A Generous Life and a Pile of Stones

Sometimes I feel such a “screw-up”. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and then some it seems.

The other day, I was talking to a friend that felt the same way and it reminded me of this story in the bible....

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The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

(Found in John Chapter 8)
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When I look back on different situations, I know I've been on both sides of the pile of rocks. I have been the one holding the stone, full of pride and judgment, wanting God to say it's okay for me to punish someone else.

I have also been the one who crumbles in fear as I wait to see what others are going to do to me because I messed up. I've tried to run and hide from God multiple times because my guilt makes me feel so ugly and so unworthy that I don't even want him to see my mess.

But this guilt is not from God. Guilt, feeling as though your worth has decreased because of something you've done, is the devils tool. He uses it to bring people to a place where they feel so unworthy to be with God that they distance themselves from him. The devil knows that God will never leave us, but he wants us to feel like we can't talk to Abba Father, that Daddy God is shunning us. When we choose to try to distance ourselves from God, the devil has more space to creep in and attack.

John 10:10 describes the devil as "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy". He's lurking there, just waiting for a chance to steal our peace, our joy, and our worth. Like a pick-pocket, the thief removes theses pieces, sometimes without us even knowing it was him, but instead we blame ourselves for not having them anymore.

For the next thirty days, Pastor Chris has challenged Citipointe Fort Collins to say yes to living a life of generosity, giving everytime there is a physical, spiritual, emotional or financial need because that is what the church, the body of Christ, should be doing. It's going to be amazing and life changing without a doubt. That's why I'm in.

But this morning, I think I caught a glimpse of something else God wants us to do. He wants us to be generous with our grace and forgiveness with everyone, including the person we see in the mirror. We have to stop condemning ourselves and others and giving the devil this foothold because we are angry (Ephesians 4:26-27).

So live generously. Give your time, your talent and your treasure. Love on people, forgive them, and flood the world with grace.

You are not condemned; YOU ARE LOVED. You are not chained to what you've done, are doing or will do; the cross paid for that, in full, FOR-EV-ER.

But I don't wanna..........

Friday morning my heart broke when I heard the news. 12 people killed and over 50 people wounded at a midnight premier of the new Batman movie in Aurora, CO. It consumed my thoughts, broke my heart and built my anger as I read and listened to the stories coming from the media. How could this be happening, again? Columbine, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma City, the World Trade Center, Norway, London, Mumbai.... and those are just the ones that come to my mind the quickest. This vicious pattern just keeps rolling through history. But what can I do except for pray for the victims, their families and friends that are left with a gaping hole and communities that once again are being asked to rise and stand when they want to crumble in fear and grief?

Walking in to Citipointe Fort Collins yesterday, I could tell that so many others were being troubled with the same feeling of helplessness. It was like our hearts were yelling, "give me something to do!".... and Pastor Chris did.

As he started off with prayer to begin the sermon Honor (part 2), In Your Face, I expected him to pray for the victims, the family and friends, those still in the hospital, the law enforcement and medical staff that were handling this tragedy... and he did. What I didn't expect though was for him to pray for and honor James Holmes, the man who went into the theater and fired off round after round at movie goers less than 48 hours before. Chris honored him with disregard for his actions.

In my mind I thought “Whoa Whoa Whoa Pastor Chris! Don't you know what this guy just did? How can you honor who he is and forgive him so quickly?” My head and my heart couldn't grasp the concept immediately, but he was speaking truth. Check out my internal conflict below......

Me: But I don't want to pray for him........
Matthew 5:43-47
You have heard that is was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (From Jesus)

Me: But he killed someone........
Matthew 5:22
You have heard that is was said to the people long ago, "Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment." But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (From Jesus)

Me: But he didn't just kill one person.....
Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven."

Me: But can't I just hold on to this a little longer.....
Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
Ephesians 4: 26, 31
In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Me: But do we really have to honor who he is....
1 Peter 2:17
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Me: But if Pastor Chris is honoring him, do I still have to.....
Romans 12: 10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Honoring means to value, respect, highly esteem, to treat as precious, weighty or valuable.

God honors us in our hot mess....
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and HONOR him.

It doesn’t mean that what we do is honorable, BUT who we are, a children of God, created in his own image, should ALWAYS be honored and be honoring others. We are commanded to treat everyone with honor because God says they are precious.

Honor.... it's kinda a huge deal.