Religion or Grace?

An atmosphere controlled by grace will have allowance for one's junk to surface.

An atmosphere controlled by religion will applaud right living and shun the junk.

Does that make sense?

It does to me.

Lord knows I have tons of refuse. My gosh. And I have found that when people give me permission to express it, fully realizing that my ultimate goal is to repent/turn from it and find a higher level of maturity, I find freedom, in the long run. The crap is exposed to the light. The light dispels the darkness and, voila, I find freedom.

In a more religious, rule oriented system, however, people don't want to deal with the junk. It's too messy. And, by golly, it is not controllable and certainly does not fit into any neat box. They prefer the smiles and hallelujahs and chipper exteriors. And then they go home.

And ya know what happens? All the junk that we all have - it stays neatly tucked away. Shame fills us for even having the stuff. Thus, it is never dealt with. In fact, the bondages probably grow stronger and more difficult to break.

Now I understand why I never fit into those places. When I started to be honest with my junk, I was shunned. I was judged. Or I was pitied. For most people, in those systems, have denied their insecurities and fears as well as the more loathsome things like addictions, rage, depression, hatred etc. That kind of stuff is not pretty and these people like it pretty and neat.

But there is no depth, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, there seem to be so few grace filled populations. At least that is my experience. You know, the kind where people REALLY share. Where they genuinely connect and relate. Where you can spew your latest struggle and you are not met with sanctimonious pats on the back or superficial prayers. Or you are not rejected for being so screwed up. Ugh.

I pray we become more grace filled. For a grace filled people are much safer than the religious types. My gosh. I know that I need many grace filled people surrounding me. The neatly packaged religious people cannot deal with my mess.

I am so thankful that nothing is too messy or horrible for grace from above. How thankful I am. Because of His patience and mercy, I continually find freedom from all those strongholds and bondages and sin disease issues that would, otherwise, have held me down had I not found safe avenues to deal with them.

You Can't Have Both

Sitting before the Father this morning, I asked "Why is the suffering of sickness, disease, barrenness etc. as prevalent in the body of Christ as it is in the rest of the world?"

Forgive me if I am sounding a tad radical but the Word seems to say, repeatedly, that the issues that the world faces are not supposed to be in the church. Our Father, with all His accompanying names like Protector, Healer, Deliverer, Saviour, Peace etc. is continually watching out for us. His character is at our "disposal" day and night. Take for example Psalm 91 - the one we love to quote. Is it not replete with promises regarding our healing, deliverance, protection etc.

So why are we not manifesting it? Why does cancer take as many believers as non believers? What is wrong? Is it just me or is there a huge disconnect between truth and experience? The statistics of sickness, divorce, premature death, barrenness etc. are no different in the body of Christ than in the world.

I queried of the Father with as much of a spirit of humility and hunger I can muster. I have no desire to point fingers of blame. My first stop with this question is in the mirror! Because I have my own personal share of struggles that seem to contradict the promises of the Word, my question is as about me as anyone else.

As I sat there, this morning, I felt the Father say "If you operate according to the world system, then you will reap the world's issues." Eeek.

It makes sense, though.

Read through the Word. Frequently, the Father speaks through the writers: "Look, if you will NOT worship the same idols as everyone else. If you will sincerely walk according to MY WAYS, then HERE are the promises for you, hands down." From there, over and over, God pours forth promises of abundance in every aspect of life.

His ultimate plan is for a people totally "covered" by heaven: for the kingdom of heaven to invade His people. Now does anyone believe, for a second, that there is sickness in heaven? His blue print provides an open portal to heaven and all of its glory.

But ya know what we have done? Seriously. Look at how we "run" churches now-a-days. How many times have I heard a pastor say "Well a church is run like a business." Whew. That statement should cause us to tremble. You mean to tell me that we are running the "set apart ones" - the eccelesia - the SAME way corporate America runs its businesses? And then we want to turn around and claim the kingdom promises over our people?

Does anyone else see the double mindedness?

Or look at our families and personal lives? How much do we use the world system of impression management, manipulation, control, self deception etc to "get ahead"? Or to "make sure" we are not hurt, forgotten, left behind? Or to take care of us? How often do we stare at the rapid fall of the DOW industrial average because, truly, that is our Source rather than ponder the promises of providence from above? How many lives/ministries are more controlled by money -and how to obtain more of it- than the spirit of God?

Add to that the sins in our lives that we coddle or hide from everyone else.

God forgive us.

God fill us, anew, with a trembling at YOUR word. A fear of neglecting Your path.

We cannot live, even subtly or deceptively, under the kingdom of this world or keep hiding our sins yet also claim the promises of the kingdom of God. God is not a fool.

As long as we insist on directing our lives like everyone else we will reap the same results as everyone else - sickness, fear of financial ruin, stress, etc. It cannot be any other way or God would be mocked. In Galatians 6:9 He is emphatic "I will not be mocked. If you sow according to the flesh (soul/world system) you will reap accordingly. Only if you sow according to MY kingdom principles can you reap My kingdom rewards."

I have such a deep deep desire to see the Body rise up to be who she is called to be - the set apart ones who walk in the miraculous daily. I long to see that in my own life. Thus, I am humbled by what I perceive is the Lord's word to me today.

"Father continue to take me further away from ANYTHING in my life that is still tied to the world's system and its way of operating, even in the most hideous and hidden ways of selfish manipulation, self protection, pride and idolatry. Cleanse me of all sins - both hidden and apparent!!!"

The world needs to see something radically different from the sons of God. Oh how I pray we will begin to walk out the requirements of being His set apart ones in deep holiness. I also pray we will wrench ourselves free of its ways of conducting business and begin to operate according to an infallible trust in His kingdom principles.

Why Do We Beg?

Have you listened to your prayers lately?

Do you hear a lot of begging and pleading with the Father? I know that I do when I look at mine. That kind of praying should cause us to cringe.

You see, the Father is profusely committed to us. All He wants to do for us is good. That is all He can do for us. Look at His names - Provider, Protector, Healer, Deliverer, Stronghold, Saviour, Righteousness etc. - don't they say enough? One's name is one's identity. One's name is the foundation from which He acts. God cannot NOT act outside of those names. This means that God relates to us only through the filter of what His names describe.

In other words, there is nothing of lack, sickness, vulnerability, or helpless victim in any aspect of God's character.

But if you listened to our prayers, you would detect the insecurities of a bunch of hapless orphans trying to convince a mean spirited and aloof authority figure to at least leave some morsels. They kind of sound like "Please notice me, God. Me. Over here."

Repeatedly, we bring our needs in prayer - like God was deaf the first time we asked? Or that He was too busy? Or maybe the first time we did not SAY the right words? We do anything to ensure that our "little needs" make it to heaven's daily briefing.

*sigh*

I believe the body of Christ needs a spiritual "lobotomy."

We have accepted an orphan's mentality. Even though we sing about being adopted and being loved, deep within our mindsets is a fearful child-like nature, who anticipates scarcity. Therefore, we need to guarantee for ourselves a piece of the ever shrinking pie.

When we have a need, subconsciously - you know, beyond all our spiritual lingo of trusting God - we are afraid . Instead of being convinced of a Daddy's adoration and relentless desire to provide, we feel like we have to figure out a way twist God's arm. Dreading that He will not answer, we navigate around heaven's protocol to discern how to position ourselves to receive the blessing.

Does anyone but me do this? Do you see the insanity of it all?

God is a loving, kind Father. We are his kids. How many loving and kind dads do NOT want to provide terrific, over-the-top things to their kids?

If we will live by this belief, as opposed to the orphan mentality, then our prayers will change. They will be more from the heart of thanksgiving. Rather than begging and pleading, we humbly say "Thanks, God. I know You will provide this need." And we leave it at that. We rest in the truth that, in His season and timing, He will come through.

No banging down doors. No pitiful pleas. Just a restful trust in His character.

Oh, I know that there are times to "ask and keep asking" because the Word says that. I have no desire to get into doctrinal disagreements. Because even in those cases, the foundation of our prayers has to be the absolute confidence in a Father who is good and will come through. As always, I believe there is balance in kingdom principles. However, in my opinion, in this area we are way out of balance. We act like beggars not sons.

It seems that humans have a nagging need to be "doing something." To just sit still and trust, in quiet, seems lazy or counter productive. So we pray. We do warfare. We repeat ourselves ad nauseum. "Surely, our efforts will count for something? God cannot and will not work without my telling Him how or when and why, right?" (oh, come on, you know you do it. :o))

How silly. Like our fleshly activities will beget spiritual answers? HA!

I was reading in Psalm 27 today and saw it in a different light. David ends the litany of promises and assurances about God's character of being stronghold and protector with the repetition of "Wait." I think David's point is this: in the first 13 verses who God is and what He will do is laid out. Therefore, in verse 14, David basically says "Just wait. Trust. All this stuff I described in the previous verses will manifest. But you have to wait expectantly."

Touche.

I do not want to be a broken record in my prayers. I desire to come higher in embracing my sonship rather than behaving like an orphan at every crisis.

"Daddy, You ARE good. I thank you that in whatever need or fear I have today, YOU WILL come through with abundance and goodness, way beyond anything I can ask or think. Amen. I will not say another word. Do Your thang, God." *grin*

You Just Never Know

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am passionately drawn to "the one". To me, the Kingdom of God is transferred, through us, one person at a time, often in the most obscure places.

Daily, as I enter the schools as a substitute teacher, I pray "God WHO is 'the one' today?" Not that I directly preach the Word (although, if it comes up, you bet I speak for HIM especially in science classes where the creation screams His name! *smile*)but I seek to be sensitive. Each of these kids was woven together in his or her mother's wombs. Each one. Each life. They are so important to God. He has a hope and a future for every single one. Maybe all God 'needs' is one of His kids to start praying. I long to be that one called to pray or do whatever for "the one" to whom He has called me.

Daily, I feel like I am on a quest. My prayer list grows with individual names. I may never ever know the impact this has but, honestly, it can be pretty exciting as long as I keep my focus on the kingdom reality - for in man's eyes, where numbers and the 'seen" reality matter, what I am doing is nothing.

Okay, with all that said and done, let me share just one more reason I believe this is an important aspect of "ministry".

This morning, I learned that a 17 year old girl died in a local fire. She was a junior at the local High School: a real troubled girl ever since I had run into her in middle school. In fact, she may have already dropped out of school. Who knows.

BUT, here is the humbling part of the story. When Nicole was in 8th grade, she was sitting in the front row of her English Class and, as I often do, I engaged her in conversation. (I absolutely love talking to the troubled kids just to get to know as much of their stories they will share.)

Not surprisingly, Nicole did not divulge any deep information but we did chat a little. At one point, I looked at her and said, with all sincerity, "You are bright. I am not sure anyone has ever told you that but you are no dummy. You have some amazing potential and I want to encourage you not to accept the lies about your life you have adopted." First off, she did not know what 'potential' means (how sad). But then she looked at me wide eyed - she was freaked out like I had invaded her soul.

I then added "I believe life has been very difficult for you but I just want to instill into you some hope that you can turn things around." At that point she bolted to the back of the room. She exclaimed loudly "That woman is weird. She can, like, look into your eyes and tell you your life story." Or something like that.

Inwardly, I smiled. To me, it felt like God was trying to reach her through my words and it was uncomfortable - you know, light penetrating darkness.

From that time on, off and on, I prayed for Nicole - that HE would reveal Himself to her.

Well, sadly, today I discovered that she had died in that fire. I am not sure what was the end of her story. But it just reminds me that "the one" is no minuscule task.

Ya know? I mean here a girl for whom I had a heart when she was in middle school is now dead: not mere coincidence in my mind.

As I go into the middle school today, I am sobered. Which ones, today, Father, need one of your light bearers to encourage him? Love on her with a pat on the shoulder? Smile at him with warmth? Be silly with her? Encourage him?

My heart breaks for Nicole. However, I realize that there are millions of her, out there, crying for love, light, the truth. And the only way each one will discover that love is through His sons and daughters who seek to be sensitive to the situation with "the one."

God forgive me for not being even more intentional in my prayers for these kids. Let this wake me up even further that this is important business. I mean, it has become a matter of life and death - twice now.