This Divine Romance: 12/4/11

I love when the Lord just INTERRUPTS my shallow life.
He’s so gracious to do that.

I blunder ahead in books and business, people and patients.

Busy misery.

And He just kind of… takes my face. And turns me to Him.

I wrestle with that sometimes. How faithful and constant He is with me. How longsuffering and loving He is with me when I am unlovable.

I came to the conclusion a week or two ago that there is something (everything?) in our relationship, He and I, that has nothing to do with me. Nothing. He Is, Who He Is. My role in our relationship is unable to change that. I wrapped my brain around that for a while.

It completely terrifies and completely assures me.

Praise God.

This morning while I ~~procrastinated reading my 100 pg study guide~~ took a teeny facebook study break, I stumbled upon a video that BLESSED ME OUT OF MY MIND by this video a lot of friends were posting,

“Sexual Healing”:

***Pause the Music below so you can watch!***

From the author, Jefferson Bethke- “A poem I originally wrote for open mic at Pacific University. The poem highlights our culture's blind obedience to sexual norms, when it only seems to reap destruction. Pleasure is more at our fingertips in America than ever before, and yet depression steadily rises every year. It only shows that sex as recreation, or just for fun, is unable to satisfy us the way we were meant to be satisfied. Sex is good, in it's proper context. This poem mainly focuses though on anyone who has been deeply affected, hurt, and damaged by sexual sin. Forgiveness and mercy are given freely by Jesus. He cleans, restores, and heals us beyond measure and asks nothing in return. He saw all our sin and filth before he went to the cross and it was still his joy to go get us.”

Watch. This. Video. Now.

“Take a rape victim for example, and once it’s revealed.
When her bruises go away, is she totally healed?
Nah, the damage is lasting- you can see it in her eyes.
But if it was just abused ‘recreation’- why did it ruin her life?
I mean, if sex is just for fun, why did it take such a toll?
Maybe it’s cause you don’t just have sex with a body,

You have sex with a soul.”

Praise God.

He continues:

"This last story, though, is for those who think they’re too dirty.

This last story is for those who think they’re unworthy.

Read John Ch 8- the woman caught in adultery.

The religious leaders throw her naked in the temple

While she yells, ‘Don’t murder me!’

They say, ‘Jesus, the law commands us to stone this woman.’

And you hear the hate in their tone.

Jesus pauses though and says,

‘Whoever is without sin, you can cast the first stone.’

I mean can you imagine the sound? Silence all around.

You hear footsteps walk away. You hear stones hit the ground.

And then Jesus kneels down-

the woman thought it was her demise.

He lifts up her face- you see the grace in His eyes. He says,

‘I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more.

I love you. I accept you.

Mercy is yours.’"

Praise God.

The video was such a blessing- but it got better!

I checked out the links following the video to Jefferson's website and was COMPLETELY blessed all over again!

"Chisel Season"

The first article blew me away, "Is your life gospel centered?"

9 simple statements that examine your trust in the gospel.

Here's one for example: "If the gospel is ruling I will see others above myself, if self-righteousness is ruling I will see myself above others. Disciples fought over the throne, but we should fight over the towel (what Jesus washed their feet with).

Philippians 2:3-11, John 13:1-17

Wow.

Don't know about y'all, but I can't wait to plunge into the rest of the articles and the Scriptures he's referencing.

And did I mention Jefferson is a baseball player?

'Cause there ain't NOTHIN

like a baseball player that LOVES Jesus! :D

(Can I get an A-MEN, Lauren?!?)