Saturday, January 21, 2012

Leif said, on seeing this picture of the cross: "You sometimes do what Jesus does, so you need to look at that cross for a while." 
 
 So I did.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Surrender to Love

 
When we fall in love, we often recklessly allow another person to love us in a way we’ve never experienced before. Our God is amazing in the way He loves each one of us enough to show up in person and prove it to our hearts, so that we can fall in love with Him.
How do you do with receiving love? Some of us feel awkward, embarrassed, or even a little ashamed when someone makes a gesture of love or affection towards us. Sometimes we have been so wounded by those who we thought would love us, that we're unwilling, or unable, to trust love again as we would like to. Have you ever felt this way about God’s extravagant love? I see in myself (and many of the people I walk with) a certain resistance to being loved.
Jesus never had this problem. At the Pharisee’s dinner, He let the prostitute adore him, kiss his feet, wet them with her tears and wipe them with their hair. How awkward would this gesture be for you or me to receive? He let Mary break the expensive perfume all over his head and hair. He gladly received His father’s affirmation at His baptism and again at the transfiguration: “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” What allowed Jesus to receive love like this? Of course we might say, He knew that He was worthy of love. Do you know how worthy you are of God’s love? Do you experience yourself as worthy? You are worthy in Jesus. Jesus lived in the Father’s love every moment and everything He did flowed from that love. I’m writing this because I believe that you and I are meant to function exactly as Jesus did, our love flowing from our knowledge of the Father’s love for us. Learning how to love others starts with receiving God’s love for ourselves. So, can we stand in the place of the prodigal son, with nothing to show for all our efforts, and simply let the Father lavish His affection and approval on us?
What is this voice that says we are not worthy? Perhaps it is the voice of our shame speaking, because we look at our performance as the way we can make ourselves acceptable to Him. God does not look at our performance, He looks at the cross and uses it to justify us and make us lovable. Perhaps it is the voice of the Accuser of the faithful who will tell any lie to keep us from receiving God’s love poured out for us through Jesus on the cross to make us perfect. (Heb. 10:14). God does not want us listening to the Accuser.
             Listen to the voice of the Spirit “I chose you before the foundation of the world that you might be stand before me holy and blameless in love.”  (Eph 1:4). It is by His inspiration that love is “poured out in our hearts” so that we cry Daddy! Daddy! (Rom. 5:5; 8:15).
Will you listen to the still small Voice that calls you His beloved right now? Are you willing to surrender to His love no matter how awkward it makes you feel? I am.
I pray for you and for myself that we will be willing to let Him teach us in a personal and experiential way that “He is love” and so He loves us perfectly. The people I meet with are on their own journey into experiencing His love this way. Will you pray for them and for me as well?
To those of you who support me in life and in ministry, I thank you for the generous gifts of grace that you share with me. I gratefully receive them as an expression of the Father’s love (and your love) poured out for me and the people I serve. By these gifts you assist many people to make this journey into His love.

Be Loved,

Charles
Here is a song that captures for me a little of what His loving voice sounds like as He speaks to me. I hope that you read the lyrics, hear His voice, and respond with trust from your heart. You can listen to the song on youtube here.
 
Beloved, by Tenth Avenue North

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me *now*

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
and Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
and it binds you to me now

Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers that won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And**taste new life

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me

You're my beloved
Forever we'll be
Our love it unites us
And it binds you to me
It's a mystery