Dear Family,
We
were created for a purpose. We are
loved. We are not our own. You have a choice to make about your purpose
and identity. Commercials say, “Our
product provides you with identity, wear or drink this and you will be identified
with us which makes you as beautiful and fun-loving as these models.” If our foundation and identity are in brand
names we will feel empty. God created us
with a longing to worship and be led by Him.
When we choose to follow and obey God we are choosing to let go of
selfishness. The message puts it like
this, “Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of
always expecting to get your own way.
Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants
instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” 1 Peter 4:1b-2.
God created us, gave us rules, and
set the earth into motion. Humans push
the limit on rules. Every religion,
country, and sports game has to have stipulations for what happens when rules
are broken because of how often humans break rules. The Old Testament provides rules, blessings
for following rules, and curses for breaking them. The Old Testament points us to Jesus because rules
don’t work on selfishness alone. It
seems humans can’t make good choices even when motivated by selfishness. Blessings may be clearly laid out as consequences
of good behavior but we still have to try ‘our way’ first.
When Jesus came he paid the price
for our past, present, and future sins. “But God demonstrates his own love for us
in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
God showed us that forgiveness is divine. He sent forth an example of forgiveness,
sacrificial love, and how to make good choices.
When
we accept Jesus' death as a substitution for the punishment we deserve we are
set free from the slavery our nature has to making bad choices. We may still choose unwise paths but we do
not have to anymore.
When
we choose Christ as who we identify with we are choosing to be a child of
God. The joy that comes from forgiveness
creates a thankful heart. A full thankful
heart is the best motivator for making good choices. When Jesus said, “15 “If
you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of
Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You
know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17 God’s
Word Translation)
Jesus
not only gives us forgiveness which results in a full and thankful heart he
sent the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our paths. Having this foundation means we can truly
fulfill our purpose in life. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us
anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 New Living Translation.
Choose
to live life forgiven and for God. It is
the most important decision you will ever make over and over again. (Sadly sin nature tries to crawl back to life
and we do have to ask for forgiveness and recommit our lives daily – just like
taking out the trash or defragmenting our hard drive. Life can be messy.)
This
week at youth group I noticed some golden keys hanging from a youth's
neck. I couldn’t imagine those being
house keys so I asked what they were.
His friend had to answer for him.
“Those keys are the keys to his
soul which holds the weight of his sins.”
I
enjoyed having lunch with Adriel. She continues
to push forward with her full-time job and full-time work. I have never done that much in my life. I have also never lived alone. I am impressed by her independence and loving
spirit. I am amazed by her tenacity and
beauty.
Watching
a show with Seth baffles me and impresses me.
I can’t quite remember the jargon he uses but the gist I get are things
like this: “Turn the sound up because audio levering is never consistent” (I
think this means they didn’t make that particular scene loud enough). “Why did they include that scene? It has nothing to do with the plot
development!” “Whoever wrote that
dialogue is a genius.” He says other things but the gist of it is he
is watching thru the eye of a producer.
He knows things I don’t and it’s delightful to hear smart things come
out even if I don’t understand them.
Also when I am cringing about things he will point out to me, “You know
that isn’t real right?” I like that he
is grown up. I don’t have to worry about
him having nightmares as I used to over scary scenes.
Youth
Sunday was truly enjoyable. The teens
did well greeting, singing, ushering, and serving in general. Bobby’s sermon was fabulous and I had to
chuckle when someone gushed about it but added, “Not that we expected anything otherwise,
he always does a wonderful job.”
After
church, we went to Tapawingo for a meet and greet. They are fundraising for the new dining
lodge. I expected to be bored but was
delighted instead to feel so much love pouring out of Jane that it made me
cry. She was hoping I was OK but when I
told her how beautiful it was that she can single people out for even a moment
and pour God’s love onto them she felt seen and that created a moment. I was impressed by a sign in their house that
says it all. “If you think our hands are
full you should see our hearts.”
So
I leave you with this. May you be so
filled by God’s love, forgiveness, and joy that it spills out onto others. “4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 4:4-7 NIV)
Much
Love :-) Cristy
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