hello friends!
i'm still reading The Raggamuffin Gospel. and i would love to say it's still rocking my socks. but for some reason its not. its a great read, don't get me wrong. but i think there's a problem.
and i think that problem is me. i'll explain.
first, i'll give ya some of Brennan Mannings words.
they are exactly how i am feeling this week; getting ready to go back to school, while attempting to get myself ready before God (which in itself doesn't work, a process I've been learning about over break).
(in context of the parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15. read it quick it you need a refresher/haven't heard it ! )
"For me, the most touching verse in the entire Bible is the father's response [to the son coming home after wasting his inheritance];
'while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him' (Luke 15:20). I am moved that the father didn't cross examine the boy, bully him, lecture him on ingratitude, or insist on any high motivation. He was so overjoyed at the sight of his son that he ignored all the canons of prudence and parental discretion and simply welcomed him home. The father took him back as he was.
What a word of encouragement, consolation and comfort! We don't have to sift out hearts and analyze our intentions before returning home. Abba just wants us to show up. We don't have to tarry at a tavern until purity of heart arrives. We don't have to be shredded with sorrow or crushed with contrition. We don't have to be perfect or even very good before God will accept us. We don't have to wallow in guilt, shame, remorse and self-condemnation. Even if we still nurse a secret nostalgia for the far country, Abba falls on our neck and kisses us. " (p.189)
I remember hearing the story of 'the lost son' a lot growing up. I remember hearing it cited in sermons, and told in stories at church, bible studies and at camp. If you haven't read it or don't remember what its about, open up to Luke 15 and read all of it. Many times that I've been exposed to this story that Jesus is telling, it has been so easy for me to hear/read it, receive it, and walk away from it. 'The Lost Son' is the perfect picture of God's unbelievable, raw, and sloppily-stupid Love shown through perfect grace and mercy. I know that. But for one reason or another, I cannot get it. I think this story that Jesus tells does not 'hit' me because I do not fully believe it. It often seems too good to be true.
but I want to fully believe it.
For some reason it is so easy for me to forget that the God Almighty is enamored by me. That He cherishes me. That He truly desires for me to be in true relationship with Him . . . that what he desires is my heart.
In the past few days I have felt distant from God. A recent challenge that i have for myself is that I don't want my circumstances, emotions, or how I am feeling in a moment, to determine how I see God, what is true about Him, or what is true about me. That's a big thing I struggle with. Yet this distance that I feel between me and God iis one that I know I have created. My human heart often gets things backwards- it's a lie that we will feel more free, more rested, more alive when we are apart from God. In fact, it is the opposite.
What a word of encouragement, consolation and comfort! We don't have to sift out hearts and analyze our intentions before returning home. Abba just wants us to show up. We don't have to tarry at a tavern until purity of heart arrives.
It's taken a day or so to realize, but I have been attempting to prepare myself before The God of Love.
I have not trusted how faithful and how loving His arms are. This happens a lot to all of us.
The words of the Prodigal Son are fantastic. God accepts each of us after our waywardness. God wants to wrap His arms around us! God is in love with us! Is that hard to believe? I think it is. and for the best way possible.
For me, the prodigal son a reminder of how much I do not understand God's Love. Who is this God that desires to be close to me, to hug and to kiss me after I have walked, or ran away from Him? What kind of Father waits at the edge of the property, waiting for his long lost son to come home, even after he has wasted all of His father's riches? What kind of Father runs to his weary son, does not even allow for the son's excuses, yet embraces him, gives him good clothes and throws him the biggest party around? What kind of Love is this?
This is our God.
Because of Jesus I get to live as a son of this Father God today. How crazy is that ! !
It is crazy. And something that I forget too easily. Our Lord is magnificent beyond belief.
Lord Jesus, would I come to understand your grace more and more.
Your ways are beyond the peripheral of my imagination.
Give me more and more gratitude for your unbelievable grace, and your sweet, great Love.
i'm still reading The Raggamuffin Gospel. and i would love to say it's still rocking my socks. but for some reason its not. its a great read, don't get me wrong. but i think there's a problem.
and i think that problem is me. i'll explain.
first, i'll give ya some of Brennan Mannings words.
they are exactly how i am feeling this week; getting ready to go back to school, while attempting to get myself ready before God (which in itself doesn't work, a process I've been learning about over break).
(in context of the parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15. read it quick it you need a refresher/haven't heard it ! )
"For me, the most touching verse in the entire Bible is the father's response [to the son coming home after wasting his inheritance];
'while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him' (Luke 15:20). I am moved that the father didn't cross examine the boy, bully him, lecture him on ingratitude, or insist on any high motivation. He was so overjoyed at the sight of his son that he ignored all the canons of prudence and parental discretion and simply welcomed him home. The father took him back as he was.
What a word of encouragement, consolation and comfort! We don't have to sift out hearts and analyze our intentions before returning home. Abba just wants us to show up. We don't have to tarry at a tavern until purity of heart arrives. We don't have to be shredded with sorrow or crushed with contrition. We don't have to be perfect or even very good before God will accept us. We don't have to wallow in guilt, shame, remorse and self-condemnation. Even if we still nurse a secret nostalgia for the far country, Abba falls on our neck and kisses us. " (p.189)
I remember hearing the story of 'the lost son' a lot growing up. I remember hearing it cited in sermons, and told in stories at church, bible studies and at camp. If you haven't read it or don't remember what its about, open up to Luke 15 and read all of it. Many times that I've been exposed to this story that Jesus is telling, it has been so easy for me to hear/read it, receive it, and walk away from it. 'The Lost Son' is the perfect picture of God's unbelievable, raw, and sloppily-stupid Love shown through perfect grace and mercy. I know that. But for one reason or another, I cannot get it. I think this story that Jesus tells does not 'hit' me because I do not fully believe it. It often seems too good to be true.
but I want to fully believe it.
For some reason it is so easy for me to forget that the God Almighty is enamored by me. That He cherishes me. That He truly desires for me to be in true relationship with Him . . . that what he desires is my heart.
In the past few days I have felt distant from God. A recent challenge that i have for myself is that I don't want my circumstances, emotions, or how I am feeling in a moment, to determine how I see God, what is true about Him, or what is true about me. That's a big thing I struggle with. Yet this distance that I feel between me and God iis one that I know I have created. My human heart often gets things backwards- it's a lie that we will feel more free, more rested, more alive when we are apart from God. In fact, it is the opposite.
What a word of encouragement, consolation and comfort! We don't have to sift out hearts and analyze our intentions before returning home. Abba just wants us to show up. We don't have to tarry at a tavern until purity of heart arrives.
It's taken a day or so to realize, but I have been attempting to prepare myself before The God of Love.
I have not trusted how faithful and how loving His arms are. This happens a lot to all of us.
The words of the Prodigal Son are fantastic. God accepts each of us after our waywardness. God wants to wrap His arms around us! God is in love with us! Is that hard to believe? I think it is. and for the best way possible.
For me, the prodigal son a reminder of how much I do not understand God's Love. Who is this God that desires to be close to me, to hug and to kiss me after I have walked, or ran away from Him? What kind of Father waits at the edge of the property, waiting for his long lost son to come home, even after he has wasted all of His father's riches? What kind of Father runs to his weary son, does not even allow for the son's excuses, yet embraces him, gives him good clothes and throws him the biggest party around? What kind of Love is this?
This is our God.
Because of Jesus I get to live as a son of this Father God today. How crazy is that ! !
It is crazy. And something that I forget too easily. Our Lord is magnificent beyond belief.
Lord Jesus, would I come to understand your grace more and more.
Your ways are beyond the peripheral of my imagination.
Give me more and more gratitude for your unbelievable grace, and your sweet, great Love.