Abundantly Pardoned

Near the end of the movie “Men In Black 2,” Tommy Lee Jones’ character says, “We are who we are, even if we sometimes forget.” I immediately grabbed pen and paper as I do sometimes when watching a movie. After all, sometimes the characters will say something that makes you go, “Wow……” As in this case…I wowed…. 1 John 3:1 a&b tells us, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Yes, we are children of God, and He lavished His love on us by allowing His Son to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life. Many people on this planet won’t love us, and the actions of many will make us feel as if we aren’t loved. At times like those we forget who we are. We are who we are: God’s children. We are loved.

“My Dancing Family”

I come from a dancing family: my grandmother dancing in her livingroom, my grandfather doing “The Barnyard Shuffle,” my mom dancing to “American Bandstand,” my father doing “the Bath Towel” to make us laugh, my brother dancing top hat and tails for a junior high production, yours’ truly in childhood ballet, “The Twist” and “The Mashed Potatoes” at sock hops and dancing right into my now nearly 55 years of age whenever the mood hits me. My favorite family dance story is the one about my dad. Seems when he was young he was doing “The Jitterbug” with some young lady. Now, in the Jitterbug the man takes his dance partner, tosses her under his legs, lifts a leg over her so he can whirl around and pull her to her feet. Trouble was, my dad accidentally let go of her, thereby causing her to slide across the dance floor by herself. Oh, how I wish I could travel through time! There’s a song about the Lord that goes, “Oh, no, You never let go….” No matter what we go through in our lives, whether JItterbug or crisis, He is holding on to us!

One of the radio stations I love listening to is one that plays oldies from the 50’s and 60’s. There is one song that goes, “Talk is cheap, people follow like sheep.” Boy, isn’t that the truth? People will drop everything to follow that which is cheap or easy. Following Christ takes a lot of work, but oh, the joy it brings! This little lamb works hard to follow close on His heels, grabbing at the hem of His robe and overjoyed that He uses His staff to comfort me by beating off the wolves. Yes, talk is cheap, but Jesus is our treasure.

There’s an album out by a Christian artist, and it’s called, “Trying To Fit the Ocean In a Cup.” I realized that’s what I’m trying to do. My heart breaks for every lost and hurting soul, but I can’t reach them all. That’s like trying to fit the ocean in a cup. Only God can reach them all. I’ll just make sure my cup overflows with Christ’s compassion and love for people He brings into my life.

Matt. 9:36 (NIV): “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

I love reading scripture in the NKJV, NIV, Amplified Version and The Message. Reading different versions opens facets to jewels that sometimes lurk in corners from me. This morning I discovered Matthew 11: 28-30 and Mark 6:31 in The Message Bible:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” And in Mark: “‘Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.’ For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.’”

“Unforced rhythms of grace.” Don’t ya love it? Nothing from our Lord is ever forced. The rhythms of grace flow out to us at all times, but we’re too busy to slow down and get with the rhythm. Let’s see how the Amplified Bible expresses Matt. 11:28-30:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” Oh, what lovely descriptions: “ease, relieve and refresh your souls”; “meek” and “lowly”; “relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet.” I love those last two words: BLESSED QUIET!!! Amen! Only in Jesus. Comfortable, gracious and pleasant time with Jesus!

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12 NKJV)

Does that description sound familiar? Lawlessness abounding and love growing cold. That verse is a description of end times. We see it around us everyday, and deep, down inside, we know it’s going to get worse. So what keeps us from getting depressed? What keeps us from giving up and throwing in the towel? Our Lord Jesus Christ and the assurance of our salvation. The one who died for us will lift us up over the hatred, over the violence, over the desperation that surrounds us. Dear brothers and sisters, our hope is in the Lord!

It matters not

If the world has heard

Or approves or understands…

The only applause

We’re meant to seek

Is that of nail-scarred hands.

-BJ Hoff-

Guided by the Spirit, I am. Guided by the Spirit, I do. Guided by the Spirit, I show. Guided by the Spirit, I know. Guided by the Spirit, I grow. Guided by the Spirit, I go. Guided by the Spirit, I find. Guided by the Spirit, I release. Guided by the Spirit, I become. Guided by the Spirit, I live. Not on my own.