God's Mercy and Grace -- will I do likewise?

It's a beautiful Sunday. I was challenged at worship this morning with Jesus' words in Luke 6. How counter-cultural is the call to be a disciple: to display forgiveness when vengeance seems reasonable; to give with no thought or expectation of repayment; to show compassion when condemnation seems normal. By following Jesus' "call to action" . . .you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:35,36 ESV)
Wow! How often do I depend upon God's unconditional love to me, when I am ungrateful. I so depend upon God's mercy, and I certainly don't deserve it. My mandate, as a Jesus-follower, is to display mercy to those who don't deserve mercy; to be kind to the ungrateful (even amongst my family members) and the wicked.
In case I somehow can ever feel that these words do not apply to me (because I'd rather look at the speck in your eye than the log in my own eye) this scathing question must be answered:
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46 ESV)

I'm including a "commissioning" from Beth Moore, given during her recent Living Proof Live conference in Omaha, NE. It's from Philippians 4:4-13

Beloved, in the Name of Jesus

I commission you

To rejoice in the Lord always

And again I say rejoice.

Stop worrying about everything!

Dump your anxiety

And start praying like mad.

Start thinking about

What you're thinking about!

Start feeding your spirit

And stop feeding your flesh.

Never forget the true Secret:

Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

You, Dear One, have the supernatural CAN DO!

Now, believe God

And turn your CAN DO

Into WILL DO!

You are NOT a wimp.You are a warrior.

In the Name and power of Christ

Go out there and act like one.

Precious God, thank You for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit! I can do all things [those things God has called me to do] through Christ, Who gives me strength! (from Philippians 2:13)

Ever aware of what I'm saying when I call Him Lord,

Mama Bev

Finishing Well

I have recently (within the past month) said good-bye to two of my faithful "prayer warriors" who have since gone on to glory. Archie (85) has prayed faithfully for me and my family since 1976, and Aunt Dorothy and her "prayer team" have lifted us before the throne for numerous years. The sense of loss I feel is not just for the end of conversations and stories; but I greatly will miss the comfort of knowing that there are "someones" who are praying for me and for the ones I love.
This "greatest generation" as Tom Brokaw so aptly calls them, is gradually passing from this earthly scene, as they have ". . .served God's purpose in [their] generation. . ." (from the book of Acts, chapter 13, verse 36). They understood commitment, even long-term commitment, and sacrifice, in prayer, in service, in work, in family. Who will pick up the baton, and continue the race of joining God in His work?
By God's grace, and through the strength of the Holy Spirit, I want to pick up that baton! Our world, the church in this generation, need faithful prayer; I want the privilege of watching God at work in our world. I look forward to the strengthening of my faith as I exercise the "prayer muscles." Please, God, give me the perseverance and hope and faithfulness to uphold those You give me in prayer. Help me not to drop the baton and quit the race before You say I've crossed the finish line. Thank you for the immense privilege of serving You in this way.

I want to close with a poem that Archie wrote some years ago --

When Loved Ones Leave

When facing death's dark hour,

and you can't let them go --

when you'll be left alone

and your spirit is low,

Then quiet be to God's still voice,

"My child, my child, this is My choice --

Trust Me."

When the days pass so slowly,

and you don't know what to do --

find someone whom you can help;

let them see God's strength in you,

and find God's peace -- in Him rejoice

in His still voice, "This is My choice --

Trust me."

- Archie Cumings

Milestones

The month of May. . .and June. . .and summer
graduations
anniversaries
closing programs

I think these times cause me to "stop and think" even more than the beginning of the year (you know, that whole 'resolutions' period). As I read graduation announcements and "class mottos," receive wedding invitations and share in anniversary memories, I can't help but think about what God has done and is doing in my life. How will I spend the future milestones, if God allows there to be any more?

Once again, the Puritans put my thoughts into their words. Hear the updated version of this meditation from "The Valley of Vision"

Christ Alone

O God, Your main plan and Your ultimate will

is to make Christ glorious and beloved

in heaven where He is now ascended,

where one day all the elect will behold His glory

and love and glorify Him forever.

Though here on earth I love Him a little,

I look forward to loving Him completely!

In this world You have given me a beginning of loving Christ,

one day it will be perfected in heaven.

You, God, have helped me to see and know Christ,

though obscurely,

to take Him, receive Him,

to possess Him, love Him,

to bless Him in my heart, my mouth, my life.

Please let me study and stand for discipline,

and all the ways of worship,

out of love for Christ;

and to show my thankfulness to Him;

to seek and know God's will from love,

to do God's will in love,

and daily to care for and keep this attitude.

You have led me to place all my nature and happiness

in oneness with Christ,

in having my heart and mind centered only on Him,

in being like Him in doing good to others;

This is my heaven on earth.

But, God, I need the force, energy, impulses of Your Holy Spirit

to carry me on the way to my Jerusalem.

Here on earth, it is my duty and privilege

to be as Christ in this world,

to do what He would do,

to live as He would live,

to walk in love and humility,

so that Christ would be known and loved and worshiped.

Then, I could die in peace.

What a worthwhile mission! What a lifetime goal!

Freedom to run

It is good to be writing again. Though my hands were slowed by illness and fatigue, God has continued to renew and challenge my mind and my heart. When He says ". . .I know the plans I have for you. . ." in Jeremiah, I believe those "plans" include illness, fatigue, isolation, confinement, as well as the more obvious plans of career, children, marriage, location.

Psalm 119 has become my prayer book, my personal "cry to the Lord." I so long to have a passion for God's Word and His ways that the psalmist had. I was recently meditating on these verses "Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments [for you set my heart free]." Psalm 119:29-32 ESV

Put false ways (anything contrary to God and His Word) far from me. . .what false ways do I bring near to me that I need to "put far?" feelings of invisibility? lack of usefulness? discontent with illness or disability or restriction? I want to get rid of the false and only think God's thoughts about me. . .

. . .graciously teach me Your law. . . God is so patient! He goes over and over His truth with me until I get it! How quickly do I want to give up on others who "don't get it?" Am I willing to graciously share God's truth in the same fashion that He is gracious with me?

I have chosen the way of faithfulness. . .ah, here comes the matter of the will. Yes, I don't just stumble onto living God's way; I make a choice, and every choice I make has an impact.

I set your rules before me . . . keeping God's rules ever before me certainly helps me make right choices. When I'm not in God's Word and in communication with Him, it's easy for me to choose my own way, and forget Who is truly in charge of my life.

I cling to your testimonies . . . "stick like glue" is the word picture that comes to mind. Is God and His Word the first place I run when I need wisdom, comfort, discernment?

I will run in the way of your commandments . . .when you were a child did you love to run in the fields? I would run through the grape vineyard. The smells in the summer were grand, and there were delicious Thompson seedless as a reward when I tuckered out. However, it was foolish for me to run through the vineyard until I had laid out a path unobstructed by protruding roots and gopher holes. As long as I stayed on the path, I could lift my eyes to the sky and pretend I was flying. Staying on God's path of His Word allows us to run free, and enjoy this life He has graciously given. It's when we choose to leave the path that we risk tripping over roots of bitterness, and twisting ankles on holes of doubt and unbelief.

. . .when you set my heart free. . . I want my heart set free. Thank you, precious God, for setting my heart free from bitterness, unforgiveness, criticism, self-righteousness. Please continue to do Your grand work in my life!