Allow me to let Anne Lamott set the stage
for our thought this week.
“The
longer I live, the more my God concept allows me to see God in a kinder,
gentler, more gracious God-way. He’s not
the ogre we were once taught as children.
He’s not ready to zap us at the first miss-step or the first foul word
that comes from our lips. He won’t put
us in time-out.”
This has to be some of the best news I
could share with you this week.
“He’s not
ready to zap us …”
Sometimes I meet people who feel exactly
like that. They fear God so much and
have such a distorted view of Him. Their
constant thought is God is mad at me.”
Let me set the record straight.
Remember the story of the woman caught in
adultery? She was pardoned right on the
spot. His words were … “neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
That’s not the response of an ogre.
And this very specific invitation:
“Come unto
me all ye who labor with heavy burdens.
I will give you rest.”
Often we find little
children to be good judges of character.
Christ was often seen with kids tagging along. His great words ...
“Let the little children come to me” are welcoming and cherished
words.
Most kids have an amazing sense of whom
to trust. No sign of an ogre here
So if God is not an ogre, then where do
we pigeonhole him?
Check this out.
“For
God so loved the world …”
“See what
great love God has lavished on us.”
“But you O
God are merciful
and gracious, slow to anger …”
Do these passages sound
like a God who is mad at you?
Do you see an ogre-type
God here?
Not at all.
I do see an
inviting God
A Loving God
A Caring God
A Compassionate God
And a Merciful God
What a concept … God is
full of mercy and grace and patience. He
loves us with a furious kind of love, and He likes us a whole lot too.
I can relate to a God like that.
Please Take 2 minutes
and watch this important video.
A Prayer
for all of Us
By Anne Lamott
Hi God
I am just a mess.
It is all hopeless.
What else is new?
I would be sick of me, if I were you,
But miraculously you are not.
I know I have no control over other
people’s lives,
and I hate this.
Yet I believe that if I accept this and
surrender,
you will meet me wherever I am.
Wow.
Can this be true?
If so, how is this afternoon – say
two-ish?
Thank you in advance for your company and
Blessings.
You have never once let me down.
Amen.
P Michael
Biggs
Pastor
Mike
Internet
Church
Offering
Hope
Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word
at a Time
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