He's nuts about ya, sis!

I was just reading the newsletter from Mary DeMuth, and her article, Life's too important to be taken seriously. So, Lighten up.

I had to laugh--I'm too serious, too. (? Well, yes. )

I fret about little things, I fret about big things, when the main thing I should dwell on is what a pastor from Florida told me.

We were waiting to enter the house of the first prime minister of Israel, David ben Gurion. The September breezes were pleasant, and palms and the lawn and the little house glowed golden in the late afternoon sun as we sat at a picnic table with our group, waiting to enter.

(Talk about a serious man. Ben Gurion's office had shelves of books, and two desks, one covered with stacks of more books, and a new--or rather, renewed--nation to lead. I showed my photo of all the books to dh, but he was not impressed with my excuse for owning a million books, too.)

Anyway, we were talking about God. I knew I was saved, my sins forgiven, because I was submitted to God and had repented--change my mind--about living my own way instead of God's way.

I just wanted to be sure God wasn't holding me at arm's length for being His kid and still not doing everything right.

And this pastor brought tears to my eyes with a smile and these simple words:

He's nuts about ya, sis.

Isn't that great! If I can just remember that, next time I'm too hard on myself.

This is what my heroine, Maggie, could not grasp. God is love, she says, and when she goes through the fiery trial, she's shocked. She turns from the One who could deliver her. Her life spirals downward into the occult, her mood and her paintings turn darker and darker, fear and pain become her constant friend. But God never lets go of her. And her sunny disposition and her life are finally restored when she CTR--comes to realize--the Lord's nuts about her.






Kinda goes along with Liz Curtis

Higgs' Embrace Grace.

The Lord's nuts about ya, sis. You, too, bro. Lighten up.

Six people killed! er, raised from the dead!

We are somewhat callous to the first part of that "headline." In these days, we easily believe it. But we are pretty much incredulous of the second part.

Yet, that's what I read happened in St. Augustine's church in Hippo. Six people were raised from the dead, as reported in City of God by Augustine, according to John Wesley in the book, The Holy Spirit and Power.

And this was long after the death of all the Apostles. And long after the completion of the New Testament.

So, why don't we see that today?

We do read reports of such from time to time. But how many of us have actually witnessed it?

I'd love to hear from you if you have.

And I'll rephrase the question. Why don't we see more of that today? Do we lack faith?

Jesus questioned whether or not He would find faith on the earth when He returned.

And that may be pretty soon.

We know faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. And faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.Maybe that's it--do we really welcome the Holy Spirit--receive Him and all His works, His gifts, His desires--as totally welcome in our hearts? And in our writing? Or do we just use Jesus as a fire escape and do the minimum to stay in fellowship with Him?

It may also be that we are in a time where the whole church has a problem. There is a church that Jesus wants to spit out of His mouth, it's so lukewarm. Oy. Could that be us?

Yes or no, this is worth a try: Let's all pray for Him to (continually) fill us and use us.

Maybe we'll even see people raised from the dead. Along with a lot of other things.

Habakkuk 3:2 (New International Version)

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.

In the mighty name of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.