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Archive for the ‘Grace’ Category

Nailed It!

Posted in Family, Grace on October 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last Friday, I spent the day working on the house.  We are doing some remodeling and so I had plenty to do.  When Kristi got off work, she and Ethan joined me.  I put Ethan to work cutting some 2×4’s in order to frame up a wall to make a closet.  He did a great job and in a couple of minutes, we were ready to put them together.

It was tight quarters so I handed the nail gun to him and I held the boards.  As he set the nail gun on the board, he took his free hand and grabbed the board for leverage.  He then fired a nail into the board – or at least that had been the goal.  The nail hit the board at an angle and shot out side-ways.  He dropped the gun and gave a yell.  My first assumption was that the board splintered off and a piece had hit him.  After closer examination I realized that the 16 penny nail had shot through three of his fingers – “nailing” them together!

I would include a picture here but trust me, the sight was not for the faint of heart.  But take my word for it, he nailed it!

We then spent the next 2 hours at the emergency room having the nail pulled from his fingers.

By the protective hand of God, the nail did not hit a single bone and at this point, other than some puncture wounds, there does not appear to be any lasting damage!

But as I stood there in that ER with Ethan, I could not help be feel responsible.  I wished with all my heart that it had been me and not him that took the nail.  But all I could do was stand beside him and try to comfort him.

As I have reflected on that experience it has made me wonder:  in some very small way, I wonder if those feelings I had were not unlike the feelings God had as Jesus took the nails for the cross event?

Have you ever experienced having to watch a child suffer?

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Practicing My Showing Mercy Sermon

Posted in Formation, Grace on October 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Ever heard the phrase, “Practice what you preach”?  Last week I had to do that.  On Sunday the 9th I preached on loving mercy from Micah 6:8.  I reminded our folks that one of the things God expects is for us to show mercy just as God has been merciful to us.

Last Friday, Kristi and I were set to work on the house.  I rented a concrete saw in Levelland and we headed to the house.  I went straight to work cutting some brick with the saw – rentals are done on an hourly basis and I wanted to get the work done quickly so that I could get the saw back to the rental center and not spend any more money than I had to.  I started the work and made it about 3 feet before the switch went out on the saw.  I called the rental company and all they could say was, “sorry, I guess bring it back but we don’t have another one.”  I was frustrated but there was nothing anyone could do so I loaded it back up in the car and made the 25 mile drive back to the center.

I began to call around different places in Lubbock to see if I could find one there.  On my second call I found one!  And what made it even better, it was the same price as the one I was returning but instead of being a four hour rental, it was for a whole 24 hours!  Wow, this was going to be much better.

We drove to Lubbock and walked into the rental department.  I told the young man what I needed and he said, “Oh yes, I talked to you on the phone earlier – that saw is right down this aisle.”  We headed down the aisle toward the saws and he stopped and turned to me and asked what to me is one of the most insane questions I have heard in  a long time.

“Are you going to need a blade for the saw?”

Am I going to need a blade?!  My reaction was one of shock and disbelief.  What I wanted to say was, “Nope, I am simply going to drag the saw back and forth across the concrete until I wear a hole in the floor!”

Well, long story short, to get a saw for 24 hours that actually comes with a blade is double the cost of the quote on the phone.  At that point, I was beyond frustrated.  That was a little tid-bit of information that I would have liked to have known prior to making the 30 mile drive to Lubbock.  I am not sure it would have changed my plans because I had to have the saw, but none the less, not a surprise that I wanted.

But then I remembered – love mercy!

Obviously, I am not over my bitterness even today but I am smiling about it and thinking to myself, I need to be careful what I preach.

What about you – have any stories to share about having to show mercy?

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Open and Accepting

Posted in Church, Community, Grace on October 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, we had a great day at church.  The energy was high and our people were engaged.  We had a young guy in our service who came to lead worship so that the church could see if this was a worship leader they would like to call to be a permanent member of our staff.  He did a great job of leading our people to worship and everyone responded.  Overall, it was a wonderful Sunday morning.

But one of the best parts of the morning for me was not the service, but what happened afterwards.  You see, in our church, if someone comes to be a part of our family, we have a meet and greet time after the service concludes where just about every person in the service lines up to come by and shake hands and hug necks of the folks who have come to be a part of what God is doing in our church.

Yesterday was no exception.  The line went half way around the auditorium and it took about 30 minutes to get everyone through the line.  As I stood there watching our people file past this young couple, I was struck by the acceptance and openness our people offered.  It was a picture of what I believe God created us to be as the church.

I am proud of our church for striving to be open and accepting of others!

Where do you go to take refuge and be accepted for who you are?  If you don’t have a place – – our doors are always open!

Be blessed!

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In Spite of My Plan

Posted in Grace, Hope, Leadership on August 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Have you ever had one of those days?  Yesterday started out to be “one of those days.”  I got up at my normal 6:10 to get my youngest son up and off to cross-country practice.  I took him to practice and then returned home to get ready for work and a busy day.  At 7:25 I headed back to the practice to pick him up.  His run yesterday was much longer than normal so he did not make it to the car until about 8.  So now I was late.  I ran him back home, darted into the kitchen to top off my travel mug of coffee and then back to the car and down the road.

I made good time through town and out on the highway for the 24 mile drive to Littlefield.  I had my day mapped out and ready to go when I arrived at the office.  I parked the car and got out, opened the back door to grab my backpack (which contains my laptop) and – – yep, you guessed it – no backpack.  My “life” was sitting beside my chair at home – 24 miles away!

I went into the office and told my ministry assistant what I had done and then went back to the car to make the drive back home to get my computer!

I suppose it goes without saying that my scheduled plans were shot!

But I have to tell you – the day went fine in spite of me.  I had a good premarital counseling session (for which I did not feel as prepared as I like due to be being rushed), I had a great visit with a wonderful man who just lost his wife last month and actually got some things done to boot.

I was reminded that God can work in my life whether it is through my plan or in spite of it!

So today, I say – have a plan.  But don’t be so tied to it that you fail to see God at work around you!

Be blessed today!

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God Is Present – Are You?

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on July 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It is Wednesday and for some that means the middle of the week.  For many it means we are in full swing and the week is already moving at break-neck speed.  Our lives move at such a pace we seldom stop or even slow down.

But today, that is what I want you to do.  Be still.  For the next 5 minutes, realize that all the things you need to do today will still be there 5 minutes from now.  So put them out of your mind for 5 minutes and listen.  Do you hear it?  God is calling your name!

God is saying, “I am here – I am present – this is holy space and time!”

God is present with you as you read this.  So now, for the next 5 minutes – be present with God.  Listen to what God says to you.

 

I’d love to hear of your experience with God today!

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Jesus Knows and Jesus Cares

Posted in Grace, Hope on June 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Have you ever felt all alone.  Or maybe you have experienced the weight of the world crashing in on you and were overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness.  Sometimes the pressures of work and home and all the other aspects of life may seem too much to carry.

I think all of us have experienced some of this at different stages in our lives.  Maybe you are there today.

I read a passage this morning in Hebrews that might just be what you need to hear today.  Hebrews 4:15-16 says this:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus has been there and done that.  He knows everything you are carrying today and he cares for you.  This passage reminds us that we can approach God with confidence because God understands where we are and the load we are under.  This passage says that we can find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need when we approach God and ask.

Regardless of the pressures you feel today, God is with you.  You can find mercy and grace to help you because God loves you and understands.

Approach the throne of grace today.

Be blessed.

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Encountered God Lately?

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on June 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When was the last time you encountered God?  I mean, actually came face to face with God in such a way that you knew God was with you and speaking to you?

I have to be honest, I have to really think about this sometimes.  It is not that God is not present and with me – I know that is a fact.  But my problem is that I am normally too distracted to notice.  My life is hectic!  There are always emails that need a reply, phone calls to make, sermons to write, kids to tend to – and then after breakfast it really gets crazy!

You get the point.  And I am sure that your life is no different.  Our culture has ingrained in us that more is better and so we try to do more.  Unfortunately, we tend to fill our lives with really good things to the neglect of the best things.

Brother Lawrence figured this out.  You can read more about Brother Lawrence here.  He realized that when we approach our everyday tasks from the standpoint of taking them on in order to please God, our focus changes.  All of the sudden we can sense God more fully in everything we do.

You see, God is at work all around us all the time.  Our missing an encounter with God is not because God is not at work.  The missed encounter is due to the fact that we are not in tune with what God is doing.

Try this today:  with every task you undertake, think to yourself, “I want to do this in order to please God.”

I would love to hear how this turns out!

Be blessed today!

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No Room for Condemnation

Posted in Community, Grace, Hope on April 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I talked about the importance of the church being accepting of anyone who comes through the doors realizing that no one is perfect.  One comment I received yesterday was from a friend who said, “Well, I guess you are telling me I can’t come back to church – since I am perfect.”  Ricky, love you brother – I think your safe to come on back. (smile)

As I had my prayer and reading time this morning, I was reading through the first few verses of John chapter 3.  I would venture a guess that anyone in America who has ever watched a professional football game has at least seen the reference to John 3:16.  This is a very foundational verse and one that most people are at least aware of and possibly even read.

But are you familiar with John 3:17?  Here is what it says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  On the heels of the verse that tells us that God loved this world enough to send Jesus here to save it, we see that the plan was not to have Jesus come in and condemn everyone for all they had ever done wrong.  The focus was not on where we have failed, the focus was on saving – verse 16 is clear that this plan was formed out of love.

What pierces me about this verse is that Jesus, the very son of God – the one who had every right to condemn – chose to love instead.  So how can I, a very imperfect human even consider taking the stance of doling out condemnation?  Jesus came and loved people, all people, in spite of our failures and sins.

Notice, it does not say that Jesus dismisses our sins.  In fact, the very reason he came was to save us from our lifestyle of sin – to save us from ourselves.  But this passage shows us that his approach is based in love.

Our task, as Jesus followers, is to reach out to the fallen, the hurting and the sinner (that’s everyone) with love and acceptance.  We are to love and accept the person without accepting the sin.  That is what Jesus came to do and still does today.  As his followers, that is our calling.

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Love In the Face of Denial

Posted in Grace on April 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This is Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter.  Holy Week is full of meaning as we think about the last few hours of Jesus life.  Today is Maundy Thursday.  Today we remember the last meal that Jesus had with his disciples as they celebrated the Jewish Passover meal together.  Shortly after that meal, Jesus would be turned over to the religious leaders and run through a mock trial and then on to the Roman leaders for sentencing.

But even more painful for him must have been the betrayal of friends – the followers who had been with him daily for three years.  What a long night that must have been.

As you go about your day today, think about what Jesus must have felt as he shared this symbolic meal with his closest followers, knowing that each would turn from him a little while later.  Then think about how you have turned away from him to follow your own desires.

We are not innocent – but Jesus loves us anyway!  So much so that he died for us.

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The Ultimate Undercover Boss

Posted in Formation, Grace on March 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I have only seen the show a couple of times, but I really like the premise.  Undercover Boss – what a great concept.  The boss puts on a disguise and tries to blend in with the rest of the employees as one of them.

Typically, the boss takes on jobs within the company working with people he or she has never met.  The boss observes the employees and gets to know them.

By the end of the show, the boss has developed opinions about the employees with which he or she has worked.  The show wraps up each week with the boss calling each of those employees into her or his office and revealing the plot to them.  It doesn’t always turn out wonderfully for the employees, but most of the time, the employee is praised and rewarded for his or her commitment to the company.

Then the final segment of the show includes the boss addressing the entire company, explaining what has taken place.  Many times, the boss expresses a renewed passion to make the company a better place to work.  The few times I have watched the show, the boss has been emotionally affected by the experience and it shows in his or her address to the employees.  The overall result is a strengthened relationship between the boss and the employees because now, he or she knows what it is like to “be them,” and the employees have learned to see the boss as one of them.

As I watched this show for the first time, I could not help but think about how it is similar to what God did 2000 years ago.  Obviously, there are areas where the similarities break down – God did not need to know what it is like to be us, God already knows.  But, just as in the show, the end result of God coming and living among us was that there is no doubt that God truly wants a relationship with us.  We aren’t just random beings on a planet that make no difference to God.  God became one of us – to show us how to live and how to love and how to serve.  The ultimate undercover boss!

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