Moments in Grace

The way of the cross is not an easy way. It is the way of dying that leads to life and greatest fruitfulness.   When I came to know Christ I understood the cost but had no idea what it would mean for me. How God takes those who seek to follow Him and a time comes when he asks them to lay down everything that they hold most dear to their hearts so that they would   find that He alone is the true treasure worth seeking. I just didn’t know. I didn’t know how hard this path would be.   But I was willing to count the cost, whatever it may be, even if it cost me my life. But, can I be honest and say, there have been times I’ve struggled with resenting the hardness of this? There are times that I have struggled to keep my heart in the place of full surrender.   Maybe outwardly I was obeying but inwardly sometimes I have been angry, depressed, confused.   And the prosperity gospel of the Western world that says if you follow Jes...

I have looked for love in all the wrong places. I have looked for it in my marriage, in my kids, in my friends, in my career, in myself. I tried hard to love and failed miserably. I have redoubled my efforts to love and fallen short again and again because I was trying to do loving works without actual love in my heart, and that will never work. Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.   The overflow of His life in us pouring out.   If we don’t love, then it is evidence that we need more of Him.   Not that we ever love perfectly, not that we ever get it completely right, but when we see our lack of love, it should cause us to ask one thing, for more of Jesus . The mission trip to Costa Rica for me was a place that God overflowed my cup.   A place where He filled me up with His love to pour me out on others.   But even more striking is the fact that I feel like I have lived way too long with less than His fullness. I ha...