BoldGrace

I used to read this and I was convinced that these were the knees of those who lived their lives choosing not to believe that God could really love us as much as he does. I prided myself on not being one of those who would need to bow down before God at some later date because I was convinced that I already believed in his awesome grace and understood how deep his love was. And then a funny thing happened, I was reading a book called “Furious Pursuit” by Tim King & Frank Martin. In the last part of the book they list some sacred vows that God (the bridegroom) wants us to hear from his heart to ours. They are very simple and at first I didn’t put much into their profound meaning to my heart.

Here they are:

I have always been there for you, and I always will be.

I will walk with you forever—-just the two of us.

I will always understand you.

I will always be kind to you.

You will always be my own personal concern.

I love you. I always have, and I always will.

Now here is the strange thing. After mulling these over in my mind I found myself asking “Is God that loving?” “Can he really accept me with all my flaws?” “Don’t I have to do something to at least show him I love him?” And then I found myself going back to read these vows over and over again, and I began to weep, not because of how great his love is, but because I realized that his love is so great that as long as I am a human in the flesh I will never really be able to comprehend his love for me. Then it struck me that until we lose this body of clay that is so subject to weakness of all kinds we will never truly be able to appreciate everything God really is to us.

Yes, I do believe in God’s Love for all mankind, and I want others to believe it too, but I also know a time is coming for all of us when we will shed this body made from dust and we will see God with clarity for the first time, and when that happens we will all bow our knees and give the truest form of praise that we have ever given. We will be witnessing the brightness of his glory and we will be doing it without all our questions, and doubts, and divisions, and weaknesses of our flesh.

And at least for me I think I really know now what Paul meant when he said: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

I have worked so hard NOT to judge my brother, and I will continue to do that, but now I also realize NO human being can really fathom how unbelievable God’s love is for us. Yes, that means me too. And guess what? It feels great to know that as much peace as I feel right now, it’s even going to be greater, grander, and beyond my wildest imaginations.

The challenge we each have while we are still in the flesh is to trust his love. His love is trustworthy, and even when we struggle with that trust He is greater then our heart and the day will come when He will take away all our doubts. I am going to read those simple vows more often, and when my time comes to lay down this tired old body of flesh, closing my eyes for the last time, I will be bowing my knees for the first time in perfect praise of my loving God.

As I live says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. Rom 14:11

This is a post that I found on my Father’s computer this morning. I don’t remember ever reading it before so I am really unsure if he ever posted it or not, but I found it and just had to share it with all of you.

Submitted by Cliff on Mon, 2006-05-22 15:48. Everyday Life

I drive a school bus as well as pastor a small church. Two weeks ago four of my sweet children got on the bus. Two of them, Jordan 7, and Brandon 9, are foster kids. The other two, Mary 7, and Emily 9, are adopted children of the same woman who fosters the first two. On this particular Monday morning they were the first four to get on the bus. As they got on they were all excited and couldn’t wait to tell me how they had been baptized the previous day. They talked and talked about this event in their lives. Emily and Mary told me how they would have to wear dresses from now on. Jordan announced that he couldn’t lie anymore. At least for that brief Monday morning all seemed well with the world in their little eyes. The problem started on the afternoon ride home. Emily accused Jordan of lying. Brandon screamed at Emily for being a tatletail, and poor little Mary just seemed depressed from being teased about wearing a dress. The innocense they had in the morning seemed all but gone. I asked them what would happen if they sinned after being baptized, and Emily told me they would have to go back to the church and repent. I then said, What would happen if they continued to sin. Emily said: "Well, you have to go down there", poiniting her finger toward the floor. Of course I have to be very careful what I say on the bus, but I couldn’t help feeling a great sadness for what was ahead in their lives. They were already judging each other and condemning each other—-sounds like the church doesn’t it. Toward the end of the week I had got to the school early and went inside to talk to some of the staff. Mary had been telling her teacher how she had been baptized and then in a kind of defeated voice she said: "I guess I’m gonna have to go to church the rest of my life". Aren’t those the saddest words you ever heard. How many people are going to church out of a sense of fear that if they don’t they are dammed to a place of eternal torment. When I encounter adult christians who strongly condemn me for my stand on grace I just try to remember they were little children at one time who may have been taught the gospel of fear and legalizm since they were very young. I will continue to try and reach out to everyone telling them that God loves them period……….And I will pray for these little ones.

Peace,

Cliff

We will be having a celebration of Life ceremony Saturday, April 25th, 2009 (4:00p.m.-??) It will be held at the American Legion located at 109 North 6th Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374. We will laugh, sing, cry and tell amazing stories about Cliff! We will have pictures and videos so we can share some of his incredible moments with all of you.

Clifford L. Hazelbaker II, 57, of Richmond was born January 13, 1952 and was reborn on April 16, 2009. Cliff was the son of Clifford and Barbara (Goodwin) Hazelbaker. Cliff graduated from Centerville High School in 1970. He was married to Nancy McBride Hazelbaker on March 6, 1970. They recently celebrated their 39th Wedding Anniversary. Cliff enjoyed spending time with his incredible family. Their family motto is “Love Never Fails!” He also enjoyed sharing his love of God on www.boldgrace.com. Here is an excerpt from that site… “Clouds don’t seem to care where they’re going. They are content to follow the directions of the spirit of the air, enjoying the journey as they make their way to their purpose. Though they are unaware of their designation or their purpose as they travel along, they find themselves eventually called upon to join forces and deliver liquid life to the earth. Often exhausted, they whither and die, having given all of themselves in doing their work. But, as those clouds die, others are reborn from their seed to carry on the purpose.” Cliff is survived by his wife Nancy ; Mother, Barbara; Children: Tammy (Bob) Thompson of Centerville, Clifford (Bridget) Hazelbaker III of Richmond, Mindy (Charlie) Hill of New Carlisle, Ohio, Amy (Todd) Witter of Bath, Indiana; He is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Josh, Jacob, Paige, Samantha, Clifford IV, Abby, Emma, Lilly and Phoebe. Brothers: Andy (Teresa) and Doug (Cindy) Hazelbaker.

Update on my travel thru the valley: 

I have made my decision to allow this process to go forward in its perfection just as I always knew it would.  I am now firmly convinced that a perfect utopia has never been out of our reach, from the moment of our birth, until we have taken our last breath.  I believe his perfect plan is so strongly based upon the people he chooses to bring into each of our lives and oh how he chose the perfect ones for me!  My family, my friends from youth, and all of the Bold Grace people who have come my way for years.  I feel especially indebted to Mike Williams, Geo Howell, Bruce, Steve, Mike Gross, Connie Laird, Lisa Perry, and a whole bunch of people who do not even know how they have affected my life.  I hope they will keep sharing their heart to a world that needs their heart, not a doctrine, not a church, not a religion, but their heart.   All I have ever tried to share was my heart.  I want to mention Kevin Beck, for his pioneering work in the area of the human heart.  It is the new great frontier!  Bruce is already there.  Hear what he has to say, every word he speaks is like that of God.

January 13th 1952, I was born and took my first breath, and i entered into perfection. I entered into life with a perfect god, and a perfect process to take me to the end. Now after 57+ years I have been able to observe that plan of perfection. And it has been glorious. Perfection is a state of being in a perfection faith connected to a perfect Creator. When we are connected to that state of being nothing that comes next will surprise us, and we will live in a constant state of peace and security that cannot be touched by insecurity and circumstances of what we think this world brings to us, because perfection cannot be threatened, imperfection does not exist and there-in lies the true peace of god. We find that perfection, we find our beginning moment once again and we are at peace.

After days of traveling the dark valley, I once again see the light of life. These lights make up my children, my family, my friends, my doctor and all the medical professionals willing to help me.  I have hospice which takes away a lot of fear.  They are here to meet all my needs. I’m grateful to all those out there meeting my needs and my spiritual needs.  I really enjoyed seeing Bruce. The doctor ensured me again that I have about 6 months and it should come easy. I don’t consider this a death experience, I can consider this a birth experience. In every labor there is pain and in every labor there is time to let go of the placenta of life and reach on to the power and energy of what is the new life and I look forward to that. If it’s possible I hope one of those great energies is the ability to see my Dad. My faith has not change and I believe in a perfect God who has a perfect process for each of us. That’s why we have nothing to fear because every piece of the puzzle is perfect. There is absolutely no fear in where I am at. I feel surrounded by angels of peace.  Keep watching because I am not done yet!

WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD!

My take on the above words are quite personal and have nothing to do with my biblical knowledge, rather it has everything to do with how life has molded me and brought me to the place I currently am.

You see, I believe I am God dwelling in an earthly tent.  I take very serious the idea that I am made in God’s IMAGE but for most of my life I allowed religion to tarnish that simple faith that the Father is in me and I in the Father and nothing can ever threaten the relationship that we have together.

Yes, Jesus had this simple FAITH.  HE knew He was perfectly joined to the Father of all and I believe He came to show the rest of us that we when we too hold the same faith that he had we will be pleased with whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.

On the flip side, if one continues to think they must do something or be something other then what they already are they will not feel pleasing to God or themselves (which is really the same thing)

Without Faith it is impossible to please God.

My thoughts on this coming soon.

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I don’t want to try and explain each verse below except to say I would like you to think about verse 10 and ask yourself if you have ceased from your own works?

Heb 4:1-11 4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

There is much to glean from these verses including a rest that is not of this world and I would like to hear what some of you think.

Much Love,

Cliff