Mercy and grace. These are two words used widely in the Christian community. Preachers and believers alike are always speaking of God's unmatched mercy and His amazing grace towards us. They are the things that give us so much hope as Christians. Everyday I am in utter need of both God's mercy and grace and they both seem to be found in abundance in my great and mighty God. But what exactly is mercy and what is grace.
Well mercy is probably the easier of the two that we can have an understanding of. I've heard it described as this; that God's mercy is Him not giving us what we deserve, that is the full consequences and what we deserve to get from our actions. The truth is that we as human being all fall short of the glory of God and we have all been guilty of going our own way causing the pain and suffering we see all around us in this fallen world. Sure we make excuses and justify our actions trying to convince ourselves that we are 'good people' and that it is only a few bad apples of why our world is in such a messed up state. There seems to be no hope and no future because of men's greed, lust, selfishness, and tendency to covet the things of this world. In a 'dog eat dog' world there can be no other way than this. We all have a desire to do good toward our fellow man, and yet every one of us at some point in our lives has done something to hurt someone in this world because of our selfish nature. God's perfect justice system demands that a penalty is paid for such offences. He is the perfect judge and He demands that a penalty be paid.
The crazy thing is that as human being we love to see justice done. We crave it for others, but not for ourselves. When a man gets busted for beating his wife, or a thief gets caught who has stolen from us, to something as simple as some idiot speeding past us in traffic, driving like a maniac, there is nothing we take more pleasure in than seeing justice being done to such individuals. Yet when it comes to ourselves we justify and say, 'well at least I'm not as bad as this or that person.' We expect mercy to be laid on us for our offences, but yet demand justice be brought on those who in our eyes have done worse things. Yet under God's written law we are all guilty.
It is under this understanding that we see God's great mercy displayed, because although we have a terrible punishment awaiting us for breaking God's perfect law, God instead sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay for our trespasses against one another and against God. This is what His mercy is all about and that mercy was displayed in it's perfection upon the cross at Calvary. The truth is that we are all deserving of nothing less than the destruction that we have sown into our lives, yet God in His abundant love toward us, instead decided to show His infinite and perfect mercy towards us by taking our place upon the cross. For the wages of our selfish lives (sin) is eternal spiritual death, or eternal separation from the knowledge of ever knowing God. And we deserve nothing less, just as we want justice for all those who have done wrongs in this world, so God needed to pass His perfect judgement on all of us in the world as well, because it is right and true to do so. And yet His mercy outweighed His judgement.
There isn't a day that goes by that I am not in need of God's great mercy and I find it in my life in abundance on a daily basis. I repent and ask forgiveness for my short comings and sins and I'm forgiven instantly by Him. How amazing my God's mercy truly is! But what about His grace.
Now grace is something quite extraordinary, because not only has God taken my penalty upon Himself and in that moment showed me the perfection of His great mercy by not giving me what I deserved, but by His wonderful amazing grace He has given to me what I did not deserve. Life to the fullest, a hope, and a future. For 3 days after being laid to rest, He rose from the grave and conquered spiritual death, that is the blockade that was in between us and the ability to know God personally. Jesus himself said that the prophets marvelled and wished they could see and experience what we would as new testament believers. Matthew 13:17 He sent us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us and guide us into all that is holy and right and just.
Today I walk that path as The Spirit allows and God is the best relationship in my life. He knows me so intimately and it is amazing to know Him so intimatly as well. He is the greatest thing in all existence and everything else is rubbish compared to the greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. Philippians 3:7-11 The apostle Paul said it well in his letter to the Philippians and I am in full agreement, that no matter what we could attain, or achieve, or accomplish, that there is nothing in this life that will ever come even close to the greatness of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord and His righteousness for our lives. My life is filled with such abundant blessing today and it just continues to get better and better. Each year I am filled with more hope, more peace, more joy, and more fulfilment as I follow my Lord into the land flowing with blessing that He has promised to those who are obedient and follow His ways. That's God's amazing grace, that He gives me what I do not deserve. I certainly did nothing worthy in my life to deserve these gifts and yet my God has seen to it that I would receive His abundant blessings in my life both now, and forevermore. What a hope we have in Jesus Christ! In Him alone can we see and know the fullness of mercy and grace. Peace and Blessing to you all. Amen
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Settling for less
“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desire not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, we are like ignorant children who want to continue making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C.S. Lewis
Our society and culture has offered us so much to ensnare the mind. Our sole purpose in today's society seems to be the pursuit of distraction and keeping our minds occupied with the insignificant. Drunken partying, sex, T.V. shows, movies, music and concerts, video games, sporting events, trivial pursuits and so much more to distract us from thinking about the reality of our world and our quickly passing lives. So many are addicted to such things in order to get their minds off of the sheer unfulfillment and feeling of meaninglessness that fills the hearts of so many in today's generation in a world that seems to have no hope and no future. Yet so many fall into this trap and are satisfied with this. As C.S. Lewis stated "We are far too easily pleased."
As many of you know, I have tried living different ways and lifestyles. At one time I was engulfed and chased after such things as listed above and continued to find little meaning and fulfillment and yet in it I was pleased at the time. Not seeking out anything greater, but settling for less. What a sad state to accept such things and be satisfied in them. And yet inside was always an emptiness that could not be filled. I ask you today, Have you settled for less? There is so much more, this I testify too and urge you to not settle for this way of less. Seek out the higher path, seek out the higher way. Jesus Christ is the higher way. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
I can not even begin to explain how great it is to know Jesus Christ my Lord and the exceptional life of the true christian walk. It is far better than I could have ever thought or imagined. It is a life filled with meaning, fulfillment, growth, purpose, and blessings beyond reproach. There is hope, there is meaning, there is purpose, there is fulfillment, there is true lasting peace and infinite joy if we are humble enough to seek Him out. I sincerely hope you do.
C.S. Lewis
Our society and culture has offered us so much to ensnare the mind. Our sole purpose in today's society seems to be the pursuit of distraction and keeping our minds occupied with the insignificant. Drunken partying, sex, T.V. shows, movies, music and concerts, video games, sporting events, trivial pursuits and so much more to distract us from thinking about the reality of our world and our quickly passing lives. So many are addicted to such things in order to get their minds off of the sheer unfulfillment and feeling of meaninglessness that fills the hearts of so many in today's generation in a world that seems to have no hope and no future. Yet so many fall into this trap and are satisfied with this. As C.S. Lewis stated "We are far too easily pleased."
As many of you know, I have tried living different ways and lifestyles. At one time I was engulfed and chased after such things as listed above and continued to find little meaning and fulfillment and yet in it I was pleased at the time. Not seeking out anything greater, but settling for less. What a sad state to accept such things and be satisfied in them. And yet inside was always an emptiness that could not be filled. I ask you today, Have you settled for less? There is so much more, this I testify too and urge you to not settle for this way of less. Seek out the higher path, seek out the higher way. Jesus Christ is the higher way. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
I can not even begin to explain how great it is to know Jesus Christ my Lord and the exceptional life of the true christian walk. It is far better than I could have ever thought or imagined. It is a life filled with meaning, fulfillment, growth, purpose, and blessings beyond reproach. There is hope, there is meaning, there is purpose, there is fulfillment, there is true lasting peace and infinite joy if we are humble enough to seek Him out. I sincerely hope you do.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Importance of Church
Jeremiah 18 1-6At the Potter's House
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
It was a few month after I had had my revelation of God that He led me to my first church congregation to fellowship and serve in. That is where the major growth in my life really started. Until that point I was just trying to stay clean and God did bring much blessing into my life beforehand. But like it says in Jeremiah 18 God wanted to reshape me into something useful. This happens in the potters house. God is the potter and we are the clay. I heard this in church last week and it's a great truth and analogy. It is in God's house (the potters house) that God is able to shape us into the people he desires us to be.
Many people in today's society think that they are fine without church and that they can have a good relationship with God without it. And although I can say because of my testimony that you can know God without going to church, you will never be, or have, or grow into all that God has for you if you don't find one to be a part of. It's at the potters house that we get shaped.
Maybe you might think church is boring and irrelevant, but I can tell you from my experience that church is truly where we grow in our faith, our holiness, our passion for God, our usefulness for God, and so much more. God has a plan for each of our lives and he desires our service so he can bless us. It's in that service that we find fulfillment and meaning in our lives. Church is all those who believe and call Christ their saviour, but even more than that, their Lord. Church unfortunately as many have come to know it today is as a building, but this is simply where the church meets. It is in this meeting together that we get equipped to go out and live godly in a godless world, serve, and share our faith. It's not always easy, just like anything in life, but it's definitely worth it.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God Bless
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
It was a few month after I had had my revelation of God that He led me to my first church congregation to fellowship and serve in. That is where the major growth in my life really started. Until that point I was just trying to stay clean and God did bring much blessing into my life beforehand. But like it says in Jeremiah 18 God wanted to reshape me into something useful. This happens in the potters house. God is the potter and we are the clay. I heard this in church last week and it's a great truth and analogy. It is in God's house (the potters house) that God is able to shape us into the people he desires us to be.
Many people in today's society think that they are fine without church and that they can have a good relationship with God without it. And although I can say because of my testimony that you can know God without going to church, you will never be, or have, or grow into all that God has for you if you don't find one to be a part of. It's at the potters house that we get shaped.
Maybe you might think church is boring and irrelevant, but I can tell you from my experience that church is truly where we grow in our faith, our holiness, our passion for God, our usefulness for God, and so much more. God has a plan for each of our lives and he desires our service so he can bless us. It's in that service that we find fulfillment and meaning in our lives. Church is all those who believe and call Christ their saviour, but even more than that, their Lord. Church unfortunately as many have come to know it today is as a building, but this is simply where the church meets. It is in this meeting together that we get equipped to go out and live godly in a godless world, serve, and share our faith. It's not always easy, just like anything in life, but it's definitely worth it.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God Bless
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Some things in my life after my revelation of God
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
As we drove back from Calgary to Edmonton, I very joyfully testified to my friends about what had happened to me earlier that night. They informed me that as they were driving to pick me up that something weird happened to them as well. As they were driving, my friend Jeremy asked Russell if he knew where the airport in Calgary was and both of the exclaimed to each other that they had never been there before and had no idea where it was. Just at that moment they both looked forward and saw a sign above the road that said 'Next Exit - Calgary Airport' Then after they exited and were at the airport and they both were wondering how they would find me since they didn't know what flight # or gate I was coming in at. It was then that they came through the door to find me standing right there. That was why they looked a bit shocked to see me.
When I got back to Edmonton my friends Dean and Steph took me in and let me live with them for a month or two. I'm so grateful for them because while I was with them I didn't do much. Just slept mostly, but was able to get away from the drugs for awhile so my mind could start to recover. Everything I needed I was supplied with. I went to Value Village and picked up a new wardrobe for about $100, plus I had money from a Christmas Bonus my dad had given me a few months earlier to buy food and other things. Later on I moved in with my friend Clint for a few more months and eventually moved into the house I am still currently living in.
I hooked up with my old friends from high school and started hanging out with them again. My friend Jeremy became an accountability partner during that time and I confessed to him when I was struggling and he helped me get through. My friends and family supported me in an incredible way during that time. Believers in God or not, there were so many people that God had put into my life to help me out at that time. I thank all of you for all you have done. It helped save my life and start my new one.
About 5 months after returning to Edmonton and staying clean from drugs, my friend Clint got me a job working at Scheffer Andrew Ltd. where I am still currently employed in a job I love. And the neat thing about the job was that in an entire day of work as the Survey Assistant, which I started out as, most of it was spent as free time waiting while the party chief did his calcs. So I had 5 or 6 hours a day to read and took on the task of reading the entire bible in that time. I prayed and asked God for a good bible that was easy to understand and went into the bookstore by my place to find a bible called the Good News Bible. Which later I found out was written at a grade 6 level so people could understand it easier. Everything worked out and all I needed was provided for me for the first year of sobriety. And all of this happened before I even became a member of a church.
As we drove back from Calgary to Edmonton, I very joyfully testified to my friends about what had happened to me earlier that night. They informed me that as they were driving to pick me up that something weird happened to them as well. As they were driving, my friend Jeremy asked Russell if he knew where the airport in Calgary was and both of the exclaimed to each other that they had never been there before and had no idea where it was. Just at that moment they both looked forward and saw a sign above the road that said 'Next Exit - Calgary Airport' Then after they exited and were at the airport and they both were wondering how they would find me since they didn't know what flight # or gate I was coming in at. It was then that they came through the door to find me standing right there. That was why they looked a bit shocked to see me.
When I got back to Edmonton my friends Dean and Steph took me in and let me live with them for a month or two. I'm so grateful for them because while I was with them I didn't do much. Just slept mostly, but was able to get away from the drugs for awhile so my mind could start to recover. Everything I needed I was supplied with. I went to Value Village and picked up a new wardrobe for about $100, plus I had money from a Christmas Bonus my dad had given me a few months earlier to buy food and other things. Later on I moved in with my friend Clint for a few more months and eventually moved into the house I am still currently living in.
I hooked up with my old friends from high school and started hanging out with them again. My friend Jeremy became an accountability partner during that time and I confessed to him when I was struggling and he helped me get through. My friends and family supported me in an incredible way during that time. Believers in God or not, there were so many people that God had put into my life to help me out at that time. I thank all of you for all you have done. It helped save my life and start my new one.
About 5 months after returning to Edmonton and staying clean from drugs, my friend Clint got me a job working at Scheffer Andrew Ltd. where I am still currently employed in a job I love. And the neat thing about the job was that in an entire day of work as the Survey Assistant, which I started out as, most of it was spent as free time waiting while the party chief did his calcs. So I had 5 or 6 hours a day to read and took on the task of reading the entire bible in that time. I prayed and asked God for a good bible that was easy to understand and went into the bookstore by my place to find a bible called the Good News Bible. Which later I found out was written at a grade 6 level so people could understand it easier. Everything worked out and all I needed was provided for me for the first year of sobriety. And all of this happened before I even became a member of a church.
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