Open Arms ... by Max Lucado

If you ever wonder how in the world God could use you to change the world, look at the people God used to change history. A ragbag of ne’er-do-wells and has-beens who found hope, not in their performance, but in God’s proverbially open arms.

Abraham- God took what was good and forgave what was bad and used “old forked tongue” to start a nation. Moses- would you call upon a fugitive to carry the Ten Commandments? God did. David- his track record left little to be desired, but his repentant spirit was unquestionable. Jonah- God put him in a whale’s belly to bring him back to his senses. But even the whale couldn’t stomach this missionary for too long.

On and on the stories go: Elijah, the prophet who pouted; Solomon, the king who knew too much; Jacob, the wheeler-dealer; Gomer, the prostitute; Sarah, the woman who giggled at God. One story after another of God using man’s best and overcoming man’s worst.

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used (and uses!) people to change the world. People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars—he uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love.

Jesus later summarized God’s stubborn love with a parable. He told about a teenager who decided that life at the farm was too slow for his tastes. So with pockets full of inheritance money, he set out to find the big time. What he found instead were hangovers, fair-weather friends, and long unemployment lines. When he had had just about as much of the pig’s life as he could take, he swallowed his pride, dug his hands deep into his empty pockets, and began the long walk home; all the while rehearsing a speech that he planned to give to his father.
He never used it. Just when he got to the top of the hill, his father, who’d been waiting at the gate, saw him. The boy’s words of apology were quickly muffled by the father’s words of forgiveness. And the boy’s weary body fell into his father’s opened arms.

The same open arms welcomed him that had welcomed Abraham, Moses, David, and Jonah. No wagging fingers. No clenched fists. No “I told you so!” slaps or “Where have you been?” interrogations. No crossed arms. No black eyes or fat lips. No. Only sweet, open arms. If you ever wonder how God can use you to make a difference in your world, just look at those he has already used and take heart. Look at the forgiveness found in those open arms and take courage.
And, by the way, never were those arms opened so wide as they were on the Roman cross. One arm extending back into history and the other reaching into the future. An embrace of forgiveness offered for anyone who’ll come. A hen gathering her chicks. A father receiving his own. A redeemer redeeming the world.

No wonder they call him the Savior.

What a Morning!!!

IRONMEN EDGE this morning was amazing!!! It is truly a regular occurance on Thursday mornings that God just amazes me.

We have been studying Nehemiah and this week each person took a chapter to summarize. The focus of the summarization for each chapter was to think about the principles in the chapter that can help us deal with changes that we need to make in our lives, example: sins.

That was a great discussion! If that wasn't enough, CD shared a story from his past that was absolutely moving! God is soooooo good and he hits me right where I need it every time. I trust that he did for each of us.

It is so special to be in a room with other men and discussing the things in our lives that really matter. There is such strength in that! Thank you Lord for the incredible men then of the EDGE!

STP

Service!!! Romans 13:14

In the ERV, this verse reads like this:
"Be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see what you do, they will see Christ!"

In the NIV, this verse reads like this:
"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ."

In the Message, this verse reads like this:
"Dress yourselves in Christ."

I love this verse! This is a very convicting verse. When others see me, what do they see? Do they see someone that is selfishly looking out for #1 or do they see a servant with Christ as their leader? I sure hope it is the latter. I cannot say that it is always that way, however.

Just simply thinking about the things that I do, that is very convicting. There is sin in my life that I am not proud of. I know that when others see that, they don't see Christ. They see my selfish nature just as the rest of the verse says. Oh, how I strive to keep this in the forefront of my mind at all times.

This is my new goal/mission:
I want to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when other people see what I do, they SEE CHRIST!

I hope all us IronMen could live this way! What a change this would make in the world!

SERVICE:
In an effort to do the above mentioned goal/mission, I sent out an email to the IronMen on Monday asking for help rounding up some furniture for a great family that we are helping. What a response!!! Within 30 minutes, I had numerous men offering furniture of all types. Last night, we picked up and delivered a couch, love seat, otomon, and a TV to this wonderful family. They were so overjoyed!!! On Friday, we are going to pick up a table and 6 chairs for their dining room.

This was such a great thing and I am so proud of the IronMen! Keep on Sharpening each other!!! You guys are great!

STP, an IronMan