I Can Change…Maybe Not

I have totally lost count of the number of times I figured that I need to make a change in my life, you know, fix a bad habit or give some sin the boot. I have also lost count of the number of times I have failed. So my friends, I am done trying. I am me. I am a screwed up mess. I’m okay with that.

Do understand that I am not done desiring to change, nor am I no longer willing to change. Far from it. I really do hope that by this time next millennium that I have made some progress. For that matter, it would be cool if I made some progress by this time next year.

Regrettably, I said that wrong. It’s not about me having made some progress, it’s about me having progressed. The first one is like me building a house, pounding in nails and re-cutting the studs I measured wrong twice. Sorry folks, but contrary to the plethora of self help gurus, we are not the carpenter – we are the house. We are the ones who need to progress.

Fortunately, there is a carpenter. Okay, that was just a temporary job for Jesus. It was He who started the work in us by the life changing work of the Holy Spirit. We need to let Him complete it. Put down the self help “I can fix myself with a dull saw and kinked tape measure,” and let the master builder change you. Let Him do it in His time. Hear His voice, that nudging of the Spirit. Listen. Let it wash over and through you.

To switch metaphors, let Jesus change you like the wind in the sails of sailing boat. Quit standing on the deck huffing and puffing. All you need to do is to set the sails to catch the wind and let the wind do the work.

 

“ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Redeeming Grace

Redeeming grace peers through the mist down the twisting root tangled path to see not what we are, but what we can be. It makes away for us through the murky forest of our lives with less concern with were we are than with where we are going. Redeeming grace chooses to look beyond the mere moment to see more than just tomorrow, but all the tomorrows after that, each one a step on the path toward that which we could not become alone.

 

forestpath

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  (The Apostle Paul to Titus,Titus 3:3-7)