Entry #7 - When all you can say is, "Merci!"

Sometimes I get the feeling that because I like to write, people think somehow I must be different from everyone else in this world.  I assure you, I am not.  I feel deep pain and ache in my heart over the death of loved ones just as you do—and I miss them so incredibly much each passing day!  My heart cries out daily that my boys would always make choices that draw them closer to a loving relationship with their Heavenly Father, just as you cry out for your children.  I get frustrated with peripheral demands of my job (which in reality actually hinder me from doing the work) just as you do.  Oh, and let’s not even get started on society and politics!  I often fail miserably at many things.  And, I cannot count the number of times I surely have been a disappointment to my Heavenly Father.  I am not perfect.  I am real.  I am human.  I am very guilty of publicly plowing through life with an effervescent smile on my face and the classic “Oh, I’m fine, thanks!” response; sometimes it’s just easier that way.

If you have been following my blog, by this time you are well aware of my affinity for interesting vocabulary.  I really can’t help it—it’s the teacher in me. However, when I review my daily failings, the word that surfaces to the top is mercy.  Most definitions concur that mercy is the ability to have compassion on the one who is at fault.   My friend smiles at me and loves me even though while be-bopping along in my own little world I just blurted out, “Oh, hi! How are you doing?”  Her heart is full of pain from the recent loss of a loved one, but she has mercy on me anyway.  As a result, I am blessed because she has chosen to personify God’s plan:

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”   Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Having been raised in a Christian home, surrounded by Christian family and friends, I would have to say there are not many major sins in my life.  I don’t steal. I don’t murder.  I don’t smoke, drink, or use foul language.  But oh, the sins of the heart are many. I suffer from the natural ability to be inattentive to what really matters.  I do not make the most of every opportunity God gives me.  I have a tendency to focus on the problem rather than the solution.  When I am with friends who whine and complain about anything; then all too quickly I find myself trying to compete.  Since God does not grade sins by degrees of sinfulness…sin is sin…I am a sinner.  I need a Savior.  I need His mercy. 

What I know in my heart is this:

“He who conceals his sins [and folks, it doesn’t matter what kind or how big; sin is sin in God’s eyes] does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”  Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

Therefore, each day I share in the poignant prayer of King David:

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.”   Psalm 25:4-7 (NIV)

The cool thing is that God has already provided the answer. Not only this, but He understands our need for repetition and reassurance:

“You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us.”  Micah 7:18b-19 (NIV)

“The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  James 5:11 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul and I share something in common:

“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)

And so, I sing:

Depth of mercy! can there be

            Mercy still reserved for me?

                        Can my God his wrath forbear?

                                    Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood his grace;

            Long provoked him to his face;

                        Would not harken to his calls;

                                    Grieved him by a thousand falls.

Now incline me to repent;

            Let me now my sins lament;

                        Now my foul revolt deplore,

                                    Weep, believe, and sin no more.

The above is an untitled hymn written by Charles Wesley and taken from:

The Advent Christian Hymnal: A Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Public and Social Worship.  1894. 24^th ed. Boston: Advent Christian Publication Society, 1930. Print.

No, I haven’t forgotten the title of this blog.  The French word for “Thank you” is Merci.  And it is all I can say when my Heavenly Father reaches down to me in His infinite MERCY.

~~~~~ Weep, believe, and sin no more. ~~~~~

Respectfully written and submitted by:

Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian

Entry #6 -- To Like, or not to Like? This definitely IS the question!

So I’m just scrolling along FB enjoying the posts (or most of them) while I sip on my morning coffee…and for some reason I began to give serious attention to specific wording of posts and from whom the posts were sent.  According to Facebook Help Center www.facebook.com , “Clicking Like is a way to give positive feedback and connect with things you care about.”  Well, that’s pretty cool and fairly self-explanatory.  Except…my friends…my Christian friends… do they actually READ what they are Like-ing? Not so sure.

At first glance, it looks great!  If you were encouraged to:

Eat the delicious food.  Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean.  Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure.  Be silly.  Be kind.  Be weird.

Wouldn’t you agree that it sounds positively refreshing?  Yeah, just be me for a change!

However, here is the whole post (sun-gazing.com), and when I saw it this morning it already had 214,496 Likes, over 5,202 Comments, and 914,336 Shares.

Note to self:

None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure.  Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.

Really?  Seriously?

Now I am in no way degrading the good folks at sun-gazing.com; merely saying I’m not so sure I agree, and I definitely cannot Like this post in all good Biblical consciousness. Here is my humble opinion on the matter.

“First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’”   2 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations…”   2 Timothy 4:3-5a (NIV)

Additionally, both Matthew (chapter 24) and Luke (chapter 17) remind us that in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot, everyone was going about their business as if there were no tomorrow.  Great destruction came suddenly in both cases. Yet there were survivors in each case—those who remained faithful.  So I would rephrase the original quote: 

SOME of us ARE getting out of here alive—those who remain faithful and are alive when Christ returns, and those who remained faithful and though physically dead are resurrected when Christ returns. 

I would further submit what we do with our time DOES matter. 

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  Romans 14:12

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16

And finally, I would amend the last statement of the original quote:

There’s no time for anything else—EXCEPT:

“…to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”  Titus 2:13-14 (NIV)

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”  2 Peter 3:14 (NIV)

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  Revelation 22:20 (NIV)

Not sure about you, but I Like that!

Respectfully written and submitted by:

Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian