An eternal perspective

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

 - Hebrews 3:18

One year ago we were living in Haiti.
Next year we hope to be serving in New Zealand.
Right now the Lord has us in Abbeville, Louisiana.

God's time is never my own.

This global pandemic has molded and shaped and transformed so many of us.
As facts and figures and rules constantly change, how quickly we can be caught up in confusion and uncertainty and perhaps tempted to doubt.

But the love of the Lord stands firm.

Psalm 136 repeats over and over and over:

  His steadfast love endures forever.   

Three months ago a friend called and invited me to join her in committing Scripture to memory. She had an extra copy of the book she was using, and if I was interested, we would begin a 35 week study of memorizing two Scripture verses each week.

My first inclination was to politely decline.
Memorization isn't one of my strengths. Plus I already had a large stack of books that I have been hoping to dive into. But when I actually paused and considered this opportunity in my heart, the Holy Spirit nudged me to say yes.

That first small yes to my friend, was a yes to something that at first was rather uncomfortable and challenging. It does require me to verbally repeat over and over and over the same short phrase until the Lord writes His words into my (often feeble) mind.

But that yes has since breathed new life into my personal prayer.
This isn't just about rote memorization, but its become a journey of the heart.

Each week I sit down with the two new verses. I find them in my Bible and write them down in my prayer journal. As I sit and meditate on the passage, pondering in my heart on these ancient words, I hear God whispering to me.

He is reminding me of his promises, his goodness, his saving power that is alive and at work here and now.

The first 7 weeks the Scripture verses related to the basic elements of living out the Christian Life:
Christ the Center, Sacramental Life, Obedience to Christ, Prayer, The Word, Community, & Evangelization.

Now we are in the midst of learning Scripture verses that proclaim the Truth of who Christ is and what He can do in my life (and yours).

This week in particular is rooted in Unmerited Salvation.
A crucial lie is revealed: No matter how much we try, we could never earn our way to heaven on our own accord.

St. Paul writes to encourage his brother in faith Titus 3:4-5

 "But when the goodness 
and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 

he saved us, 

not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, 

but in virtue of his own mercy, 

by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit."

Simply put, when we die there isn't a scale that weighs our good deeds against our bad deeds to determine whether or not we are worthy to spend eternity with Our Creator.

Because God's love is so much deeper and richer than I could ever imagine.
God offers salvation to me by a free gift of faith.
Along with my cooperation with heaps upon heaps of grace, God can grow that tiny mustard seed of faith into a life lived for His glory rather than my own.


So here I sit in rural Louisiana.
Rain thrums on the tin roof over my head.
I could be angry and frustrated that my yes to following Christ doesn't look remotely how I thought it would be. Why are we still waiting? Why are you making this so hard?

Or,
 I could ask Him to help me see my life with His eyes.
(Because just maybe its not about my own narrow self-made, self-sufficient vision.)

I am His beloved daughter.
He loves me specifically, tenderly, unconditionally, with generosity that never ends.
He has provided a place to live that is a refuge, a sanctuary, a place of great beauty and serenity.
He has restored our family in mind, body and spirit.
He has woven my husband and I and each one of our our children together to live in harmony, to exercise our gifts and talents for the good of others.
He has grown and stretched us in offering ample opportunities to practice humility, to ask for forgiveness and receive reconciliation.
He has brought people into our life to bless us with friendship and companionship.
He is always working, always moving for good.
He is opening new doors.
His love never fails.