- Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14
- Psalms 51: 3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
- 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
- Luke 15: 1-32
- You're not alone ...
- The ancient Hebrews felt abandoned by God at the foot of Mount Horeb. Lots of drama going on up on the mountain, but no one there among the people to tell them what was going on, how long it would last, whether they'd get done in time to make the Saturday matinee at the Bijou ...
- When have you had a hard time trusting God?
- What was God asking you to trust Him for at the time?
- How did you pray about that trust issue?
- How did God answer?
- If only you knew
- Do you ever wonder whether you are blissfully unaware of some of your sins?
- Do you think that what you don't know won't hurt you?
- How do you think we can become more sensitive?
- Is it worth it?
- Trusting me
- What are some things that God has trusted you with?
- For instance, if you are a parent, God has entrusted you with His children.
- Or, if you have any abilities, God has entrusted those to your stewardship.
- Do you think that you are always worthy of God's trust in you?
- How has God made you more trustworthy over time?
- Hitting bottom
- The parable of the prodigal father shows the son "coming to his senses".
- The parable tells us that he realized that he was starving for no good reason. Do you think that a person in such a circumstance might come to other conclusions (such as "gee, I guess I cannot make it entirely on my own!)?
- What might some of those be?
- Do you think that his turning back to his father was perfect contrition?
- Why do you think it does/does no matter?
- How deep is my trust in God?
- Am I hurting others in my community without knowing it?
- How is my life a gospel?
- What is holding me back from true freedom?
Trading my sorrows
You really cannot go home again.
Sure, the place may still be there, even the people,
But they have changed, you have changed
Time has had its way with you and what was
And joined in some grand conspiracy to take it all away.
Making amends doesn't turn the clock back on itself,
Give you the chance to pretend as though it never happened.
Forgiveness is far harder harder than travel.
It means seeing yourself with fresh eyes,
Looking yourself in the eye and admitting fault.
And not merely being satisfied with some superficial motive,
True forgiveness can only occur in the company of true awareness.
And awareness can hurt a great deal.
Particularly if you have been dodging that awareness a long time.
And fooling yourself along the way.
God never tires of waiting for our discovery.
God even has the mercy to let us make that journey one step at a time.
Never hurrying the process, or pushing an outcome.
Still He waits, with so much hanging in the balance -
Waiting for us to gradually see ourselves for who we truly are.
It's in our weakest, darkest moments that He can be most present
Shriven of all pretense, all lies, all posturing
We stand naked before Him, and know
The depth of His mercy towards us.
Pity the poor person afraid of weakness.
Shalom!
Sure, the place may still be there, even the people,
But they have changed, you have changed
Time has had its way with you and what was
And joined in some grand conspiracy to take it all away.
Making amends doesn't turn the clock back on itself,
Give you the chance to pretend as though it never happened.
Forgiveness is far harder harder than travel.
It means seeing yourself with fresh eyes,
Looking yourself in the eye and admitting fault.
And not merely being satisfied with some superficial motive,
True forgiveness can only occur in the company of true awareness.
And awareness can hurt a great deal.
Particularly if you have been dodging that awareness a long time.
And fooling yourself along the way.
God never tires of waiting for our discovery.
God even has the mercy to let us make that journey one step at a time.
Never hurrying the process, or pushing an outcome.
Still He waits, with so much hanging in the balance -
Waiting for us to gradually see ourselves for who we truly are.
It's in our weakest, darkest moments that He can be most present
Shriven of all pretense, all lies, all posturing
We stand naked before Him, and know
The depth of His mercy towards us.
Pity the poor person afraid of weakness.
Shalom!
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