MDTS 2013: What's the point, anyway?
I realize that I haven't been posting blogposts...maybe I'll remember to put sections of my newsletter on for your reading pleasure. For now, here are a couple of short thoughts about what the heck I'm doing here and what I'm learning, before I turn in.
Basically, I'm learning about how to love people, the Jesus way. It's what we the kooky Christian people strive to do (at least I'm told), but I'm merging terms like "mercy ministry' and "missions" into it. Interpret it as you will.
We were discussing about what motivates us to want to show compassion and love towards others in our words and actions. Of course, it is zeal for Jesus, for His glory. He's so great, we can't help but love Him.
But more than that, said a wonderful lady, and countless other people really, is that HE loves US. It is definitely His love towards us that allows us to understand first hand how great things like compassion and mercy are, and the freedom with which to live out our lives! Our love will be, until NewHeavenandEarth comes, broken and flawed, because we have not yet reached the fullness of His glory, but He loves us, and covers all our crazy parts, and allows us, in His infinite grace, to work alongside Him to show love to everyone else who is still broken.
Most recently, I've been dwelling on His infinite love in relation to my own brokenness. I have an over-active conscience. I always feel the need to confess something, or apologize, and if I can't think of anything to repent from that half-day, I'll feel guilty. Even after I repent and ask for forgiveness, a lot of shame continues to follow me around. This spills into other aspects of brokenness, like a heavy burden of shame, judgmental attitudes, a tendency towards works versus faith, and a constant feeling of distance from Father God.
My leaders here have suggested that I spend more time (read: a LOT of time) dwelling on His grace and His love. If He says that my sins are wiped away and that I stand justified through Christ before the Father, who am I to argue? Through readings (let's just say that I read the exact thing I needed at the time I wanted to need it) and the Word (always awesome) and hours listening to songs about His strong and great love for me, I've felt SO loved by the Spirit these past couple of days. How beautiful! How wonderful and great and surpassing His love is!
Yet, I know that this is just the beginning of walking in freedom and in His love! Two days is not enough. How wonderful my God is to desire to pour and reveal His love to me in greater ways, all the days of my life! Who wouldn't want to give up everything (read: wasting alabaster jars) for such a gracious and beautiful Master and Savior?
"We love because He first loved us." I John 4:19.
Basically, I'm learning about how to love people, the Jesus way. It's what we the kooky Christian people strive to do (at least I'm told), but I'm merging terms like "mercy ministry' and "missions" into it. Interpret it as you will.
We were discussing about what motivates us to want to show compassion and love towards others in our words and actions. Of course, it is zeal for Jesus, for His glory. He's so great, we can't help but love Him.
But more than that, said a wonderful lady, and countless other people really, is that HE loves US. It is definitely His love towards us that allows us to understand first hand how great things like compassion and mercy are, and the freedom with which to live out our lives! Our love will be, until NewHeavenandEarth comes, broken and flawed, because we have not yet reached the fullness of His glory, but He loves us, and covers all our crazy parts, and allows us, in His infinite grace, to work alongside Him to show love to everyone else who is still broken.
Most recently, I've been dwelling on His infinite love in relation to my own brokenness. I have an over-active conscience. I always feel the need to confess something, or apologize, and if I can't think of anything to repent from that half-day, I'll feel guilty. Even after I repent and ask for forgiveness, a lot of shame continues to follow me around. This spills into other aspects of brokenness, like a heavy burden of shame, judgmental attitudes, a tendency towards works versus faith, and a constant feeling of distance from Father God.
My leaders here have suggested that I spend more time (read: a LOT of time) dwelling on His grace and His love. If He says that my sins are wiped away and that I stand justified through Christ before the Father, who am I to argue? Through readings (let's just say that I read the exact thing I needed at the time I wanted to need it) and the Word (always awesome) and hours listening to songs about His strong and great love for me, I've felt SO loved by the Spirit these past couple of days. How beautiful! How wonderful and great and surpassing His love is!
Yet, I know that this is just the beginning of walking in freedom and in His love! Two days is not enough. How wonderful my God is to desire to pour and reveal His love to me in greater ways, all the days of my life! Who wouldn't want to give up everything (read: wasting alabaster jars) for such a gracious and beautiful Master and Savior?
"We love because He first loved us." I John 4:19.
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