Remember Me

"How can we write the story if we don't know where we've come from?" Leonard Pitts recently ended a column with this question. Needless to say I started thinking about the number of times God stressed to the children of Israel "Remember Me!" When they forgot to "remember" they ended up going into captivity for 70 years. Then a mere 400 years later they were under Roman occupation, followed by a dispersion that lasted 2000 years. To over simplify, they forgot where they came from and repeated their mistakes because they did not "remember."

To remember is to be mindful and make mention of who we are and what has happened in our lives. The story I write is based on remembering the mercy that keeps me from receiving what I deserve and grace that does for me what I cannot do for myself. Repentance and forgiveness helps me to remember where I've come from. I remember I'm the captive He has set free! I am occupying until He comes by living an abundant life not being occupied with me, me! I'm firmly planted and in possession of God's promises not dispersed by the cares of this world. The chapters of my story have titles like, Hope Purified; Joy Complete and Love Perfected. As my story ends and He knocks on my life's door; I open it, He's smiling then says as only a dear friend can; "Remember Me!"

Truly I Know You!

I shudder to think I could hear Christ say, "Depart from Me, I know you not!" He didn't say; "You don't have enough faith," or "You didn't believe in Me." In Matthew 7 the Many remind Him that in His name they prophesied, cast out demons, performed many miracles. In Luke 13 the Many protest by saying; "We ate and drank in your presence; you taught in our streets!" He tells them "I never knew you... I do not know where you are from." The foolish virgins of Matthew 25 come unprepared and have to leave to buy oil. When they finally arrive at the wedding celebration He won't let them in and says; "Truly I say to you, I do not know you." So if doing all these things isn't knowing Him what is? I know faith without works is dead; so it's not going to work if I become so heavenly minded I'm no earthly good. How will He know me? It can't be just because of what I've done in His name, that I ate and drank with Him or was even invited to the wedding. The end of Matthew 25 gives me the answer I'm looking for; He will know me because when I saw He was hungry I fed Him, when He was thirsty gave Him something to drink, invited Him in when He was a stranger, clothed Him when naked and when He was sick visited Him. But the thing is I won't know I've done unto Him. If I'm rising to defend myself with "I did thus and so in your Name" then He doesn't know me. Because I respond with "but when did I ..." then He knows me. As a result the gate to the Wedding is thrown open when I arrive, His arms spread wide as He welcomes me with, "Truly, I know you!"

Perfecting Fruit

AARG! I hate unexpected annoyances! They come in the form of the vehicle breaking down, unwelcome company dropping by and/or a new washer acting up. The cliche of things happening in threes seems to ring true as I wait for the other shoe to drop. I'm vocal about my frustration, as the soul requires it, but then I wrestle with making the choice to continue to murmer, complain and wallow in these cares of this world. Or I can exercise free will and look at it as an opportunity to perfect the fruit of the Spirit, a much harder decision. After all I like feeling sorry for myself, why is this happening to me becomes my mantra. People express thier care and concern as I've made myself the center of attention, negating being Christlike in a world filled with much greater problems. Exercising free will helps me to make the word flesh by starting to think on "whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good report..' so that I can "be content in whatever circumstances I find myself in." My unexpected annoyances then becomes an opportunity to perfect the fruit of the spirit so that I can be "self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, peace, joy and love" for the mechanic, unwelcome company and repairman. Perfecting fruit is not always easy, it goes against the grain of my human nature, but it will transform my AARG into thank-you Lord for ripening your fruit within me.

I Like God

Don't get me wrong; I love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength; but how many of us have said "I Like you God'. He's always surprising me with little things that I react to by saying "Cool". There have many times while reading my bible that all of a sudden I realize He's set me up. I thought I was studying one thing and then an AHA moment happens that only He could have arranged. I laugh and respond "I like that Lord!" It's in those moments I know I'm written on the palm of His hand; I'm the apple of His eye and we like one another. I know He loves me because He gave His son for me, but I know He likes me when the God of all creation has given me the gift of His time by abiding with me in a moment that causes me to Love Him all the more. So, I LIKE YOU GOD!

The Gift

Webster defines a gift as "something given to show friendship, affection, support, etc." When I think of the gift of the Holy Spirit I'm reminded what a gentleman he is. He gently comes into my life the personification of God's friendship, Jesus said "I call you friends." He woo's me by calling me the beloved showing me great affection with hesed, kind love, the manifestation of "God is love." Then when I am weak He is strong through the support He gives me because he promised to "never leave nor forsake me." Every good and perfect gift is from above; for what kind of father would He be to give a stone when the Spirit is needed. I must remember I'm not entitled to the Spirit as with an inheritance, but I'm privilaged to receive Him as a precious gift. Because it's a privialge I must make no demands that would grieve or quench him. So today I receive the beauty of God's Love wrapped in the person of the Holy Spirit so that I may be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in a fallen world. I love you Holy Spirit!

Free Will

Free will. Why is it so important? Theologians have debated its intent and meaning. I believe its that part of me that's created in His image. I wrestle consistently with manifesting the fruit of the Spirit or the desires of the flesh. At times I enter Gethsamane to pray, "Not my will but yours oh Lord." Then I stand at the foot of the cross to hear Him tell me "It is finished." I find peace knowing that as I exercise free will, and not just make a choice, I will hear His voice say "This is the way walk in it." Free will becomes freedom to Know him and make Him known. It's a mystery so simple yet hard to do. Because I must die to self, overcome my weaknesses, change my ways and transform into the image of Christ. Yet through the blood He has made all things possible. Today I choose whom I will serve, the Spirit not the flesh! Thank-you Lord for creating me in your image!

Communion

I love the word made flesh that dwells amongst us. We partake of that word through relationship with God and one another. That's why He said take eat this is my body, take drink this is my blood, do this in remembrance of Me. As we remember Him through the simple means of communion it establishes His word as flesh within us, thereby enabling us to abide in fellowship with others. We become one! Then when we become one there is an overflow that goes into all the world and makes disciples. What a wonder!!