got grace???

"During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christan faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religious had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. 'What's the rumpus about?' he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, 'Oh, that's easy. It's grace.'"

"Guilt [exposing the longing for grace] was not my problem as I felt it. What I felt most was a glob of unworthiness that I could not tie down to any concrete sins I was guilty of. What I needed more than pardon was a sense that God accepted me, owned me, held me, affirmed me, and would never let go of me even if he was not too much impressed with what he had on his hands."

"I learned grace by being graced...Grace comes free of charge to people who do not deserve it and I m one of those people. I think back to who I was -- resentful, wound tight with anger, a single hardened link in a long chain of ungrace learned from family and church. Now I am trying in my own small way to pipe the tune of grace. I do so because I know, more surely than I know anything, that any pang of healing or forgiveness or goodness I have ever felt comes solely from the grace of God. I yearn for the church to become a nourishing culture of that grace." What's So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey

Once again I was blessed to experience another amazing Shiloh. I just wish I could bring every woman to these events where we have beautiful worship and bold messages. I would love for every woman to come and feel loved on and learn about who they are and who they can be in Christ.

The subject of last night's teaching was "The Glory of Grace." However, it was not this sweet and mushy message like it sounds it would be...she taught out of Ezekiel 16. I just read this chapter for the Kay Arthur bible study we are doing. It was hard to read. Ezekiel was a prophet. Prophets were most often sent to convict...showing how God's people were not measuring up to His law. Ezekiel was sent to convict...but not on how they didn't measure up to His law, but to His grace. God is speaking to Israel...and calling her a prostitute. After everything He had done for her, she was turning her back to him and seeking everything else. He was her groom, He loved her, romanced her and provided for her...and Israel was unfaithful. Angela pointed out that this chapter doesn't just speak of God's anger...but, His heartbreak. How we break His heart when we sin...when we seek other idols -- anything we put before Him. He offered and called her to life...she was seeking everything of the world which leads to death. "An intimate look at the heart of our Father."

Angela said that God doesn't just want a relationship; He wants a romance. He is the groom...we are His bride. He doesn't want us to just fit Him in...He wants us to put Him first. He is jealous for us when we look to everything else in the world to satisfy and fulfill us. Angela posed the question, "What are we worshipping?" Alcohol, drugs, porn, pills, pride, tv, body image, acceptance...the list goes on and on...She ponders perhaps, we as Christians, have also been deceived. Perhaps we too are too of the world to be distinctive as Christians...to be set apart, as God intended and desires. That we are so saturated with secular views to even see how we are selling ourselves short and breaking His heart in the process.

She said that Christan missionaries in 3rd world countries that can be persecuted to the point of death think it's harder to be a Christian in the U.S. "We rarely find substantial differences between the moral behavior of Christians and non-Christians. We would love to report that Christians are living very distinct lives and impacting their community, but..." Dallas Morning News.

How convicting. And what a balance we need to seek and have. To be in the world but not of the world. To remember our sins so that we don't do them again, but to not burden ourselves with guilt and shame when we should stand in grace. What a gift. Grace. To receive what we don't deserve. To allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us and for us to be willing to do the work to change. Like she said before, "A healthy fear of God is caring more about what He thinks than what others think." Do my thoughts and actions reflect that? I still have so much work to do. And she said He wants us to work. He allows us opportunities to work..."an internal work for an eternal good."

I cannot change society...I am society. We are all society. We are a part of society. We make up society. So, when we blame society...who are we blaming? Us. You. Me. We are responsible...but for what? I can work on me. I cannot change the world...but, I can allow it to not change me. I can allow the Holy Spirit to work in me. I can allow God to work through me. Do I always put Him first? Do I care more about what others think than what He thinks? Do I worship idols of body image, acceptancee, pride? Do I want to stay this way forever? Whatever change I would like to see in the world...in society...my family...my children...begins with me.

The hope is that He still pursues us. Me. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us less. He is the Healer...the God of restoration...the Author of Salvation...and His mercy and grace never run out.

Refine Me, Jennifer Knapp

I come into this place burning to receive your peace
I come with my own chains. From wars I've fought for my own selfish gain.
You're my God and my father. I've excepted your son.
But my soul feels so empty now what have I become?

Lord come with your fires, burn my desires refine me. Lord, my will has deceived me please come and free me. refine me, refine me.

My heart can't see When I only look at me. My soul can hear.
When I only think of my own fears. They are gone in a moment you're forever the same.
Why did I look away from you. How can I speak your name?

Lord, come with your fire burn my desires refine me. Lord.
My will has deceived me please come and free me.
Come rescue this child for I long to be reconciled to you.
Refine me. All I can do Is lift my heart and soul to you. And pray oh I will pray...