Abundantly Pardoned

“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.

I don’t know about you, but I get after myself nearly everyday for not being more Christlike, for not being the Christian I believe God wants me to be. Paul said to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 13:11b, “Aim for perfection….” Note the first word: “aim.” You see, only Christ is perfect. No matter how hard we try to be just like Him, we will never be perfect, but we can “aim” for perfection. Imagine yourself as an arrow and the bullseye on the target is “perfection.” Are you going to hit the bullseye everytime? No. And even when you do hit the bullseye, it’s because of the power of Christ living and working in you and through you. We need to aim for the bullseye everyday, but we also need to remember we will never be perfect. If we were, we’d have no need for Jesus Christ.

Put my tears in Your bottle, Adding them to the other Tears of my brothers-and-sisters-in- Christ. Oh, Lord, do You ever uncork The bottle, Allowing the tears to pour down On us to offset spiritual Droughts, Or do You forever hold them In Your bottle to show Us Your ever-merciful Love and compassion? Lord, dear Lord, Bottle-up my tears.

“Make your way to the everlasting ruins, to all that the enemy has destroyed in the sanctuary.” (Psalm 74:3 Holman Christian Standard)

We need to ask ourselves: In what ways have people desecrated the church I attend? Has the holy been made unholy through words backed by Satan? How can the unholy be made holy again? How can that which has been ruined or destroyed be made alive and new again? We need to pray for resurrection of the sacred.

“Alone No More”

As the waves crashed and the wind blew,
And my boat tossed under me;
I saw someone in the driving rain,
Walking toward me on the sea.

With a loud shout I cried out
And the boat, it trembled hard;
I held on tight, prayed to see the light,
Prayed my life Dear God would guard.

And the storm raged and the sky lived
Like an angry cat broke free;
I saw someone poised on a wave
Before me on the sea.

With squinted eyes I peered and strived
To behold who ruled the waves;
I could not tell be it hea’en or hell,
But I prayed to God who saves.

As He walked fast and sweetly smiled
And His hand reached out to me,
I knew who came in the stormy night,
Walking toward me on the sea.

With a loud shout, I cried out,
And I scrambled from my boat;
I stood on the waves for the One who saves
As the wind tore off my coat.

I walked to Him and took His hand,
My troubles were no more;
He calmed the sea with just one word
And led me to the shore.

The sun shone bright, I saw the light
That day upon the shore;
The night had flown, but faith had grown,
I walked alone no more.