It's pretty clear what God wants to teach me these last couple of days and weeks. This whole notion of what Grace truly means are surrounding me (my thoughts, sermons, songs, scripture). You know that scene in Bruce Almighty... when Jim Carrey is sending Jennifer Aniston all these signals to make her love him? I feel like God is sending along pretty obvious signs and signals that are pointing me towards His Grace. What do I need to learn? Where do I begin? How can I practically apply Grace to my life? hmmm... so "I" centered I must say. What does God want me to see, learn and experience? in order that I may share this truth to others that I meet? in Indonesia and beyond...
Grace is an undeserving gift. It is not "an undeserved gift, because the gift is given to us continually (or at least it's offered... it's a matter of accepting and being a beneficiary from the ultimate Benefactor). I've been listening to Dr. John Piper's sermons on my way to the office and gaining some insight on what it means to live in Future Grace (I'm taking this book with me to Indonesia to learn more about Future Grace)... I'm still boggled by some of the things Dr. Piper speaks about (ie. Debtor's Ethic) and how to practically live day-to-day (daily grind of things) under His Grace. I thought I'd learned it all... but I guess living it out is more difficult than I have ever imagined. Not relying on my own skills, my own strength, my own power is harder and more difficult than I ever imagined. It leaves us paralyzed and unable to proceed ahead, binding us to leave us completely at His mercy... for Him to do whatever; whenever...
I guess when we realize our need, recognize our sin (our lack of acknowledging God)... He gives us clear direction as to what He wants us to do. This is a scary notion, because it means giving up the things that are easy and do-able (with our own strength) and taking on something that is beyond ourselves... in order that He alone take the glory! What an awesome, yet terrifying thing :0
When He gives us clear guidance and direction of where He wants us to go and do, then we respond and obey accordingly. I guess that's when our own strength and skills come into play? As long as we acknowledge that God is the one that has blessed us with those skills and gifts in the first place... Why is it that I know these things, yet have to be reminded time and time again? I guess in each circumstance and lifestage (especially as we get older and more set in our ways), the lessons are guised in a different light and God is creative enough to shape those lessons that need to be learned and lived out (so that we can be an effective witness) in a different way...
I'm in kind of a weird place right now... since I'm surrounded by missions, missionaries, Christians... it's been really difficult to be aware of what God is doing (sounds a bit ironic doesn't it). Two years working in a Christian environment, hanging around other believers, going to a Christian school and so on and so forth... it's just been really difficult in various ways to recognize the "realities" of the world that we live in and bring others "further up and further in" (as C.S. Lewis would say) under the umbrella and power of His Grace... Whoah... I can go on writing on and on about this... but it's pretty boring, so I'll just stop now. I used to be simpler... I don't know what happened to me... ;)
J
Grace is an undeserving gift. It is not "an undeserved gift, because the gift is given to us continually (or at least it's offered... it's a matter of accepting and being a beneficiary from the ultimate Benefactor). I've been listening to Dr. John Piper's sermons on my way to the office and gaining some insight on what it means to live in Future Grace (I'm taking this book with me to Indonesia to learn more about Future Grace)... I'm still boggled by some of the things Dr. Piper speaks about (ie. Debtor's Ethic) and how to practically live day-to-day (daily grind of things) under His Grace. I thought I'd learned it all... but I guess living it out is more difficult than I have ever imagined. Not relying on my own skills, my own strength, my own power is harder and more difficult than I ever imagined. It leaves us paralyzed and unable to proceed ahead, binding us to leave us completely at His mercy... for Him to do whatever; whenever...
I guess when we realize our need, recognize our sin (our lack of acknowledging God)... He gives us clear direction as to what He wants us to do. This is a scary notion, because it means giving up the things that are easy and do-able (with our own strength) and taking on something that is beyond ourselves... in order that He alone take the glory! What an awesome, yet terrifying thing :0
When He gives us clear guidance and direction of where He wants us to go and do, then we respond and obey accordingly. I guess that's when our own strength and skills come into play? As long as we acknowledge that God is the one that has blessed us with those skills and gifts in the first place... Why is it that I know these things, yet have to be reminded time and time again? I guess in each circumstance and lifestage (especially as we get older and more set in our ways), the lessons are guised in a different light and God is creative enough to shape those lessons that need to be learned and lived out (so that we can be an effective witness) in a different way...
I'm in kind of a weird place right now... since I'm surrounded by missions, missionaries, Christians... it's been really difficult to be aware of what God is doing (sounds a bit ironic doesn't it). Two years working in a Christian environment, hanging around other believers, going to a Christian school and so on and so forth... it's just been really difficult in various ways to recognize the "realities" of the world that we live in and bring others "further up and further in" (as C.S. Lewis would say) under the umbrella and power of His Grace... Whoah... I can go on writing on and on about this... but it's pretty boring, so I'll just stop now. I used to be simpler... I don't know what happened to me... ;)
J
posted by Jess at 2:18 p.m.
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