"God Don't Like Ugly"



"[He] rescues the wretched who've been
thrown out with the trash . . ."

I came across that book title the other day, and had an immediate reaction of disbelief. Actually there is more than one book by that title. One is a well-received novel, another, a book about African-American family values. It is the title that puts me off. What young person browsing through library or bookstore shelves wants to be confronted with “GOD Don't Like Ugly”? A lot of people, old and young alike, have self-esteem that is fragile enough already without a reminder printed in big yellow letters!

It isn't true, anyway. Had God not loved the people of the world even when they were damaged and made “ugly” by sin, there would be no Christmas, no Savior coming to bring salvation. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8) And He still loves us at our most unattractive; our sometimes negative, and selfish behavior doesn't put Him off.  He still draws us, still invites us, “Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

God Is Forgiving

One of a series on "The Endearing Personality of God"

What is forgiveness? How can we forgive egregious offenses? How do we know when we have forgiven completely? These are questions we sometimes ask about our own intentions to forgive.

The clearest definition and evidence of forgiveness is in this aspect of God's character.

God's forgiveness is freely offered. God is full of compassion. He is not waiting to catch us in some transgression, but when we fail, He is merciful. (1)

God's forgiveness is thorough. God removes our sin and remembers it against us never again. (2)

God's forgiveness gives us right relationship with Him. We are justified (made right) as a gift of His grace. (3)

Jesus' parable of the prodigal son's return
illustrates the forgiveness God extends to those
who come "home" to Him.

God's forgiveness, however, is costly. Because the blood of sheep and calves could not take away sins, God gave His Son to the world, securing our redemption. (4)

There are some things, too, that His forgiveness is not.

God's forgiveness does not mean ignoring or making excuses. God does not pat us on the head, so to speak, and tell us everything will be all right. (5)

God's forgiveness does not mean "paying back but instead, working for our good. He does not give us what we deserve, but rather we share in the inheritance that only Christ deserves. (6)

God's forgiveness does not mean accepting continued wrongdoing. God forbid that we should use the promises of grace to pursue our sin, casually believing that God will "wink" at it and forgive again. (7)

God's forgiveness does not necessarily mean escaping the natural consequences. There is a "law" of sowing and reaping that applies both to the natural realm and to the spiritual. (8)

How can we forgive?  Watch what He does and learn to do the same.
(1) Psalm 86:15
(2) Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 10:16, 17
(3) Romans 3:23, 24
(4) Hebrews 9:12; 10:5
(5) Romans 1:20
(6) Psalm 103:10; Romans 8:17
(7) Romans 5:20-6:2
(8) Galatians 6:7, 8

MaryMartha

Art from http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures

God Is Impartial

One of a series on "The Endearing Personality of God"

I sometimes feel just a little uncomfortable when I compliment people, "You have a lovely home," or "That's a beautiful car." Their response may be, "Yes, God has blessed us," or "Yes, God has been good to us." Really, I do understand the desire to credit God with what we enjoy, but in the back of my mind, I am comparing my own home or my own car and hearing, "Too bad about you."

Does God have favorites? If we are not very careful how we speak, it almost sounds that way. I do not have the home or car or clothes that compare to what other people have. Looking at it another way, if I were with the homeless or hungry or endangered, how then could I explain the advantages and comforts I have—yes, my riches? Does God have favorites? Certainly not. Everything good finds its source in Him, even if I "earned" it. If acknowledging Him carries with it even the tiniest bit of self-importance, it would be better for me to thank Him in the secret place of prayer, lest I be like the Pharisees who wished to be seen as devout.

No, God is no respecter of persons; the Bible is clear about that. (The Apostle Peter finally understood. See Acts 10:34-43) Again and again, he says, "all" and "whoever." Where did we get the idea that God's blessing, His goodness, His favor, is measured by what we own or the circumstances in which we are? If the Gospel of God's grace and goodness does not work in Calcutta or Appalachia or New Orleans, it is not the true Gospel. If it doesn't apply in prisons or refugee tent-cities or land-mined fields, then it is not the Gospel that Jesus taught and exemplified. How is it lived out in these unfortunate places? I don't know the answer to that personally, but down through the ages, Christians have proved that God is faithful in the most miserable "have-not" situations. I know for certain that God is impartial; His love and grace are available to all, and I really love that about Him!

MaryMartha

I think you would also enjoy reading two other posts; click on a title.
Does God Always Provide Bread?
But If Not

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

God Is Appreciative

But no training wheels for
her ride!

One of a series on "God's Endearing Personality":

The other day my daughter and I were reminiscing about some of the things in her early childhood. "I remember learning to ride the little red bicycle," she told me. "I took off down the street, and you were running behind me screaming, "You did it! You did it!' " After many wobbly attempts, with my steadying the two-wheeler while she learned to find her  balance, she was on her own and I was so proud I cried!

Do you think the God who created us and loves us is any less appreciative when we accomplish something with His guidance and help? It's not that God can be likened to earthly parents, but instead we are fashioned after His likeness, and surely our pride and joy reflects His own. Some day, if we are faithful, He will point us out as trophies of His grace! “He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6, 7)

The praise belongs to God alone. The glory is His. And yet, sometimes even now I think I feel His satisfaction when He encourages me, "Yes, we did it, you and I together. We did it!"

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

"He Maketh Me to Lie Down"

In recent weeks, I have tried conscientiously to spend a little while resting after my work in the morning and early afternoon. Sometimes, I am restless; there is always just so much to do! The other day, I was fussing inwardly at the restriction with which I felt compelled to comply. As I was forming my complaint, I remembered the words in the familiar 23rd Psalm. It says, "He makes me lie down in green pastures."

Was that God speaking to me? I'm not sure, but it certainly was an appropriate reminder! I've never heard anyone expound on that part of the verse. Always the emphasis is on the plentiful supply provided by the Good Shepherd, drawn from the picture of abundant grass for grazing. Only one of the classic commentaries available to me mentioned "making me lie down." Charles H. Spurgeon, the "prince of preachers" and a prolific author, wrote in his commentary on this psalm about the "distracted souls" who know what it is to feed on God's grace, but never find the rest and satisfaction of appropriating it as their own—lying down in it.

God wants to lead us in paths of righteousness and perhaps through the shadowed valley too, but what if He plans for us to lie down sometimes? He wants us to be spiritually fed and satisfied, of course, but could He be guarding our health and safety and well-being by encouraging our literal lying down as well? Isn't some of our busyness a nicer-sounding word for anxiety?

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Broken and Better

One of the tasks of my part-time position at the public library is mending "broken" books. The pages may be falling out, the binding may be loose or split, the covers may be torn or dog-eared. Various methods and materials are used for repair, and I find it satisfying to make useable again a book that would otherwise be destined for discarding. Occasionally, I am challenged by someone who asks, "Can you really fix this?" And I answer, "Yes, it will be better than new."

Book publishing has changed a great deal over the years. Once it was an art with beautiful and substantial covers enclosing sewn signatures, the industry now produces annually nearly 300,000 titles in the U.S. And that is just new titles and new editions of earlier titles; many of these are printed in the hundreds of thousands. While there are many fine books available—I am speaking of physical quality, not content—many others currently published are not able to withstand the repeated handling of library use; they are glued together just well enough for a few readings. It is these that can actually be improved by mending.

Ernest Hemingway said, "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places." Have you considered that the places in your life where you have been battered about some, perhaps even broken, are made a source of strength when God is permitted to work there? Jesus came as God's anointed one to proclaim, "He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted." Having had our brokenness exposed is not something only to be regretted, but also to be respected for its part in bringing us to acknowledge our constant need for God's grace. Experiencing some of His "mending" then helps us connect with other sufferers in a real way. The late Henri Nouwen, spiritual writer and teacher, gave us the lovely phrase, "wounded healer." That is what Jesus is to us, and what we can be to others.

Broken does not mean discarded. Mending is possible. That does not mean the brokenness never was. It can mean better, stronger, more useful than before.

MaryMartha

The book publishing statistic is from R.R. Bowker, a large bibliographic information
management company, researched at www.bowker.com

Art from http:www.sxc.hu/

Antidotes

Sometimes we need an antidote for something we have contacted or ingested: poison ivy or a bee sting, a medication to which we are allergic or just too much pizza! Doctors know, and many mothers too, know what will soothe the itchy skin or the upset stomach.

I have found a spiritual antidote as well. When I have contacted too much negative talk or encountered too many discouraging circumstances or remembered too many painful memories, the Word of God helps make things right.

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. . . Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. . . So I tried to
understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. . . Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 2:2-5, 13-14, 16-19, 21, 23-26)

This antidote works even better than calamine lotion or Tums!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

The Reasonable God

Sometimes in the Old Testament stories of God's dealings with His people there are little glimpses of His character tucked into the narrative. I have no idea how many times I've read the instructions for worship that God gave to the priests and the people, but re-reading again the other day I discovered one such revealing light.

The children of Israel had now been out of Egypt for a year, and God told Moses it was time to celebrate the Passover—the "passing-over" by the Angel of Death. One of the regulations was that touching a dead body made one ceremonially unclean and thus not able to participate in the worship celebration.

But there were some men among them who had touched a dead body; perhaps they had just buried a loved one, or attended someone whose illness resulted in death. There was not time for them to fulfill the proper procedure for cleansing. They came to Moses and Aaron with their dilemma. "We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting our Passover offerings at the proper time with all the rest of our people?"

Moses answered, "Wait here while I go ask the Lord about this."

And this was what God replied. "Any people now—or in future generations—who are ceremonially unclean because they have touched a dead body may still celebrate the Lord's Passover. Or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they too may participate. Their celebration can be held one month later, on the same day and in the very same way. But those who are present and able must follow the normal regulations." (This story is in Numbers 9.) I was struck with how reasonable God was to make this arrangement for those who desired to keep His law, but were prevented from doing so by circumstances they couldn't help.

Considering God "reasonable" doesn't mean that I think we can understand Him. His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not like His. But He is compassionate towards us, providing ways for us to make right our shortcomings. "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (I John 2:1)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

God's Finest Creation

Edit 4/21/10: Having seen the billboard again, I realize that it states "God's Finest Creation . . . " instead of "Greatest" and have edited this entry accordingingly.

I saw a large billboard the other day, installed by our state pro-life organization. It pictured a happy, adorable child, and the message was, "God's finest creation—a baby!"

Babies really are miracles. With all the things that can possibly go wrong, it's a miracle that healthy babies are born every day! With all the perils of childhood, it's another miracle that they grow into adults who can then perpetuate the race!

But I don't think they are absolutely God's finest creation. (Please don't accuse me of being anti-baby—I love 'em!) But God doesn't have to make a separate creation of each of the new babies, little Adam's and Eve's made from clay or ribs. Human beings, like the rest of God's bio-creation, have reproduction as part of the Divine plan, and they are capable of "bringing forth according to [their] kind." Life itself is certainly a gift of God, but it does not take special action on His part to begin its formation, in fact, it often happens quite unintentionally!


The greater creation, I think, begins with the second birth. For each "baby Christian" born into the kingdom of God, it is a miracle of being re-created. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (II Corinthians 5:17 NIV) No amount of hoping and planning results in the new birth, and neither are people accidentally brought into the Kingdom. "They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." (John 1:13 NLT) It's a miracle of love and grace—God's finest creation!


MaryMartha


Scripture quotation marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Don't Pick at a Scab"

Eww, gross! Yes, the topic I'm writing about is just a bit on the unpleasant side. Why did our mothers (because probably yours said this too) tell us not to pick at the scabs on our scraped knees, our mosquito bites, and even our chicken pox? Why did we want to anyway? Well, because they were there? Or maybe it was the itch that sometimes comes when healing is underway

4 Our mothers knew that picking off the protection that nature has provided reopens the wound and might cause fresh pain and more bleeding. And more trauma for the afflicted youngster! Not a good idea.

4 Taking the cover off the healing wound tears the new skin that is forming. That delays the healing process and is apt to cause scarring.

4 Opening the wound open again increases the chances of bacteria entering and an infection developing. A greater chance of scarring.

4 When left alone, eventually the crusty scab will be shed—without any help—and bright, new skin is underneath.

This is a great deal like the injuries we sometimes suffer emotionally. Someone hurts us, and it is natural for us to have some kind of response. We may realize the hurt was unintentional, or it may have been completely unrelated to us and we just happened to be handy as a target. We may understand that the other person has unresolved issues, or we may truly have been at fault but were dealt with harshly. Whatever the reason, we have been wounded; now what do we do? The Bible is very clear about our need to forgive, and if possible to seek reconciliation with the other.

But often people treat personal injuries much like children treat scraped knees. In a little while, the initial sting has gone away, but they begin to pick at the healing offense. Time goes by and they continue to re-open the wound, never treating it with the antiseptic of forgiveness and then leaving it alone to heal. What happens then?

4 Every time remembrance of the offense comes to mind, or whenever the offending person is around, there is fresh pain and more "bleeding." The trauma is kept as current as when it first occurred.

4 The healing process is delayed, or it never happens at all. Scarring is almost inevitable, and to a much greater degree than that of a clean, neatly healed injury.

4 Bad stuff can get into the wound: ill will, revenge, gossip, and other things that infect the spirit. This infection can become so vicious that it attacks other people who are nearby.

I have a few scars from childhood injuries that I did not allow to heal well. But with the help of the great Forgiver, I am working hard to promote healing of inward "scrapes" so that they can heal cleanly!

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

A Dangerous Trap

Only moments before, Jesus' disciple Peter had declared, "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." For this understanding, Jesus commended him, "You are blessed because this was not revealed to you by any human being, but by my Heavenly Father." Then the Lord began to tell His followers that He must go to Jerusalem where He would suffer and die.

Now Peter took Jesus aside and remonstrated Him. I can just see him swelling up and saying something like, "This won't happen to You! Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 6:23 NLT) Commentators agree that Jesus did not call his friend "Satan." Instead, He recognized in Peter's brash words the devil's attempt to lure Him away from His purpose. This was nothing new: the same Tempter had used the same tactic in the wilderness, "If You are the Son of God, prove Yourself!" And Jesus' answer was the same, "Get out of here, Satan!"

The problem which led to the stern rebuke Peter received was that he was operating out of his natural inclinations. His forgetfulness or his carelessness or his excess of kindness was causing him to see things merely from a human point of view. Of course because we are human, we are going to see things from a human standpoint. But that should not be the only way to look at them. We do have to face the realities of life; we cannot escape difficulties by denying their existence. But to see them only as human problems which must be solved by human efforts is a dangerous trap. It makes us feel like our problem may be the end of the world as we know it! It makes us wonder if our struggle is worth it, or should we just admit defeat? It makes us forget to look for the purpose God may be working through what we are experiencing.

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (II Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Grace and Truth

"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 and truth." (John 1:14)

Many times I have read the poems or essays, "If Jesus Had Not Come." Much of the world's great art, music, and literature would not have been produced. Higher education would not have had its auspicious start. Fewer hospitals, nursing homes, and programs for the needy would exist. There might be mosques and temples, but there would be no Christian churches. Without the beneficial Gospel teachings of love and forgiveness, how far down might society sink?

But I have been thinking, what if Jesus had come only as the bearer of truth, without the accompanying grace? "God is love—sorry about your being on the outside." Suppose that the whole message of the New Testament was that of accusation? "You have transgressed the law of God, and He is really, really mad!"

How awful that would be! Enmeshed in our own selfishness and sin, truth alone would leave us hopeless. Jesus brought grace as well! He explained that indeed God is love, but He extends it to all, regardless of whether they are willing to receive it. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Grace opened the way for relationship with the Heavenly Father.

Jesus came to rescue us from futile attempts to satisfy an angry God. He explained things so simply for us: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind . . . Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Grace made the way for us to live at peace.

What a gift—grace and truth embodied in the Lord Jesus who came to show it to us! "We have seen his glory . . . grace and truth."

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

The Gospel According to . . . Whom?

For a long time, we read Oswald Chambers and Dwight L. Moody and E. M. Bounds for inspiration and spiritual instruction. These were really, really serious servants of Jesus Christ! It's with some frequency now that we read or hear a new "take" on what it really means to participate in the Kingdom of God. In 2000, Bruce Wilkinson's book, "The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life," inspired a host of derivatives: three versions written for children and one for women, a journal, a book of devotions, a Bible study, a musical "worship experience," and a wide array of official merchandise including key chains, mugs, backpacks, Christmas ornaments, scented candles, mouse pads, and jewelry.

Then in 2002, the Christian book world was taken by storm with Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life." This is it! Read this book as a 40-day personal spiritual journey and find God's five purposes for human life on earth! Discover the blueprint for Christian living in the 21st Century! And this year, Joel Osteen with "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential." It's not creating big waves, but I recently read, "Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative to a Purpose-Driven Life" by Mark Ellingsen, an open (though kindly) rebuttal—with some merit, I might add—of this decade's authors.

So who's right? Well, probably they all are.

What? Really? How could they all be right? Somebody has to be missing it, don't they, because they are all so different; Oswald Chambers and Rick Warren are just not in the same ballpark at all.

What we often fail to understand is that the truths of the Kingdom are like precious gems that catch the light in different ways as they are held one way and then another. Don't misunderstand me; there is but one way into the Kingdom of God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that one must be born into it. But how Kingdom life is lived out is as varied as the people who make up the Kingdom. No one can claim that he/she understands God best because they worship with "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Merciful and Mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!" The Christian is no less spiritual who chooses to sing, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You." It is a different facet of wonderful truth.

Jesus Himself exemplified balance in the Gospel message. One time He said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4) Another time He invited, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Different people, or the same people at different times, need to hear specific emphases which are different aspects of the same message. For hundreds of years, the Church has found balance through those whose teachings hold up into the light one certain thing or another one.

What an illuminated understanding of the Gospel can be ours if we are open to as many different understandings as are consistent with the Scripture!

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

E. G. R. People

We all have them—the people around us who are not really toxic and poison the surrounding atmosphere, but those who are just tiresome. There is
Extra Grace Required
when we deal with them. Perhaps they talk too much, or they always interrupt when you're busy, or their requests sound too much like demands. They may have only one topic to discuss: their children, or football, or the stock market, or their diet—whatever you’re not all that interested in. Or they ask about your children and team and investments and diet—things you don't really want to discuss. Maybe they always want a ride somewhere, or they have an annoying habit of pencil-tapping, or they snap the gum they're chewing. You get the idea. Unless you are a hermit and never see another person, you know just who in your life I am talking about. [What a strange picture that brings to my mind! A hermit in a cave who has a computer and reads blogs!]

With our advanced technologies, many photos are retouched so that people and places are not exactly as they appear. We'd be surprised, I'm sure, if we were to meet some celebrities or personally visit some scenes; they would be so different! In day-to-day contact all the "warts" of our fellow-humans' personalization are clearly visible.
Extra Grace Required
to get along with them!

Most of the references to grace in the New Testament are to the grace of God, the grace of Christ Jesus, and the Spirit of grace. A few places remind us that we also are to extend grace. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold [varied, many-sided] grace of God." (Ephesians 4:29; I Peter 4:6 NASB)

Certainly, when Christ called each of us to follow Him, there was
Extra Grace Required
that had already been freely given! Let's pass it on!

MaryMartha

Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible, used by permission of The Lockman Foundation, www.lockman.org

Living by Faith

Living by faith is not some mystical attainment achieved by a few super-spiritual folks who have "God in their pocket." It is a comforting, everyday reality—trusting in a God who cares and is accessible and is still in charge. Others have led the way for us.

"Each one of these people of faith . . .

Abel,
Enoch,
Noah,
Abraham and Sarah,
Isaac, Jacob, and
Joseph,
Moses,
The Israelites,
Rehab of Jericho,
Gideon, Barak, and
Samson,
Jephtha,
David,
Samuel,
The prophets

. . . died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home . . . You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them." (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Sometimes we can see a long way off what we are hoping to become. We get little glimpses of the persons we would be if only we did not have this problem or that weakness or some other hurting place in us. If only . . .

And then, sometimes we cannot see at all yet who we will become in God's order of things. Wait! He's saying something to you . . .

Perhaps you have not heard that often enough in your lifetime. Perhaps you have not had the confidence to say it to yourself. Believe that as you walk in faith with God, He is saying it to you!

So then, "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item . . ." (Hebrews 12:2, 3)

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus! You may enjoy reading "Trophies of Grace" [here].

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

A Disappointed God

It's hard for me to think about God being disappointed, but I believe that He is sometimes. Isn't He big enough to do what He wants and to have what He wants? Of course, He's big enough! But He is not a bully, forcing His way through the world and through our lives. He has chosen to limit Himself to the boundaries of our choice. This does not mean that He is ever taken by surprise; He knows who we are and how we will behave! Nevertheless, He persists in extending His love to all. How painful the rejection of us humans must be!

"For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.' " (Isaiah 57:15 NIV) That is God's desire and plan, to have relationship with us. All went well until Adam and Eve were no longer humble but wanted to be as smart as God. All their descendants, even until the present, have the same inclination.

In Noah's time, the Lord saw the terrible wickedness on the earth and the continually evil thoughts people had. He was grieved that he had placed humans on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain. Through many centuries, He called people to follow Him. In Jeremiah's time, He said through the prophet, “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, ‘I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols." (Jeremiah 2:20 NLT)

Jesus came, but "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him." (John 1:10, 11 NLT) To the Ephesian church, John was told to write, “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. . . You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first." (Revelation 2:2-5 NLT) The apostle Paul warned, "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:13, 14 NIV)

No, God does not always get what He wants—not in His ancient people, not in the Church, not in our homes and places of business, not in individual lives.

What can we do so God won't continue to be disappointed?

MaryMartha

Click on the title to read "Failure" or "When Jesus Cried".

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Safe Am I

"Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.
Shelter door, shelter door, in His love forevermore.
No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me,
For He keeps both day and night.
Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand."

The second line of that chorus, as you may remember, is not quite right, but that's how I heard it. The actual words? "Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er." For a long time, in Sunday School and vacation Bible school and youth rallies, I thought we were singing about Jesus, the door to peace and safety, i.e., shelter!

But I wasn't really all that wrong, was I? Jesus declared, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. . . Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. . . I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:1-2, 7, 9 NKJV) He is indeed my shelter door!

"Someone said to Him, 'Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?' And He said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, "Lord, open up to us!" then He will answer and say to you, "I do not know where you are from." ' " (Luke 13:23-25 NASB)

Having entered through the door, what privileges are ours! "Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door." (Psalm 91:9, 10 MSG) "And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise." (Romans 5:2 MSG)

"But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." (Psalm 73:28 NLT) My shelter door!

MaryMartha

Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved; marked NASB is from the New American Standard Bible, used by permission of The Lockman Foundation, www.lockman.org ; marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group; taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Conversation

I have a great idea!

What if we made laws for public discourse similar to our traffic laws? I stopped at several stop signs today, and did not proceed until no one else was on the road right at that corner. I also obeyed the red and green traffic lights that informed me when to stop and go. The other day at a four-way stop, each of the drivers waited with evident courtesy and caution until it was his/her turn. Now wouldn't it be unique among talkers if we were so observant of the conventions of polite conversation?

I am frustrated with people who are determined to out-talk others by their volume, their scary attitude, or their sheer wordiness. I would rather not be there at all than try to listen to them, even if they are not talking directly to me. (I have my personal list of grievous offenders, both individuals and groups, and you probably do as well.) They are not so much interested in conversation, an interchange of ideas and words, as they are in making their opinion absolute.

"There's nothing better than being wise, knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, and gives gentleness to words and manners." (Ecclesiastes 8:1)

"Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out." (Colossians 4:6)

"The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs—he starts out talking nonsense and ends up spouting insanity and evil." (Ecclesiastes 10:12)

Oh, about my great idea—I guess there already are some rules.

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Things Mama Taught Me: "If It Weren't for Grace . . . "

I remember my mother telling me with deep seriousness that without the intervening grace of God in our lives, any of us were capable of any sinful act, even the most awful crime. As a child, I wondered at that statement. I couldn't murder, could I, or commit a robbery or blaspheme God? Because I loved Jesus from a very early age, I just couldn't comprehend how darkened the human heart could become.

Many times, as an adult, I have taken comfort in the promise, "God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." A way out—that is just what I'm looking for, although I have learned that often the way out is through! However, as with many promises, there is something else to be considered. The preceding verses say, "These things happened to them [the Israelites wandering in the wilderness] as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience." (I Corinthians 10-13) Put in very simple terms, "If you think you are above certain base thoughts or wicked actions, think again. Your temptations are not made of different stuff than anyone else's; it's just that you have the grace of God to get you through it—if you'll avail yourself of it."

The first round of temptation for the Israelites was not all that remarkable. They were just barely out of Egypt; they hadn't even crossed the Red Sea yet. Pharaoh's army was pursuing them, and they became afraid—a pretty natural temptation, I think. But then, instead of asking God to help them through this terrifying situation, they began to blame Moses. "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!' " (Exodus 14:11, 12) Fear segued into anger and then bitterness. Look around you—or perhaps even within—and you will see how easily this happens. Bitterness turns into all kinds of terrible things, even atrocious crimes.

John Bradford, a sixteenth-century English reformer and martyr, witnessed a prisoner (prisoners, some accounts say) being led to execution and, realizing his own dependence on Divine mercy, said, "There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." His statement survives these hundreds of years later, quoted usually as "There . . . go I.") That's what my mother was telling me: Don't forget what you could have become—if it weren't for grace.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved

Info about Bradford: http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/John-Bradford/1/index.html

My Ebenezer

I have several favorite places at the country retreat where I have just spent a week. One is an open, grassy space near the lake. Three crosses on the other side stand in sharp contrast against the summer sky. How can I not worship?

Not far away, there is a "post rock," standing upright and alone, so-called because of its history. A thin layer of limestone (10-12" usually) lies near the earth's surface in the central part of the Smoky Hills region of Kansas. Early settlers found few trees here to construct fences and buildings, so they were forced to locate alternate materials. They soon discovered that blocks from this limestone bed suited their needs. Some of the fences they made are still standing, a hundred years or so later. With wood and steel now readily available for building fences, most of the "post rock" quarried today is used for decorative purposes. Like my "Ebenezer."

In the Old Testament, we are told of an attack the Philistines were planning against the children of Israel who were encamped at Mizpah. The Israelites were badly frightened and begged Samuel to intercede for them with God. While Samuel was sacrificing the appropriate burnt offering, the enemy approached to engage Israel in battle. But in answer to Samuel's prayer, the Lord thundered loudly and threw them into a panic. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them as they ran away. Then Samuel took a large stone and set it up near Mizpah. He named it Ebenezer (literally meaning, "stone of help") and declared, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." (See I Samuel 7:7-12)

On a number of occasions, I have paused by this particular post rock, embraced it, and called it "Ebenezer." It reminds me of how far I have come with God's help, and though there is still a long way to go, it assures me of His continued help.

"Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."
--from "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" by Robert Robinson, 1757

MaryMartha