A break next week?

We tend to almost hold our breath for breaks.  The pace of living often makes a reprieve something that most of us look forward to.  A break from the daily schedule, the weight of work, the impact of the urgent, the frustration of repetition, it's all interrupted with what we like to do.  

Next week many people will find different ways to live a week of break, even if it is without a vacation or trip to some place that is really warm.  Many will do what they have been holding their breath for.  

The Spirit of God wants us to know some of the things that the Father will not take a break from.

1. He will not take a break from the plan.  God's plan is eternal and includes a home that has been prepared for those who have faith in him.  Driving an SUV will not end the world - God will.  Dishonest governments will not end the world - God will.  Satan himself will not end the world - God will.  He's got a plan for the universe; we should not be too arrogant with our messes.

2. He will not take a break from loving.  For us love is an emotion that can be turned on and off with physical appearance or relational status.  God's love isn't as shallow as ours.  His love is as deep as His nature and touches every fiber of His being.  Even punishment and judgment are filtered through the fingers of love.  The fact that such love is hard to understand doesn't make it a fable.  His love is more real than we know.

3.  He will not take a break from grace.  Grace is what draws us, sustains us, restores us, grows us, and glorifies us.  Every moment of God's eternity will include the scent of His grace... including the one right now.  Grace is that channel of interaction between the created and the Creator.  It requires God sized hands to open that channel - we can't work hard enough to deserve it.

4. He will not take a break from restoration.  He is about restoring people to who they were made to be.  He is about chipping off the edges and making whole the gaps.  God is about people knowing and living in the freedom and power they were made to know.  

5. He will not take a break from listening.  He listens to the cries of His people.  He listens to the laughter of His people.  He listens to the silence of His people when their souls are too busy to talk.  God does more than hear... he actively listens.  

6.  He will not take a break from being worthy.  He is worthy of my praise.  He will not stop being that.  He is not hoping that some dirty indiscretion will never finds its way to the public - He is worthy.  God is not pretending or puffing himself up to impress people - He is worthy.  God is not demanding what is undeserved - He is worthy.

7.  He will not take a break from believing in you.  God has a faith in you that will not waver.  He believes in your holiness, your ability to grow, your power to choose what is better, the healing of your soul that is damaged, and your desire to know revival.  God has faith in you that you can be what he empowers you to be.

God is not thinking about taking a break next week!

Counting on it,

Pastor Dave        

A Question for Jesus

David:
Jesus, I have a question.  It might not be the most spiritual question you've ever been asked, but I was just wondering something.  Sometimes I have questions because I don't think, but I've been thinking this one through.  

I know I've asked you some pretty goofy questions before, (like the one - what were you thinking when you created giraffes?) but I think this one is better.  It's not like the one about why do bad things happen to people who don't deserve it, or why don't you make it so child abusers arms fall off before they hurt a child.

Sometimes I can imagine what the answer might be.  By the way, thanks for my imagination.  It kind of bugs people sometimes, but I'm glad you gave me one.  But, I can't use my imagination and let what I know about you push this question away.

Is it ok?  Can I ask you a question again?

That's one of my favorite things about our relationship - you let me ask questions without making me feel like a dingbat.  You've never mocked me for what I don't understand.  

Sometimes I come up with real religious sounding answers to my questions.  You've said you're not fond of answers that pretend to be deep.  You've never liked it when I ram the Bible into a question so I don't have to think anymore or even really listen for your heart in the words.

Here it is - What were you thinking about two weeks before you died?  

We're two weeks away from Good Friday and I was thinking, were you too busy to think about what was coming?  Did you have to psych yourself up to go through with it?  Did you avoid thinking about it?  What was it like to know that you only had two weeks left?  Did you ever wonder if you heard your Father right?  Did you think about going to Egypt instead of Jerusalem?  When I know something bad is coming I do everything possible to avoid it.  Is that why you cried at the garden?  When you got to go back to heaven did you ask your Father why He didn't stop them from beating and killing you?

I guess that's a lot of questions.  You don't have to answer if you're too busy or it's too personal... but, what were you thinking about two weeks before the cross?

Jesus:
That's a good question David.  I'm glad you asked.  I would love people to ask that question so I could give them all this answer.

I was thinking about how much you would love getting rid of sin and how big your smile would be when you were free.  I was thinking about how willing I was to do anything to be able to spend eternity with you.  I was thinking about what a wonderful time you and I would be able to have when you let my Spirit fill you, and guide you, and teach you, and love you, and calm you, and heal you, and even correct you.  I was thinking you would be worth it.  And I was right, you are! 

David, I know this is hard for you to understand - the answer is you.

David:
Oh.

Jesus:
Can I ask you a question?

David:
Yes.

Jesus:
It's two weeks before Good Friday, what are you thinking about?


Thinking about Jesus,

Pastor Dave