Tuesday, January 31, 2017

He is Holding On To You

He is Holding On To You

 

The short excerpt was sent to me by a friend, and I don't know who wrote it.  This is a little longer than usual, but it is pretty good.  The Scripture is John 10:28-29 I (Jesus) give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
 
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.  In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

P.S.  I give two thumbs up for the movie playing at the theaters now, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone.

 

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Love Changes the Heart

Love Changes the Heart


The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Hosea 11:4 I led them with ropes of human kindness, with ties of love. I lifted the load from their neck and went down to feed them.
 
Fear of Hell and damnation will never change the fundamental structures of your heart.  What's wrong with you and me and the world is self-centeredness and self-absorption.  Me over you, and me instead of you.  That is what is wrong.  When you scare people and say, "You'd better be good because of the fear of Hell and damnation," why are they being good?   Are they being good for God's sake to please Him, or are they being good for their own sake?  They are using God saying, "If I live a really good life, then God will have to give me success.  He will give me a family, a man or woman of my dreams, and He will take me to heaven."  In other words, God is still the means to an end to get the things that you have really been building your identity on. 
  
Love will change the fundamental structures of the heart!  Radical unconditional love is the only thing that will take our mistrustful, in denial, conniving little hearts and shock them into a whole new way of living and being.  Jesus Christ was the judge of the earth who came not to bring judgment but to bare judgment and to go to Hell for His enemies.  Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd.  You can be sure that I will do anything for you because I have done anything for you.  I lost everything, so that I wouldn't lose you."

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining