Here is an excerpt from the first chapter..." I don't want to be St. John of the Cross or Billy Graham. I just want to be remembered as a person who loved God, who served others more than he served himself, who was trying to grow in maturity and stability. I want to have more victories than defeats, yet here I am (insert your age) years old, and I fail on a regular basis."
As I read that passage, I wept... somewhat uncontrollably... I am not sure why other than that the sweet presence of Jesus just sat down in the room with me as I read...
Specifically, the part about being remembered as a person who loves God got me... I love Him, and I want everyone to know I do...but it seems that most people who know me think I talk too much...I am crazy...I'm a hot head... I have trust issues... I am too emotional...I am a church rebel.... this list could go on, but I digress... It is my heart's desire however that when people see me they see Jesus...but I, like the author of this book says, "am a mess!!!"
The good thing about being a mess though... it is leaves all the more room for the glory and grace of Jesus to shine through in my life... That's what this book is all about... Being a mess yet being embraced daily, no hourly, no minute by minute...by HIS unmerited favor and endless grace!!!
I need that grace... I need to drink it, bath in it, breath it, eat it, wallow in it... you get the point.... In fact we all do, yet so many of us try to walk around all polished, prim, and proper like we some how don't... This book confronts that thought and reminds us all that we have all fallen short of the glory of God and will continue to do so 'til we meet Him face to face.
Should you go on sinning because you can't be perfect... Listen to Paul when he says...BY NO MEANS.... but don't give up and quit....Good grief...what in the world is HIS grace for if we are not gonna soak it up....Did He die in vain??
No... He died for me (and you).... the unending, horrible, awful, emotional, loud mouth, hotheaded, untrusting mess, so that one day I could be with Him!!!!
WOW!!!
WOW!!!
3 comments:
Son You are one of the Biggest Brightest Best Messes that I have ever known ! Keep on being a mess!!!!
Jed- We're all a mess. Talk about being a hot head, I have 1st place in that catagory along with road rage. I have a lot of anger issues and some times I lose control. God loves us unconditionally and gives us many chances, for this I am so thankful. I tell you what, you keep praying for me and I'll keep praying for you.
Jed,
I will definately be getting a copy of this book now that you have my attention. Your statement about wanting people to see Jesus when they look at you is something I have put as a central principle in my life. As a matter of fact, there is a song that Seamless is now playing that speaks this exactly. Actually this is a song we'll be playing friday night, and I think it has become one of our favorites as a group. It a song by Warren Barfield called "Mistaken", and if you haven't heard it, let me know, I'll let you borrow the cd. Just to quote part of the chorus...
"till everyone I talk too, hears His voice, and everything I touch feels the warmth of His hands. Till everyone I meet, sees Jesus in me...this is all I wanna be...I want to be Mistaken!"
You might be all those things you point out, and people may see that in you, but I know that those who really know you also know and see that you do love God, and it's not hard to see that!
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