The Word Impossible

Mary was told by the angel, Gabriel, that she would bear the Son of God. She asked how this was possible since she was a virgin. Gabriel assured her that nothing is impossible for God.

The word "impossible" brings up questions like:

Can something really be created from nothing?
Can good truly come from being sold into slavery?
Can waters really part and create a dry path to other side of a large river?
Can an army march around a city wall and bring down the walls?
Well, of course not.  Impossible.

Can a king who committed adultery and murder be a true friend of God?
Can a young boy kill a giant with a sling and stone?
Can a donkey talk about seeing an army of angels?
Can someone really be thrown into a fire and come out without a burn?
Well, of course not.  Impossible.

Can someone walk on water?
Can water be changed to wine?
Can 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread feed 5000?
Can someone lie dead decaying in a grave for three days and be made alive again?
Well, of course not.  Impossible.

Can a tax collector return 5 times what he took from others?
Can one who had five husband and now lives with a man make better choices?
Can a friend who denied knowing you when you were in grave danger end up sacrificing his life defending you?
Can one who kills Christians ever change?
Well, of course not.  Impossible.

Yet as we read through the Scriptures, we know that ALL these things did indeed happen.  So do we really believe He can do the impossible today?

Do we believe that lives can be so transformed that one will actually think, speak, and act differently?
Do we really believe there is No condemnation for those who have a relationship with Jesus as their Savior?
Do we believe in the power of forgiveness that enables us to extend mercy and grace even to our enemies?
Do we believe we can truly love those who don't love us in return?
Well, of course.   Absolutely possible.

Do we believe we can receive healing physically, spiritually, and emotionally?
Do we believe someone can be rescued from addictions?
Do we believe marriages can be healed?
Do we believe we can have joy in difficult circumstances?
Well, of course.  Absolutely possible.

Christmas is a time to focus on our beliefs and this year I choose to focus on how the Lord can do the impossible.  How about you?  What are you choosing to focus on this year?

Copyright 2012

Extended Grace

As far as Joseph knew before his encounter with the angel, Gabriel, Mary had been sexually unfaithful to Him.  He didn't feel he could continue with his commitment to marry her. However, he decided he would not seek revenge by ruining her reputation about her indiscretion.   Instead he decided to put her away quietly.

However, things aren't always as they appear to be.  We need to take into consideration that we might be missing some important information that gives a reasonable explanation before jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst about others.  Joseph needed an angel to bring clarity to the truth about Mary.

We might not have an angel bring clarity to something we don't understand, but it doesn't entitle us to judge that which we don't understand.  In time, all things hidden are revealed.  Even when guilty, people still need to see Jesus and a love that will not let them go despite their sins.

As the Christmas season is upon us, may we consider Joseph's attitude and actions toward Mary and extend the same grace toward those around us.  If someone is guilty of the accused sin, forgive them.  If unsure about their guilt, think the best of them and show them love and support.

Jesus is the reason for this season, and we need to be an extension of Him to the lost around us.  We can be if we offer grace instead of judgment and condemnation to those things we don't really understand.

Enough is Enough

After much prayer, we need to recognize when enough is enough.  Jesus told His disciples that a time comes when one needs to wipe the dust off their feet and move onward. (Luke 10:10-12)

The Lord realizes that banging on the doors of hard hearts waste precious time. It prevents us from pursuing those actually seeking truth.  Leaving should not be taken lightly, but sometimes it is the only option.

We need to stop knocking on the door of the empty house.  Instead we need go where someone is home and opens the door to hear the message of truth.  We carry life changing
news for a dying world, so let's take it to those yearning to hear.

The Right Time and Purpose

He entered the world blind and now was fully grown.  He only knew darkness from the moment his mother gave birth to him. The Scriptures tell us that his blindness was not caused by the sin of his parents or by the sins of the man.  His blindness from the foundation of time had the sole purpose of glorifying the Lord.

This  man didn't receive beforehand the heads up on the Lord's reason for his blindness.  An angel had not warned his parents about their son's future to one day receive sight.  They didn't receive any vision regarding the purpose this happened to their son.  They carried these unanswered questions with them throughout the years.  Would they have of lived any differently if they had been told what the future held?

The Lord healed the man when the time was right for the Lord to be glorified.  No matter what our difficulties are in life, they serve the same purpose.  We wait on the Lord for His perfect plan and in it give glory to Him.  He is completely trustworthy with every aspect of our lives and may we honor Him with it.

The Other Three Fingers

The woman was dragged before Jesus by the Religious leaders of the day. They told Him that she had been caught in the act of adultery.  This incident raises many questions. The most obvious one would be about her partner in this crime.  Where was he?  Was he among her accusers?

Jesus addresses the reality regarding the pointing fingers of her accusers by granting permission to stone her if they were without sin.  Jesus bends down and begins to write something in the sand.  Did He write various sins they committed?  We can only guess.  We only know that beginning with the eldest man present, they all left. The only one that remained with the woman was the One without sin who could have stoned her.  Jesus urges the woman to sin no more (John 8:1-11).

This incident was not about the woman as much as it was about the sinful attitudes of the Religious leaders. They didn't actually care about the sin this woman committed.  It was another one of their attempts to set Jesus up for a fall.  Their pride and distrust of Jesus' methods for dealing with sinful people didn't appeal to them.

We learn from Jesus' response that pointing fingers at the sins of others needs a reality check.  The remaining three  fingers point toward the heart of the accuser.  When we point our fingers at the sins and failings of others may we glance down at our hand and recognize the nudging of the three pointing back at us to examine the condition of our own heart.

Casting Crowns sings the song, Jesus, Friend of Sinners, with a message for believers in this day and age to understand.  Jesus wants us to fully comprehend  mercy, grace, and forgiveness so that we might extend it toward others.

From the Beginning

Rejection reminds us that we live in a broken world. Experiencing it comes from Adam's decision to disregard the Lord's only restriction in the garden.  As soon as Adam ate the fruit he experienced the emotions of guilt and shame.  Adam then hid from the Lord when He arrived for His daily walk.

The Lord called out to Adam with a question regarding his whereabouts.  The Lord knew the answer, but Adam needed to fess up to what took place and the fear he now felt in his relationship with the Lord.

Rejection breathed out of his words when Adam blamed the woman given to him by the Lord.  Adam must have reasoned in his thoughts that it would have turned out differently if the Lord hadn't placed this woman in the garden with him.  Did the option of being alone without a helpmate suddenly appeal to him instead of facing his own responsibility for the shame of the nakedness of how he now felt? (Genesis 3)

How this cycle has continued throughout history. When we avoid responsibility for our sinful choices that hurt others, we birth distrust and ultimately rejection into our relationships.  As we put up our hands and walk away without any attempts to be at peace with those we have sinned against or refuse to forgive those who sinned against us, we perpetuate in our hearts the ability to continually repeat this cycle of rejection in our lives and those around us.

Balking responsibility and blaming others for our sinful reactions creates distrust in the heart.  When we ignore sins and pretend offenses never happened, then the pain caused by it festers into bitterness, anger, and an unforgiving spirit.  Suddenly, wounded people lash out in defensiveness and wound others.  The longer sin is left unchecked, the better chance it has to give birth to torture within the spirit and eventually death to relationships, even new ones.

We need to seek the Lord for the eyes of our hearts to be opened to the truth regarding the toll that passing the buck has on our emotional and spiritual health.  May we not cast blame on others but instead take ownership to our sins.  When we rid our lives of distrust, fear, and pride, then we can  revel in a healing that fills our lives with peace, and joy. 

Return Home

The young man possessed everything he needed, and yet he yearned something else.  Whatever he wanted, he didn't see it coming from his father.  Perhaps he felt his father was holding out on him.  Demanding what he felt he deserved, the young man took his half of his inheritance and hit the road. (Luke 15:11-32)

Freely, the father handed over the younger son's portion of his inheritance and let him leave.  He didn't attempt to convince him to stay or chase after him when he left.  The father released him but kept watch with open arms for the day he might return.

We hold no guarantee for the return of those who wish to leave us, but may we learn from the prodigal son's father to wait with receptive arms if they do.  May we also remember that our Heavenly Father desires for us to willingly return to his unconditional love and acceptance when we've moved away from it.

He has withheld nothing good from us.  Our best is always on the forefront of His heart.  We just need to come to our senses and recognize it.