Emmie loves to bake with me. Most of the time, she doesn't know the difference between flour and sugar, and definitely cannot hand me the correct measuring cup. We usually end up with a huge mess and it takes me twice as long to make the cake. I don't need her help to bake that cake, but I want it. I love spending time with her. Her eyes light up when she sees the finished creation and I can see her confidence growing. It gives her the courage to try again knowing that she was a part of it. In the same way, God does not need our help, He wants it. He loves His children and wants them involved in advancing his Kingdom. I am too familiar with thinking I am not good enough. Of doubting my worth. Believing that I am too far gone. That maybe, if I had a time machine to go back and fix all my wrongs, I could be better. If only they knew what I have done, or the things I have seen and been through. The church would not want me. There is no way that God could love me, let alone use me. And that is a lie. None of us deserve His love, but he gives it anyway. And thank you Jesus for that! I have definitely screwed up in my life over and over, and will continue to do so. Hopefully less and less with God's grace and direction, and the accountability of amazing friends. But, I will never be perfect. The pastors in the local churches are not perfect. The disciples were not perfect. Christians are not perfect. But, God. But, God uses us anyway. We aren't asked to spread the Good News. We are commanded to because it's too important not to. It is actually a matter of life and death. I am not my mistakes, I am forgiven and covered in grace. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come." And man, does that feel amazing. And, I can tell you that there is no way I would want to go back to doing life alone. Jesus is better. Jacob was a cheater; Peter had a temper; David had an affair; Noah got drunk; Jonah ran from God; Paul was a murderer; Gideon was insecure; Miriam was a gossiper; Martha was a worrier; Thomas was a doubter; Sara was impatient; Elijah was moody; Moses stuttered; Zacchaeus was short; Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. But, God met them where they were, turned their lives around, and used them to show the world who He is. God loves you. Come as you are. We can never get our lives ready or be good enough. But, He loves us anyway and He is waiting. How Can It Be by Lauren Daigle
I am guilty Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become These hands are dirty I dare not lift them up to the Holy one You plead my cause You right my wrongs You break my chains You overcome You gave Your life To give me mine You say that I am free How can it be How can it be I've been hiding Afraid I've let you down, inside I doubt That You still love me But in Your eyes there's only grace now You plead my cause You right my wrongs You break my chains You overcome You gave Your life To give me mine You say that I am free How can it be How can it be Though I fall, You can make me new From this death I will rise with You Oh the grace reaching out for me How can it be
1 Comment
Karen Samson
8/21/2018 03:50:53 pm
Thank you for your encouraging words and for reminding us that God loves us as we are! He is transforming us day by day. He is the Potter and we are the clay.
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Wild Heart, tamed by God. Chaos coordinator. Over the moon for my family. Word lover. Ice cream enthusiast. Kari. ArchivesCategories
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