God Good and Bad

“When I’m good I’m very good, and when I’m bad I’m better.”  Do you know who said that?  Mae West, a less than reputable woman with immense talents:  actress, comedian, singer, sex symbol, and playwright.  She made this tagline famous. 

And so today, are you mostly good or bad?  And regardless of your answer, where is God in the mix of all of that?

Does God only like love us during our good moments, and then abandon us when we are bad?

Hang onto your shoe laces because we are going to dive into this a bit.

God wants to be the God of our mundane moments and our majestic moments.  Therefore – God loves us in the middle of the mundane as well as when we are at the peak of perfection in behavior and attitude.

If you are like me, at times I’ve wondered some things about God and His attitude toward me at certain moments in my life.  Want to tag along for the ride?

~Does God ever get discouraged with me?

~Does He get tired of my asking constantly for some things?

~Does He ever forget me or lose track of me?

~Does God ever roll his eyes at some of the things I do or say?

~Does He laugh at me?

~Does He get mad at me?

~Have I ever done anything that He just can’t forgive?

In a word – what are the limits of God’s love and grace and abilities?

Isaiah 53:6 gives us our first clue.  Here is what it says:  “All we like sheep have wandered away.  All of us have turned to our own desires and wanderings.” 

It appears to me that God knows the nature of the human heart.  Sheep are considered by some to be one of the dumbest animals around.  They don’t have sense enough to stay out of harm’s way.  They need constant care.  

And we are often compared to sheep in the scriptures.  God is extending to each of us His great love and mercy.  In effect I hear Him saying – “I love you.  I care for you.  I will lead you home.  Trust me.”

As for God losing track of us; no way.  In Psalm 121:3 we read – “He who watches over you will not slumber or sleep.”  He is on duty all the time.  He never takes His eyes off us.

I can’t imagine God ever rolling His eyes at us, for I am reminded of this:  “Yes, my child, I have loved you with a never-ending (everlasting) love.  With love and kindness I have drawn you to myself.”

~Jeremiah 31:3

Nor does God laugh at us or get mad at us.  He often laughs with us but never at us.  Tonight I played a beanbag game with my grandson.  We laughed and tossed those beanbags at the hole in the boards.  We moaned and groaned at the near misses and we cheered each other on at the hits.  I like to think that God was watching our game and cheering us on as well and laughing when we laughed and chuckling when we missed and all-in-all enjoyed TJ’s and my game. 

As for burning the bridge between God and me, I don’t know of anything that is unforgiveable.  God loves the worst sinner, the worst murderer, the worst thief and especially the guy who sleeps in church every Sunday. 

It seems to me that God has some amazing abilities and a heart that is large enough to include you and me and the whole bag of our past that we each tote around. 

I read a quote tonight that is a nice summation for our thought.  It is by Corrie Ten-Boom. 

“It is not my ability, 

but my response to 

God’s ability that counts.”

~Corrie Ten Boom

We’ve seen a bit of God’s abilities in this study.  God is able to love, forgive, heal, lead, guide, restore, resolve, redeem, and reach.

All that is required is for us to TRUST the great hand of God offered through Christ Jesus.

Will you do that?

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

When Chaos Reigns

I long for a calmer time, a simpler time.  Lately I’ve been watching a lot of old Andy Griffith reruns.  What a simple life in a simple little town.  I long for that.  

Not so today.  The rule of today’s headlines is CHAOS!

Everything is in uproar.  Everything is up for grabs and subject to ten interpretations.

I could continue listing today’s newspaper headlines and news stories, but you catch my drift as to the troubles we face individually, as a nation, and as a world.

Is there any hope? 

Is there an answer?

And then God himself reminds us of his gifts of grace and peace for such a time as this.  Here is what He says. 

John 16:13 tells us this:  “In this world you will have trouble.  Hang on.  Take heart.  I your God have overcome this world.”

Joshua 1:9 says:  Be not afraid nor dismayed.  I the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.”

In Matthew 28:20 we read:  “I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.”

 Psalm 121:3-4 reminds us of this:  “He will not allow your foot to falter or slip.  He who keeps you never slumbers.  He who keeps Israel will neither doze off nor sleep.  The LORD is your watchman.  The LORD is your shade and protector.”

The great God of the universe is on duty.  He knows about the chaos and He guides us through it. 

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Where Is God

If we listen to today’s news reports we often hear frightening words to describe our world today.  Iran has atomic bomb making properties.  Beheadings are on the rise.  Oil supplies could be threatened.  The world is near its end.

We have bad news on every hand, don’t we?  Seattle’s latest worry is that “when”, not if, the great earthquake hits, we are going to be missing a large chunk of real estate west of the I-5 corridor, not to mention thousands of lives and immense property damage.

When an enemy of the U.S. threatens death to America, we wonder what in the world is going on.

And sooner or later, we ask the ultimate questions – Where Is God?

Where is God?

Allow me to give you a few words of encouragement on that subject. 

He is here, now.  He has not left the planet.  He has not left for vacation or taken a nap.  He is here and He is watching over all of us.

Pause for 4 ½ minutes and watch this.

He Is Here

Here is a powerful story from Brennan Manning that helps us understand this idea of where God is.

Once upon a time a two-story house caught fire.  The family – a father, a mother, and four children were on their way out of the burning building when the smallest boy became terrified, tore away from his mother and ran back upstairs.  Suddenly he appeared at a smoke-filled window, crying. 

His father, who was now outside, shouted, “Jump, son, jump!  I’ll catch you.”

The boy cried, “But, daddy, I can’t see you.” 

“I know,” his father called, “I know.  But I can see you.  I’m here my son.  I’m here.”

Where is God?  He stands with outstretched arms ready to welcome you when you jump.  He will catch you, have no fear of that.

And now, here are some words from His word to help us.

“Call on me in your time of trouble.  I will rescue you.”  

Psalm 50:15

“In the day of trouble I will call upon you my God, and You will answer me.”  

Psalm 86:7

One more:  “If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.”  

John 14:14

Where is God? 

He is waiting for your call.

He simply wants you to be with Him, and His invitation is a standing invitation.  Will you accept it?

It can start with the simple words "HELP GOD!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

When Grace Calls Out

The voice of grace calls to all of us because that is the voice of our God who loves us more than we could ever imagine.

And what does the voice of grace say?

“Come disillusioned old man.”

“Come, middle-aged woman who is stuck in your job and wants to get out.”

“Come you pot-bellied one.”

“Come young person who once had a passion and zest for life, yet it now has burned down to embers.”

“Come, you who are insecure, inadequate, and mistake-prone.”

Regardless of your own perception of yourself, never let that perception cloud who you really are.  You are one who is chosen, loved, called by name, and welcomed by the Master.  He wants you by His side so much that He stretched out his arms to embrace you and then died on a Roman cross.

The greatest invitation offered to all of mankind is this:

“Come to me ALL who are weary and worn down.  I will give you rest.  Take up my yoke, for I have some good words for you, I am kind and compassionate, and I will give you rest for your soul.”

~(Matthew 11:28-30)

Our God offers a cup of grace for every trial, every situation, every mindset, every dialect, and every human condition that exists on this earth.

May you hear His call of grace today for whatever situation you may be facing.

Listen for His call … and receive.

For a moment of inspiration, 

watch this short version of 

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Thanks be to God! 

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words Web Site

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

What God Knows about You

I am watching a string of cars as they sit in line to board the Kingston Ferry.  I see a blue Honda, a white SUV, a grey Subaru, a black Ford Ranger, and the list goes on.  And the occupants in each car are all different as well.  I don’t know any of their names, but there is one who does.  I call him GOD. 

And just as He knows each car, driver and passenger, He knows you and your situation. 

Are you …

At the mall? 

At a ballgame? 

In church? 

Washing dishes? 

Are you …

Angry with someone?

Fighting a health battle?

Looking for a job?

Are you …

Lost in the wilderness?

In love?

Getting a divorce?

God is with you.  He is watching over you as He is watching my driver friends outside my window.

You see, God is in the minutia (the small trifling matters) of our lives.  And He is in the big moments of life also. 

So whether you go to church, think about church, call on God, curse God, pray or don’t, sleep under a bridge or sleep in church, God knows where you are. 

And God knows a whole lot about you.  He knows your greatest need.  He wants to help you, but He won’t come into territory where He is not invited. 

You have to do the inviting.  You can simply say “help”, or pour your heart out to God in whatever flow of words you are accustomed. 

He interprets every language

He loves every form of dress

He adores every skin color

And He can be your God too. 

In The Bible, we find these words.

²⁸ “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.

^{Matthew 11:28}

And in Psalm 139 we read this:

139 Lord, you have tested me,
so you know all about me.
² You know when I sit down and when I get up.

You know my thoughts from far away.

³ You know where I go and where I lie down.
You know everything I do.

⁴ Lord, you know what I want to say,
even before the words leave my mouth.
⁵ You are all around me—in front of me and behind me.
I feel your hand on my shoulder.

⁶ I am amazed at what you know;
it is too much for me to understand.
⁷ Your Spirit is everywhere I go.
I cannot escape your presence.

⁸ If I go up to heaven, you will be there.
If I go down to the place of death, you will be there.
⁹ If I go east where the sun rises
or go to live in the west beyond the sea,
¹⁰ even there you will take my hand and lead me.
Your strong right hand will protect me.

¹¹ Suppose I wanted to hide from you and said,
“Surely the darkness will hide me.
The day will change to night and cover me.”
¹² Even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are the same.

¹³ You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way.
I know how amazing that was!

May you receive this strong Word from the God who loves you as you are, not as you should be.

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Internet Church

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

The Welcome of all Welcomes

I wish I would have written the following copy, for it perfectly sums up what I feel this blog site - Internet Church - is all about.  It takes about three minutes to read it, and is a worthy share.

It is taken from a photograph on a church in Essex, England.  The church name is St Clements Church, Leigh-on-the-sea. 

It is my kind of church.  Perhaps you feel that way too.

At the bottom of this post is a photo copy of the actual plaque.

And now, the greeting …

~~~~~

 “We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable, or dirt poor.

We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rake or could afford to lose a few pounds.

You’re welcome if you are Old Leigh, New Leigh, Not Leigh, or just passing by.

We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a note in a bucket.

You’re welcome here if you’re ‘just browsing,’ just woke up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven’t been in church since little Jack’s christening.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters.

We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like ‘organized religion.’ We’ve been there too!

If you blew all your money on the horses, you’re welcome here. We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, ‘work too hard,’ don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost on the London Road and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts… and you!

~~~~~

May God’s grace be present in your life today and always.  It certainly is for me.

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

The God Who Loves Sinners

I want to introduce you to the God who loves sinners.  Now, before you tune me out and run off, stay tuned.  You might find something refreshing in here.

I have a question for you? 

Are you getting ready to go buy your drugs for the night or are you coming off a three-day binge of intense drug use?

Have you just bought your first bottle in a brown paper sack or have you been on a drunken stupor for four nights?

Are you leaving home right this minute to go meet up with your secret lover, or have you just returned home from an extended rendezvous?

One more.

Are you headed to church so you can complain about the music or the content of the sermon, or have you just returned from church and are fuming over the latest rumor you just heard or laughing over the rumor you just perpetuated?

I am reminded of a story in the Bible that goes something like this.

A near naked woman has been dragged from the bed and arms of her lover.  She is rushed into the synagogue where Jesus is teaching a lesson. 

The mob interrupts and throws this woman to the ground right in front of Christ.  They begin blurting out all her many sins and wrong doings. 

Meanwhile, Jesus is bent down, writing in the dust on the Temple floor.  When they finish their tirade, He stands up, looks from the woman to the angry mob, and softly speaks.

“You who are without sin may cast the first stone.”

He bends back down and continues writing.  We begin to hear stones drop to the temple floor and the shuffling of feet as people leave the building.

Jesus finally looked up and saw only the woman standing before him.  She stands, covering herself as best as she can, and is trembling and softly sobbing.

Jesus looks at her and speaks, “Where are your accusers?”

“They all left” she is finally able to mutter.

“Then neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more.”

That was the end of the sermon.  He didn’t even take an offering.

I listed a few despicable scenes that some humans face every day and week of their lives.  They are on the verge of going toward sin or have just returned from a binge of self-indulgence, and following them is this long train of guilt, shame, and the burden of yet one more failure.

And God simply stands there with open arms.  His words can bring healing, if the receiver will receive. 

His words?

“I love you.  I love you as you are, not as you should be.”

Note how Brennan Manning phrases it.

In Jeremiah 31:3 we find this:  “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with tender love and kindness I draw you to myself.”

Romans 5:8 gives us this:

‘God shows His love for us even while we were sinners.”

And I Peter 5:7 encourages us to do this:

“Lay all your anxieties, angst, worries, sins, low self-esteem and failures at the foot of God, because He cares specifically for you.”

Our God, the God of the Holy Bible, is the only God that mankind worships who loves the sinner. 

Oh, how He loves you and me!

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time