“Raise that baby to be an adult!”  These were some very strong and wise words spoken to me when our first born child was only two weeks old. They were spoken by an older, wiser woman (who was a bit younger than I am now when she spoke them to me). They were spoken by a mom who knew that it is a great gift for our children to be guided towards wisdom and maturity, responsibility and compassion for others.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child. When I became an adult, I put childish ways behind me. I Corinthians 13:11

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             I have a confession. I am a bit of a news junkie. The one show that Tim and I regularly watch, after morning prayer and while eating our breakfast, is the first 1/2 hour or so of the Today show. And the one show we regularly record so we can watch together–as it fits our schedule–is the NBC Nightly News. (Ok, we did just start recording “24″, too!) 

I read news magazines, newspapers and will often listen to NPR (National Public Radio) even with their slow and oh-so-serious tone in speaking about almost everything.

And so yesterday, January 20, 2009, I set aside the entire day for prayer–and to watch (and record) just about every moment of all things Inaugural. This was an amazing day in our nation’s history. This was the Inauguration of President Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

I can just imagine some very dear people in my world may be getting very tense and worried looks on their faces at this very moment. Or maybe they’re trying to get my attention with that hand signal ”Cut!” where their hand zips back and forth across their throat. Calling out to me, ”Oh, no! Don’t go there, girl!  Don’t go into the political realm–it could get messy!”

Don’t worry, Darlin’s. I absolutely know that God alone is the Sovereign One. And I am so thankful He is! I know that it is to our GOD, the LORD of lords and KING of kings that I owe my full and complete allegiance. And my very life.

And I know, just as Pastor Rick Warren alluded to during his Prayer Invocation at the Inauguration Ceremony, that one day, at the name of JESUS “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”–Philippians 2:10-11

There are millions of other blogs (and every other form of media) out there doing in-depth political commentary about the Inauguration–evaluating the day and the man, our new President Obama. That’s not my purpose.

So many things moved me today. Enough to go over and get my neighbor who I hardly know (we’re relatively new to this neighborhood) and invite her to come watch the Inauguration with me. It’s just too historical to watch it alone.

She did. And we watched–and felt–our world change, even if just a little. We cried together. I rubbed her back a lot. We hugged. And we stood up while our national anthem was sung.

She is Jewish. I am Christian. And right then we were bonded together because we were witnessing–and were part of–something bigger than ourselves.

And then I watched it all over again with Tim and two very special friends during dinner. It was just that important. I had to share it with important people in my life.

President Obama started his Inaugural Address stating, “…I stand here today humbled…”   and I thought (and said) “Good. That is exactly where you–and each one of us–need to be, and stay, before our God.” 

Humility is the catalyst, and the strong, protective boundary lines, for all true wisdom to exist and flourish. So, good, President Obama–dear child of God–and my brother in Christ–stay right there in the attitude of humility all the days of your life–and especially now since God has placed you into such an auspicious position of power.

Then in the midst of President’s Obama’s speech, when reflecting on the difficulties we face as a nation–even though we are a relatively young nation, he continued, “..in the words of Scripture, the time has come to ‘… set aside childish things…’ ” (from 1 Corinthians 13:11)

Yes. It is. It is time for each of us as individuals–and all of us in our extended spheres of interaction and influence (home, neighborhood, work, school, church, community, nation, world)–”to set aside childish things”–and to grow up.

Grow up. Set aside childish things. God’s greatest purpose for us is to grow up to be more like Jesus. God desires, and shapes, His children “…to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…”–Romans 8:29.

To be like Jesus–is pretty grown up. And although it calls for a child-like faith to be accomplished–it also calls us to set aside all things childish. And so we must grow up and set aside childish things–as individuals and as a nation. As President Obama is calling us to do. And as God purposes His children to do.

So let us choose first the wisdom of humility before our God as the Giver of life–the Giver of all we are and all we have and all we are able to do.

Then let us choose the maturity of righteous responsibility by: Loving others. Strengthening and Healing our families. Respecting and Protecting others. Respecting and Protecting our planet. Giving to others. Forgiving others. Sharing what we have. Teaching what we know. Providing for the hungry. Caring for the hurting. Sacrificing self-centered actions and attitudes for the sake of others.  Acting in ways of Truth, Justice and Peace.

Yes. January 20, 2009 was an amazingly significant and historical day. A day where we witnessed great hope, great purpose and great unity in many ways–as a nation, and with our neighbors.

And how much more significant would each day be for us as individuals–and, yes, for us as a nation–if we were to choose to be humble and set aside childish things!

Wisdom through Humility. Maturity through Righteous Responsibility. And all lived out in our relationships with others–all others. These are good things. These are God things. And this is how God would raise His babies to be adults!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane  

You’ve probably seen a picture of Jesus carrying a little lamb across His strong, powerful shoulders. We need to take that image as our own. And recognize the loving, protective care Jesus has for the little lamb who is carried. This is exactly how our LORD carries each one of us.

In God we are safe. In God we may rest in His constant protection. In God we are carried in His love for us–because we are His beloved. 

Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him,  for He shields the beloved all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             Isn’t this an amazing image to grab hold of for ourselves? First of all we are called: BELOVED.

Oh, just stay there for a  moment.. Rest in that truth. Really sense the power, passion and intimate love that the One who calls you beloved has for you. It’s a great word. It’s a great reality.

We are powerfully, passionately, intimately loved by the LORD of All Creation–by the Almighty God. We are His beloved.

God knows His beloved so well. God knows we need quiet. We need stillness and rest. We need to rest right in the midst of our rushing and busyness and all of the noise and demands in our lives.

Our God knows we need to feel secure and safe in order to rest. We need to know we are protected. We can’t rest if we’re scared or worried or pressured or distracted. So God promises us a rest that is secure in Him and shielded by His eternal, protective love at every moment–all day long.

And we the beloved of the LORD are picked up to rest on His shoulders. We can trust God. We can trust His shoulders. These are the same ones that Isaiah spoke of when he said, “…and the govenment will be on His shoulders…” –Isaiah 9:6.

Yep. All authority in all of Creation rests on our LORD’s shoulders. So, I’m thinking that’s a pretty safe place for me to rest, too.

And just as my Erin and Julia did to me when they were little, Im going to raise my hands up to Jesus–to be picked up and to be held in the safety of His loving arms. And I’m going to snuggle in and rest. Rest as God’s little lamb. Rest as the LORD’s beloved.

Shhhhhhh…you rest, too–right in the midst of whatever this day brings to you–rest as the beloved of your LORD!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane  

I was shaken. I walked through the Secaucus, NJ train station, fighting back tears and nausea. I had been horribly sick while away, and I just wanted to get home. I was worn out. I thought about the six people in our extended family that had died over the last six months–from spring to fall 2006. I struggled down the stairs with two suitcases. The escalator was going up. And apparently I was invisible. No one helped me with my bags. No one. I rushed to the train platform just in time to see it blow right past me.

I just stood there. Shaken. Sick. Crying. (I hope they don’t keep the security videos. I was a real mess.) I called my husband Tim. He lovingly, powerfully prayed for me. I just couldn’t pray for myself. Not right then. I was so worn out. So shaken.

While on the train (that I finally got on) Tim sent me a text message with the Scripture below. Tim used God’s Word to call me to remember who I am in Jesus. And to remember the power and confidence that I have within me–to I stand my ground. Even when I am shaken.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of great suffering. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded…we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:32, 35, 39

Personal Reflections from Sylane Mack                                                               “Remember who you are!” That’s what God’s Word and Love was shouting out to me! 

“C’mon, girl! Get you’re head together. I AM with you! I have given you My Light! Do not allow the darkness to swallow you up! Remember what you and I have already conquered! You have gone through tougher times than these! So! Don’t fall apart now! Stand your ground! Stand firm on My Truth!”

“I know you’re shaken! But fight! Fight for your peace! Fight for your perspective! Remember who you are. And, Sylane, REMEMBER WHO I AM! I Am your confidence! Remember that! Do not shrink back! I Am Greater than this! Do not be destroyed. I Am your very Life! I Am your very Strength.”

” Remember who you are! Remember WHO and WHAT you believe! Remember you are Saved for all Eternity! So, don’t lose your confidence now! Not about these things that will NOT last! Remember you are Mine! So, stand your ground! Fiercely. Powerfully. Stand your ground with complete humility before Me, and complete hope in Me as you remember who I AM!” 

This Scripture. This specific message from the Word of God overwhelmed me with God’s Intimacy to me and the Power of God’s Word for me. 

I started to breathe–even as the tears still rolled. I was being quieted in my soul. I was being strengthened in my deepest core. I started to focus again on truth and hope and strength and peace and courage. In other words, I started to focus again on Jesus. Really, really focus on Jesus.

God never asked me to deny my reality or pretend that it wasn’t hard. Really hard right then. God IS the Truth–so He certainly doesn’t expect me to lie or to be falsely peaceful and strong in any way…at any time.    

What God does do, is to ask me to give Him my head and my heart again and again. Fully. All of the time.

Thank You, God. Thank You for pulling me into Your Arms of Love. Into Your Truth. Into Your Peace. Into Your Power. Into Your Perspective. Help me always to remember who YOU Are and who I am in YOU!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane                                                

Have you ever seen a little girl or boy run, dance, gallop or skip full force into the arms of her or his mommy or daddy? Seeing that child’s freedom and confidence in the love of the parents is such a wonderful and joyful thing to witness.

But, wonderful  and joyful beyond compare–or comprehension–is that we may approach our Heavenly Father with even more freedom and confidence!

Because of all that Jesus has done for us–His death, His resurrection, His LOVE and FORGIVENESS–we are fully restored to a right relationship with our God. So let’s all run full force into the arms and into the presence of our Eternally Loving, Sovereign and Intimate Father God! Our Abba.

Ready. Set. Go!

In Christ and through Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence–Ephesians 3:12

God’s Word often challenges us right to our very core. God calls us to trust and obey Him when the circumstances around us seem absolutely overwhelming. Out of God’s love for us, He demands our trust. It is our only way for peace. We must remember: God never asks us to do anything without Him. The LORD our God is with us wherever we go. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                            I lost it. I totally lost it. I was okay right until that moment. God had held me together through His amazing and powerful grip on my spirit, on my mind and on my words for over the past week. I had been able to share my faith openly and honestly with my family–who usually didn’t want to hear about Jesus. Not again. Not from me.

May 1981. Dewitte, my just-turned-24-year-old brother, was dead. There would first be all kinds of logistical issues–and another funeral service–down in Maryland where Dewitte’s girlfriend and 18 month old daughter lived. And where he had died. But Dewitte would be buried in our hometown cemetery in upstate NY.

My precious husband Tim was traveling when I first found out that Dewitte had died. And during that week before our own family gathered for Dewitte’s funeral, I stayed at my own home in Rochester, NY–alone. God used that time powerfully.

My mom, my dad, my sister and my (now only 2) brothers–who were either not-yet-believers in Jesus OR had great wonderings about, or wanderings away from, the Lord at that time–each called me. Privately. I was the Christian in the family. So they called me. They had deep, heart-broken, faith questions. Real, soul-searching, God-searching, eternity questions.

And by God’s loving grace and His perfect Word of truth, I quietly shared from Scripture and from my heart. Mom even asked me to help plan the funeral service and choose the Scripture.

God was using all of the pain over the death of our Dewitte–to open up ways for God’s Word and Love to be poured into my family’s life. I had been praying for each of them for years. Witnessing to them for years. Much of the time their response was ridicule. Or at best, I was blown-off and ignored.

I was so thankful for that one week before Dewitte’s funeral. I was given time to share God’s hope. To share the eternal love and salvation of Jesus with my mom, dad, sister and brothers.

But then I lost it. Totally lost it. Driving back from the viewing hours at the funeral home, we hit a bunny. 

And with the death of that little bunny, I was absolutely flooded with all the pain I was feeling from the shock waves of my brother’s sudden death. I was overcome with all the passionate urgency I felt for each member of my family to accept the salvation of Jesus.

I desperately wanted each of them to know and accept the love of God. I ached in my deepest soul for each of them to stop living lies. To stop denying the hurt and ugliness within our family. For each of them to turn around. Run into the arms Jesus right now–before it’s too late.

But it wasn’t happening. I wasn’t seeing it. I was blinded with grief. Blinded with fear for my family members. Death does come suddenly. For people. For bunnies. I was blinded–from hope. I was terrified and discouraged.

WHEN would my family turn to God? WHEN would the twistedness and sickness within my family be ended?  HOW was I going to keep going in my relationship with them? HOW was I going to keep sharing Jesus with them?  They had wanted some of Jesus privately–on the phone. But now the dynamics were back to keeping me at a distance. Keeping me shut out–even from loving them. WHEN would they ever be saved and healed?

Tim drove towards my parents home while I sobbed out-of-control–in a nearly full-blown hysteria. Then Tim yelled at me. Just once. But very loudly. He needed to command my attention–so that I could obey the command of God.

I had lost it. And God used Tim to remind me that not only is God trustworthy, but God also commands me to trust Him. To be strong and courageous. Not because I am so strong and courageous–certainly not. And not because I have all the answers to my fear-filled questions–I certainly don’t.

God commands me to trust Him, to take on (and remain in) His strength and courage. I am not to be blinded by my fear, but to open my eyes to God’s powerful and peace-giving truth: God is with me, and God will be with me, wherever I go.

Oh, yeah. My God of Commanding Strength and Courage–is with me. I can–and I am commanded to–trust HIM.

I did…and eventually (although our personal, inner-healing is at different stages), so did all my family. Thanks be to Jesus.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Have you ever gone through a good period of time (even if it was a very short one!) when things seemed to be going smoothly, and you were doing things pretty darn well?  Sweeeeeeet, huh? Then suddenly it came to a screeching halt, and you’re left wondering what the heck just happened? 

That can happen in our Christian walk, too. When I come to a screeching halt spiritually and wonder: What happened? Where did my peace go? Where did my hope go? Where did my close walk with Jesus go?

Who cut me off?  What got in my way? I usually can answer quite definitively:  that would be me.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5:7

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             O Lord! You know that is true!

You know that song? “It’s me! It’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer! (Repeat! Then get more real!) Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord! Standing in the need of prayer!”

Oh, yeah! And it’s also me–standing in my own way, cutting in front of me! I was running a good race! I was feeling pretty peaceful, prety loving!

Who the heck allowed me to get all grumpy? Who the heck invited me to a full-blown pity party? Who was giving me all those grandiose kudos and let my head just get too big for the rest of me? Who put my Bible out of my reach so I wasn’t reaching for it? Who the heck started that darn hamster dance music–and left me spinning my wheels inside my own head?

I was running a good race. Dog gone it! Who cut in on me?

Me.

Oops. I look around. Yep, it really was me.

It was my perspective. I lost God’s eternal perspective–or at least put it aside for awhile.

It was my pride.  It was my I’ve-got-a-right-to-feel-and-act-that-way yucky attitude. I took up my own self-focused, self-importance instead of the power of the humility of Jesus.

It was me. I cut in on me. But, look! There’s my Abba! There’s my Lord who never changes. God’s Spirit. God’s Word. True. Faithful. Loving. Pulling me back (sometimes with a bit of a snap to my head, if necessary!). Pulling me, leadng me back into the race.

Pulling me back into His grace and truth. 

No matter what my circumstances are along the race course. Of course.

Ahhhhhhhhh…Sweeeeeeet…..

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Christianity is a thinking activity. As followers of Jesus, each of us needs to make an intentional choice to to get to know what the Word of God says. We need to make an intentional choice to trust God’s grace, truth and love. We need to make an intentional choice to receive God’s salvation, transformation and power made known to us through a relationship with Jesus. 

Every new day, every one of us must make an intentional choice to hold fast to God’s truth. And live it out. Intentionally–every new day. Then we will know the freedom of God’s loving, life-giving truth as we are set free for all eternity…one victorious day at a time.

Now that’s something to think about!

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             Being a follower of Jesus is not about passive, blind trust. Trusting God completely–YES–that would be God’s desire for us. But our faith is not to be an un-thought-out faith. And certainly not an inactive, unseen faith. 

Being a follower of Christ is a thinking activity. And involves making informed, intentional decisions based on God’s freedom-bringing truth.

How does God’s truth free?? Oh, my goodness! In every way possible–for our daily lives and our eternal salvation! 

What holds your mind? What are the thoughts filling your head and directing your words and actions, even your body language?

Is your mind held by thoughts based on God’s truth, His love and life-giving freedom?

Or is your mind held by thoughts based on your feelings, perceptions, assumptions and fears? 

I know that for a lot of years  my mind was absolutely held in the vice-grip of all kinds of feelings, perceptions, assumptions and fears that had absolutely nothing to do with the TRUTH of God. These would be called LIES! 

Oh, there were reasons for how my mind got to be held by those lies instead of by God’s truth. All kinds of abuse, rejection, rape, insecurity, pride, selfishness, sin, shame. No matter what my reasons were (or are) they do NOT change God’s truth. However! God’s truth did change–and will continue to change–me.  

What are some of God’s truths that killed the powerful vice-grip of lies holding my head?  What are some of God’s truths that I had to intentionally choose to believe are more powerful than the loud and twisted lies that were squeezing the life out of my mind and spirit? Glad you asked!

The Biggies: God loves me. God loves me so much more than my parents ever could (or anyone else, for that matter). God’s love drives out all fear. Jesus died for my sins AND my shame. I’m going to live forever. God knows me intimately. God understands me completely. God is my protector and defender. God is my hope. God speaks. God wants me to listen. There is peace and joy in obeying God. I am never, ever alone. I am never without help. I am filled with the Spirit of the Living God. Through the love of Jesus I am more than a conqueror.  Nothing will ever separate me from God’s love.

These are just a few of God’s lie-killing, freedom-bringing truths. I told you they were Biggies!

My part (and your part) in being set free is to: know God’s truth , believe God’s truth and hold fast to God’s truth.

Christianity is a thinking activity. Choosing intentionally what Jesus offers to each of us: the Truth-Thinking that will set us free!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane                                                                         

God’s Word tells us that His divine power has given everything we need for life and godliness. Notice that it doesn’t say: everything we need for wealth and luxury. Oh, no! God is much more concerned about providing for, and shaping, our character than our bank accounts.

So how does God give us everything we need for life and godliness? By growing us in the knowledge of who our God is, and all that God’s Word and Holy Spirit have to teach us. Yes, knowledge is power–Divine Power–when it is knowledge of our Living, Almighty LORD!

 God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             Wow! God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…?? Really? Yep.

For those of you who know me–or have heard me speak–YOU KNOW that this is obviously a perfect time for me to ask my 2 Trademark Questions:

Do you believe it? What are you going to do about it?

Well, I do believe it. And here’s what I’m going to do about it. Feel free to join me in this “doing”. The believing part is between you and God!

READ GOD’S WORD! In this part of the world having a Bible is easy. Bibles are readily available and easily accessible to us. They come in various translations, formats, colored-covers and print sizes. (I am particulary fond of larger print versions these days!)  

But! It is in the committed  READING of God’s Word that we get to know God and His divine power.  We get to know–and love–our LORD more intimately, with greater understanding.  And God’s Word reveals how intimately known, loved, and understood we are by our LORD. Beautiful.

RECEIVE God’s divine power that has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  I call this: Giving the Holy Spirit more Elbow Room in my life.

I need to continually let God’s Word and Spirit clean out any (and all) thought patterns, attitudes, actions and re-actions–that don’t line up with the life and godliness of Jesus Christ.

As I become emptier of my old limited ways (and trust me, I can put up a real fight at times!)–there is more Holy Spirit Elbow Room to stretch and grow me in the unlimited, divine power of God! Transforming.

REFLECT God’s life and godliness to other people in our lives. All people.  

God is Love. Love is God’s definitive description of His divine power. In our knowledge of Jesus Christ–God’s ultimate display of His power–we have already been given everything we need for life and godliness: Love. 

So, let’s love. Let’s love–in big and little ways. Love in daily and intentional ways.  Love when it is easy. Love when it is outrageously difficult. Love when you feel like you’re the only one trying. Say that encouraging word. Give that smile. Listen to that hurting, harried or hopeless person. Be supportive. Respect others. Hear their hearts. Be humble. Be compassionate. Be kind. Forgive.

God’s Love–God’s definitive, divine power–has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Yes, knowledge is power. Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is Divine Power!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

“If only I had let God hold me when I was a younger man, I never would’ve done the things to y’all that I done.”

My dad spoke those words of confession–in his very thick Mississippi accent–at age seventy-three, as he finally, humbly accepted Jesus as his Savior. God saw my dad’s repentant heart, and received him as His child for all eternity–right then and there. The LORD had always been reaching out–wanting to hold my dad and lead his life. But my dad had ignored God for far too many years–and forfeited his own peace and the peace of our family.

Come near me and listen to this…This is what the LORD says–your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river…Isaiah 48:16-18

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             If only…if only…if only…

My dad had lived much of his life addicted to narcotic drugs and  alcohol, abusing my mom, my siblings and me–in horrible ways–emotionally, physically and sexually.

Because of God’s healing and hold on me, I am free to let God’s peace flow as a deep and mighty river in my life. My dad’s choices can NOT–and do NOT–hold more power over me than the loving LORD of all the universe–the Redeemer, the Holy One–who teaches me what is best: FORGIVE. Who directs me in the way I should go: FOLLOW JESUS. 

And I am so thankful to the LORD, beyond my ability to even begin to expess it. Thankful that my dad finally let his stubborn heart be convicted and softened by God’s eternal grace and truth. Only by finally listening to the LORD, and letting God hold him, could my dad receive the salvation he so desperately–and eternally–needed.

Four years after my dad “let God hold” him, he died.

My sister, my brothers, our spouses and our children gathered to pray and thank God for who He is–and that Jesus has the power to redeem and give peace to each life. Right now, and for all eternity, if only…we would choose it.

We released my dad’s ashes into the river that ran through our childhood property.

God had already welcomed my dad Home–to listen to, be held by, and to walk with his LORD forever along the banks of the River of Life. In peace.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Oh! That inner struggle and battling with God for the rule over our lives! God offers us salvation and strength as we come to Him in repentance and in trust. Yet we are often so full of ourselves that we have no room to accept the love and hope that God would give to us. 

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15

Personal Reflections from Sylane                                                                             I really wish the ending of this verse didn’t have to be written. I wish the ending of this verse was not true–EVER–for me or for any one else. How unbelievably tragic it is, that when God offers us salvation and strength, we would actually choose to reject Him and His gifts. That all of us in some way, at some point in time–and maybe  some of us for all eternity–would actually choose to “..have none of it.”

That truth just makes my heart hurt.

I have spoken with so many people in the counseling office and with so many with others–friends and family, and even strangers–in person, on the phone and over the internet. Some for many years–about the same thing. 

I want  so much for my family, for those I know and work with and for every person in the world to know the salvation and strength that is offered through Jesus Christ–our loving Almighty God. 

But as much as I desperately want us all to get it–we won’t all accept it.  And all my wanting in the world doesn’t ensure that anyone will receive it.

All that GOD has done since creation, and is continually doing right now, to offer His salvation and strength to everyone–does NOT ensure that these holy gifts will be accepted. 

Even the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Holy Son, for the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of an eternal life-relationship with God–does NOT ensure that the LORD Himself will not be rejected.

Sometimes I just want to cry…or scream…or shout: COME ON, PEOPLE!! LOOK WHAT GOD HAS FOR US! IT IS SO GOOD! GOD OFFERS  US THE VERY BEST LIFE WE COULD EVER HAVE–FOREVER! WE NEED JESUS! WE NEED GOD’S SALVATION! WE NEED GOD’S STRENGTH! IT IS RIGHT HERE! PLEASE ACCEPT IT!

And my heart just hurts. How can any of us choose, or continue to choose for even one moment longer, to  “…have none of it”? 

Because we don’t like the terms of acceptance.

Our salvation comes through our repentance and rest.                                            Our strength comes through quietness and trust.

The terms of Salvation:

To repent, I have to admit that I need to do things differently. That I have done things that are wrong. That I need forgiveness. This term of acceptance is the high cost of honesty.

To rest, I have admit that I cannot work at, or earn, or even deserve my salvation by being more good than bad. That I have to stop doing things in my own power. That I need Jesus to accomplish the complete–holy and loving–work for my salvation. This term of acceptance is the high cost of humility.

The terms of Strength:

To be quiet, I have to admit that I do not first seek to know, hear and obey God’s voice. That I fill my head with  the noise of my own wisdom, thinking, planning and rationalizatons. That I don’t really believe that God will answer me anyway. This term of acceptance is the high cost of listening for, and to, God.

To trust, I have to admit that I depend on my own wisdom and ways to work out the circumstances in my life rather than on God. That I have my doubts about how loving and almighty God really is. That I really don’t believe God will come through for me–so I best handle things on my own. This term of acceptance is the high cost of dependence on God.

The terms of acceptance on our part–honesty, humility, listening to God and dependence on God–are a mere pittance compared to what God has to give us. God’s perfect salvation and unfaltering strength are offered for all eternity. God’s good gifts transform minds and lives and relationships in mighty ways–right now and for always.

I pray that I will learn to accept and rely on each day, more and more fully, what I have already been given through Jesus Christ. I pray that each person will accept–and stop rejecting–the salvation and strength God has for us all.