Thank you

Do you think the desire to 'pay people back' is an innate sin-nature trait, an innate God-given trait, or a learned-by-society trait?

Im not sure... I know it is partly pride but I wonder if it is originally a God-given trait that has been tainted by pride... or originally a sin-nature trait we have to combat.

There is a couple in my church who have given me so much it is ridiculous. They are constantly giving-giving-giving and it is embarassing! I honestly feel like avoiding it or just not mentioning anything because I don't want them to give me anything else! Being needy is truly not a comfortable situation for most of us. I have been thinking constantly how I can show them my gratitude? Should I buy them a gift card? I feel like a thank you card doesn't have value because Id have to give them one every day and it loses its meaning.

This is how we are before God. We can never ever pay him back! This is why grace is such a hard concept for us and we'd prefer a works salvation because then at least I did something for it! With God, our desire to give back is like slipping someone a buck who just saved your life. 'Here- go have a cup of coffee on me.' Ludicrous. I remember listening to a Piper sermon where he talked about the line in Come though Fount- "O to Grace how great a debtor daily Im constrained to be..." Every day I get further and further indebted!

How can I show God thanks?

"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people." -Psalm 116:12-14

What is Faith?

This morning I attempted to teach swim lessons to an 8 and a 9 year old girl who were afraid of drowning and didn't know how to swim. One of the little girls wouldn't even try... She had almost drowned once and her fear had completely immobilized her. No matter how much I assured her that I wouldn't let go of her, her fear of drowning was greater than her faith in my words.

This analogy could go many ways. One way that I will leave open for you is that despite her fear she REALLY wanted to learn how to swim. When we left she was almost in tears because she didn't get to really try to swim because she refused to do all the things I asked her to. I sat down with her before we left and asked her if she would try next time and if she really did want to learn how to swim. I have been told before that you will do whatever you desire more... if you desire to be thin more than you desire the chocolate cake- your actions will follow accordingly. If your desire to swim is greater than your fear- you will do what it takes to learn. To that argument many have produced the example Paul sets forth in Romans 7 about conflicting desires. When I asked this little girl- which is stronger, your desire to swim or your fear of the water? And she adamantly shouted BOTH! Infer what you will.

I want to expound on the faith issue. Today I read in Luke 7 about the faith of the centurion. In my opinion, faith is a very hard concept to define. Hence why God gave us an entire chapter of what faith looks like analogies in Hebrews 11. In Luke 7, Jesus says this is the greatest example of faith He's seen in all of Israel. The centurion recognizes the absolute power of Christ and places himself wholeheartedly (and humbly!) under his authority.

Side note: I LOVE the centurion's attitude and I know Christ did as well. In verse 4, the people all come to Jesus and say (Vanesa paraphrase version)- this man DESERVES you to heal his servant- he loves his nation and has even given the money to build our entire church building! WHOA. ;) The centurion however says, "Lord I don't even deserve to have you enter my home!"

Lord keep me in an attitude of humble faith! Recognizing how underserving I am of all your graces. No matter how much I could ever give or do... it is so small! I deserve death.

"Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this GRACE in which we now stand." -Romans 5:1-2

Beautiful Sovereign Grace song entitled GRACE UPON GRACE. My favorite of the day:

You have ordained every breath we take
In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake
Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand
And sufferings brief carry out Your plan
And our fleeting sorrows will yield an endless prize
When some bright tomorrow we’ll see You with our eyes,
****************
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Through the precious blood of Christ.
****************
Father of lights, Giver of all grace
Your mercies crown our lives all our days.
River of Life, quench our thirsty souls
For no true delight does Your love withhold.
And in every season we are satisfied
For just one reason- Christ was crucified

Bouquet Toss

This morning in church I was talking to a few dear friends of mine who went to a wedding last night. One of the lovely single ladies had caught the bride's bouquet during the toss. Since she was quite obviously less than thrilled, I probed a little deeper.

It was really funny to hear them tell the story. For anonymity sake, we will call them Andrea and Margaret. ;) We will say Margaret was the one who caught the bouquet.

So you have all been to weddings where several girls parade out to the floor to cat fight, kick, and claw over the flying floral arrangement. Having been to quite a few weddings, Margaret has caught one of these fight-for-your-life bouquets before. This wedding was far the exception. Only 4 single girls dragged themselves out to the floor for this bouquet toss. Sheepish and embarrassed, Margaret and Andrea definitely did not do any reaching or body-blocking when this bouquet was tossed. It hit the floor first... then Margaret shamefully extended an arm to pick it up.

Funny how something that Margaret had previously gloated in became an object of shame?
Hello S-I-N.

"What benefit did you reap from the things that you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!" -Romans 6:21

Canadian Geese

Today I almost ran over 3 canadian geese just marching along in front of my house... they have been overly domesticated from the consistent feeding of my neighbors and now no longer know to STAY OUT OF THE ROAD.
Especially when I'm driving. ;)

While in the Grand Canyon, we found squirrels who had the same perilous problem. The rangers said they have had to shoot 21 deer in 2008 alone! The deer have become so dependent on food from the humans that they no longer know how to find their own food in nature.

This is analogous to MANY things in our lives... but I think the most convicting is in regard to our desensitization. There is a couple at my church who continually sharpens me, and they are so far removed from the world that things still shock them. We have become so intertwined with the things of the world that not only does it not seem bad, we don't even remember what it was like to desire the pure spiritual milk of the Word more than the imitations the world feeds us!

One of the ways they have opened my eyes is in the area of modesty. They will look at something and have to look away or be embarrased as I am sitting there like WHAT? What is wrong with it?
Sick.
Lord open the eyes of my heart to recognize the pretty treats and lures of the world are disguised graves bringing shame! All praise to my creator who knows how to feed me best!

"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." -Proverbs 9:17-18

Feast or Famine?

My mind is currently full of these analogies (hence the reason for starting the blog)...

I recently backpacked a few days in the Grand Canyon with a dear friend of mine (Kata holla). Amid the scoffs of those who found us foolish for facing the desert in July, we had an amazing time.

We did hit the usual low point, however, this time on day #2. During July, the national park service guidelines are to avoid hiking between 10 am-4 pm each day because of the high risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration. We started hiking that day at 6 am, and aside from a short break from 10-11 at the gorgeous Ribbon Falls, we were hiking in the heat of mid-day and OUT OF WATER. Around 1:30 pm, the headaches begin and the grouchiness ensues, but we are foolishly determined to press on. By the grace of God, we made it to our destination in mostly one piece, got water and attempted to cool off the best we could.

So where is the analogy?

The minor detail I left out of the above description is that for almost the entire hike back that day, our trail was about a stone's throw away from the river. Gorgeous blue, cool, running water, well within reach (with a little effort) but we were determined to forge on without it.

It just really reminded me how often we go through our days ignoring the stream of LIVING water. It is totally within reach, requiring some effort but not unattainable amounts, but we choose to do without it.

"O Lord, the HOPE of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water." -Jeremiah 17:13

Post #1

Today in church, my pastor talked about how in Nehemiah the people created BOOTHS on top of their homes and lived in them for 7 days as a symbol to remind them of God's provision, grace, and restoration. (Nehemiah 8:14-18) I won't rehash his whole sermon, but you can check it out at http://www.gracebiblerichmond.org/

He also talked about how the people used to wear coats made of itchy, skin irritating fabric to be a constant reminder to them of the disgusting nature of their sin.


I am currently reading through Ezekiel and the whole book is basically an analogy. God puts the prophet Ezekiel through amazing trials in order to try and help his people truly UNDERSTAND a picture of the message he wants to send them. The Lord even kills Ezekiels wife in chapter 24 to show the people he will take away their heart's delight and joy!
Unreal.