WHEN YOUR LIFE DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK

We all have ideas about what we want our lives to be. Much is based on things that inspire us, and wishful thinking. I have never met anyone whose life turned out exactly as they had imagined, or better than they had imagined. ALL of our lives are different than we had planned, and sometimes we have sorrow and regrets for things we did or did not do. All actions have consequences, Newton taught us that, but the unpleasant twists and turns of our live does not indicate that God is punishing you any more than falling down and skining you knee means that God put gravity into effect just to get back at YOU. It would be rather narcissistic to think that everything that happens in this world is because of you. It's just silly.

Many times I have heard people ask, "Is God punishing me for my sins?" There is a component of guilt within each of us the drives us and keeps us guessing about when the other shoe will drop, when people will discover what we are REALLY like, or that the skeletons in our closets will be uncovered. No one lives without guilt and anxiety over their actions, choices, responses, decisions, and desires.

Some forms of guilt are actually good. Feeling guilt over true moral sin is mandatory, as far as God is concerned, and St. Paul talks about those whose consciences are burned over - scarred, cauterized . . . as with a hot iron. God has designed our conscience. It is the way that he has written the moral law on our hearts. Conscience is good - but consciences can be twisted, distorted, burn, ruined, mangled and shredded, just as can anything else in the human makeup. Remorse is not always bad. Even in the courtroom, judges look for the offending criminal to express authentic remorse. If they do, sometimes the judge will lighten the sentence. Unfortulately not many criminals do.

One general thing to keep in mind is that the kind of petty admonishments and setbacks that people attribute to the punishment of God are neither worthy of his character or ours. God is not petty. He is not a disgruntled parent, or frustrated deity. He is not demanding or unreasonable. While it is true that judgments await each of us at the end of this life, and as important as it is to take this seriously, God does not go around punishing people, willy-nilly, in this life. He has FAR BETTER things to do than to micro-manage your life or mine.

What "better things?" How about redemption? God is not interested in counting up all your screw-ups and then bullying you around for them. No. God is interested in redemption, and that is what your life will become for you, if you let it. God is gracious, not counting our sins against us, so that he might reconcile us to himself, and by so doing, bring us to complete redemption. This is pure Bible teaching.

So, reject the notion that you have committed the unpardonable sin, because you probably haven't. Anyone having committed the unpardonable sin wouldn't give a damn, that's one of the things that makes it unpardonable.

Bottom line. God is not punishing you - although he may be trying to teach you something, but he does that out of concern and love for you, not because he is ticked off at you.

The advice of the Good-Book is to draw near to God, to trust in him, to know that he is your loving Papa. SO - run to him, and enjoy his presence and kindness, ESPECIALLY when your life does not seem to work. You will fine solace in him. You will feel his touch and his affirmation. Just trust him in the midst of your chaos, and know that he is not punishing you. Let it rest. God is FOR you, not against you. Will you choose to believe this? I sincerely hope you do.

EMMANUEL'S APRIL GATHERING

This evening was one of those unique moments, precious like a gem stone.

Connie cooked, and we consumed, two roasts of mouthwatering beef and two pies. Richard brought a magnificent "macaroni salad," some of which we took home with us for later enjoyment. A green salad, rolls, gravy and satisfying beverages refreshed us all. After satiating ourselves on a delicious meal, prepared with tender loving care, we settled in for teaching from Hebrews chapter five, and a worship set of songs presented by Sean Loomis . . . including one he wrote this week and taught us tonight.

The evening was so pleasant, intimate and spiritually enriching!
Thanks to everyone who participated. You are the best.

Some requested the content from the public address, particularly the prayer of repentance, which went well with the subjects in Hebrews. Here is that prayer, adopted and modified from a prayer discovered online. You might want to print it out and make it part of your prayer life. I know I will.

O Changeless God,
Under the conviction of the Spirit I am learning that The more I do, the worse I am, The more I know, the less I know, The more holiness I have, the more I see my sins, The more I love, the more there is to love. O wretched man that I am!

O Gracious Lord,
I have a wild heart And cannot stand before you blameless; I am like a slow beast before a man. How little I love your truth and ways! I neglect the kind of prayer you desire of me. By thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly, I deceive myself. By knowing you have saved me, I allow my soul to be slothful. Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be as a self-righteous hypocrite, Who sins more safely because your grace abounds, Who tells his LUSTS that Christ’s blood cleanses them rather than condemns them, Who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved and free, Who loves only interesting preaching, beautiful churches and winsome christians, but lives like those who care nothing for you.

O Generous Father,
My mind is like a bucket without a bottom, With no real spiritual understanding, with no desire to keep the Lord’s Day, Ever learning but never growing fully into your truth, Always at the gospel-well but holding precious little water. My conscience is often without conviction, commitment or contrition; feeling nothing sufficient to repent of.

My will is without power of decision or resolution to act. My heart is without proper affection; full of holes. My memory retains little of what is vital to you, so I forget easily the lessons you’ve taught, and your Truth drains away.

Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace. For only then will the deaf hear your voice, the blind eyes be opened and the lame walk. Only then will I be pleasing to you, and will be a blessing to our family, and a light to those who walk in darkness. Only then will you be seen in me and truly praised, as you ought to be.

Adapted from
The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett and modified by Dan Rice for this evening's worship service.