and the work of our hands.

When these cravings aren't met we are lost, we seek to fill them with what we can see, taste, and feel (the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life). But this world will never be able to satisfy our cravings, and we were without hope.

The old nature constantly tries to pull us back into the darkness. It is alluring, but empty. The evil one tells us that the chaos in the world proves there is no God, but all it proves is that there is no hope when God is not in the world. 

The evil one tempts us to believe that there is more pleasure apart from Christ, but in Christ all pleaser is more exciting because it doesn't seek itself.

The culture tells us that individualism and self determination are the bedrock of success, but without the community of God we are alone and isolated. In community we learn to love, serve, and care for one another.

I have seen the world in all of its ugliness. The veil of its delusion has been lifted. The darkness that prevails and the cruelty that ensues when God is absent has been made known. If God has not come into the world to provide hope, then we are truly lost.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." I'm just saying....

"Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Epesians 2:12

Memories Light The Cornesr Of My Mind

"Therefore remember...remember that you were at that time separated from Christ," Ephesians 2:11,12

Memories are an interesting phenomena. They are imprints of emotionally charged events of the past. Strong emotions like anger, hurt, pain, as well as joy, excitement, and ecstasy create the most intense memories.

Time wears down memories and we suppress and forget bad ones, and our propensity for hope colors even the good ones to make them better then they really were. 

Some of my fondest memories are traveling with my family, the dog packed in ceiling high luggage, kids scrunched together, camping on the beach, and staying in hotel rooms. I vividly remember kindergarten, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grade. At least the fun times.

My best memories have been since following Jesus, and my new life in Christ shapes the way I remember the past, and the memories that I retain. Pain is redeemed and forgiven. Joy in the world more clearly understood. 

The scripture continually tells us to remember the past, the way we once were, so that we can appreciate the work of God in us. When we forget where we have been, we can develop an entitlement mentally; I deserve what God has done. When I remember where I have come from and where I would be without Christ, I am amazed at all that Christ has accomplished in my life. It also gives me hope, that he is still working in me, refining me, smoothing the rough edges, forgiving my daily sins, and conforming day by day into the image of His son. I'm just saying...

Knotty Wood

Craftsmen have a singular mind, focus, and attention to detail that produce some of the most wonderful pieces of work in history. Others, myself included, who are borderline ADHD find it difficult to concentrate too long on any one thing. Squirrel!

Craftsmen paint, sculpt, write, and build. My appreciation for their craft goes beyond the piece of work to the raw talent, the gift, that is part of who they are. They can hone their gift, but their abilities are intrinsic, and I am awed.

The workmanship is exact. The attention to detail demanding. You can tell the dedication and skill of the craftsman by the quality of his work. It is their signature.

Everything the craftsman produces has a purpose, whether to inspire or keep time, the craftsman expects something from his creation. Often if the piece doesn't meet his exacting standards he will destroy it, take it apart, and start over. Perfectionism dances within his DNA.

We are the workmanship of God, but instead of creating us from scratch He is recreating us. Instead of throwing the worn and broken out, He uses the raw material and creates something new. God's standard is perfection and He is constantly at work in us to confirm us to the image of His Son.

He is never satisfied, but patient. He is never finished, but is making us complete.  The challenge for God is like the wood worker who has a board full of knots. The more there are the more challenging the work. In God's case his works of art can be stubborn and rebellious. Yet, he continues to work refining and pruning.

We are his workmanship and we have a purpose that has been prepared with us in mind. Our purpose entails good works. Doesn't sound really exciting, but the opportunities are multitude. Every act, every moment, is filled with the possibilities of our purpose. There isn't one work, but scores.

The work for which we have been crafted is a part of who we are, therefore, we walk in them daily. Our lives revolve around our purpose and when we don't conform to them we will feel empty and lost. 

I am glad to be a workmanship of God, crafted in the image of His Son, designed for a glorious task. I have a purpose for which the words of God, "well done good and faithful servant," are full of meaning. I'm just saying...

No Room To Boast

"I can do it by myself!" The toddler demanded.

"Yes, you can." Replied the proud parent.

We admire independence and encourage self reliance. As parents we teach  our children to work hard and be responsible. Even the scripture teaches that maturity is more desirable then immaturity. We are told to grow up, stop drinking milk, eat solid food, and stand on our own two feet.

Is it any wonder that when it comes to our salvation that humans have a predilection toward working out their own salvation, and when Paul tells the Philippians to do just that there is confusion? 

There is a balance between self reliance and pride. What teen hasn't been left standing, scratching their head at their parent's statement, "we are proud of you, but be humble about it." 

We live in a can do society, and that is a breeding ground for cheating and dishonesty for those who can't do. The books are cooked, mistakes covered up, and laziness dismissed. The standards are lowered so that everyone can succeed. 

But what happens when the standard remains high, so high that no one can achieve it? What happens when our best will never be good enough? What happens when reconciliation with God is humanly impossible? One of two things.

First, man attempts to change the rules. His efforts become paramount. The nature of God is changed. A loving God wouldn't punish someone who really tries hard, so the standard is lowered. In the end you have a watered down view of a holy God who is secondary to the process of reconciliation. Man is the focus.

Or, when man is at his weakest, at his utmost vulnerability, a Holy God steps in to display the riches of his mercy, the immeasurable abundance of his grace, and provides a way that is not dependent of the objects of his love. The focus is on God.

The standard remains high, the Holy God remains just, and the accolades are turned toward the appropriate person. Salvation becomes a gift not a reward, and the recipient becomes grateful not proud. Even our faith is a gift; the insight to believe a product of the Holy Spirit.

Today I must go and produce something to be considered a valuable contributor of society. I am glad, relieved, ecstatic that I don't have to worry about the most important aspect of my life, my salvation. God has that taken care of for His honor and glory, and for that I am eternally grateful. I'm just saying...

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Epesians 2:8,9

The Best Seat In The House

God delights in displaying the immeasurable riches of His grace. As I discussed in my blog "Undeserved" we experience God's grace daily, before we became followers of Jesus, now, and throughout eternity.

We are the recipients of His mercy and grace, and as the Aposlte says, we have been seated with Christ in the heavenlies so that in the coming age he may show us his immeasurable grace.

In this digital age we are able to archive some of the most mundane, embarrassing, and important moments of our children's lives. Rebecca and I have pulled out video of our children eating a chip off the bird infested ground, picking his nose, blowing up toy cars, lip syncing into a golf club, staring in the student play, concerts in the park, walking down the isle of graduation and their weddings. We can't get enough of them and we can't show them enough. We are proud parents (and now grandparents).

If you are a parent you have done this, if not you have experienced it. You are over at a friends for a nice evening when the conversation turns to the subject of children. "Oh, have I shown you the one where...?" Politely the saw no. You dig for what seems like hours to them, but only moments for you. Finally you find the video you have been searching for, and fumbling with the remote you display it for your guests. 

"Can you see it? Is it loud enough? You are not going to want to miss this." 

You move cushions out of the way, and you give them the best seat in the house, because you want them to witness the wonders and joys of your children.

"God has raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ, SO THAT in the coming age he might SHOW his immeasurable grace."

God has prepared us a place, next to his Son, the best seat in the house in order to show, make manifest, to reveal once again his wonderful Grace.

The archived experiences of God's grace will be played before us. We will understand the reason for the pain and the source of our joy. We will revel in God's sovereign will and marvel at his inescapable plan. We will weep over how we have been used by him and stunned by his mercy when we were obstacles. 

At its conclusion we will hear "I just wanted you to understand," and we will know him like he has known us. With tears in our eyes we will join the multitudes in the song of the lamb because we will have seen with our eyes and heard with our ears the great glory of our King. I'm just saying...

Undeserved

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. God is rich in mercy because he does not give us what we deserve. He withholds his wrath and judgment because He is a merciful God. Grace is the opposite side of the coin. It is receiving what we don't deserve. 

It is the lavishing of his love. 

It is reconciling us with himself. 

It is the bestowing of the Spirit. 

It is the giving of gifts. 

It is the protection of the armor. 

It is the hope of His coming. 

it is the preparation of a mansion. 

It is the wiping away of our tears. 

It is the deliverance from evil. 

It is making a way in temptation. 

It is the provision of our daily bread. 

It is the forgiveness of sin.

It is the world overcome.

It is the defeat of satan.

It is the compassion for the down trodden.

It is the father to the fatherless.

It is the sanctifying of our souls.

It is the the way, truth, and life.

It is the healing of our infirmities. 

It is the answers to our prayers.

It is the community of believers.

It is the encouragement of the saints.

It is the bearing of our burdens.

It is the ransom of His Son!

If God is rich in Mercy, its wealth pales in comparison to his Grace. He withholds one thing and delivers so much more. He displays his grace daily, and we are as undeserving. We are sinful and faithless; proud and ungrateful; obnoxious and uncaring; oblivious and unconcerned. Daily we struggle to remain on the straight and narrow path, and daily God displays his grace.

The scripture says that all good gifts come from the Father and that in trials he works them for good, for our sake and his glory. These, and much more, are the daily graces we receive. When we count our blessings we are brought back into focus for the wonderful relationship we have in Christ. 

We were saved by his grace, we are being saved by his grace, we will be saved by his unmerited favor.  I'm just saying...