Month: February 2019

Fully Known and Loved

What do the lyrics “fully known and loved” imply? God relates to us from a unique perspective. He created us and knew us individually even as we developed before birth (Psalm 139:13). God hears our words before we say them (Psalm 139:4). He knows the motives in our hearts, pure and impure (1 Chronicles 28:9, Matthew 9:4). We cannot escape Him, anywhere (Psalm 139:7-10, Romans 8:38-39)! Yet with all this insight into our personhood, which is often very unattractive, God loves us completely and unconditionally.

Last month as I prepared to serve an evening meal, my husband reached for his phone to make a call. I suggested that he wait until after dinner since I was nearly ready to put the food out. He went ahead with the call saying, “it won’t take long.” Twenty minutes later the call finally ended. The meal had gone cold as my irritation heated up. A perfectly nice dinner now needed rewarming and I was frustrated over wasted time.

Although my demeanor surely indicated my displeasure in the situation, I did not call him out on this inconvenience. The day had been a snow day off work for us. We had taken a beautiful walk around a nearby lake and enjoyed coffee together afterward. Additionally, my husband had helped a neighbor with a broken snowblower. I had heard that the neighbor needed a part or service recommendation and I knew my husband’s knack for fixing stuff. I sent him over and he soon got the machine running again to the great delight and relief of our neighbor! So, in my heart, I pardoned the delayed dinner for the previous goodnesses earlier in the day.

Human grace provides a dim glimpse of the lavish grace God grants us though we are completely undeserving of it. Tauren Wells calls it “ridiculous grace.” “Fully known and loved” encapsulates the extreme nature of God’s affection for us as the song “Known” conveys beautifully; I hope you will listen and enjoy. Today is a great day to accept God’s love and grace for you.

I enjoy putting together simple holiday wreaths.

Speak Your Truth, Really? A Crossroads – Part 3

In part 2 of this blog series, I laid out some options for making regular Scripture reading part of your life routine (“Speak Your Truth, Really? A Plan” January 3, 2019). I shared that many types of Bible reading plans exist and they can be adapted to one’s available time and one’s familiarity with Scripture. I also explained that several years ago, I began a Bible reading plan that incorporates different sections of the Bible into a single reading. It is a self-paced plan and I included in that post a photo of the lovely bookmarks my daughter made for me, to keep my four places.

Last summer, as I was following along in this reading routine, I came across specific references to God’s concern for prisoners or “captives” in three of my four passages.   This kind of thing has happened before. One passage quotes another that I’ve just read, or a previous event is referenced in a following passage. These are not coincidences; they are proof that God’s Word is a unified message from Him, and that God powerfully works through His Words. As I read the Bible that day trusting it as True, I came to a crossroads.   How would I follow-through on God’s concern for the incarcerated?

For years I have known about an organization that provides Bible study materials to prisoners. Volunteers check the lessons and return them to the prisoners with a letter of encouragement. I had always thought it would be a great opportunity. With the clear reminders in Scripture that day, I knew that’s what I must do. I hesitate to share my commitment with you because Jesus said to keep our good works to ourselves since He knows what we’re doing (Matthew 6:1-6). We are told not to boast (Matthew 23:1-12). But as this pertains to how Bible readers must respond, I cautiously tell you this story.

After scoring the Bible lesson, I write a letter. I ended this letter by composing a prayer for both of us.

Crossroads Prison Ministry developed a Bible study program designed specifically for those in prison. It’s a leveled series broken into weekly lessons. Prisoners sign up to become a Bible student and Crossroads Ministry sends them lessons. Students mail the finished lessons back to Crossroads who document completion and pass it on to a mentor like me. Mentors receive one lesson each week. We check the answers with an answer key and then write a letter encouraging them, based on thoughts they share through the lessons. Mentors return the graded lesson and letter to the prisoner in a Crossroads envelope, signing only our first name. Thousands of incarcerated individuals are doing these lessons and Crossroads Ministry needs more mentors. This is why I wanted to tell you my story about obeying Scripture. Crossroads Prison Ministry can be found at http://www.cpministries.org

I can’t leave you with the false impression that I always follow-through fully on everything God challenges me to obey in Scripture. There is much that I neglect or violate. Such is sin and needs correction. You may have heard the expression, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” That’s how it is.   Believers trust Jesus to accomplish redemption because we can’t accomplish that on our own. The life of a Christian seeks to walk more fully in God’s ways each day (Colossians 1:10, 2:6).