Because I Have To

I love YOU. That's right. YOU. Whoever you are. My child, husband, parent or sibling. My neighbor, business associate, former college roommate, high school acquaintance or Facebook friend. I really do LOVE you. Why? Why do I feel so strongly about YOU? 
Because I have to. I am commanded to.
Because first, I was shown a love I didn't deserve. Because I have been saved by this love, I'm obligated to love others and show that love. This isn't an easy kind of love. It is the kind of love that is a choice. I choose LOVE.

You disappointed me. 

I LOVE you.
You stole from me. 

I LOVE you.
You hurt my feelings. 

I LOVE you.
You used me. 

I LOVE you.
You were mean to my child. 

I LOVE you.
You took my parking place, cut me off, drove to slow in front of me, and then YOU flipped me off*. I LOVE you.

But WHY? Not because it is easy or even because I really WANT to. Because God told me to and Jesus showed me how. FIRST, He showed me. Even while I was doing all those things I listed above to YOU, He was loving and DYING for little ol' sinful me. 
I LOVE YOU. I thought it was time I told you.

*I love you because I know you really had to poop. (sorry...slightly distasteful, inside joke. Thanks, CD for that sure fire way to bring love to an angry situation.)

Yeah, What He Said

Wow, it has been a while since I wrote here. I have so many other things I want to do. Need to do. Should do. I was going to make a simple Facebook post, but then I realized it wouldn't be simple. It would be one of those LOOONGG posts that make me roll my eyes. Some of the people I love most in this world write reeaaallly long posts. You know who you are. Don't change a bit. 
I was inspired to write this morning after reading the first few chapters of 1 Timothy. Specifically, 1 Timothy 1:15-16. When I read these words, I was reminded that Paul's testimony is MY testimony. Let's be clear. I'm no Paul. I've never been on a mission trip. I've never gone downtown to feed the homeless. And don't you even think about asking me to evangelize to the tube top wearing, parrot carrying, cigarette smoking sinners at the county fair. NO. Way. But still, he said this:

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life. (NIV, emphasis all mine.)

 So, why am I writing today? Diverging from my precious to do list? Because if you know me now, then most of my Facebook posts make sense and and you probably never say, "Really? SHE said that. What a hypocrite." You wouldn't say that, because you know the reformed me. While still imperfect and often hard to love, I'm basically a decent person. I'm a faithful wife and I love my kids. All EIGHT of them. Most of the time. We go to church. We donate money. We take in family members that others might turn away. Decent, right? 
BUT, if you knew me before, you might see some of my Bible quoting, Jesus-y posts as a little hard to believe. If you do, I don't blame you. Truly. I remember that old me. "The worst of sinners" is a fair statement, but it isn't the point. I'm a sinner. You're a sinner. The degree of our sin (past or present) isn't really an issue. What is the point? "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". Thank you, Jesus, for being immensely patient with me through my teens and early twenties. Immensely. Patient. I am writing today to say to those who haven't FULLY accepted the truth of the gospel, let me be an example. You KNEW me. You saw my behavior. I've ALWAYS believed in God and I've always understood why Jesus came. Not until my early thirties did I FULLY accept the TRUTH of His saving grace and the gift of eternal life. 
If you haven't accepted this truth, but think you might want to, then send me a message. I'm an open book and I'm happy to tell you how Jesus turned me from the "worst of sinners" into just your average, run of the mill, saved-by-grace sinner.

The Way Out

Unworthy. . .

This simple word doesn't even begin to describe the rush of emotions I feel as I watch Passion of the Christ. John and I watched it a few years ago and then again tonight. I cry for Jesus and for Mary and for his followers. I want to throw up as I watch the betrayal, torture, and abuse he suffers. I find myself hoping he finds a way out--the way you hope for any hero in a movie. And then I remind myself that this isn't just any hero. This is THE hero of all heroes. Because there wasn't a way out for Jesus, I have a way out.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me."~John 14:6

(emphasis mine)

Because of that betrayal, torture, and abuse--I have a way out and so do you. And we are not worthy. We are completely and utterly unworthy, but covered by HIS GRACE. Thank you, Jesus.