When We Don't Win

There is an interesting tidbit in the scriptures that I’ve run past a few times.  At the crucifixion of Christ, we learn of a thief hanging on one of the crosses who makes a bold request and it is granted.  He asks Christ to remember him when Christ comes into his kingdom. 

Christ’s response:  “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story is told in Luke 23: 32-43, and here is the point.  The thief in our story is in the last minute of his life.  The clock has just about run out and he is tied up.  He can’t go out and do an act of kindness to sort of make up for past sins.  He can’t do anything to redeem himself, except turn to the redeemer himself.  So that is what he does. 

Did you get all of that?

The man’s life would be over soon.

The final buzzer would sound.

He was out of options and out of time.

He was a thief, who had stolen and stolen a lot. 

And he probably lied about it too.

He was bad enough to be condemned to death.

He was not winning in this life and he knew it.

And yet, he is offered redemption. 

That is AMAZING GRACE.

Have you won every time in life?  Have you always acted right, spoken right, gone to the right places, lived right, told the truth 100% of the time, never cheated anyone, anytime in anyway? 

Me neither.

When we face those reminders of a failed life, along comes grace.  I love what Brennan Manning says about this.

“Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have played the game.”

~Brennan Manning

The point is this … you and I can’t earn our place in God’s kingdom.  We don’t have a sash with a bunch of merit badges sewed onto it like a Boy Scout.  We don’t get our card punched every time we say a good prayer, or help a little old lady cross a busy street. 

God knows our every weakness, sin, impulse, thought, inclination and proclivity, action and reaction. 

AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY!

Today I asked for and received my measure of grace.  And may you find your peace and forgiveness also.

God IS on our side.

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

When the Cheese Falls off the Cracker

I love a nice slice of cheese.  Grill it between two pieces of bread and that is just about the best grilled cheese sandwich one could ever want. 

UNTIL …

… Until the cheese slides off.  And then it is the end of the world, or so I think.

Has your cheese ever fallen off the cracker?  There are hundreds of ways this can happen.  Just to name a few:

-A man in his 80’s who can’t move and think as he did 20 years ago

-A singer who can no longer hit the high C’s or low D’s

-A 19-year-old who showed tremendous early abilities and now her peers have caught up

-A 54-year-old woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer

-A 59-year-old man recently fired because “they need fresh ideas”

-A 30-something woman facing a divorce  that wasn't supposed to happen

-A 55-year old woman, even a 75-year old woman whose husband died of a heart attack

-You commit the unthinkable, the unforgivable and the unmentionable

What dismal pictures these words paint.  We never want to see our cheese slide off the cracker, do we?

And yet it happens. 

Sometimes the cheese just slips.  

It crashes to the ground.

If you've ever faced failure, loss, sin, disappointment, struggles, and shattered dreams, keep reading. 

When the cheese falls off the cracker, remember this:

~God still loves~

~God still knows where you are

~He has your address memorized~

~You are welcome at any time to knock on His door

~He will leave the light on for you

Let’s hear some encouraging words from The WORD of God.

Matthew 11:28

“Come all of you who are tire and carry heavy loads, even those of you whose cheese has slipped off your cracker. (I got carried away there, but it fits, doesn’t it?)  I will give you rest (and another, fresher slice of cheese).  You will find me to be gentle and humble in spirit and I’ll give you rest in your life.  I’ll replace your heavy load with a lighter load.  (Paraphrased PMB)

John 16:33

In this world you will have problems and troubles, but hang on.  Be brave.  I have already defeated the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything.  Just pray and ask me (God) for everything.  Remember to give thanks.  In return I will give you amazing peace.  It will so great that you will never understand it, and it will help keep your mind on me.  (God/Christ Jesus).

Psalm 55:22

Cast every burden you have upon God.  He will sustain you.  He will never suffer the good and just person to be displaced.”

Psalm 23:4

“Yes, even when I walk near death, I will not fear anything, for you God are with me.  Your defensive weapons surround me and comfort me.”

Remember this …

He saw the cheese fall. 

     He sees what you need now. 

          And He is still God.

May you find great comfort in this thought today.

P Michael Biggs

Internet Church

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

God Leaves the Light On

Picture this scene.  Perhaps you are out late.  Maybe you are tired from working all day.  Maybe you are lonely or afraid.  You simply want to know if anyone anywhere knows you are alive and would welcome you if you really needed help.

I have some incredible news for you.  There is one who will welcome you.  He is God, the Redeemer, your Friend and Savior.

Listen to some of his words.

“Come unto me all who are weary and loaded down with burdens and concerns.  I will give you some rest.”  Matthew 11:28

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower.  The righteous run to it and are saved.”  Proverbs 18:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

I Peter 5:7

It seems to me that God is saying in effect - “If you need me any time, any place just call.  I’ll always leave the light on for you.”

That is some of the most encouraging news I could possibly share with you. 

We are welcomed.

          We are invited.

                    We are expected.

                              We belong!

That’s right – we belong with God, just as we are.

Are you dirty?  Don’t go home and shower first. Come as you are.

Are you tired?  Don’t go take a nap.  Come to him and rest.

Are you loaded down with sins?  Come to the redeemer.

Whatever you need, regardless of the time of day or the day of the week, you are invited to come to the one who loves you more than you could possibly imagine.

He will leave the light on for you.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Say the Words

There is an interesting story in the Bible in Luke 7:2-10.  A high ranking Roman soldier, a Centurion, hears that Christ is nearby and sends some people to ask him to come and heal his chief servant.  As Christ nears the home, the Centurion sent Christ a message saying in essence “I’m not worthy to have you come even under the roof of my house.  If you will but say the words I know my servant will be healed.”

Christ is amazed.  This must surely take the cake.  He even comments on the man’s audacity and boldness, and great faith.  He says, “I tell you this, I have never seen such great faith, even in all of Israel.” 

The servants return and the sick servant was healed.

And look what we have.  We have great faith.  GREAT FAITH!

What does this speak to you and me?  It speaks of great faith.

Now get the picture.  A man, the Centurion, says simply, “Christ, say the words from over there and I believe in you enough that my servant will be healed.”

And so it was so.

What kind of faith is this?

What kind of faith do you exert?  Do you need a talisman – a lucky rabbit’s foot?  Do you need to kiss a crucifix?  Do you need your hands on a certain Bible in order to see prayers answered? 

None of those were mentioned in this story.  No magic potion, no proper clothing, no burned sacrifice was needed for the healing to be performed.

Just great faith!

GREAT FAITH!

God is offering us this same access.  He still works through our faith.

The words He wants to hear the most are these – I Believe!

Need sins forgiven?  Believe in the Redeemer.

Do you have a need that needs to be met?  Believe.

I don’t understand it, but then I’m not required to understand the power of faith in God.  I just have to exercise my faith. 

Christ saved the servant that day.

What do you need saving from?

Now might be a dandy time to prayer your prayer of faith.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

The One Who Stands with Us

There is a great story in the Bible that I want to focus on for today’s thought.  Picture this scene.

Christ has arrived early to the Temple to teach a class.  A crowd of eager listeners gather and so the class begins.  Sooner than soon there is a disruption right in the middle of his lesson. 

A group of religious types –teachers and church leaders, burst in on the meeting dragging a woman into the middle of His lesson.  She is barely covered, more by using her hands in strategic places than by any snatches of cloth that is available to her, for she has been snatched straight from the bedchamber in her near naked state and is being forced to stand before the Christ.

The disruptive clan leader speaks.  “Teacher, we caught this woman in the middle of committing an adulterous act.  She was in bed with the man, and we dragged her here so you could see for yourself.  The Law of Moses clearly says to stone her.  What do you say?”

And here is what happened next.  He bent down.  He bent down and began writing on the floor. 

They were being ignored.  They said it louder.  “Teacher, what do you say?  The law says this.  What about your opinion?

They were setting a trap, you see.

He wrote a bit more, and then He stood up.  Christ stood up.  He looked at the woman.  She was trembling.  Her hair was a mess, shame was written all across her face, and she hung her head.  She expected the worst pronouncement of all from this man.

And Christ spoke.  He didn’t speak to her.  He spoke to the crowd.  His words echoed off the stone walls, and reverberated around the chapel chamber.

“Those without any sin my certainly cast the first stones.”

And then he bent down and wrote in the dirt.  He wrote more.

If you listen closely, you’ll hear a few well-placed thuds as the stones are falling to the ground, and you’ll hear some of them rolling around as they bounce off the hard ground. 

When He looked up, the woman still stood before Him.  She was still attempting to cover her body, and she still hung her head in shame and guilt. 

He asked her:  “Where are your accusers?  Is there no one now accusing you?

She looked around.  Shock and awe must have been in her expression, for she alone was standing in front of the man, the Christ.

She spoke in a faltering voice.  “They … they must have left.  No one is here accusing me any longer.”

And He spoke the words.  “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more.”

What a great story.  And it is not a parable – a make-believe illustration but a real life experience.

Christ stood with her when the accusers came to destroy her. 

And still today we experience the same.  Christ is on our side.  He offers redemption and restoration when others issue proclamations and decrees of condemnation.  When others judge our motives, our past and our weaknesses, Christ stands with us.

Max Lucado puts it this way.  “(Christ) is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.”  (Romans 8:34)

When the accusations fly, his grace flows.  And it flows all the way down to where you and I stand, and covers our sins and missteps. 

He is our defense attorney.  He pleads our case for us. 

Are you placing your trust in this Christ?

He is THE one who stands with us when the stones fly, the words accuse and the court of public opinion turns south on us.

He is our ally.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Searching for a Savior

When I meet someone for the first time I try and look into their eyes.  And what do I see? 

Fear

  Courage

    Boldness

      Anger

        Love

          Mercy

            Confidence

              Tenderness

                Trust

                  Evil intent

When I metaphorically look into the eyes of God my Savior, I see mercy.

MERCY!

I hope you do too.

I see a generously kind and grace-filled Savior looking for His wayward child.

Are you a lonely soul in need of a Savior?  Then perhaps this will cheer your heart.  I’m borrowing some lyrics from Sandi Patti’s great song There Is a Savior, written by Greg Nelson and Bob Farrell.

There is a Savior, what joys express

His eyes are mercy, His word is rest

For each tomorrow and yesterdays

There is a Savior who lights our way.

Those are reassuring words, wouldn't you say? 

I especially love the phrase “His eyes are mercy, His word is rest.”

The world begs for mercy.  Harshness abounds on every side.  Payment is demanded.

And sometimes we want to cry out in great despair … Is There No Mercy?

And if we look at the balance sheet on which our lives and deeds are represented, we might see great gaps, goofs, missteps and misspoken words, dastardly deeds, and some stupid acts. 

Where can we find mercy for this bundle of badness?

The invitation is offered. 

“Come unto me, all who labor 

and are heavy laden.  

I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

And when we approach to accept the invitation, what do we find? 

Amazing relief

     Sins forgiven

          The past washed away

               A clean slate

Here is the verse to this great song. 

Are there burdens in your heart

Is your past a memory that binds you

Is there some pain that you've carried far too long

Then strengthen your heart with His good news

There is a Savior and He’s forgiving you

Now, treat yourself to this full blown version of the Talley’s singing this song.

A Prayer for All of Us

God:

I am a soul in need of a Savior.  Even at my best I often feel so inadequate. 

Help, God.

Is there really some relief from this burden of my own doing?  Is there a way out from under this weight that I bear?

If so, I’d really like some help.  I need a bucket load of help, if you don’t mind.

And so I ask … and so I expect to receive.

Your scared and very weary child,

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Impossible Is Possible

Don’t you hate impossible situations, closed doors, stubborn relationships, mountains that can’t be climbed, and a bank account that is empty?

If there is one encouraging thought to give you today, it would be this. 

“Impossible is one of God’s favorite words.”

~Max Lucado

In Luke 1:37 Mary had just been visited by Gabriel, the chief angel of God, and she heard some perplexing news. 

   It was preposterous. 

      It was beyond imagination. 

         It was impossible. 

Her question is this:  “How can this be?”

In other words …

No way Hosea.  Are you crazy? 

Did you misunderstand the plan? 

How can I get pregnant when I've had no relationship with a man?

And the great answer comes: 

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

And the answer still echoes across the ages, across the gap between heaven and earth and from my heart to yours.  It is perhaps the great promise from God to mankind. 

He is saying in effect:

     ~I've got this.

     ~I see you and I know what you need.

     ~I haven’t abandoned you.

     ~I am the steady hand on the wheel of your life.

     ~Let me fight your battles for you.

I've seen a few impossible things change to possibilities before my eyes.  

-I was once given a money gift of 

$3,000 when I was down to a 

few dollars in my bank account. 

-I've been given grace 

when I should have 

been given grief.

-I've seen people healed 

when the prognosis 

was typically certain death. 

-I've survived near misses 

and an auto accident 

that could have been the end.

What have you seen?  Have you had an impossible miracle?

Remember, with God nothing is impossible. 

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time