“You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Jesus – John 15:16a You know the kid on every playground who’s always chosen last? That was me. I could run fast, but my hand-to-eye coordination stunk. That meant being a sought after team mate for a game of pick-up basketball was out of the question. […]
I don’t do a lot of re-posting but with David’s permission I wanted to share this excellent post about God’s choosing us for His team. So many of us can identify with the way David says that God includes us all – just in different ways as long as our heart is on His team. I am also adding a very special rendition of Just As I Am by the Mullett Family. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday and enjoy both of these reminders of God’s amazing love and great grace!
Sometimes advice is tough to take because what is being suggested seems really hard (or even impossible) to do. So when Barbara of My Life in Our Father’s World asked if I couldn’t write music for a poem I posted last week I thanked her for the idea but inwardly just shrugged it off. But somehow I knew my impulse was wrong on a number of levels so I began to pray and ask God if He had something more in mind than I did…(Dumb question!) You see the real issue was that the reality behind the words to this poem, now turned song, is a very painful one. I had been in five different places in three different states by the time first grade came along. My younger sister and I moved so often that it was hard to remember our phone number (No cell phones back then). But all through the avalanche of changes, God was watching and waiting for me to find in Him the home that He had prepared. And though the scars of that time remain, I can truthfully say how glad I am to know Jesus in a unique way because of that journey. I pray you will be blessed as you listen. For anyone struggling with some of those same issues I pray that you truly find that home Jesus promised when He said.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3 ESV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. .. Ephesians 4:29
Harsh accusations, slander and insults without regard for their consequences have been burning down relationships in our communities like a forest fire. Though of all people, we who are Christians should know better, we are sometimes the source instead of the solution to this catastrophe. God not only forbids us from engaging in such evil kinds of speech but He has called us to bring His reconciliation not condemnation to our neighbors. When the Ephesians were struggling with the same problem, the Apostle Paul shows them the way out and the blessings that God instead had in mind.
Not a month goes by but somewhere in our country the grocery stores are forced to recall a product because of the danger of food poisoning. This verse is like God’s recall notice about our poisoned speech and its consequent actions. But simply silencing anger and slander would be like closing down the supermarkets because of some bad lettuce. People still need eat!
So instead of silence we need to begin with healthy words. But when we start saying things that are good and helpful it is like popping a chocolate cake into the oven. We still need to follow the cook book’s instructions and wait an hour until it’s baked!
For me the hardest part in the baking process is right after the cake comes out of the oven. I want to cut a big slice, pour a glass of milk and dig in. But that is never how things work at our house. “Honey we’re going to have to wait for it to cool first so I can frost it.” My wife always tells me with a smile! She wants everything to be finished before we enjoy the delicious result of her work. God also insists that our new way of speaking to and treating one another be covered by a sweet layer of forgiveness. Remembering all Jesus did so we can sit down at His table of grace requires some cooling down time. That way the frosting of mercy won’t just melt and run off but will stick us together in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Have a great day everybody. Maybe you’d like to just put your feet up with some coffee and cake and listen to the Cedarmont Kids reminding us this morning to be careful of all we say!
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