Grace Amazing

I'm currently reading this book called Grace by top selling author Max Lucado and it's very enlightening.  It talks about the single topic of God's Grace.  Wow.  An entire book dedicated to that phenomenon.  Why would someone want to devote an entire book to that?  Maybe because we still don't understand it.  Sure we talk about God's Grace in our songs, hymns, sermons, and daily Bible discussion but do we really...I mean really understand the ramifications of God's Grace??  I know that I don't/didn't.  It's not something I can wrap my heads around it.  Like Jimmy Needham's song says: "You got that Grace AMAZING."

Do you realize what Christ did??  I mean do you really realize what Christ did for you?  This man, who came from God, came to the earth NEVER sinned, but took the punishment for the greatest sinner.  Bore the most humiliating death at that time!  I know I've noted that before but mannnnnnn...

Today (August 27th) is my parents wedding anniversary.  This year (2012) they will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary.  And I'd like to think that if you were going to ask them to sacrifice me to die for this wicked world they wouldn't do it. (I could however be wrong...sigh) But GOD did it!  Jesus willing died for us ALL.  Why??

Why the heck would Jesus die for this world?

There are something that I just...can't understand.  That's why His grace is AMAZING.

Not only is His grace amazing but it's free!  How does the saying go: The best things in life are free.  So you are telling me, that I get:

1. A peace that passes all understanding (Philippines 4:7, John 14:27)
2. Salvation; Eternal Life (Romans 10:9)
3. Forgiveness for ANYTHING I do. (Ephesians 1:7)
4. Love...not just any love but UNCONDITIONAL love. (Psalm 86:15)
5. Protection. (Psalm 23:4)
6. Power (2 Timothy 1:7)

All for FREE!  I'm sooooo thankful for God's grace.  This undeserving grace towards me.

I could've been dead!

Sleeping in my grave;

But God blessed me to see

Another Day

And even when I did wrong

You were still there

I'm so glad that

God

Still

Hears

A

Sinner's Prayer

Of course it ain't all that simple.  There is a force, there is a pow'r, there is a being that HATE's God's Grace.  He/It/That Thang wants us all the die...to perish!  You know what I'm talking about.  The great Accuser.  The devil doesn't want you to love God's grace.  He doesn't want you to accept God's Grace.  He wants you to look at it with skeptical eyes.  Blind eyes.  Lucado, in my favorite paragraph of the book so far talks about how the Great Accuser tries to make you feel bad...tries to blame you for everything..tries to pervert God's Grace.

"Satan never shuts up...Day after day, hour after hour.  Relentless, tireless.  The Accuser makes a career out of accusing...Satan's condemnation brings...regret.  He has one aim: 'to steal, and to kill, and to destroy' (John 10:10).  Steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future....He enlists people to peddle his position.  Friends dredge up your past. Preachers preach all guilt and no grace. And parents, oh your parents.  They own a travel agency that specializes in guilt trips.  They distribute it twenty-four hours a day.  Long into adulthood you still hear their voice: 'Why can't you grow up?' 'When are you going to make me proud?' Condemnation (is) the preferred commodity of Satan."

Now I'm not saying all this is true about everyone because I don't personally fit the parents section.  I've always felt loved by my parents but I've certainly felt the other mentioned ones as well as others not listed and I know you have as well.  As my previous blog, "No Condemnation" says, Jesus repeatedly said that he did NOT come here to condemn us, but to love us.

That's why Ima Christian.  That's why Ima Christ follower.  Jesus loves me, he gots my back no matter what!  I can talk bad about him under my breath (which God still hears), I can yell/argue with him about life, I can vent to him, I can boast about him...No matter what I do, He will still love me.  He loved me enough to die on the cross for me.  I just wish, I just pray that everyone one day will realize God's grace.  Will realize that He loves you.  Realize that he wants your heart so he can guard it and keep it safe.  God doesn't want your heart to eat, he doesn't want your heart cuz he's selfish.  He wants your heart because He knows that it's the only way to keep it safe for an eternity.  It's a fail-proof lock ya'll.

Ima end it with the song we used to sing at the end of my old church service:

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

You've Got To Forgive

Well, yesterday (August 12th), I preached my first sermon.  It was on forgiveness, and for the most part I think it went well.  I'm generally an overly critical person so there are somethings I don't like about it and there are some things that I need to improve.  But for the first time, I'm overly pleased.  You can check it out here if you want!

You've Got To Forgive

~Michael J. Adams

You

Hey, it's me again.  The one that felt deserted.  The one that felt unappreciated.  The one that never quite seemed to fit in because my family raised him a lil bit different.  Just because you may not have liked my parents doesn't mean it has to go down on him.  I wanted to help out...I wanted to desperately get involved, to feel wanted. And yet you shoved me out.  And now you are surprised when you find out where I am. Who I'm trying to become? How God is using me??

I used to hate you.  I used to absolutely loathe your presence.  Every week I would dread that day were I would face your presence.  If it wasn't for my loving parents forcing me to attend you once or twice a week I guarantee you I wouldn't have visited.  When I was in your presence I felt judged, looked down upon, and used.  Yes, there were parts of you that I loved.  Parts of you that welcomed me, that loved me.  But, the nasty parts..the mean parts always seemed to overtake me...to consume me.  But yet...yet...my parents still forced me to go see to you at least once a week.  There were times where I would act like I was sick just so I wouldn't have to engage you.  Yep, I said it...I lied just because I couldn't stand your presence.  You were supposed to love me.  You were supposed to care about me..for me.  You were supposed to be part of my family.  I was supposed to be happy to be around you..at least most of the time. But, I never wanted to be near you....

Once I graduated high school I felt free!  I never had to see you again.  I never had to see you or any of your cousins again!  But wait...I went to a college that was based off you.  Why?  Why would I spend the next four years of my life learning more about you!?  I initially didn't know why God pointed me in that direction, but soon I would find out...

My first year in college I did everything to avoid you and your cousins.  I would never go visit you unless I was forced to because of my love for music or some older people required me to.  I enjoyed my sleep. (I am NOT a morning person).  I mean seriously, why would I wake up early to visit you when I didn't even like you.

My next year I dated a girl who was in love with your extended family.  Wow...it was contagious.  She actually got me excited to go meet your 2nd-cousin-twice-removed!  Once I entered into her presence...I felt something different.  I didn't feel judged...but I didn't feel loved either.  But my girlfriend was in love with your family.  So, naturally I kept going.  The more I went, the more I learned.  Your 2nd-cousin-twice-removed is a smart lady.  She really knew how to keep me interested...to teach me.  But soon I lost the fire to visit even her.  I eventually broke up with my girlfriend and was left in the same place...

But then, I saw something.  You was struggling...Here was my chance to feel loved...To feel wanted! I had the tools to help you.  Yet you refused me.  Once again you looked down on me.  After that, I never wanted to see you again!  You scarred me for my next year (Junior Year of College).  Until...

I was coerced to come meet another one of your family members...It had to be God that introduced us because once I met this beautiful relative, I felt loved.  I didn't feel judged.  I felt anew!  Even though I still was unsure about this Beautiful Monster, I kept going because I couldn't get enough of her!  She wasn't perfect, but then again, no one is. She, however, loved me.  And I started to love her.  She had one of the best brains I had ever seen and the rest of her body was great as well (it gets a 9 out of 10 if you know what I mean!).  I never thought I could learn so much from someone like her.  I've fallen in love with her.  Eventually, there may come a day when I have to leave her.  But I want to say that thanks to her, I've been restored and replenished.  I've been restored in my faith in God.  And I love your family, flaws in all.

Now, I just want to tell you that I'm sorry.  I'm sorry for lying to you.  I'm sorry for hating you.  Before I just saw all of your flaws and denied the good in you.  Though you may be surprised where I am now, (aka trying to become an important part of your family) I hope that you continue to pray for me.  I just want to ask for your forgiveness.  If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be where I am now. Thank You You!

To my readers, if you havent figured out who you is.  You is church.  That's my church journey in a quick snippet.