I didn't deserve that!

I have a hard time receiving help from friends and loved ones. I kind of like to think that I can do it ALL. And I mean ALL ON MY OWN!

I have had a special person staying with us off and on over the past month. She is one of a kind. I wish I could express how much she means to me. I almost feel as if I am being accompanied by Mother Goose every where I go. She always seems to have time to help. She is SO organized. I am not organized at all and always seem to run out of time. I always have something left to do. Being around her makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be more patient. More loving. More helpful. I fall short compared. WAY short! I hope one day with time and experience I will be as wise. Now that my little tangent about my failures is over I can get back to my purpose of writing. SHE HELPS ME!

Any task or job I have and am working on, she helps me complete it. If I spill something all over the floor (I am super clumsy!), she helps me clean it! If I am working on paperwork that takes me months to complete, she helps me finish it!  If I forget what I needed to get done, she keeps me on track. The truth is I need a copycat version of her beside me ALL the time. Or maybe she will stay and never leave. (PLEASE GOD!!!) A few days ago I made lunch and was just finishing eating, she was already at the sink washing dishes. It embarrassed me. I hopped up to go try and grab the sponge and start washing. It was my mess. Why should she clean it? She told me to go do something else because she could help. The first thought that crossed my mind was "I don't deserve this!"

I don't deserve much of anything! Do you? Nope!

Does it really matter? NO!!!

We have GRACE! I LOVE His GRACE!  I NEED His grace!

Ephesians 2:8 ~ It is by His grace that we are saved!

1 Corinthians 15:10 ~ We live by the grace of God! (I am what I am because of Him.)

2 Corinthians 12:9 ~ His grace makes me strong!

I love Titus 3:7~ That being justified (justified means to be declared righteous) by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  

MEANING: I get to inherit eternal life. I don't have to work for it! I don't earn it by good deeds. I am given it freely through love.

Definition of God's grace - Unmerited Divine Favor!
Something my daddy taught me. This is also why I get to be a Kings Kid!

What is favor? - Websters says:
(a) Friendly regard shown towards another especially by a superior.
(b) Gracious kindness
(c) A special privilege or right granted or conceded
(d) Something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration.
(e) Excessive kindness or unfair partiality or preferential treatment.

I am favored. Not just by God, but I am favored among men! I don't just want to receive favor, but I want to shower people with favor! I want people to know me for spreading gracious kindness!

You're Gonna Get Hurt!

I think I say those words at least 50, yes, you read that right, 50 times a day. I have Junior Evel Knievel growing up in my home. He is only 15 months, but someone forgot to tell him he was not an adult when he was born. I find him on top of kitchen counters, above the t.v. stand, pushing chairs and stacking boxes to reach the top of the refrigerator. NO EXAGERATION!  This is the same kid I watch push this little car thing, then hop on top and surf! Yup, the entire time I am screaming "You're gonna get hurt!"  

It makes me wonder how often God does this with us. I am sure that every bad relationship, bad business move, pre-mature church plant, and way to soon move into a foreign country was prefaced by, you know it, "You're gonna get hurt!"  Now, if God knew what was coming down the road, why didn't He stop us? Right? Not really. As many times as I forewarn I cannot prevent every fall, fail, and heartbreak that will be experienced. God may be able to prevent things in the same way a parent is able to intervene. We don't always stop bad things from happening though, do we? Part of the way a child grows and blossoms becoming an inteligent, independant critter we just want to lock away for a while is by letting them learn from their mistakes. If you go back to the Garden of Eden. Yep, WAY BACK into Genesis... It all started by us having free-will. We had one rule to follow, but it was our decision to make. It was not forced. We were warned! There were, and still are, consequences to that action just like there is to every action made every day.

We can go back to basic physics. Good Ol' Newton... To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. No matter what we do in life we will get a reaction. There is no "get out of jail free" card. Sorry. I find it interesting how I talk with people that have some random encounter with God and "got radically saved". If you truly have had one of those encounters, don't let me take your joy. It can be a great thing. If it is what you want! What you truly want!!! However, I find that many people are just reaching out in the midst of their crisis. A guy just got caught with 5 kilos of cocaine. He decides to "surrender" to God out of the fear that is gripping him. Oh God can, and will, take your life and drastically change it. Just don't expect Him to take away that verdict of a jail sentence that was just announced. He isn't some genie in a bottle for you to rub when you need Him. He is there for you to call on. He will love you. He will walk with you every day as you return to your jail cell. He can even be an escape, but He isn't your "prison break".  Do you remember that still and small voice that was tugging at the back of your heart? The one that said, "You're gonna get hurt!"

We all have it every day. Just like a parent. God cares. He loves. His heart aches as you ignore His voice. A tears rolls down His cheek when He sees the pain and suffering. He is still there. He may not be the head of the prevention or intervention center. You won't find Him there. That isn't His role. He is president of Comfort and Peace Chapel. He will hold you when you are haunted by your darkest fear. He will carry you when you can no longer bear your burdens. And He will wipe your tears when you in the midst of your deepest sorrows. He picks us up when we fall off the highest mountain, even if He told us not to go their in the first place. We may face physical therapy to over come the physical damage, but He holds our hand every step of the way.