Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thunderstruck
Astonished is not strong enough.
It comes from a Latin word that means "out of thunder". I remember thunderstorms that shook our house and threatened to bring huge limbs crashing upon our roof. I slept upstairs, but sometimes I didn't sleep. On occasion the thunder cracked at the same time the room flashed. I pondered the first floor.
Once I was fishing in Wyoming when a storm came over us and we could hear the thunder echo off the not so distant mountains. Crack boom. Never so close to make us really afraid, though we should have been. Thunderstruck is not as bad as hit by lightning. We don't know how close we were or weren't.
Those times when the intensity of the storm opens the eyes and ears at the same time are intense.
But they are not as shocking as grace.
Grace is overwhelming.
I don't deserve it.
But the Lord God gives grace.
And I am astonished.
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2 comments:
astonished? Yes, I suppose that would do as a one word reaction.
Mine would be "love." When I ask myself why God would extend his grace and mercy to me, such an undeserving sinner, the only answer that makes sense is that he loves me.
He loves me so much that he is willing to overlook and forgive my weaknesses, limitations, and failings, and still welcome me into his heart and kingdom.
Grace and mercy are bestowed on the undeserving. After all, isn't that the essential definition of mercy? Only the powerless, helpless and weak cry out for and need mercy; not the powerful and strong.
So I acknowledge my helplessness and weaknesses before God and he says in response ---- I still love you, my child.
Parents understand this love. And my daily challenge is to try and mirror back some small part of God's love for me in the interactions and relationships of my everyday life.
choo choo,
Love is astonishing. In the incredible, I can't believe it, I don't deserve it, well shut my mouth, full of awe and wonder at the grace and mercy of Jesus.
grace,
Dan
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