Sunday, November 16, 2003
Without His Grace
I came across a great definition of what grace is in Gordon MacDonald's 1988 book, "Rebuilding Your Broken World." Grace is treating someone not as he deserves to be treated but as he needs to be treated in order for his broken world to be rebuilt. This is the most practical definition of grace I have ever read. And I think it helps me along the way to discovering the earthy spirituality I am pursuing.
I've been in Canada away from the daily demands of ministry in Manila for the past 5 days. In these moments of quiet reflection and solitude (which I have not had in months, maybe even, years?!), I am coming to realize how broken and needy I am for the grace of God. I long to be treated not as I deserve but as I need so that the brokenness within can be healed. Stress fractures in relationships and in my personal health have all been symptoms of a grace-needy soul. And I soberingly admit that I have been denying that need for grace. Oh! How I see this much clearer now as I look back on the condition of my soul for at least the past 2 years!!!
This is the danger of feeling strong and victorious. You may wind up thinking that you don't need God's grace to make it. You feel that you can survive without it. And you know what? You can...for a time. But that's all you get to do, survive. But we were meant to thrive, not just survive. To thrive in a humble and God-dependent manner.
Without Your grace my soul cannot breathe.
Without Your grace my mind is not at ease.
Without Your grace who am I to please?
Without Your grace, without Your grace.
I am prone to wander
And lose my way
I try just to make it
Each and everyday
I long for affirmation
Coz my heart is starved for love
And until I admit it
I can barely survive
Without Your grace...
Since grace and truth are core values at NuComm (my church), I wonder if we are a community that has the ability to treat someone not as they deserve but as they need to be treated so their world can be rebuilt? Can I be that kind of person to those who are grace-needy?
Oh! How I long to experience the riches of His grace in the deepest part of my soul! How I long to breathe again.
I've been in Canada away from the daily demands of ministry in Manila for the past 5 days. In these moments of quiet reflection and solitude (which I have not had in months, maybe even, years?!), I am coming to realize how broken and needy I am for the grace of God. I long to be treated not as I deserve but as I need so that the brokenness within can be healed. Stress fractures in relationships and in my personal health have all been symptoms of a grace-needy soul. And I soberingly admit that I have been denying that need for grace. Oh! How I see this much clearer now as I look back on the condition of my soul for at least the past 2 years!!!
This is the danger of feeling strong and victorious. You may wind up thinking that you don't need God's grace to make it. You feel that you can survive without it. And you know what? You can...for a time. But that's all you get to do, survive. But we were meant to thrive, not just survive. To thrive in a humble and God-dependent manner.
Without Your grace my soul cannot breathe.
Without Your grace my mind is not at ease.
Without Your grace who am I to please?
Without Your grace, without Your grace.
I am prone to wander
And lose my way
I try just to make it
Each and everyday
I long for affirmation
Coz my heart is starved for love
And until I admit it
I can barely survive
Without Your grace...
Since grace and truth are core values at NuComm (my church), I wonder if we are a community that has the ability to treat someone not as they deserve but as they need to be treated so their world can be rebuilt? Can I be that kind of person to those who are grace-needy?
Oh! How I long to experience the riches of His grace in the deepest part of my soul! How I long to breathe again.
