I've been overwhelmed with God and his graciousness this morning. I shared the comment below from a brother's blog with a friend this morning to encourage them and it set in motion in me many tears of longing for us all. I long for us all to be able to extend grace to each other instead of expectations and demands to "do better". THIS HARSH WORLD PLACES ENOUGH DEMANDS ON PEOPLE. And don't miss that I said it is a longing I have.....this isn't something we can work up and produce ourselves. It's Father's love and acceptance that changes us...nothing else.
Here's what Paul shared on his blog.
“It is my opinion that a person brings everything they have at any moment. Sometimes it is a real mixed bag, fears and turmoil, denial and lies, theological acuteness or inaccuracy, embarrassment…whatever…but at that moment in time, it is everything they have. We are not talking about what a person could potentially bring, if they understood their identity clearly, if the wisdom that others have deposited would simply be tapped, if they could only draw upon the resources of their relationship with Father…we are talking about what they ‘do’ bring…and in their guilt or hiding or wonder or laughter…in that moment they bring everything they have. I also find that when you extend a person grace and allow for space for them to bring what they have, sometimes you will watch as they begin to look inside themselves to see if there isn’t more…and then…sometimes…you get surprised!”
12 comments:
Oh yeah, that's good, the Father's heartbeat exactly ! It's the Father's process and tender care that is working it out and we often don't know the details, only Father does. I love what you said at the end, His heart not only sees where we are at but He sees where He is taking us all, we look at ourselves and others as being on that journey of God bringing us where He wants to take us. Up into Him more and out of ourselves !
Hello Ruth. Thanks for adding into this. I look forward to hearing more from you out of your journey as Father so leads you to share here.
Also, I have really enjoyed the chats you and I have had so far. Isn't it amazing how the Spirit is connecting people together?
Thanks for the reminder, Kent, that it's the Father's process and not ours. How can it be, that even when we know this in our hearts, we still incline towards thinking we must muster it up ourselves?
That blanket of shame, and obligation, and doing it all ourselves ... it is a blanket made out of steel, that would survive a nuclear holocaust. And yet isn't it funny - he is able to dismantle it with something as soft as his breath.
Sometimes you gotta just smile at how little you know :)
Kent, thanks for sharing the quote. Is it possible to have a link to your friend's blog as well?
Thanks,
Chad
You are so right Sue. It is such a tough nut to crack we can't do it ourselves. I've been thinking a lot lately about the difference of a mind set on the flesh and a mind set on the Spirit. I think so much of the religious shaping has made this some what unintelligable for us. It is one of the reason I think we gravitate back to self-effort and performance.
A mind set on attempting to NOT do something (or in this case to BE gracious) is as much a mind set on the flesh as is gleefully and willing living in a way that is in rebellion to Father. It is self-effort. It will always fail.
So even when it come to loving and caring for others we can't produce this by effort. And beyond that what Paul has helped me see through what he has said here has added another layer to consider. Unless we can see beyond the flesh of another and see something deeper we will always be running the risk of judging others based on where we think they SHOULD be instead of seeing and understanding that in the moment, they/we are what they/we are.
Father's love is what sets us free and unless that happens....there is no freedom.
Aren't you glad he is committed to it?
Chad, it is linked in the body of this post under brother's blog
"A mind set on attempting to NOT do something (or in this case to BE gracious) is as much a mind set on the flesh as is gleefully and willing living in a way that is in rebellion to Father. It is self-effort. It will always fail."
Yes, now that is true wisdom, Kentster. Good stuff and very true. Even trying to NOT do something is still striving in our own strength and not resting.
I am SO glad that the Father is committed to this freedom for us. SO GLAD!!!!!!! :D
Thanks, dude, I needed to hear this today.
Thanks, Kent.
I had thought it was off Paul's site, but I can't find that quote anywhere.
Chad
Chad, it is a response in Part 1 of Do You Think They Brought Everything They Had?
Kent, this is one of the most amazing things that has happened since leaving the building. It is outrageously fun to watch people grow and embrace who they are and who God intended them to be and not a dead person who hides behind the rules and regulations of religion and men.. Whew.. Thank you Lord! FREEDOM!
Wouldn't this world be the most awesome place if we could all just extend more love and grace??
What I bring today isn't much, but I do know that I am loved and in that knowledge and peace inside, it's so much easier to love..
Thanks Brother...
Trish, it is outrageously liberating.
It's been fun getting to walk with you through much of it. Remember all those months of feeling the pull to go back?
YES! I sure do... Now it's not an option... Unless of course Papa says so! ;)
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