A Cardboard Box

A church without forgiveness

is like a cardboard box;

very handy and useful,

able to contain a variety of things,

lightweight and versatile,

yet durable and resilient…

…until it gets wet.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood,

the forgiveness of our trespasses,

according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”

~Ephesians 1:7,8

“So, as those who have been chosen of God,

holy and beloved,

put on a heart of compassion, kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another

and forgiving each other,

 whoever has a complaint against anyone;

just as the Lord forgave you,

so also should you.”

~Colossians 3:12,13

Fun and Games until...

It’s all fun and games

until somebody gets hurt.

We’re not just talking about running with scissors;

We’re talking about all of life.

What an awesome gift, this thing called forgiveness!

Crisis:

providing

opportunity

for

forgiveness
since the beginning
of time!

 “If we confess our sins,

He is faithful

and just

to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

~I John 1:9

“Therefore,

confess your sins to one another

and pray for one another,

that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person

has great power

as it is working.”

~James 5:16

 “Be kind to one another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

as God in Christ forgave you.”

~Ephesians 4:32

Innocence

*Guest Post... by Grace Eldridge

I saw wide dark eyes when I opened the door. I had expected her to be asleep.

“G’morning little girl.” I took care not to talk too loudly or startle her.

“Hi Adie Gace.” She spoke in a barley audible whisper.

My little two-year-old niece slowly stood up and, when I held out my hands, stepped between them and waited to be lifted. She stood there, looking so small and also so trusting. How sweet is innocence! I didn’t have to pick her up. I could even strike her down, but she didn’t know that.

This little one wouldn't understand the sudden pain that blurred my vision. Sharp, cold pain. Pain for other little children who have felt things that innocence has not. Having just started to grow out of childhood myself, I am just beginning to understand what it is. The marring and distortion of childhood innocence is, by far, the hardest thing for me to forgive.

It seems that there are so many children who don’t have a true mother or father, or anyone else who would know them or their importance. In reality, every child, innocent or seemingly otherwise, has a Father who will teach them innocence. He, also, is stronger than I, and can forgive the ones who have so wronged his little children.

Naval-Gazing

My father-in-law has been known to comment,

“She’s too busy examining her own belly button.”

To my surprise,

I discovered that my thesaurus includes the term,

“navel-gazing”

as a suitable replacement for the more socially acceptable

“introspection”.                                                                       

Forgiveness is one of God’s most precious gift to us.

Isn’t it interesting that the most difficult person for me to forgive

is myself.

It is in the midst of these experiences

that introspection (for the purpose of self-awareness)

can rapidly spiral downward into self-indulgence (self-focus).

God is not willing that I should take up residence

in this frame of mind.

His promises are true

and He is completely trustworthy.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God

which was given you in Christ Jesus,

that in everything you were enriched in Him,

in all speech and all knowledge,

even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,

so that you are not lacking in any gift,

awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who will also confirm you to the end,

blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

God is faithful,

through whom you were called into fellowship

with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

~I Corinthians 1:4-9

Hard Things

“A friend told me some hard things today. I cried, openly.  I wondered at a friend’s ability to say something hurtful without finding any joy in doing so.  In that being willing to say the hard things is an act of friendship that most friends would definitely avoid. “
 ~Kira

“Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness and smiles that hide our pain? What if the invitation's open to every heart that has been broken? Maybe then we'll close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.”

~Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crowns

“Learn this lesson: Not to trust Christ because you repent, but trust Christ to make you repent; not to come to Christ because you have a broken heart, but to come to Him that He may give you a broken heart; not to come to Him because you are fit to come, but to come to Him because you are unfit to come. Your fitness is your unfitness. Your qualification is your lack of qualification.”

~C.H. Spurgeon

Word of God Speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

…I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

~MercyMe

“They cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and He brought them out of their distresses.

He caused the storm to be still,

so that the waves of the sea were hushed.

"Then they were glad because they were quiet,

so He guided them to their desired haven.

"Let them give thanks to the Lord

for His lovingkindness…”

~Psalm 107:28-31

I Do

He speaks to me;

His still, small voice

says, “Come to Me”.

There is no choice.

I MUST

I try to do,

I strive to be.

It’s not enough;

I am not free.

I CANNOT

I long to feel

His embrace,

to hear His voice,

to see His face.

I DESIRE

I am alone,

broken and bare.

I cry to Him,

He strokes my hair.

I CAST

All that I am

is Christ in me;

the Hope of Glory

set me free!

I DO

Jesus ~ Mediator

Mediator:

“For there is one God,

and one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus…”

~I Timothy 2:5

Mediator:  someone who intervenes between two parties

                to resolve a conflict or ratify a covenant.

“Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant,

so that those who are called

may receive the promised eternal inheritance,

since a death has occurred

that redeems them from the transgressions

committed under the first covenant. 

For where a will is involved,

the death of the one who made it must be established. 

For a will only takes effect only at death,

since it is not in force

as long as the one who made it is alive. 

Therefore not even the first covenant

was inaugurated without blood.” 

~Hebrews 9:15-18

“You have come… to Jesus,

the mediator of a new covenant,

and to the sprinkled blood

that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

~Hebrews 12:22,24

After reading through these Scriptures and typing them out,

I went to bed for the night.

Soon, I began dreaming that I was in a courtroom

filled with witnesses of my every sin;
every witness was Jesus.

The voice of Jesus called the session to order;

He was the Judge presiding over the hearing.

Then He stepped down from His place

and began to walk to and fro in the front of the courtroom.

Proclaiming Himself as the Lawgiver,

His gaze fixed upon me as he read the Books of the Law

which He had written.

When all was declared, I felt numb,

unable to utter a single word on my own behalf.

Jesus began speaking as my attorney,

standing in my defense.

Then He methodically declared my deeds as His own.

He presented, as evidence to the court, the scars in his wrists.

He removed his white cloak

and draped it over my shoulders.

I watched as they took Him away

instead of me.

How could Jesus be the Judge, the Lawgiver,

the Mediator and the Witness all at once?

How could He step down

from each and all of these powers to rule?

How could He take my death sentence upon Himself?

He is God.

 “For I am convinced

that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor principalities,

nor things present nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height nor depth,

nor any other created thing

will be able to separate us

from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

~Romans 8:38,39

Jesus ~ Horn of Salvation

Horn of Salvation:

“And has raised up

a horn of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David.”

~ Luke 1:69

The ancient Hawaiian people

were under the thumb of aggressive authoritarian rule.

The chief and all of his wealth and possessions

were protected and deemed untouchable;

the locals were even forbidden to walk in his footsteps

or cast shadows upon the royal grounds.

Violating this sacred kapu

would surely anger the gods;

such action was punishable by immediate death.

The criminal would take off running,

hopefully faster than his many pursuers,

until he came to a pu’uhonua, or place of refuge,

where he could be pardoned by a kahuna, or priest,

by way of a purification ceremony.

He was free to function, once again, in society,

just as if he had never broken kapu.

“The Lord is my rock

and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

my shield and

the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold.”

~Psalm 18:2

“’The horn of Moab has been cut off

 and his arm broken,’ declares the Lord.”

~Jeremiah 48:25

“…He will give strength to his kind,

and will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

~I Samuel 2:10

Horns represent strength and power.

“And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose,

went and took hold of the horns of the altar.”

~I Kings 1:50

“And Joab fled to the tent of the Lord

and took hold of the horns of the altar.”

~I Kings 2:28

The horns located at the four corners of the altar

signified refuge and safety;

those who grasped these horns

were considered to be under the protection of the Lord.

Zacharias prophesied (Luke 1:69) that

Jesus Christ came to earth

to replace the horns of the altar.

Jesus, the Mighty Redeemer,

the Horn of Salvation,

is able to save.

Those who run to Him shall find refuge.

On Our Behalf

When Daniel prayed for his people,

he was honest and forthright.

As he recounted the “desolations” of the people

before God,

he included himself in the masses; a commoner.

He had not been worshiping other gods,

nor did he participate

in the activities of godless pleasure

which were common among his peers.

In comparison to many of his day,

he likely was considered to be

a “good” man.

Yet what are comparisons

within the realm of humanity

in respect to Almighty God?

Daniel was not only willing

to lay bare his own imperfect heart,

but to acknowledge the heart of mankind as well;

fallen and without hope

apart from God.

As I cry out to the Lord

on behalf of my friends,

I desire to pray as Daniel prayed;

not on account of any merits of my own,

but on account of God great compassion

for them

…and for me.

 “So now, our God,

listen to the prayer of Your servant

and to his supplications,

and for Your sake, O Lord,

let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary…

O my God,

incline Your ear and hear!

Open Your eyes and see our desolations…

Desolation:  Misery, Despair, Wretchedness, Barrenness, Emptiness,

“…and the city which is called by Your name;

for we are not presenting our supplications before You…

Supplication:  Prayer, Appeal, Request, Plea

“…on account of any merits of our own,

but on account of Your great compassion.

O Lord, hear!

O Lord, forgive!

O Lord, listen and take action!

For Your own sake, O my God,

do not delay,

because Your city and Your people

are called by Your name.”

~Daniel 9:18,19

An Attractive Resistance

A delightfully steamy aroma ascends

Mmmmm…  so delicious!

Hands reach cautiously

tapping ever so gently

against the sides of the cup

Hot!... too hot.

Hands jerk away

shaking off the sudden searing pain signals

A fitting reaction to

an attractive resistance

…and there it sits

Taunting enthusiastic eyes

as a foreseeing pallet awaits

longing for just a small taste

to take in the fullness of its flavor

to satisfy the longing for its encouragement

to fulfill the anticipation of enjoyment

Cleverly

using a folded cloth

hands determine to captivate

this alluring deliciousness

A wary mouth

hovers as closely as possible

yet remains standoffish

not daring to close the distance

until reassurance of safety

is decided
defined
declared

Waves

ripple across the surface

as lips gently blow

with hope of fast-forwarding

the cooling process

Just a sip…

Hot!  … too hot.

Mouth jerks away

blowing and licking off the sudden searing pain signals

A fitting reaction to

an attractive resistance

Yet inviting messages

unceasing in their tactical advances

continue to streamline aromatic appeal

accentuate hopeful potential

entreat creative methodology

…insistent that there is value

in steady pursuit

to attain the goal

to take in its warmth

to ingest its goodness

to treasure its flavor

… even at risk of being burned

And so it is

with friendship

"A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity." 

~Proverbs 17:17

Noxious

One day last summer

while at a multi-family picnic,

my teen-aged daughters

ran playfully to the pavilion

where the adults were visiting

and presented me with a small bouquet

of wildflowers.

I received them with delight.

However,

a friend gently cautioned us

that we should be careful

about picking certain wildflowers.

He pointed out a few particular ones in the bunch

and informed us that they were noxious plants

and should not be handled.

I felt deceived

by a very real danger

in the embodiment of something so lovely.

I felt sad

as I placed the little gathering of blossoms

far away from the picnic tables

so that others would not see them

or touch them.

I felt hesitation

to trust in my own naivety,

for such grave possibility

now loomed as a dark cloud

hovering over what once was

a simple delight.

I felt motivated

to learn more about

how to discern between

harmless plants

and those which are unsafe,

recognizing the value of prevention.

Noxious

Harmful, Toxic, Poisonous,

Deadly, Lethal, Venomous,

Injurious, Deleterious

Obnoxious

Loathsome, Hateful, Horrible,

Insufferable, Intolerable, Detestable,

Unbearable, Abhorrent, Abominable,

Despicable, Repugnant, Repellent

The two words are nearly the same,

yet one is purely scientific

while the other is entirely relational.

The two words are nearly the same,

yet God has chosen

to provide the opportunity

   for redemption,

      for purification,

         for regeneration

to one...

the relational one...

me.

"For God did not send His Son into the world

to condemn the world,

but in order that the world might be saved

through Him."

~John 3:17

Being Right

In being right

I have been wrong;

in being wrong

I have been right.

What?

Insisting I am right

without listening,

without regarding relationship,

without considering the whole picture,

without love,

is wrong.

Realizing that I am wrong,

and taking action by repenting,

apologizing, submitting,

desiring to learn, to grow,

to love,

is right.

~ae

“And when I came to you, brethren,

I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,

proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 

For I determined to know nothing among you

except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 

I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

and my message and my preaching

were not in persuasive words of wisdom,

but in demonstration of the Spirit of power,

so that

your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men,

but on the power of God.” 

~I Corinthians 2:1-5

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but do not have love,

I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 

~I Corinthians 13:1