Tuesday, December 1, 2009
9:36 PM | 
Posted by
Erin
Last week I attended my parent’s church for its annual Thanksgiving Revival. Each night, I attended services in the church where I grew up; the church where I first learned about God. It was like coming home: instantly comfortable and surrounded by memories…years of happy memories with dabs of not-so-happy ones.
As I mentioned in my previous post, music and worship is where I feel closest to God. Music and worship is one thing that this church can do well. When the choir opened with the words from Chris Tomlin’s How Great is Our God, the presence of the Lord was palpable. I closed my eyes to bask in His goodness; I absorbed the music and imagined the angels of Heaven singing with us. Song after Holy song was offered as a sacrifice to our God. Songs of praise filled the building. I wish you could have been there…
…for the singing.
The service that followed the music was very similar to the services that I sat through for the first 18 years of my life. I was reminded that there might not be a tomorrow; I was reminded of Hebrews 3:11-19; I was reminded that if we aren’t “right” with God, then we will be judged on the day of redemption.
Can you say “glass half empty?”
Maybe I am an optimist but I like to think that fire and brimstone is only a fraction of the story.
At the end of the service, I wanted to stand on my pew and shout, “Tell them about God’s love!!!! Tell them about how He gave his SON as a sacrifice for our sins. Tell them about Jesus! Tell them about how He loves the unlovable!”
But I didn’t say any of that. So I will say it here.
As we approach Christmas, I don’t need to remind you of the awesome gift we received that night in the form of a baby. But have you ever thought that the baby, named Jesus, knew before He arrived here on Earth what He would do for us? And He still came.
That’s love.
How about during the creation of the universe when God breathed the solar systems and galaxies into existence? He knew that Eve would listen to the serpent in the garden. He knew yet He still created the universe.
That’s love.
Let’s talk about Joseph. When Mary explained to Joseph that she was pregnant with God’s child and that she was still a virgin, he believed her. He really believed her.
That’s love.
Did you know that the Samaritan woman at the well had 5 husbands but Jesus, a Jew, still talked to her? He told her about the water that would quench her thirst eternally and give her everlasting life. He cared about her soul.
That’s love.
Peter. He denied Christ on three separate occasions yet laid the foundations of the early Church. God allowed a sinner to found His church.
That’s love.
And how about you? Did you know that you were in the heart of God as He was creating the universe? Do you know that He knew your sins before you committed them? He knew and He still created…knowing that His Son would die. He could have stopped but He didn’t. He cared about your soul.
That’s love.
I believe that it is important for people to know that Christ came for the imperfect. There is no measuring stick because even David, a man made after God’s own heart, was an adulterer and a murderer. Regardless of these mistakes, God used David to write some of the most encouraging Psalms that still encourage people today.
I will say that later on in the revival, someone mentioned the Love of God. It was the focus of the third service. Thankfully. I guess everything happens in God’s time. I just get frustrated when we try to scare people into religion. God is so much better than that.
If you have made mistakes, if you are poor, if you know you need help…then God sent His son for you. Just tell Him that you need His help. Ask Him.
He will answer. You know how I know? He was born in the middle of the night to a virgin for people like you and like me. He suffered an unimaginable death on a cross for you and for me. He will answer. He will do more than answer. He will fill all the holes in your heart. He will give you a love and a peace that you didn’t even know you needed.
I know because He did that for me. And He wants to do that for you.
Love. God’s Love. That's what we should shout from the mountain-tops.
Show it. Live it. Prove it.
As I mentioned in my previous post, music and worship is where I feel closest to God. Music and worship is one thing that this church can do well. When the choir opened with the words from Chris Tomlin’s How Great is Our God, the presence of the Lord was palpable. I closed my eyes to bask in His goodness; I absorbed the music and imagined the angels of Heaven singing with us. Song after Holy song was offered as a sacrifice to our God. Songs of praise filled the building. I wish you could have been there…
…for the singing.
The service that followed the music was very similar to the services that I sat through for the first 18 years of my life. I was reminded that there might not be a tomorrow; I was reminded of Hebrews 3:11-19; I was reminded that if we aren’t “right” with God, then we will be judged on the day of redemption.
Can you say “glass half empty?”
Maybe I am an optimist but I like to think that fire and brimstone is only a fraction of the story.
At the end of the service, I wanted to stand on my pew and shout, “Tell them about God’s love!!!! Tell them about how He gave his SON as a sacrifice for our sins. Tell them about Jesus! Tell them about how He loves the unlovable!”
But I didn’t say any of that. So I will say it here.
As we approach Christmas, I don’t need to remind you of the awesome gift we received that night in the form of a baby. But have you ever thought that the baby, named Jesus, knew before He arrived here on Earth what He would do for us? And He still came.
That’s love.
How about during the creation of the universe when God breathed the solar systems and galaxies into existence? He knew that Eve would listen to the serpent in the garden. He knew yet He still created the universe.
That’s love.
Let’s talk about Joseph. When Mary explained to Joseph that she was pregnant with God’s child and that she was still a virgin, he believed her. He really believed her.
That’s love.
Did you know that the Samaritan woman at the well had 5 husbands but Jesus, a Jew, still talked to her? He told her about the water that would quench her thirst eternally and give her everlasting life. He cared about her soul.
That’s love.
Peter. He denied Christ on three separate occasions yet laid the foundations of the early Church. God allowed a sinner to found His church.
That’s love.
And how about you? Did you know that you were in the heart of God as He was creating the universe? Do you know that He knew your sins before you committed them? He knew and He still created…knowing that His Son would die. He could have stopped but He didn’t. He cared about your soul.
That’s love.
I believe that it is important for people to know that Christ came for the imperfect. There is no measuring stick because even David, a man made after God’s own heart, was an adulterer and a murderer. Regardless of these mistakes, God used David to write some of the most encouraging Psalms that still encourage people today.
I will say that later on in the revival, someone mentioned the Love of God. It was the focus of the third service. Thankfully. I guess everything happens in God’s time. I just get frustrated when we try to scare people into religion. God is so much better than that.
If you have made mistakes, if you are poor, if you know you need help…then God sent His son for you. Just tell Him that you need His help. Ask Him.
He will answer. You know how I know? He was born in the middle of the night to a virgin for people like you and like me. He suffered an unimaginable death on a cross for you and for me. He will answer. He will do more than answer. He will fill all the holes in your heart. He will give you a love and a peace that you didn’t even know you needed.
I know because He did that for me. And He wants to do that for you.
Love. God’s Love. That's what we should shout from the mountain-tops.
Show it. Live it. Prove it.
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6 comments:
AMEN!! i was raised in a church environment that scared me into putting my "trust" in God. His love was not something that was talked about. it's only been much later that i have come to truly understand that love.
though He knew how i would walk away and sin, YET He came, He died, and loves me anyway!
great post, erin. loved this.
WoW! You write so beautifully, and straight from the heart. AWESOME! I have miss hearing sermons like this.
Your thoughts and your words are a blessing. You need to know that! :)
Wow - visiting from MBC. This is powerful and so relevant. Keep writing what God is saying to you. He IS the God of love and mercy and redemption.
Still visiting here. Another good post. For years I preached judgment; the last few years I have been preaching grace and salvation. Might seem like a minor shift, but it is really major. What a difference in how I view the scripture, write the lesson and preach it. And I hope it makes an equal difference in what people hear. You have captured some important truths in this post. You are a good writer. Enjoyed my visit here. wb
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