Judging according to the flesh is death

Sometimes I will post honest stuff that is going on, in the hopes that someone else will benefit. This quote, “Jesus called Peter a 'rock' long before Peter was stable and mature. He leads us by calling out what He sees, not calling out our failures.” is a very nice summary of what I apologized to my wife for yesterday. After 15 years we could both easily compose a long list of faults and failures, but, to do so would not be "believing all things" like the Bible says 'lovers' do! It would be ignoring the very sound advice of 2 Cor. 5:16 to not judge each other according to the flesh.  So, my earnest desire is to "see" what God is doing in my wife and to rejoice in that and to let all the other stuff fade away. Onward!

Luke 7:47

"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47 The lesson is simple if you KNOW you have been shown great mercy you love extravagantly, unconventionally, dangerously, but if you are "forgiven little" if you are in very little need of His mercy then your heart will dispense tiny little, conditional drips of love that are calculated to please your 'pretty good, thank you' delusional self.  And "love" always includes the word "sacrifice" in its definition.

http://prayingmedic.com/2015/06/17/is-love-enough/

Psalm 86

Keeping it simple.

Our nature is to need mercy, 

His nature is to show mercy.  

Our job is to say "Thank you."

Open letter to Pastors

This is what I see in scripture.  Your job first of all is to admit that you should not be the singular leader of the congregation.  The leadership of a local body of believers is to be by an eldership.  Men gifted in differing ways working together to equip the saints.  Is this impossible no, but it will be hard and it does call for humility, but given the opportunity to teach the local gathering the truths of scripture, those who are truly called will be supportive of the change.  The second part may take care of itself.  We need to gather in smaller groups, that are more broken, intimate and vulnerable than the ridiculously large group that we currently meet in.  Lastly, waiting on the Lord, is key in how we move forward, it is costly, it is counter intuitive, it is the truth of the Word, and it brings death to the flesh, like nothing else can.  Grace, peace and mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Election picks a fight with pride

Election, God's choice, of Joseph, of Jacob, of Abraham, of Isaac, of the Jewish people is meant to pick a fight with pride.  His choosing uncovers our deep, unspoken, but universal, feeling of entitlement.  Only when we are connected intimately with the truth that we NEED the mercy of God are we free of entitlement and its out-working pride.