Monday, September 15, 2008

An Unfinished Picture



I read a devotional today and wanted to share it with you in a Lonna paraphrase. It relates to our faith walk and the refining process that takes place within that walk. The devotion and accompanying scripture reminded me today that each one of us is a “work in progress”. Or as Ruth Graham Bell put it so beautifully, "We are under construction. Thank you for your patience."

We resemble a half painted canvas though we often times feel like we are a blank canvas with no direction. The Artist patiently continues to invest in us until He decides the work is finished. We know, that each of us will not be complete until the day we reach glory, but what a privilege it is to be on this journey and to receive the Artist’s finishing touches on the canvas of our lives.

Jude 1:20-25

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”

May you feel the stroke of the Creators brush on your life today.

Monday, September 1, 2008

A Goat in My House?

Here is a story of a goat named Billy. Actually his full name is Billy the Kid, he can thank Kevin for that ingenious title!

I was on the phone today with a Pastor from India. We were having a serious conversation about our upcoming outreach project in Mumbai in October. While in deep conversation with him I saw something odd run past the doorway. It was bigger than our cat yet smaller than one of our horses. It wasn't until I saw Gracie run fter this object yelling "Get back here Billy" that I completely understood the situation and "what" the running object had been. Billy had pushed his way into the house (at leat that is the story I was told by Grace) and was having a hay day exploring this vast new land. I was stumlbing for words to explain to the Pastor as I was trying to muffle the phone to yell at Grace to "CATCH THATGOAT". It was pandemonium! Billy finally ran to where I was, exhausted and lost. He was shaking with fear and my anger quickly turned to compassion. What I percieved as a "joy ride" was really a "I'm lost and can't find my way back home".

It reminds me of the perpetual state many people live in these days. On the outside it looks like they have the world by the tail, but if they stop long enough for you to get a good look at their heart, you find someone scared and lost. God has crossed my path with a few such people this summer. People empty by their longing for love or confused over their lack of happiness when everything around them tells them they've got it all. I have even spoken with some friends who are believers, yet don't know what it feels like to live in the joy of the Lord.

My encounter with Billy today was a sad reminder of the state of the human heart. Scared, confused, empty... Is there an answer? As your friend, I can honestly tell you there is only one answer. That answer is Jesus. It's not in a church pew, or a Bible study group, or even at the feet of a Pastor. Though those things are good and can help you to grow in your faith walk. They are not THE answer. The answer is in a deep, personal, and committed relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the fullness and embodiment of everything we need to make our life fullfilling and complete.

So friend if your feeling like Billy today, not sure of where you are or where you are going, I encourage you to cry out to the Savior, Jesus. He is waiting to take your hand and lead you into His throne room of grace and love. Believe me, that is one JOY ride you will never want to come to an end.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us...
Hebrews 6:18-20 The Message