Lent day 12

a gorgeous day...

sun is out...

temp has climbed to 60+...

we had an awesome morning at the tampa underground...

i spoke on "jesus in his father's house" [from john 2.13-25]...

so cool...

i was blown away by the last phrase in verse 25 -- jesus knows what is in every human person [including ME and YOU]...

at first, this scared me spitless -- my old false self reacted: "if God really knows me, how could he possibly love me..."

but, that's NOT the good news...

the gospel is that jesus knows everything about all of us and still loves us as his beloved children...

just ask simon peter...

i heard and shared the good news this morning -- the love of God is ferocious and fiery -- not something to be played with -- the most powerful force in this universe -- he has shown his love to us -- NO one or NOTHING can ever rip us out of our father's grasp...

i love what richard rohr says:

"god's love is total, unconditional, absolute and forever...

the state of grace -- god's attitude toward us -- is eternal...

we are the ones who change...

sometimes we are able to believe that god loves us unconditionally, absolutely and forever...

THAT'S GRACE!!!

and sometimes because we get down on ourselves, and carry guilt and fear and burdens, we are not able to believe that god loves us...

biblically, that is the greatest sin -- not to believe the good news, not to accept the unconditional love of god...

when we no longer believe god loves us, we can no longer love ourselves...

we have to allow god to continually fill us...

then we find in our own lives the power to give love away..."

well said...

now, let's live with this kind of security...

shalom...

guy

off to micro church -- talk with you tomorrow...