Junk Mail

Time to check my email.  Wow more emails then I had expected.  I have a habit of deleting all the "junk mail" before I focus on reading the more import emails.  As I scrolled through the list, I couldn't help but notice the object lesson.  How often in my spiritual life am I trying to focus on God, doing my devotions, without cutting out all the many other distractions.  No wonder I haven't been blessed or had as much time for my devotions recently, how have I been prioritizing time?  Am I cutting out all the junk mail, and distractions to place my full focus and attention on the messages God is trying to send me?

Compromise and Guarding Hearts

The message was powerful - Compromise.  "Could it be that we are only getting half of the blessings that God wants to bestow upon us because we are compromising?"  the speaker asked.  "Lord show me where I'm compromising", I prayed.  I kind of already knew what it was, but it's so small.  "This can't really count", I rationalized.  But I knew better!

As girls, it's normal, it's fun "girl talk", what's wrong with match making anyways?  It's all in fun!  We could be wrong we could be right there's nothing really at risk.  After all, I'm single, my girl friends are single, what's the big deal?  It's natural for me to be interested in someone, I mean this is college, not high school, I'm not even a teenager, this is the time.  And what's more, I'm not doing anything wrong!  I'm not having sex -I'd never even think of that! - I wouldn't kiss, I'm not even acting flirtatious, it's just....my thoughts!  But isn't that where it all starts?  Isn't that the root?  I know for me it's too easy to let thoughts slip, I'm castle building, dreaming, wishing, imagining....

What does the Bible say?  "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  Matthew 5:28  Of course this can apply to women as well as it can to men.  I can't help but think of the many other verses in the Bible about our hearts.  Jesus said:  "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."  Luke 6:45.  What do my words reflect?  If Christ is first in my heart won't that be who I want to talk about the most?  And when I am thinking about guys, there's a warning lest I think my attractions are the more "mature".  "The heat is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  Jeremiah 17:9.  And my favorite out of them all:  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23.

Needless to say I could't fight the conviction.

As I silently prayed for strength to live out my conviction, I decided on an easy way to remember where to keep my thoughts at:  Expect nothing, imagine nothing.  Expect nothing from a guy, and imagine nothing.  Simple.  Easier said than done!  I'm not the type of girl who is attracted to a bunch of guys, I know what I'm looking for and it's easy to spot the high quality, spiritual, mission-minded guys.  My attractions are mature!  It's not a compromise!  But I had to look at things from a different perspective.  What if it did work out?  What if I were to marry him?  Would I like him to know how I had talked about him to my girl friends before he had even indicated anything to me?  And what's more than that, what kind of example am I setting for my younger sisters in Christ?  It's not worth the fun of teasing around for the hurt it could cause.  Playing with peoples attractions, affections: it isn't worth the risk.  Is that really the true love Christ would have me to show to them?  And beyond that, as a Christian, I am called to a higher standard.  How will the world see anything different in me if I'm compromising here?

As I drove to the evangelistic series tonight I had time to reflect on my previous decision, and I had time to pray.  "Lord," I prayed, "I'm totally giving this to you, if you ever give him back to me I will count it as a gift from You."  A peace came over me.  I have to say God makes things easier for us when we are willing to surrender to Him!

The meeting was about Jesus - all about Jesus - and the plan of salvation. I've heard it before, but it resonated with me all over again!  As I thought of Christ's love for me and how much he gave up, the risk he took just to give me the chance to make a decision for Him; I was really convicted that Christ love should be all that satisfies me.  When the speaker brought out the point that salvation is a free gift - we can do nothing to earn it - my mind drew a parallel.  In the same way that I am unworthy of Christ's love, so I would be unworthy of a relationship, especially the guy I would be interested in.  It may sound silly, but honestly.  Think about it, what do you do to earn a relationship?  Don't you want to just love each other for who you are?  I couldn't help but think of my prayer earlier.

Truly, love and relationships are a gift, a gift from heaven.  As a young lady I can say it's easy at times to get caught up in wondering what I could do to impress, what he would like, how I could catch his eyes....I'll admit, I'm not above the temptation to impress!  But it's not worth the compromise.  The plans that God has for me - for you - are too much greater!  It's not worth trifling with, it's not worth joking about.  It's not worth the compromise!  It's the least I can do to not compromise, when Christ gave all for me!

May God help me to be true to my conviction!

GRACE!

Today I experienced grace for the "first" time!  I was driving to school to teach violin lessons, and I was running late.  Passing a 40 mph sign I somehow began accelerating nonetheless.  A minute or so later I found myself thinking, "the speed limit has to be 55 by now!"  As I rounded a corner I saw a red car pulled over, it didn't look like a police car, but it still made me wonder.  Before I knew it the car had pulled around and I had flashing lights behind me.  I felt like crying, and I wanted to tell the police that I had never been pulled over before, but I politely answered his questions.  My feelings must have been written all over my face, (I don't hide my emotions very well).  "So do you know why I pulled you over?", the officer asked me.  "I was going too fast".  (I couldn't even use the proper term-"I was speeding", which might have sounded better...oh well!)  "You were driving 55 in a 40", he informed me.  He asked to see my drivers' license.  "Are you a student at Southern?"  "Yes", I replied.  "So what are you in a hurry for?"  "I'm running late to work." "Where do you work?"  I'm told him what elementary school I was headed to.  "I know where that's at", he replied.  "Well do me a favor, and slow down, it's 40 mph here and up ahead it drops to 35 mph. And hope you enjoy your work."  "I will do that" I assured him, "Thank you so much!"  And that was it!  

As I drove away it struck me that I had just been a recipient of grace.  It was hard not to keep back the tears!  That was close!  I was going 15 miles over the speed limit, the police had all rights to write me out a ticket!  And yet he had let off the hook without even a written warning!  The moment I realized I was being pulled over, my imagination went to the ticket I was going to have to pay, and "wait, I'm still under 21, does that mean I would have to go back to drivers school?  Or was that just for when I was under 18 with a license?  What would the implications be, besides a low bank account, I really can't afford that right now!"  I knew full well what I deserved, but grace had given me the exact opposite.  This week in Christian Beliefs and Christian Spirituality we have been studying salvation.  I couldn't help but think of the amazing grace that God has for us.  "The law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound...."  Romans 5:20.  The words of one of my favorite hymns comes to mind: "Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!  Yonder on Calvary's mount out poured-There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt."  Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;  Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!"

  This afternoon, grace took on a newer meaning to me. I always had the theoretical knowledge of grace, but now I knew the experience!  How many times have I failed,  "the evil which I would not that I do." (Romans  7:24).  Even my original motives for seeking Christ were not pure.  But His grace sought me out before I knew Him, "But God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8.  It's one thing for the police to not write you out a ticket, but what if he had to pay the ticket for me?  He had never even met me before.  "For scarcely for a righteous man some would die..."  Romans 5:7.  The implications of what Christ did for me are infinitely greater than the mercy that I was shown this afternoon, but even that warmed my heart!  O the matchless, amazing love, and wondrous grace and mercy my heavenly Father has for me!  

Grace is truly a mystery, even Paul says so.  "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is nor revealed...."  Ephesians 3:2-5.  Truly Christ revealed unto us the greatest mystery of grace, a gift, a privilege, a power to keep us from falling back into the same issues, something I totally don't deserve, but freely given out of love.  Paul wrote to the Galatians and told them, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ..."  Galatians 1:6.  

"O Father help me to not run from your grace!  May I value it for what it is and live in it, and not make it into cheap grace!  Thank you for grace!"