Comments on: Stories by Jesus http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/ It's more wonderful than you can imagine! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:30:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Cliff http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-336 Cliff Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:40:47 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-336 Bravo Bruce. As has been said many times before......The Gospel is such good news that even Christians can't believe it. Bravo Bruce. As has been said many times before……The Gospel is such good news that even Christians can’t believe it.

]]> By: Bruced http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-334 Bruced Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:03:51 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-334 Sometimes I wonder if mankind can ever come out from behind it's delusion that true motivation only comes through fear, and from the overwhelming desire for self-preservation. We can't (or just refuse to) believe that love is a far greater motivator and encourager than fear can ever be. Fear only drives us deeper into ourselves, but love draws us out of ourselves and into God. People won't let go of the idea of an angry God because we think we need that image to keep ourselves in line. We are afraid of the freedom that comes from love and unconditional forgiveness. We fear "what we will do" without that hammer constantly ready to drop down on us. We fear God, but more deeply, we fear ourselves. To counter, we fill our arsenals with all the weapons we can find to fight against our natures and the thing inside that drives us to fail. We seek religion, structures, and processes to fight the fear of self, and God. We don't trust God. Our fear of Him is always greater than our love for Him. And that's the way we like it. That's the way we can control God. We can beat Him at His own game. Funny thing is, I think God is OK with that. He won't "make" us believe that He is not angry with us. He showed us how He feels, but if we won't accept it, He won't make us. I think it saddens Him to see us waste our lives in the bondage of fear, and never really experience the incredible freedom He intended for us all along. But, that's life on earth. It will accomplish its purpose, and we will soon understand why life happened the way it did. It was/will be exactly what He wanted it to be. Someday, we will all be released from our fear... completely. And only then will we be at peace... only then will we know pure love. Sometimes I wonder if mankind can ever come out from behind it’s delusion that true motivation only comes through fear, and from the overwhelming desire for self-preservation. We can’t (or just refuse to) believe that love is a far greater motivator and encourager than fear can ever be. Fear only drives us deeper into ourselves, but love draws us out of ourselves and into God.

People won’t let go of the idea of an angry God because we think we need that image to keep ourselves in line. We are afraid of the freedom that comes from love and unconditional forgiveness. We fear “what we will do” without that hammer constantly ready to drop down on us. We fear God, but more deeply, we fear ourselves. To counter, we fill our arsenals with all the weapons we can find to fight against our natures and the thing inside that drives us to fail. We seek religion, structures, and processes to fight the fear of self, and God.

We don’t trust God. Our fear of Him is always greater than our love for Him. And that’s the way we like it. That’s the way we can control God. We can beat Him at His own game.

Funny thing is, I think God is OK with that. He won’t “make” us believe that He is not angry with us. He showed us how He feels, but if we won’t accept it, He won’t make us. I think it saddens Him to see us waste our lives in the bondage of fear, and never really experience the incredible freedom He intended for us all along. But, that’s life on earth. It will accomplish its purpose, and we will soon understand why life happened the way it did. It was/will be exactly what He wanted it to be. Someday, we will all be released from our fear… completely. And only then will we be at peace… only then will we know pure love.

]]> By: kevin beck http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-311 kevin beck Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:55:15 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-311 Thanks for posting this and for the kind words. Y'all (how's that for a southernism?) are really helping to reshape the world in the image of grace, the image of God. Thanks! Thanks for posting this and for the kind words. Y’all (how’s that for a southernism?) are really helping to reshape the world in the image of grace, the image of God. Thanks!

]]> By: Mindy http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-310 Mindy Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:01:27 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-310 Kevins words are inspiring. Kevins words are inspiring.

]]> By: Cliff http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-309 Cliff Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:12:16 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-309 Thanks Randy. I really wish you could be there too. Mindy----those are beautiful words of grace. Your heart always astounds me. Thanks Randy. I really wish you could be there too.

Mindy—-those are beautiful words of grace. Your heart always astounds me.

]]> By: Mindy http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-308 Mindy Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:33:21 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-308 Is there something in our hearts that lead us to grace? Without learning, without seeing, do I know your face? Having never met you seems you are here with me now. I find I know you well, can you tell me how? For years the truth has been misguided Lead by those who fear Poseidon Through everyone and everything we all seem to be connected With strength and courage we are all graciously infected. Today I recognize my own free will by my own heart I hear you still The spell has been lifted and my eyes can see You are in the face of the one next to me. Is there something in our hearts that lead us to grace?
Without learning, without seeing, do I know your face?

Having never met you seems you are here with me now.
I find I know you well, can you tell me how?

For years the truth has been misguided
Lead by those who fear Poseidon

Through everyone and everything we all seem to be connected
With strength and courage we are all graciously infected.

Today I recognize my own free will
by my own heart I hear you still

The spell has been lifted and my eyes can see
You are in the face of the one next to me.

]]> By: Randy http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-307 Randy Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:19:10 +0000 http://boldgrace.com/2007/07/18/stories-by-jesus/#comment-307 Wonderful words of grace indeed Cliff, thanks for sharing this one. It reminds me of the pure grace of God, and the fact that through these stories told by Jesus Himself we can only be humbled by the wonder of it all. The good news of the gospel seems too good to be true, but praise God it is true. All the best to you and the rest of the grace gang as you prepare for the grace gathering. Wished I could join you all, Take care my friend. Wonderful words of grace indeed Cliff, thanks for sharing this one. It reminds me of the pure grace of God, and the fact that through these stories told by Jesus Himself we can only be humbled by the wonder of it all. The good news of the gospel seems too good to be true, but praise God it is true.
All the best to you and the rest of the grace gang as you prepare for the grace gathering. Wished I could join you all, Take care my friend.

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