Pearl of Great Price

I’ve come to believe that in the core of who I am, the ‘me’ that God originally made is still incredibly special and wonderful. I am fearfully and wonderfully made says the Psalmist—despite the fact that I have fallen short of God’s glory, His original plan for my life. God’s original intent was for me to be incredibly special and unique AND attached to God. Somewhere along the line that attachment was severed and my specialness lost its luster. So much so that there is nothing I can do on my own to fix the problem or work my way back into relationship with God. 

Thus enters Jesus, God’s uniquely begotten Son.

What Jesus has done for me and is continually doing is restoring me to the original ‘me’ that God intended which in essence actually becomes a ‘we’ as my spirit has become one with His Spirit.

I may not deserve His love, but I am worth it! God has and will always value each of us individually. 

How much value do we possess?

Let’s put it this way—if you were to lose something that was precious to you, we would know how much value it has based on how much you would be willing to pay to get it back!

How much was God willing to pay for you?

Freedom

Our greatest loss as Christians will not be the loss of religious freedom. The truth is nobody can take away your freedom to worship.

Nobody!

Rather our greatest loss will be that we would come to believe that such a loss is even possible and so surrender our freedom.

Resist capitulating to status quo, human laws and godless reasoning. Our Christian brothers and sisters are persecuted and slaughtered every day for their submission and love of Yeshua. We can be assured they're experiencing more freedom than those of us who barely face persecution.

Submit to God, know the truth and be truly free.

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Scriptures to Pray About

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:1 -AND- 5:22-25

Averted Calamity

"And God relented from the calamity that He said He would do... "

Exodus 32:14, Jonah 3:10, Jeremiah 18:8

Such an intriguing phrase that was repeated enough throughout Biblical history that may in fact imply a Divine habit!

Peter said God is not willing that any perish (eternally) but that all should come to repentance. Jesus reminded us that God desires mercy not sacrifice. Jesus challenged us to go and learn what this means and said He came to save not the righteous but sinners.

I would imagine the best way to go and learn the meaning of this phrase would be for me to go and make a habit of showing mercy rather than insisting on getting what is justly owed to me.

I think there is still so much I do not fully grasp concerning the ways God's mercy continually overrides justice. I'm far less sure that God is as predictable as I had once thought in favor of scandalous grace.

May I be just as unpredictably scandalous.

Divine Memo

There are some in our world who have missed the Divine memo concerning God's love and forgiveness through our Savior Jesus. They are stuck on an old track of fear, judgment and wrath not reaIizing they themselves may be judged by their own merciless standard one day. I do not blame them. In fact, I feel sorry for them that they do not comprehend love, joy and peace.

My prayer is that God will grant me supernatural courage, peace and love that I may bless these ones in His name should such a one come knocking on my door, with their sacred text or even a weapon in hand!

Be merciful that your Father in Heaven may be merciful to you. Pray for your enemies and bless them. Bless and do not curse them.

Graven Images

Even a Biblical view of God can be idolatrous if it does not allow for God Himself to correct our so-called Biblical interpretation of who we believe Him to be. Never fall into the trap of believing you've got Him completely figured out.

God is not just an idea. He's a Someone.

God may be the same today, yesterday and forever but my understanding of who I hold Him to be in my heart continually expands and grows as I encounter Him in ways I never did before.

Blessings & Curses

A while ago I had a jarring reality-check,

"You keep wanting your President and other leaders to do well yet in your judgmental disgust at their failings you regularly curse them from your heart. How could you ever expect them to improve if you continually curse them?

Forgive them.

Bless them.

Trust me."

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (1 Tim 2:1-2)... Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them (Rom 12:14).