The age old argument of faith vrs works continues

I saw it on a van today...large, bold, not to,be missed, cap letters encircling the back window were the words: "Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray". While one "might" understand some circumstances that could lead someone to say this, without further explanation, It seemed to me a pretty brazen statement.

However, to reverse this and say, "Lips that pray are holier than hands that serve" would, to me, be equally as brazen without further explanation. I have to admit that the van's statement certainly does make me wonder where the owner of the van was coming from. This van owner might be a Christian or not...we don't know. Perhaps the owner has been hurt by someone who prayed but felt no inclination to offer a hand of help in Christian charity in a time of need. Perhaps this person is not a believer in prayer and it's power at all.

I wish I could have found out the circumstances that would lead to such a bold statement. I'll never know most likely, but my mind is called back once again to how Christians down through the ages have argued over what pleases God the most...faith or works. This very thing is a matter of discussion in the Bible, and the 2nd chapter of James brings us clarity that seems to me to put an end to the matter. Still, the arguement goes on, and will most likely until the end of time. I can't help it though, I'm always saddened when people try to pit the two against one another when they are in fact, like breathing in and breathing out, meant to be inseparable

What's Life About Anyway?

I wonder if I am the only Christian who sometimes ask God, "what is life really all about, anyway?" The Bible has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so I sort of know the answer. We were created by God for companionship with God and to tend to God's creation here on earth. Right? At least, that was the original plan...I think. Ah, if only it were that simple now days! But even then it was not that easy. As we know, the first humans fell for the first snow-job ever. They fell for it "hook, line and sinker" as they say, and sin entered God's perfect world!

So much has happened since the Genesis of this world, and though God still longs and calls for companionship with each one of us,(sinful as we are when left to our own doings!) and still looks to us to care for our planet and everything in it, the birth of our ancestor's first sin brought about, among other things, new responsibilites. Though referred to as God's "plan and purpose" for us, it basically translates to a significantly important job that is assigned to each God fearing and following person.

The initial sufferings of Adam and Eve were separation from God, experiencing shame, pain in childbirth, difficult toiling to tame the land into being useful to life, sorrow and suffering due to death and eventually all manner of sin. Fear, jealousy and hatred replaced a life sound security, innocent love and a natural sense of "otherness"

Obviously the "good life" that Adam and Eve were brought into changed dramatically! Their decision unfortunately changed so much of what we tend to see as God's original plan. Down through the ages, and up to today, God's Word tells us that we have a job to do that was not necessary prior to sin. Here I'm thinking of Jesus' last words...his words of instructions to his followers to "go tell" about God's love, to "baptize and make disciples" of all nations.

I struggle with a sense of failing in this area of God's plan and purpose for me from time to time. Somehow I don't believe I am alone in this.

I love the Lord with all my heart and have so many stories to tell of God's incredible faithfulness. I have obeyed God's call to "go tell" on several occasions and will still do so when the door opens for me. I share God's love as much as I know how to (and sadly have to admit though that I am quite a failure from time to time in this area) and I constantly seek God's word and direction for my life.

At this point I am 66 years old and still trying to find out what God wants me to do. What is it? I just got back from Ecuador. It was a wonderful, inspiring, and hopefully a time of blessing others. A short mission trip, yes, but I walked in obedience. Did it help any in the grand scheme of God's plan? I'm not sure. I pray so.

I am reading Richard Foster's book on Prayer and feeling quite inadequate in my efforts at prayer. But something I've just read made me stop today and consider that perhaps I'm "trying" too hard! Perhaps it's not suppose to be a matter of desparately trying to "find" God's will. Perhaps, after all, it's the small steps of obedience that are God's plan and purpose for someone like me. Or for any of us for that matter.

Perhaps if I keep going through open doors, praying (even if they are basically thought prayers thrown up to God as if He were a good friend!)when my heart is moved or I feel God calling me to "do something!" for another, and if I keep seeking to love God more, know and understand the graciousness of our amazing creator God and continue asking God to help me to really love others as myself...then perhaps one day I'll find out that this is what life is all about anyway.

I think it might be ok, or more than ok actually, to simply rest in the Lord at this point in my life. If you've read some of my other writings, you'll recognize that I've been struggling with this issue of how I spend my time for a long time. Resting in the Lord has surfaced as being of the utmost important more and more as of late. I don't want to give up on growing simply because I have a few years on me, and that's not what I mean at all. But, if I'm honest, I must admit that my spiritual "get up and go" enthusiasm is often waning as a sense of tired wonder overtakes my mind from time to time when I ponder all that I am not doing!

I grew up in an era when a song by singer Peggy Lee was popular called, "Is That All There Is." The words linger..."is that all there is my friend? If that's all there is, my friend, then let's keep dancing!". These words might sound cynical and perhaps they were meant to be. But, I find comfort in them in an odd sort of way. To me, the "let's keep dancing" means to keep on loving, seeking, and walking in obedience to God.

What's life about? Well, for each one of us it might be different I suppose. For me, it's what I just mentioned. It's still about struggle, pain, loss, and much of what Adam and Eve experienced once ours became a sinful world. But it's also about God's incredible and unconditional love, the fact that Jesus' sacrifice in the cross is all that will ever be needed to cover my sins make life worthwile, and about God the Holy Spirit who will always be my Guide, my Counselor, my Comforter and who will one day accompany me to my real Home where I will at last understand the true meaning of what life on this earth was all about anyway.

Personal accolades for, "The Story of God, the Story of us"

I am certainly not a theologian or Biblical historian, but, like millions upon millions of others, I have read the Bible many times and have often engaged in a little Biblical study here and there. There is nothing so cleansing, insightful and powerful as this little book made up of an Old Testament and a New Testament. Absolutely life changing for those who are open to what it can do for them.

Recently my husband handed me a book called, "The Story of God, the Story of Us" by Sean Gladding. It was released in November 2010. I, along with so many others whose articles I have read online, consider it to be quite a "find." I'm not sure though...did I find it via my husband's boss who gave it to him, or did it find me via the Holy Spirit's doing? Either way, I'm thrilled to be reading it.

"At 235 pages total it could be considered a "short," but there is nothing short in its incredible depths. "The Story of God, the Story of Us" could be a fast and easy read to those who read often. However, in sitting quietly with an open heart during the reading, one is taken deep into well-thought-through and spiritually enlightened insights that go well beyond
what the eyes see.

"The Story of God, the Story of Us" is an interesting paraphrasing of the entire Bible, both Old and New Testament. In addition to the unique way the "old, old story" is told, it's warmth and almost novel like personal look into some of the characters keep the interest up on several levels.

I will take some time to share a few of the things as they seem to sparkle in my spirit as I continue reading Sean's amazing book. Meanwhile, for those who have not heard of this book, I will say that, not only would it be an excellent gift for anyone, but it would certainly be an excellent study for a group of any age...teens to college age to adults and even seniors. (I belong to that last category!)

I end this post with a quote from the back of the book. (I hope I'm not breaking any copy rite laws here.) Here is what one author, Alan Hirsch, says on the back of this book.
Hirsch says, "I commend this book to anyone exploring the bestelling, least understood book in the history of the world. As well, I recommend it to leaders and practitioners who long for a fresh approach to teaching scripture."

If anyone reading this post wants to discuss it in any way, that would be great. Happy reading!