A God Ready to Pardon

When a man’s conscience is so awakened to the existence of sin that he cannot perceive any plea for mercy within himself, it is his wisdom to look for a plea in the nature and character of God.  Now, brethren, if we search ourselves through and through, we cannot find anything in our fallen nature which can recommend us to the Most High.  If we think that we have a claim upon God’s goodness, we are in darkness, and deceive ourselves.  When the true light comes, it reveals our bareness of all merit or excuse, and shows that there is nothing in human nature but that which provokes the Lord.  This is the fact as to our condition while we are unregenerate, and oftentimes the true believer, when darkness gathers around him, finds himself to be in much the same condition.  His evidences burn dimly, the candle of the Lord seems quenched within his spirit, and worst of all, the sun of divine favor is not discernible; then groping all around he can discover nothing in himself but that which causes him to sigh and groan, being burdened.  In such a plight he should cast overboard the great anchor of faith, and escape from himself to his God.  It were well for him always to do so, but especially in the cloudy and dark day.  To whom should he turn for light but to the Sun of Righteousness?  Where look for grace but to the God of all grace?  Where for all but to the All in all?  If what I am makes me despair, let me consider what God in Christ is and I shall have hope.

A God Ready to Pardon: January 9^th, 1876 by C.H. Spurgeon

This is just an excerpt from his message.  I have not finished reading the whole thing but I would encourage you to read it as well if you have a chance.

What an amazing thing our God’s grace is!  As I read through this I was continually taken back by how grace filled our God is. And also how there is NO WAY that we can bring ourselves to salvation.  I loved the part that when we finally are awakened by the sin that is in us we cannot give mercy to ourselves because it is so hideous.  When we see humanity for what it is there is nothing in us that can be a recommendation for our salvation to God.  YET, our God who is filled with grace pardons us from our sin.  He saves us regardless of the fact that everything we do, everything inside of humanity provokes Him.  What an amazing God we have.  Let us anchor our faith in the Lord.

Run Your Race (Part 1)

We all are running a race in life. We who are believers are called to run it with purpose, trying to win.

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Picture this: At a track meet there are many people coming from all over to compete in a lot of events. All the athletes are there to run some sort of race. Maybe it is hurdles, sprint, long distances, relays, shot-put or a different one. All the athletes need different training; you wouldn’t have someone who has been training for the sprint run hurdles or long distance. Some even compete in more than one event, yet no one competes in all.  They all have the same goal in mind to win, and to win for their team.

Are we not just like that as believers? Here we are competing at the event of life. We all are running different races and have trained ourselves in different ways. Yet we all are running for the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

As I was thinking about this a few questions came to mind. What race are you Kelsie, called to run? What races have you been running that you are not called to? And how can you cheer on those in other races without taking the burden of running it with or for them?

These are races that I know I am to train for and run... some now and some in the future:

• I have been called to glorify the Lord in all that I do and preach the gospel through actions and words.
• I know that I am called to be at the Ranch this year. I don't know when he will call me out but this is where I am now.
• I know that I am called to run the race of living in Powell Butte with the Brewers.
• I know that I am called to encourage those around me, especially the staff and volunteers at the Ranch.
• I know that I am called to read the Word every day.
• I know that I am called to write my brother and encourage him in prison.
• I know that I am called to pray for healing in my family, especially for my father and mother.
• I know that I am called to pray for the salvation of my sister.
• I know I am called to start training to be a wife and mother.

These are the things I need to focus on. I need to pray, to train, to read the Word, to fix my eyes on Jesus... so that I can run with endurance and speed. I am sure there are many more races to come... some I know about and others I don't. I want to be ready. I want to be trained up and ready for the challenges ahead, the adventures and blessings that the Lord has prepared for me.

What races are you called to run?

I'm home

I don't know why but even when I have been gone in the most peaceful place, surrounded by friends and "pseudo" family, I always LOVE coming home.  I know the exact place I feel as though I am back in Central Oregon (whether I am coming from the North, South, East or West).  My heart becomes rested when I first see the mountains. 

Every place has a different piece of beauty to it.  I enjoyed being in Redding, I love the big oak tree's and the gardens!  Traveling to Papa and Maunga's house is peaceful and in much ways like a second home.  Yet wherever I am, living here to there, wherever there is, Oregon will always have a place in my heart.

Real me

I have been thinking a lot about being honest and real. 

In talking with a few people the other day, my friend shared how she loves it when she actually gets to see me cry.  Because in the 5 years of her knowing me I have cried very few times in front of her.  I was taken back when she shared this…  and I quickly stated, I cry all the time, what are you talking about?  She replied, defining what she meant.  She didn’t mean just any tears, she has seen me tear up many times while watching movies and hearing stories.  Yet when it comes to my actual life, tears of sorrow, sadness, joy she could count the number of times on her one hand. 

As I drove home that night I considered what she said.  I wondered why it was so easy for me to cry when it had to do with someone else’s story yet in my own life, being vulnerable in that way is so hard.   Don’t get me wrong, emotions run deep inside of me and I feel everything. 

Yet for as long as I can remember I have felt the need, felt the obligation to be strong, to be ready to take on the world and to be an example of relying on the Lord to those around me.  I have believed that this means you need to set aside your emotions and put on this brave "together" spirit.  Yet, deep inside me something whispers to me that this is wrong. 

What is the balance of a joyfilled spirit, someone that is walking in trust and truly allowing yourself to be broken beside those who are walking this life with you?