| Subject: I love Sundays |
Author:
Dave
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 17:29:33 03/17/02 Sun
I was thinking on the way to Church how nice God is to me. Now that my eyes aren't so good as they used to be he's made my part wider so I can still comb my hair.
Lent is all about the lengths Jesus Christ had to go to in saving us from our stupidities. Today, then, was Recovery Sunday at St Mark's. Our service and sermon were based around the AA 12-Step program. Brought back some memories, but thay don't hurt now nearly as much as they used to. And more joy that I'm still alive!!! I got awful close to the Great Dark, back there, and he pulled me away.
But that's exactly what he came here for!!! God asked Ezekial, "Mortal, can these bones live?" Eze 37:3-14. Then God took those dry dead bones and raised them and put flesh on them and they lived. And God's people said, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely". But the Lord God replied, "I will open up your graves and bring you up out of your graves". And he brought them back to him and they knew he is the Lord God who puts his Spirit in them and gives them life.
Wow! Because that's what happened to me! And I've seen it happen to others. Truly, awsome!
Psa 130:1-8 From the depths of my despair I call to you, LORD. Hear my cry, O Lord; listen to my call for help! If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned? But you forgive us, so that we should stand in awe of you. I wait eagerly for the LORD's help, and in his word I trust. I wait for the Lord more eagerly than sentries wait for the dawn--- than sentries wait for the dawn. Israel, trust in the LORD, because his love is constant and he is always willing to save. He will save his people Israel from all their sins.
Paul went on to point out that we have become slaves to Christ, and we are in his hands, and have been set free from death. The end of our slavery is eternal life. For the wage of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ro 6:16-23.
Jesus proved that not even a stinking 4-day dead body is beyond his saving. He commanded Lazarus to come out of his death and he did. Joh 11:1-44.
And, after Lazarus came out, Jesus commanded, "Unbind him, and let him go". That's exactly what he's done for us. Me, he brought me back from the Great Dark, he unbound me, and he let me go from the fear of death.
The sermon, from a recovering alcoholic, pointed out, though, that restored life isn't easy. You have to come to an ending before there can be a beginning. There's a resurrection life, but there has to be a Christian life of healing before a person is ready for the resurrection life. However, that person is in Christ's hands for the needed healing. And Christ is very patient, one day at a time, until the healing is complete. That applies not only to alcoholics, but to all sins. Take heart!!
The dry bones say, "Lord, have mercy".
The dead say, "Christ, have mercy".
We all say, "Lord, grant us thy peace".
And he does. Praise him!
In faith, Dave
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 