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Showing posts from May, 2015
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Who I Am Paul, the apostle, wrote passionately about his calling.  "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." - Acts 20:24 In the face of Paul's passion, I find myself being tempted to feel inadequate; to view myself as one who falls short. Maybe you've felt that way too. Maybe you've walked down the rocky hill of comparison to others; stumbled down its demanding slopes. But Paul didn't write this to make any of us feel "less than". He wasn't calling all of us to be world evangelists or apostles. I believe Paul's words were intended to inspire, not to discourage or dispirit. Paul's calling was so important to him, that he considered his life worthless if he didn't answer that calling. He had a hunger for purpose buried deep in his heart. Don't we all? So, what is your calling? What has G
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  Lavished In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight - Eph 1:7,8 In God's eyes there are no poor investments. What we might consider a waste of time, He considers a project worth undertaking. The lost causes of society are found by Him. He travels too far to find the too far gone. God's idea of what is worthwhile goes far beyond our understanding and perspective. What God lavishes His grace on sometimes shocks us. And I think that is on purpose; God's in it for the shock-and-awe. In our minds, pouring out precious blood for a repeat offender seems foolish. "Why," our minds question, "would God shower love, grace, and forgiveness on that person knowing they will soon be back in the muck of their stubbornness, addiction, and self-destructive behavior?" It causes our frugal and return on investment mentalities to balk at
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Thinking about Heaven The thought of Heaven can be a pretty scary thought for many people. What shall we do for all eternity; forever and then forever and then again forever, forever? Will we miss the wonder of a new born baby, or the sweet smell of the first warm spring day? Will we be bored? Will there ever come a day, maybe 48,000 years down the golden road when we think to ourselves, "OK, this is a bit much, I need a change"? These very real questions may have entered your thoughts as scary considerations. You're not alone if the thought of forever is daunting to you. But would you try, for just a minute, to ask God to fill your thoughts with the wildness of what heaven may look like? And then let your mind run uninhibited. Like this for example, a thought I had while thinking about heaven recently. As I was thinking about the importance of our lives here on earth, (and yes, your life is more important than you know), I thought about heaven being a place whe