Extravagant Love

I remember a time in my life when I thought that I could never be used by God. My life was a mess and I felt like no one else around me knew what it was like to fall. Had they known, maybe they would not have judged so harshly. But see, the amazing thing about our God is that he allows us to fall, to struggle, to fail, to sin in order that we might see victory! He is waiting there with his arms wide open, just like the father of the prodigal son. He didn't clean his son off before he held him and loved him. He loved him right where he was at that very moment! That's how our heavenly Father loves us; right where we are. What an extravagant love.

It is so easy to love a child, a friend, those that are a part of our lives. Even God says that it easy to love someone that's loveable. How easy is it to love a child that has been left behind by a parent? But have you ever passed a homeless man on a corner that is holding up a sign asking for food, money, a job and driven away broken hearted? How about a rebellious, run-away teen living on the streets? What about a man in prison or mother that has neglected her children for drugs.

You see, when God looks at each one of us, he just sees our heart. We are the ones that look at the choices that a person has made or the surface. Oh to be able to look on someone and just see them as God does - as a soul that is crying out for the forgiveness and salvation of a sovereign God who loves them beyond their wildest imagination and wants to use them for His glory. What a GREAT God to be able to use someone that has been accused of adultery and thrown into prison. How amazing is our Heavenly Father that he would use a forgiven and redeemed prostitute to spread the gospel. How unfathomable to our human minds is a God that takes a man, that lusted after another man's wife and committed adultery with her, had her husband killed and then took her to be his wife, and call's him a man after God's own heart.

What a great God to give us his precious word that is full of folks who failed, sinned, struggled, doubted, rejected and triumphed, to show us what he can do in us if we just let him. God has an amazing plan for each one of us. What an extravagant God!

Who does CHRIST say I am?

Tonight, I sit in the living room by myself, trying to turn off my mind. The only light is the Christmas tree (ok, and the computer). The house is peaceful, but my head is full of noise! I have had a big battle going on in my mind for quite some time. I am retraining my train of thought. Sometimes it is SUCH a struggle to bring our thoughts into captivity as in II Cor 2:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

It really is an excercise! I have to work out some old muscles that have gotten stiff. It seems to be such an effort. It sounds crazy, but I am having to WORK at being thankful again. I had let circumstances and struggles in my walk and in the ministry get in the way of prayer life. Can you imagine? STRUGGLING to thank your Heavenly Father that has provided eternal life? That's where I have been for a while. Sad, but true. I share, not to say poor me, but to say that we can all slip into that pitiful place at any moment. Praise God that he has forgiven me for my faithlessness!

I have to begin with who I am. So often I stop at wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. However, God calls me more! I am, very simply going to share who I am in Christ. I am just trying to remind myself, retrain myself, redevelop some spriritual muscle! Baby steps....

I am a child of the King!
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

I am a FRIEND of Jesus!
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

I am justified and redeemed.
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

I am a new creation.
II Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I am CHOSEN!
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

I am complete.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

I am God's child.
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

I have been set free in Christ.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

I am God's workmanship, created for HIS good works!
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


This is just a few verses! How can I read this and doubt? How can I read his word and be ANYthing but thankful? How can I possibly not consider that God has a perfect plan and purpose for every struggle that I face. It's the same for ALL of us. He DOES have a perfect plan and purpose. His timing is perfect and he has everything placed, in each one of our lives, right where he wants it, that we might come to him, run to him! But he doesn't want me to come to him just when I struggle, but when I am at peace, at rest, on the mountain top, in the valley, in the storm! If I am truly his friend, as his word calls me, that I WILL do those things. But I have to remember, that I can only be a friend to him in HIS strength. All that I have is from him and because of him.

He is an amazing God. He is good beyond all our imaginations and loves us beyond all reason. Our minds cannot fully grasp the the depths nor the vastness of His love. I do, however, know that HIS love never fails! He seeks us, just like the shepherd after his lost sheep. When we are broken, he binds our wounds. So often, I limit God when HE doesn't limit me. He is relentless!