You are Free...

What we've been learning, what we've been talking about in small groups hit home really hard this past week. I found myself repeatedly worrying about past mistakes, past unwise decisions, not knowing what to do with them or why I was thinking about them.

I'm beginning to realize that grace intersects in my life in this area. Because of grace, God allows me to 1) make mistakes, 2) learn from my mistakes, and 3) be forgiven of my mistakes.

This is not to say that grace allows up to do whatever we want without consequences, however, when we repent of our sins, God truly does forgive us and allow us to move on. He gives us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, and lovingly guides us back to where we belong.
This true freedom is found in following God.

The "Get out of Jail Free" Card...

Ouch- my first reaction to last nights discussion with my small group family.
Guilty as charged, I've many times been a "grace abuser". But, the point of what we are learning is not to point fingers at each other, not to make you feel like the worst Christian in the world; but to encourage you to have a deeper and growing relationship with Christ. If we use the grace of God as a "get out of jail free" card, our relationship with God is so much smaller, we reduce Him to our magical guilt reliever. However, if we chose to allow the grace of God to impact our lives and to free us to a life of love for Him, He becomes so much more to us.

What are you learning about Grace and moral boundaries this month?

Grace...
As we discussed grace and legalism in small groups last week, my small group had a thought provoking discussion on giving and receiving grace. As we thought about it I realized, that I have almost grown to expect grace, I've lost the joy and surprise when God reaches down and extends it to me. Because I don't understand it, I've minimalized it.
Don't forget the scandal that grace is.

Prayer...
You want to say something new, something earth changing...something other than "God, help me!" tired of saying things about yourself. You want to be ok, not show weakness...but you forget you are talking to the creator of the universe...the creator of you. The words don't have to be big...just a simple confession...I can't do this. Why is communicating so hard? I long to be able to pray in the same way that I would talk to a friend...in open honesty.
I think this is the main thing I learned about myself and my prayer life this past month while we were talking about spiritual disciplines. What do you find the hardest in your prayer life?

"You who live in heaven hear the prayers of us who live in time
We can't see what's ahead and we cannot get free of what we've left behind
I'm reeling from the voices screaming in my ears
All these words of shame and doubt, blame and regret
I can't see how You're leading me unless You've led me there
Where I'm lost enough to let myself be led
And so You've been here all along, I guess
It's just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get..."
-Rich Mullins, Hard to Get

This is where we chose to let the truth affect our lives... at the intersections.
Where what we learn comes into play in our daily lives.
Where truth becomes more than just a word, and faith is our own.