All are justified freely

"and all are justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

--Rom. 3:24

Why is THIS verse not more commonly known and memorized?
Why is THIS verse not often repeated as a stand-alone statement?

Instead we, or at least I, for years and years have known that Rom 3:23 says,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," 

All have sinned

All fall short

All, and that means you and me, have sinned.

It's part of "The Roman's Road," a simple, easy to memorize, and formulaic way of presenting the Gospel...through just a few verses in Romans.

So we know Romans 3:23, but we don't know it with 3:24 right after it.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

and all are justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

--Rom. 3:23, 24

But it's even better when you start a little earlier, reading from v. 21...and this might not work now already, because I've drilled in a reminder of verse 23, but try, just try for a minute, to read it fresh, and note what is emphasized as the main thing, and what is more background, in this passage.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. --Rom 3:21-26 (NIV)

Whoa! Sure, Rom 3:23 is true, but if you read it in the context, the main point of the passage is righteousness--there is a righteousness that comes from God that is available to all. That all have sinned is the back story, the obvious reason why we need it, but our sin, or that all have sinned, is not the focus, not the main point at all! It reads as almost a side comment.

The main point, what jumps out to me today, is that there is a righteousness from God that has come, that is available. Hallelujah! Amen! Praise God.

I am justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Thank You, Lord!

Wrestling it through...

When You speak

When You break through

What do You want us to do with that?

Do You want us to just 

   listen

   receive

   and do it?

Perhaps, sometimes.

Perhaps, often even.

But is that always what you want us to do.

Jacob wrestled a blessing from You

You told Moses to leave You alone (Ex. 32:10)

So that Your anger could burn and destroy the people

But he didn't leave You alone

He argued that one with You

And You relented

It's almost as if You wanted Him to stay and argue

Was it a test?

Just a bit later (33:1-3) You told him

You wouldn't go with him, with them

You'd send an angel

But You wouldn't go

And again he argues with You

And...You let him

And seem to like it

I've always thought I could engage with You

I've always thought You could take my questions

But this, now, is the context of when You speak to me

When You speak to Your people

It makes sense that we should engage

And like the examples above, even

   question

   disagree

Your final answer

Might be a little different than the original

And now I'm thinking a step further

Of the times I thought You have spoken

And I did agree, I did like it

But then I just sat on it

And sometimes

They didn't happen

Could it be that my lack of wrestling it through

   praying that it would really happen

   became a hindrance?

Could it be

That when You speak

No matter what

You really want us

You really want me

   to engage

Hearing You speak

Hearing what You say

   is not quite enough

There are implications

There are always implications

And I need to learn to stay

   and work those out

To keep listening

   and wrestling

It is a whole life

Continually lived in Your presence

Always engaged

Grace pours down...

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, 

Lord who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness, 

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

(Ps. 130:4-5)

Thank You Lord, for forgiveness, for grace.

Thank You for being "the lifter of my head" (Ps. 3:3)

Sin is real

Shame is real and can be so crippling

But You

Offer forgiveness

You

Don't want to

Are not willing to

See us forever bowed down

And the body

The Christian community

Should be a place that lives this out

Where we can come broken, contrite

And find acceptance, warmth, forgiveness

And strength to go on

Thank You for forgiveness and grace
Thank You for a body that lives this out
Thank You for family, that is real with each other

Semi-related thoughts that have come on this: 

I was tempted, yesterday, to not go to the Bible study. "What's the point?" I hadn't prepared (done my homework, hadn't even read the chapter, only listened to it once or twice. Certainly hadn't prayerfully considered the questions or written anything down). Didn't even have my notebook to write down the thoughts of others. And...I was late...but, I somehow still thought it was good to go.

Then, I had a memory, from 20+ years ago--sitting in church in a weeknight Bible study. The rows of chairs were facing forward. My dad was leading or teaching, sitting in one of the front rows, but not facing the people straight on. He was angled back toward them so they could hear him, but he was looking at the floor the whole time. It bugged me that he didn't look at everyone. I kept wanting to get his attention, thought of writing a note and handing it to him, "Look up, look at the people."

I don't know when we talked about it...maybe that night in the car going home. 

What he said, "You know [my name]..." and then what came was just how low he was feeling right then--how broken down, struggling, hurting. I didn't know the details, still don't, but I've later heard more of the stories and struggle from those years...

And I thought (and I STILL think), "What a shame!" The church should be the place where we can come and share our struggle, our brokenness. This is where we can come to learn to live out the reality of this Book we read, these truths we hold to. If we can't come and wrestle it out here, with these people, pray tell, where and when DO we learn to live out these truths? 

How sad, then, that my dad couldn't be real about the struggle. How sad, then, that there were very few being real about faith intersecting with life, and the learning to live it as a Christ-follower. Ah--when it would get talked about--when things got to an extreme--a "fall," a need for church discipline...  

I hope we are doing better now. I think we are.

It makes me wonder--how did I become one who would be vulnerable and real about it all? When and how did I realize--that if this faith is real, if this God is real, then He must also be real in the reality of life...no need to hide it, or cover it...

Jesus Come

what do I do with this dull heart and head?

I so long for You to come close

to be able to hear You

see You

sense You

I want

I would like

for my life to be wrapped up in Yours

to somehow know, again

that You are leading, guiding, speaking

to know Your presence

and have that be

enough

But...

I don't know
Your presence now

I can't 

feel You

sense You

hear You

I wish I could hear You speak

I wish You would reach through

I'm still hoping You will

reach through the fog

into this space

somehow

give perspective

until You do

I will wait

I will hope

I will believe

beyond what I can see

more...

I must cultivate more
this desire

the desire to draw close to You

to be wrapped up in You

You holding me

wrapped around me

written Aug. 13, 2015, feeling it again today

Sharing the journey

Glad to be there today

for her

glad to be me for her

glad to have had my journey

and freedom found

for it is the freedom she needs

I wish there had been someone like me

for me (is that weird to say?)

when I was her age

someone to tell me

they understood

it was normal, in some sense

how to find a way through

that all could be talked about

what part to be concerned about

what part

might actually not be much of  a problem

for me the freedom and insight came

fifteen years later

(and I'm thankful for the people I had then)

I'm glad for her

and proud of her courage

I see a beautiful heart

a heart You have made new

deeper in her

than the sin and the struggle

is the desire to live clean and free

that is You drawing

You leading

Your life

   that is stronger

   than any evil or darkness

at work and alive in her

Thank You for the journey

for mine

for hers

for this chance to journey together

what a privilege to be

a safe place

the first one

with whom she has shared

and I'm thankful for those

who were safe for me

being formed

What is this that comes

It could only be You

A knowing the need for compassion

An asking for love for

Even the ones who have wronged

Oh, I'm still far from how You lived it Jesus

Not sure the asking for forgiveness for them

Would come quite that quick

While they were doing the hurting

But I see something of You

Growing in me

Grow more in me

The ability to love, to truly love

Even those who cause pain

All I know is weak

maybe I was supposed to lead

maybe I was supposed to show them

how to be strong

but all I know is weak

weak

broken

floundering

crying out for help

running to my only Refuge

falling on Him

knowing Him strong

knowing Him faithful

through the years

and many tears

the dark

the clouds

the wandering

flat on my face

crawling

holding on

just barely

or not even holding on

but knowing Him 

holding on to me

this is all I know to do

this is all I know to show you how to do

to be weak

be weak

and name it

own it

say it

with tears streaming down your face

sadness in your eyes

apologizing for the more that you can't give

make the changes needed

ask for the help needed

receive the strength that comes

from Him

directly

or through others

no, I am not strong

I can only show you how to be weak

but the weak

somehow

in the weirdest twist of all

becomes strength that rises

a deep, firm core

a deep stabilizing

so weak

but unable to be

thoroughly defeated

a weak that becomes strong

and frees others

to be weak

and eventually

grow strong

Known

"I Shall Know Him"

I enjoyed the song today

Showed up on my FB feed

"...by the prints of the nails in His hand"

I get it...it's a song of thankfulness

For what You've done Jesus

And I thank You

But I don't think I'll need to search

To look at Your hands

To check

To make sure it's You

I suspect

I'll know You

Just by looking in Your eyes

Knowing that You know me

You, the only One who has known me completely

Loved me completely

I shall know You, 

And be eternally thankful

For how You have known me

And walked with me

Ever-loving

Ever-guiding

And all You've done for me

I shall know You

And I shall love You

Wrecked

Wrecked
Again

By a vision that wasn't mine

It was theirs

They were supposed to do it
But now it falls to me
To carry
Until the time is right
Until the Lord parts the sea
Opens a way

Wrecked
Not just by that vision, their vision
But also by...the original one
How it pulls at my heart
How it embodies so many stories
So many hopes and dreams

And wrecked
By how "impossible" it all is

I submit myself, again Lord
To You
And an impossible dream
An impossible vision
That can never happen
Unless You enable
Unless You empower
Unless You provide the resources

And it will never produce fruit
Fruit that will last
Unless You breathe into it
Unless You give it life
Unless You are the one that directs
Unless Your wisdom leads all decisions

Lead Lord
And continue to "wreck" me in the process

This post started and felt Aug. 25...written Sept. 1

How long do I have?

How long do I have

How long will I live

People die all the time

Some young

Some old

Thinking I have a 'vision' that will take another 15 years

Is no guarantee

When I go

What will I leave

What will remain

What will keep living

Long after I have breathed my last

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground

   and dies...

May there be something

    much even

That lives on, and on, and on

Forever

Never dying

(rambling thoughts after seeing a news piece...someone dies at 49...just 4 years older than I...)

23?

Twenty-three

Is that how many You want us to take in?

Who are they?

Please bring them

We've already met most of them

Help us discern

And if we haven't met them yet

Bring them to us

Who are they?

Lord, let them be the ones

Who need healing

Who want to be free

Who are willing to receive

Who will grown

   learn

   become strong

And then be the ones

Who will be strong to help others

Who will be truly transformed

Only twenty-three?

Choose them well

For the future

Ones who will invest their talents

And reap great reward

Who will return the "much" that you require of them

Because You will give them much

Discipline... I need...

I read this, a week or two ago...it is convicting. It tells the truth of my life, and something that is lacking.

When we begin to ask what the conditions of inner renewal are, we receive essentially the same answers from nearly all of those whom we have most reason to respect. One major answer is the emphasis upon discipline. In the conduct of one's own life it is soon obvious, as many have learned the hard way, that empty freedom is a snare and delusion. In following what comes naturally or easily, life simply ends in confusion, and in consequent disaster. Without the discipline of time, we spoil the next day the night before, and without the discipline of prayer, we are likely to end by having practically no experience of the divine-human encounter. However compassionate we may be with others, we dare not be soft or indulgent with ourselves. Excellence comes at a price, and one of the major prices is that of inner control.

We have not advanced very far in our spiritual lives if we have not encountered the basic paradox of freedom, to the effect that we are most free when we are bound. But not just any way of being bound will suffice; what matters is the character of our binding. The one who would like to be an athlete, but who is unwilling to discipline his body by regular exercise and by abstinence, is not free to excel on the fields or the track. His failure to train rigorously and to live abstemiously denies him the freedom to go over the bar at the desired height, or to run with the desired speed and endurance. With one concerted voice the giants of the devotional life apply the same principle to the whole of life with the dictum: Discipline is the price of freedom.

--from The New Man for Our Time by Elton Trueblood, quoted in A Guide to Prayer..., pp. 226-227.

A great way to "lose yourself"

Lose yourself in the joy of living God's love

--Jarrod McKenna

So much good could be said about this video. I first learned of it through this shorter clip--containing a powerful metaphor and illustration

But really, the FULL video--just over 34 minutes long, is really worth the watch.

Amazed, Thankful

What are you doing, God

Is this You speaking, somehow

into my life at this point

fanning into flame

this renewed hope

   renewed faith

   renewed trust

Is this You affirming

somehow reaching down to reassure

"yes, you do hear from Me.

yes, I am using you."

so that I will have courage

and faith

to go forward

in all those areas where I don't see a thing

but have only vague impressions

vague hopes

This is what I sense

and so I say, "Thank You"

Thank You for the reassurance

Thank You for the affirmation

Thank You for blowing me away once again

Thank You 

for moving my heart for the kids

for showing the place of connection

for giving words, to me

that connected with what You are doing, in them

leaving us all clear, that this is it

this is the crucial point, 

for their going forward

for their growth

BTW, 

You're blowing me away again, You know 

that You would use me 

in their lives

it's like Naaman's servant girl

or Balam's donkey

but I'll take it

deep down

it's what I want most of all

my life used by You

participating in Your great purposes

may I be yielded

and hearing

more and more

do it, Lord

Your good thing

far beyond anything

I could ask or imagine

Tears...

Tears come
My heart is hit
My heart breaks
For the kids I know
But barely know
And are leaving soon

My heart is overwhelmed at the mystery
The sense of being used in their lives

My heart breaks
Tears flow
And I'm thankful
Because these tears tell me
That I am alive
Even though exhausted
And could feel 'dead'
They assure me

My heart is still alive
  it can be touched
    it can be moved
      it cares
About things that are important

A time for tears

Lots of tears...

Tears at the wonder

   of what you might be doing

Tears at the immensity of the task

   and asking you for help

      please send help

      who will you send?

Tears for the pain

   here

   and all over the world

When I come

When I stop
When I come
When I finally pull away
From all that distracts

And
    finally
        get quiet

Then I weep

Is that why I don't come?
Is that why I stay distracted?
Is there something
    deep down
        not resolved
            that keeps me running?

What is it Lord?
Here I am
I'm trying to come today
    and stay
        not run

I wonder what you might say
I wonder if there will be more
    than tears

I wonder if you might reveal
and give strength

How I need you to change my heart
    make it new
Make it one that leans into  you
That wants to do
    all that is good

For now
Please help me to come
    each day
Keep coming
    keep shutting down the distractions
That I might hear you
    and gain perspective
And know again
    what is real
    what is not

Daily Dying...

Jesus, you ask me to die to self
To die daily
And I don't want to
So I don't

Actually, I forgot that you asked
I heard it, and did it...before
But...got out of the habit
And find
I don't want to...anymore

Actually
(another 'actually')
You didn't "ask"
You required
It's not optional

    for God bought you with a high price. 
    So you must honor God with your body (I Cor. 6:20)

Forgive me Lord
Help me to turn
To live new
Create in me a new heart
One the values what You do
That lives for the eternal
That willing lays itself down

What will I lose...

What will I lose
if I go through this day
(and maybe the next one too)
without stopping
coming
sitting at Your feet
pausing to look
listen
share

Do I really believe
that what You are doing in this world
and in me
is more important than anything else

If it is
then the risk I take
in not coming
is of living
   wasted
   and frustrated
fighting against the wind
engaged in battles that will win nothing I want

I could miss
what You want to say to me today
You, who know all that will happen,
perhaps You have something to say
that I need to know
before I get into it
perhaps You have guidance
to help me navigate better
perhaps You just want to help me be rooted in You
so that no matter what happens
I'm not shaken

How many times do I live 
   agitated
   frustrated
   confused
because I am lacking the perspective and insight and fortitude
You had been all ready to give me

And I will be lost
drifting without an anchor
scattered
fractured
stressing and agitated in every direction
unless I come
and drink 
and learn
from You
that which will calm me
center me

What will I lose
what do I lose
time and again

When will I learn
and choose 
to turn
to come
to sit
still
and listen

By what I gain
I will start to know
the measure I would have lost
had I not come
and gain 
much I do not want to lose