Monthly Archives: February 2013
The Lord is with you, strengthening you…
Realizing and Revealing…
The Lord is With Us..Strengthening Us!
Judges 6:1-24
† HIS †
As you dwell in the grace and mercy of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, may you realize how He strengthens you, just by being there…with you!
The Lenten/Gideon Journey
Am I in the winepress, or just in MIdian’s Hands
As I look at our world, and just Southern California over these weeks since I have returned from China, I think I understand more than ever, the attitude of Gideon, hiding in the winepress.
As the injustice, in and evil in the world floods our lives, I can be easily saddened as the people of God and their leaders are often looking more to other gods, or as St Paul talks about – we make idols of our appetites. Either we dismiss the impact of sin, or we go to the opposite extreme, demanding perfection and condemning where we see others failing to be perfect. We are more focused on how things “look” here, than on bringing people into the presence of God, to be cleansed by His flood of love.
My instinct, as I see this world, and consider my role in it, our role in being the ones reflecting this light in the darkness is so close to Gideon’s words, as he hides in the winepress and is greeted by the Lord.
“Lord, if you are with us, then why? Where are Your Miracles Lord? Why aren’t you rescuing this people from their sin and the oppression of evil and temptation?” Why Lord? What are You going to do about all this, Lord?”
The answer we hear, when we take the time to listen, is even more staggering…
“Why, I am sending you, of course!”
Uhm – Lord – have you looked at us recently? Don’t you know we are not one of the big mega churches; we don’t have hardly any young people, and we don’t have a lot of resources, how are we supposed to save the world….”
Call to remember the promise!
If you carefully at this passage, there is something odd to consider. Gideon recounts easily the miracles of the past, the times where God rescues His people. But what isn’t remembered are the promises, the contractual obligation that God enters into, to be with us, to be with His people, to protect them, to deliver them, and yes, even to chasten them.
As Gideon wavers at the command to go with the strength you have, as he questions the wisdom and knowledge of God, there is a reminder about that strength.
“I will be with you!”
That assurance, “I will be with you”, is the bottom line of every covenantal promise of God, of everything God does in our lives. It is what not only what those who walked with God before us realized; it is what the people of God whom Gideon mentioned realized. He is with us! He will save us.. He has come, to deliver and restore and heal us!
Still sometimes, we don’t get it… and he asks for a sign, even as he goes and gets an appropriate offering. He trusts enough for the offering, but not yet enough to take on the challenge of being the one who God will use to rescue His people. Sound familiar? Yes Lord, I trust you enough to go to church on Sunday, and even a few Wednesday nights a year, but show me a sign that you are going to send me to…that you want me to invite “them” to church, that you want me to reach out and show you love to..
I sometimes think we determine that it isn’t God we don’t trust in, but ourselves. Yet didn’t He choose us… to be His kingdom of priests?
I need something to overcome my fear, my anxiety, my doubts about, “why me”, or at least I think I do….
What I need to really here, what I really need to see revealed in my life… is the truth of “I will be with you!”
The Promise fulfilled
We aren’t doomed when we encounter Christ’s glory
Each week, along with Gideon, we get to hear John’s incredible first chapter and especially verse 14.
14 The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son.
When we realize that Matthew tells us that Jesus, the Word Made Flesh and living with us” promised He would never leave us, even until the end of the age, this means that we to live with Him, and He is still full of grace and truth.
He is here, as we hear His word, as we feast on His body and blood. He is meeting our needs to know His presence, for that is our own strength. Even as Gideon strength, and Moses for that matter was found in their realization that it was God directing their steps, we need to realize that as well. We desperately need to realize that, for then, our strength is enough to do whatever it takes.
We aren’t alone, He is here!
That is where our hope lies, that is how life is different, that is what we need to realize, not just as we approach the altar, but the breakfast table, our workplace’s front door, the restaurant, or gas station, or when we turn on our computer to check email’s, or read or watch the news.
I will be with you! – and with us, He is our strength…..
As we take on the impossible, as we confront the evil that would oppress us, as we deal with our own sin, let us find our strength… in the One Who creates, redemption and sanctifies His people.
For His is with us!
Joy in the Journey of Lent
Today’s Devotional/Discussion
To all who’ve been born in the Spirit. and who share incarnation with Him. Who belong to eternity stranded in time, and weary of struggling with sin. Forget not the hope that’s before you; and never stop counting the cost.Remember the hopelessness when you were lost! (1) On the way over to church this morning, instead of my normal radio station, I somehow started the cd in the stereo, and the above words greeted my ears.One of the reasons I love lent (besides the color purple) is that it forces me to realize the paradox Michael Card mentions above. We share in Christ’s incarnation, we belong to eternity, to that place where time and the urgency it causes cannot rule over us, yet we are oppressed by it now. This paradox causes us stress, it attempts to divide our loyalties as things like having money to eat and a house over our head seem to prevent us from spending time in fellowship with God. Demands of family and work call on our energies, dragging physical and spiritual strength down.
But that is where we need to come from a better understanding of the incarnation, a better understanding of what this Lenten Journey is. For it is one where we live in the dissonance, in the dysfunction, but only as we live….in Christ Jesus. It doesn’t have a grasp on us, and it can’t drag us from His presence.
Too easily we forget the promises of the incarnation, to easily we forget the end of the great commission is a promise to always be here, with us, to easily we forget the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, too easily we forget…
Today, remember His presence, remember that you are born of the Spirit… remember this Lenten Journey is a walk with Christ to His cross… where He will die…for us. (It ain’t our journey or our cross!)
Godspeed
(1) Michael Card, lyrics from his song, Joy in the JourneyAnger or Sorrow…which will be drive your reaction?
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven .Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT)
I don’t know about you, but one of my biggest challenges as I try to walk in Christ, to walk as one cleansed of sin, is to live out the above. I can usually deal with those who want to frustrate me, well most of the time, but when someone does something against my family, either my biological one or my family in Christ, or does something that stops the family of God from being out there, searching for and taking in those whom Christ died for, I want to go all “billy jack” or “chuck norris” on them.
The last thing I really want to do for them, is love them. I want the right to be righteously indignant, I want to just take them on, and show them how their error – whether legalism that makes the church a fortress safe from invasion, or the extreme liberalism that basically turns the church over to the world and disregards God’s mercy, either way.. there are stumbling stones that… I must get rid of quickly. Time to grap a sword, put on armor and start the next crusade!
At least that is my reaction in anger.
Then the scripture comes alive… and I wonder, as a friend pointed out recently in a pastor’s gathering – should I be angry or grieving? In anger,
If I am angry I want retribution, I want to quickly eradicate the problem, even if the cost is great, or it simply inflames the situation.
If I can breath for a moment, I will realize that the anger hides my own pain, my own hurt, the brokenness caused, and the sorrow over what I hold dearest betrayed. If the people I blame my struggle are indeed “enemies of the cross of Christ”, will my reaction be to admit the sorrow, the pain, the loss of a relationship, of the loss of possible relationships? A
I can never love the enemies I am angry with… but I can love those whose actions cause sorrow. Such was the actions of Christ, towards us. If we could love them, if our goal wasn’t wrath and our version of justice, could we instead aim for their being found righteous in Christ, and instead of frontier justice, we find reconciliation at the altar?
This week’s sermon will go down this line further… but today, as people antagonize you, or others actions just infuriate you…before you react, think through the hurt and pain you feel – give it as well to God, then, even as you grieve…try to love them, knowing Christ’s love for the both of you.
Such is living in Christ…
In my devotions this morning – thinking through the sermon passage for this week, I came across this:
“When you open the Holy Gospel, think that what is written there—the words and deeds of Christ—is something that you should not only know, but live. Everything, every point that is told there, has been gathered, detail by detail, for you to make it come alive in the individual circumstances of your life. God has called us believers ( original said “Catholics”) to follow him closely. In that holy Writing you will find the Life of Jesus, but you should also find your own life. You too, like the Apostle, will learn to ask, full of love, “Lord, what would you have me do?…” And in your soul you will hear the conclusive answer, “The Will of God!” Take up the Gospel every day, then, and read it and live it as a definite rule. This is what the saints have done.”
The will of God – to love Him completely, to love your neighbor..
Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2721-2729). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Weary of Praying?
41 Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.“ Matthew 26:41 (TEV)
When you pray, but see nothing, and feel flustered and dry, then the way is this: don’t think of yourself. Instead, turn your eyes to the Passion of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Be convinced that he is asking each one of us, as he asked those three more intimate Apostles of his in the Garden of Olives, to “Watch and pray”.(1)
Just a few weeks ago, just prior to the start of Lent as I was preparing to preach on the Transfiguration of Christ, the text described the three core disciples. Peter and James and John, falling asleep. With the radiance of the Lord’s glory, with Moses and Elijah talking about the fulfilment of all the Law and the Prophets, the three dudes crashed.
In my devotion this morning, lo and behold – they are falling asleep again, this time again in our Savior’s most trying time of need, the time where He asks us to stay and watch just an hour. They failed… even as we sometimes fail at spending enough time in prayer
There are going to be times the road is so wearying that we fall asleep – given. But sometimes it is as Fr. Josemaria Escriva notes, our prayer life becomes dry, rote, where it seems more like a dutiful monologue of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication… (or using the Lord’s prayer as an outline – or whatever model you use) ANd that is frustrating, especially when the answers we seek, even knowing they may be different than what we desire…. do not come.
Some use the trite saying that sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait. I’ve used it enough – and if it didn’t bring you comfort – I beg your forgiveness.
Josemaria has the solution locked down. Stop making the prayer about you… look to Jesus, listen to Him, see His passion – the incredible journey He undertook to not only rescue you from your sin, from all unrighteousness, from the fear of death and the oppression of Satan. See His passion for His people – the same passion the Father shows for us. Try to grasp, try to comprehend, even for a moment…what Paul prays for us to see revealed.
16 I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, 17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 18 so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love. 19 Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (TEV)
When you are tired of praying according to you duty, and maybe even before that – look to Christ.. just be amazed at His passion for you. Indeed that’s why the old ACTS model started with Adoration – but even that word seems like our work…just sit there.. and think about the cross… and why it could be, that the Lord of Glory – would head for that cross – for the joy set before Him.
It’s what works for me…when I remember….such thoughts are what changes my prayer from my monologue… to His dialog…
Lord, Have Mercy on us!
(1)Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2717-2721). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Whats the Big Deal about (shhhhhh) sin?
Devotional/Discussion thought of the Day
A three letter word – but one with tremendous power, simply because it is so misunderstood.
We have people that deny its existence.
We have people that will condemn other’s sins as abominable, but be perfectly comfortable in their own horde of sinfulness.
We have people that insist what God calls sin, well, we just don’t understand the word.
And if you actually identify something as sinful, people assume you are condemning them for doing it ( or not doing what they should be) and they will condemn you for the sin of condemning them.
But how can we deal with the illness, how can we deal with the pains that need to be healed… unless we diagnose the problem?
The cure for sin is easy, yet we would rather struggle, we would rather argue with God, than to let Him rescue us, Heal us, strengthen us. We would rather let relationships be shattered that let God into the discussion..
We would rather know pain and be disciplined, to give false apologies and shift blame, then to simply say, “thank you Lord”, Praise you Father, for restoring me/us. And in doing so, we sin again, trying to preempt God’s authority over… yeah – sin.
It’s not a big deal – just deal with it. Let God cleanse you of it, let His mercy pour out over you… and be clean!
In Trouble? Call Collect!
Call Collect!
Romans 10:8-13
† IHS †
May you realize the grace and peace given to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and may your life reveal it to our broken world!
If you get in trouble, call collect!
I still remember hearing the words, as I went out the door on February 13, 1981, my gosh, 32 years ago this week. I had just gotten my license two days before, and as I left the house, to go pick up my buddy John Cartier and the two girls that were supposed to go skating with, I heard these words…
“if you get into trouble, remember – you can call us collect!”
So I hopped in my first car, a very fast Pontiac Astra – and headed out, not thinking about the words much.
As I was writing this sermon, I was thinking how odd it is this sermon illustration has run its course – the people younger than 30 will never understand it! The kids today can call on their cells, text, even drop pictures of the car with the flat tire. Or skype their parents – even if they are on the other side of the world! I mean – when was the last time you saw a pay-phone anyway?
Calling collect? Wow – that was a big thing back then! It cost so much money! It was only for emergencies, or perhaps, to call a grandparent on a birthday.
That was the big thing about it – being given the assurance that my parents would help – or at least try to help if I found myself in trouble. Even if it meant I was calling collect from whatever problem I would find myself. They would be there. Looking back – a very special promise.
If you need to be saved…
Do you? That’s the walk of Lent!
The irony of a 40 day temporary change!
Generally, there were only two reasons to call collect in the old days. Incredibly joyous news, or oh boy, were you in trouble. Cell phones and skype are used now – the incredible technology we only dream of in comic books back in the day.
But you can still call collect if you are in trouble, matter of fact at county jail that is the only way you can call someone, I hope you all never find out how very, very expensive it is.
As we look at Paul’s epistle today, there is a similar call that is encouraged. As Paul tells us, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved!”
It is logical- that if you call on someone to save you, that there is something serious going on, and it isn’t a good thing! Especially for us guys – because we will take something that is a minor problem – and before we call someone else for help – we have turned it into a major crisis.
That is so often with the sin in our lives, as one sin leads to another sin, and rather than confess our sin, we end up creating a major war. Even so, one sin is enough to render us broken, one crisis caused by someone else’s sin enough to render us useless.
It is part of our walk during lent, to survey the damage that sin has caused, the problems and divisions, the anger and resentment and hurt, and to realize, just as my parents did – God encourages us to call out to Him –that we may be rescued!
It’s a pretty harsh thing – to look at the brokenness caused by generations of sin, but our generations aren’t innocent either – just the sins of the past months would be a harsh devastation to face for most of us. Yet, looking at such isn’t about creating within us a level of guilt or shame, or disgrace. For as Paul reminds us,
“As the scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced!”
That is the thing about knowing we have the ability to call collect – the assurance that though we are in trouble, we won’t be turned away – that there is almost an expectation that someday, we will be in a situation where our parents, or our close friends, may need to rescue us.
If our parents were so willing to care, how much more does God – who paid the price for our “collect call”, as Christ hung on the cross.
That is what church is about; a bunch of God’s kids reminding each other that God isn’t impossible to get to! That God isn’t going to be upset at us, when we call out to him to rescue us, or to rescue someone else who we care about – to rescues those who’ve we hurt, and even those who have hurt us.
That is what is so incredible, that God knowing our lives, the temptations we would face, the struggles we would have, the sin we would commit, planned and paid for all of our collect calls.
Indeed, it is even our normal thing to call, it is something that God places in our hearts, in our lives, It is the power of the Holy Spirit, working through God’s word, as it is communicated to others, that brings us to the point where we can call. Where, tired of the burdens we bear, tired of the hurts, tired of the stress in our lives and in the lives of those we love… we are compelled to reach out to the hand that has been offered, as we realize the price has been paid for the call…already
Is it time to call?
Generously He Gives
He answers all – Judean and Greek
None are disgraced!
There have been days where I thought that this passage was only about our call to faith, that it was a passage that a pastor or preacher would use at a revival, to assure us that our prayers to be saved would be heard, and having taken care of that, we could go about our lives, joyfully, complete.
We have a Lord who gives generously scripture tells us. A Lord who we can call on as we deal with all the struggles we have in this life, as He answers all of us, no matter our ethnicity, or our age, none who call on His Name – is disgraced. For that is why we’ve been given it – to call upon in need. We can call on Him anytime, in any place, and know that He is there. Ready to show mercy, ready to clean up the mess, ready to heal our brokenness, ready to heal and help us back on the road.
The sermon is short today, with a reason. It’s time to call upon His name – to give us time to call on God’s name – to extend our prayer time out a little, to take Him at His word.
That relieved of all stress, of all burdens, of all the sin and unrighteousness we deal with, and which we think about at this time, that our hearts and voices, undisgraced, can rejoice that indeed, His message, His declaration of love, is indeed on our lips.. and in our hearts.
AMEN.
Related articles
- A Sacrifice for Lent…a broken heart? (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Ash Wednesday (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Pope Benedict’s Full 2013 Ash Wednesday Homily (catholicglasses.com)
- An incredible Lenten Friday Sacrifice – the “safe” distance. (justifiedandsinner.com)
Awe in God’s work, despite our failures…
Discussion/Devotional Thought of the Day:
Since then it is by faith that we are justified, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have confidently entered into this new relationship of grace, and here we take our stand, in happy certainty of the glorious things he has for us in the future. 3 This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of future joys – we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. Romans 5
“Faced with the marvels of God, and with all our human failures, we have to make this admission: “You are everything to me. Use me as you wish!” Then there will be no more loneliness for you—for us.” (1)
The Bible passage quoted at the top, is one I am going to use today, as I am tasked with the privilege of bringing God’s comfort – His peace to those who mourn. It amazes me now, as a middle aged pastor, as it did in my younger days, how much of a wonder it is, that God can use such a… hmmm too many derogatory labels fit – pick anyone of them – it should fit – to bring into peoples lives His promise – especially to reveal to them that He is here, with us, comforting us, healing us, strengthening our faith, our hope.
It assures me, that the very promises I speak for others, they are true for me as well. John Edwards once wrote a book/sermon entitled “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”. Though it has been years since I have read it, I thank God that I don’t know that God, because of Jesus, all I know is “sinners in the hands of a God who calls us to enter His presence with confidence, with joy!’ Such is a God who desires that we live in peace – with His creation, with His people, with Him.
The Marvels of God… yeah – overwhelming to think of it….how could so much love- be ours!..
Please take time to.. take time to remember you dwell in that love… take time to revel in it.
(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2713-2715). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
An incredible Lenten Friday Sacrifice – the “safe” distance.
Devotional/Discussion thought of the day:
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you. 18 “When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you.” John 14:16-20 (TEV)
From there, where you are working, let your heart escape to the Lord, right close to the Tabernacle, to tell him, without doing anything odd, “My Jesus, I love You”. Don’t be afraid to call him so—my Jesus—and to say it to him often.(1)
Memories of Fridays growing up – fish sticks for lunch, Filet of Fishes for Dinner, Occasionally clam strips and sometimes, if things we going well – baked stuff shrimp. Move forward into my early twenties, and working as a manager at McDonald’s – and we have to covert to extra friers to handle the demand for fish, because our unit was in a heavily hispanic area.
No meat on friday – no burgers, or steaks, or bacon or pork. Not even spaghetti and meatballs! I wish I would have understood lent as a kid, even as a young man, and the sacrifices that we were strongly encouraged to make. (Try showing up at a Catholic Jr. High School with a baloney sandwich for lunch. Still remember that day…) Abstaining from things, and even fasting are not bad, but very solid practices, given the understanding that should accompany them. They are not to make us more attractive to God, but rather, to free us to focus on Him. (Something we should strive to do all the time btw – not just during Lent!)
A suggestion- spend little moments of time throughout the day thinking about the verse above. The words of Christ, as he prepares his followers for His cross, for His death, but also for His resurrection. A great passage to contemplate, over and over, during our Lenten journey.
We must realize that because He lives, because we are united to His death and Resurrection we live, in Him. We are with Him, we aren’t far off.
Most of us, seem to prefer to live a distance from God. We want His blessings, and church sometimes isn’t a bad thing – especially when others are stressing us. We won’t Him in the background, just at the edge of how far we think our voices will cry, when we need to be rescued. Perhaps we are worried that He won’t like us close up, or that He will ask us to do something, to make some sacrifice,, or perhaps, He might want us to give up something closer and more meaningful to us than steak or bacon….yeah – you know – that sin we don’t want everyone to know about, or that resentment we nourish, because of a pain caused years ago.
It is time to give that up, to sacrifice that distance, to come close to God, to let Him draw you near, to make you an integral part of His family. No more hiding, no more looking in from the edges… time to admit, to confess, to cry our in praise and adoration – My Jesus, i love you!
For such is the response of faith, or trusting in Him and His revelation, of knowing His presence. Of depending upon Him.
(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2697-2700). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
A Sacrifice for Lent…a broken heart?
Devotional THought of the Day:
Psalm 51:7-17 (NLT) 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. 14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. 15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. 16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
In the midst of our BIble Study this morning, we went on a side tangent about Lent, and what people sacrifice for Lent. For a short period of time, we give up something – with the sincere intention to use the time, the money, whatever is gained in service to God. One of my ladies, aske a great question, “why do we give Him back what is already His?” and I mentioned the irony of immediately taking back whatever we gave up, the moment sunrise service ends.
If our “sacrifice” is in view of something more beneficial, then why no continue it after lent?
Why not take up something far more long reaching, something that will cause a change that lasts longer than 40 days?
Noting my odd nature, my mind went to the passage above – yeah on Valentines Day I am suggesting we give God… our broken hearts.
Our broken hearts?
Yeah, the brokenness that comes when we hear stories of 9 year old pregnant girls, or stories where perceived injustice results in more injustice…
The brokenness that is seen when we witness lives devastated death, or by illness, or by age.
The brokenness that comes, when finances grow tight, and desperation sets in, whether this it is corporate or individual.
The brokenness that comes when the churches work with the lost is interfered with by infighting, or hypocrisy..
The brokenness that comes, when our own sin is so clear, when its damage seems beyond healing, when we find ourselves “doing what is right in our own eyes”.
it seems odd – that the best gift we could give God, to demonstrate our love… is our brokenness… to lay it open before Him all of it.. to say, here, God, you want me – you have me – all of my brokenness, all of my hurts, all my resentment, all my pain and all my sin.
Yet it is…an incredible gift, one that brings the first commandment into play. For when we bring God our brokenness, when we let Him heal and restore, reconcile and rescue us… when we do these things, we are letting God be.. well God, our Father, our Lord and Master (which is as much/more about responsibility than it is authority)
When we let God be God, when we find contentment in being His people, the ones for whom He cares, when we let Him clean and bandage and heal our woulds… when we let Him love us….that is the best….”sacrifice” we can make….an offering which pleases Him….
So my friends who are in Christ, give Him, without restriction, your broken hearts, and all your brokenness… and see what He does.
