What Amazing Grace

I wanted to thank you all for the outpouring of love for our family over the last week. It has ministered to my Uncle, Aunt and cousins more than you could know. I can't imagine how difficult it is to lose a child under any circumstance.

Tommy Painted this a few years ago with his paint, his hands and a stick. He was a man of many talents!

Tommy was very special. If you were at the service last night, you couldn't have left without knowing just how special he was. I kicked myself and wish that I hadn't been so absent and far away the past 8 years- as I missed great opportunities to know him more. He was plagued and tormented by much, but as his parents said, he never blamed anyone but himself. He never complained and he always tried to make sure he wasn't causing anyone else pain by his actions- and it hurt him worst when he knew he had. He loved unconditionally and without judgement. He was incredibly smart and always well intentioned. But sometimes life holds on to you. Sometimes there are things that seem almost inescapable. The enemy rules these things purposefully, and uses them to keep us from living the life we are capable of in Christ.

But Tommy never stopped searching. He never stopped wanting to be better. And that is how I know that God had not abandoned this beautiful young man. For we do not love on our own account. We do not pursue goodness on our own. It is the call of God that compells us to search for righteousness. Pastor Randy spoke of countless times, good and bad, he had encountered Tommy at his church. To my great joy I learned of 2 mission trips he took to Louisianna after the hurricane. Randy said that Tommy poured his love and charisma on the people they were helping, and that it was a rare gift. But there were times when Randy had to be stern with Tommy, even asking him to leave the church if he was not 'well'. But Tommy, over the next few years, would come back and ask - "Can I be here?" and he would talk, and hug, and come back the next time he was free.

We do not search for God, for goodness, without the knowledge of Grace. I prayed that in all his searching, Tommy found Jesus. While speaking with Randy later, he was convinced at one point during Tommy's visits to Grace fellowship church that Tommy had sincerely made a decision to walk with Jesus. 2 weeks before the accident Randy had seen Tommy again, and noticed how well he looked, how healthy and that he noticed something he hadn't seen before. A light.

Early on Tuesday July 3rd, at the age of 21, Tommy and his friend were hit from behind in their car, run off the road, and hit trees. The car burst into flames and the 2 were killed instantly. Tommy had been through so much in his short life. While there were ups, there had been so many downs. My uncle, while he spoke at the service, was thankful that Tommy was taken at the height of an UP. That Tommy had been well, he had reconciled relationships with his siblings, and was not tormented by so many of the demons he had been fighting for so long.


I learned so much after hearing of Tommy's death. But mostly, I remebered Jesus' words in Luke 14:7 "In the same way, there will be more rejoiceing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
and Pauls words in Romans 5:18-21
"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of teh one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin icreased, Grace increased all the more. so grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."


I will remember, forever, that Grace is a gift. And there is NO limit to God's Grace, forgiveness, mercy or love. That as the sheep of the Shepherd, our Lord will search out for any of us that strays, and will rejoice abundantly when His lost sheep is found and returned home. That the majesty and the miracle of Grace is so apparent when a life shows how much His Grace is needed. Tommy received Grace, and I am confident that he knew this beautiful gift was offered to him, freely. Praise God.


We sang Amazing Grace yesterday, and while I don't have a recording from the service, this is a recording of us singing it a couple of years ago. Facebook Video of "Grace"

White suit and a Puddle of Mud

Ok, I read the coolest thing in one of our books today and I thought I'd share it with everyone! As most of you know, we have some 'textbook' reading we have to do in order to prepare for our classes with AMT in Zambia. Every book we've read has been better than the next, and I honestly can't wait until our next shipment arrives!

The book I wanted to share with you tonight is called, Such a Great Salvation by Mike Petzer. It's only about 130 pages, and while he get's a little wordy sometimes, there are golden little nuggets of insight in each chapter!

The chapter in reference is titled 'Without Spot or Blemish, Blameless?' and the synopsis of the chapter is that once we accept Christ in our lives, that we are forever changed into sinless beings. But that begs the question as we clearly still have sin and temptation in our lives. While there are MANY different discussions and blog posts out of this one idea, what I want to share with you tonight is the illustration he used to help make his point. He talks about an issue we have with our self perception, even after we are saved from our sins and made spotless. We often use the excuse that 'everyone messes up' and eveyone has sin in their lives; but this doesn't mean we should not strive to be spotless, how God made us, especially after Jesus cleansed us! And here is his illustration:

"Imagine you walk out your front door and you are faced with a giant mud puddle in your way. If you are wearing dirty coveralls you will think nothing of just walking right through the puddle. Your response is 'I am already in such a mess, why bother to stop some extra dirt?' This is the attitude of all who do not see themselves as clean. They have very little resistance to sin because they see themselves as unclean already. But imagine you walk out of your front door and you are wearing the most expensive, top of the line, tailor made, white suit with appropriately expensive shiny shoes. Even the smallest spot of mud will make you look a mess, you reason, and so you take great care navigating the edge of the mud; you give the mud pool the widest berth you possibly can. This is the attitude of the one that sees himself as totally clean." - pg 125, Such a Great Salvation, Mike Petzer

I love this. When we accept Christ's sacrifice to atone for our sin, we accept that His work was perfect, and that it is finished. If that is true, then we are totally cleansed when we accept the redemption He provides. 1 John 1:9 says that when we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive them and also cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Who hasn't heard that 'God doesn't just forgive, He also forgets'? That means we have a totally blank slate. A completely, spot free, beautiful, expensive (one that cost Him His Son) white suit -or dress- that all we had to do was accept.

What a beautiful gift. Can you see it? What Love, what Mercy, what Grace. He sees us as spotless, beautiful children. Often times, the problem is how we see ourselves. While God forgets our past mistakes, it's not always as easy for us. We do not see the worth in ourselves, we do not understand the forgiveness and complete restoration of our righteousness. How on earth could we, how on earth could I, ever deserve such a gift? Knowing everything I've done, knowing every thought I've had, knowing every word that has come out of my mouth. How? How can I deserve such a gift? Because I am a child of God, and you are too. Because His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine,  and because while I can't understand how God can forget everything I've done and love me unconditionally, He can, He does, and He chooses to do so. From the very beginning He has known what we would do, how many times we would forsake Him, yet He still made a way to forgive us - before we ever opened our eyes - He made a way to make it right.

How can we then choose to take this dress, this suit; this spotless, beautiful, garment of Grace and roll around in a puddle of mud? Why would we? We are beautiful spotless children of God. It's time we saw ourselves as He sees us. Maybe then we would value ourselves as he sees value and worth in us. And maybe then we would understand that our actions matter to more than just ourselves, more than just this day, this place. We were bought with a price, and in humble and grateful obedience and praise I want my suit to remain clean, because it matters for all eternity!

For the first time in my life, I know that I am not who the world, or who the sin in my past, tells me I am. I am spotless, and it is my choice to do all I can to overcome any temptation that comes my way. For the sake of the cross, for appreciation of His sacrifice, and for the unfathomable love of my God.

You are clean. You are loved. You are beautiful. See yourself through His eyes, and live as light.

-Sally