Category: Hope

  • Showers of Mercy and Grace

    pussy willows

    Over the past few days, we have been blessed to have temperatures well above seasonal norms. Things are budding out everywhere. In protected areas, spring bulbs are blooming. Pussy willows are making a strong appearance.

    Starting today and for the next week, the forecast is rain. Normal temperatures, no frost in sight, but rain. Some days, non-stop rain, others off and on, and finally, occasional showers.

    I confess I found myself mumbling about the change when I read the forecast. As thought occurred to me, “How did you think all that new growth is going to get watered?”

    In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus used rain as a metaphor for His love and grace.

     “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

    He pours his love and grace out even on those who hate him. The Lord doesn’t hate sinners. He loves us all and blesses us all more than we deserve. It’s simply that sin cannot be in the full presence of a holy god, so those who reject His mercy suffer the consequences.

    When the rain comes and when the sun shines, it can remind us of the vastness of His grace and mercy. It reminds us that He’s raining mercy, or in the lyrics of a popular song, there are “showers of mercy and grace, falling on every face.”

    I don’t know what storms you face today (literal or metaphorical). I don’t know whether you have sun, rain, or snow in your forecast. I do know that God loves you and wants to bless you.

    If you know Him already, rejoice that He cared enough to save you. If you don’t yet know Him, set aside your pride and run to His open arms.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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  • Never out of control – the power of God’s consuming fire

    night time campfire

    There’s something comforting about a nice campfire. It’s warm, it makes me feel safe, and I love to watch the different colors of the flames. Yet out-of-control fires can be terrifying.

    I’ve seen the aftermath of fires, I’ve watched buildings burn, fought grass fires that threatened to get out of control, and seen the night sky lit up by dangerously close forest fires. I’ve even known the horror of seeing a person on fire. None of those brought me the comfort of my little campfire.

    Fire is a strange beast. It has been one of man’s greatest helpers, providing heat, light, enabling the forging of metal and steam power, but it can kill and destroy without warning if we’re not careful.

    Some people are fascinated by fire. Others are terrified by it. I understand both perspectives as I’ve been in both places.

    Our God is like a fire, but never out of control. He can be terrifying to those who will face His wrath and comforting to those who know His love and forgiveness. God’s wrath is not like that of an angry, spiteful, spoiled child out of control. 

    His anger is the righteous anger of a Holy God, directed at those who rebel against Him and reject His offer of love and forgiveness. He is patient in exercising His wrath, or we all would have been destroyed long ago. Both His love and His wrath burn with incredible intensity.

    Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29  ESV

    We should never be fooled into thinking that God is always like our pleasant little campfire. He’s also the power of the raging forest fire, all the burning suns put together, and more, never out of control. His wrath will come for those who don’t believe. His wrath was for us as well until we came to know Him.

    The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:35-36 ESV

    No one is born a Christian. We all become one by conversion. We move from death to life as a result of Christ’s sacrifice. We’ve been saved from the wrath of God by the grace of God. That knowledge should create in us a burning desire, an internal, eternal fire to share the truth with other people. It compels us to tell others to save them from the wrath that will come.

    And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23  ESV

    Until next time, may you be a burning torch of light and rescue in a dark, hurting, and ultimately doomed world. Let your fire for Christ burn brightly so that all can have the opportunity to be saved from the wrath.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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