Grace

Not talking about what you say at supper.  Not talking about the old lady across the street.  God’s Grace is what I am talking about.  Think I might do a couple of gigs on this.  Might be what I have been looking for too.

This concept has been working on me for years as I struggle to understand it better…..but really understand what the finished work of Jesus on the cross means.   Well, truthfully, to try to come to grips with my sin and junk and figure out what God thinks about all this.  Which is partially the total forgiveness for what we have, are and are going to do as it relates to sin and our penalty for sin.  Stuff I can’t pay for on my own.

Romans 6:14 says this in a neat way.  It says sin can’t have dominion over us any longer.  I mean, I have struggled with sin….worried about how it effected my relationship with God.  Shoot, I have even been pretty darn judgemental about others’ sin….Christians I know.  Then I began to realize more and more that what Jesus did on the cross has dominion over everything else….especially sin. 

The sacrafice of Jesus, grace given to us, has dominion.  And this dominion is paid for……one time.   Will do a couple more on this.  Don’t want to go too far and get out of breath.

Good to be back.  louie

 

Sunday Afternoon Promise

 

It was a rainbow. 

I was in Orlando coming back to Daytona Beach with 2 of my daughters.  It was one of those oppressively hot, extremely humid days where the clouds towered high.  It was a Florida late afternoon when the air conditioner in the car is the most valuable thing in the world, and it worked hard to keep up with the heat and humidity.  Then, the late afternoon thunderstorm where you think it can not get any hotter….but on I-4 in traffic just after the storm…it does get hotter.

Then, as the rain slowed…the most beautiful rainbow.  A covenant.  A promise between God and Noah…but also with us.  This sign that God will not flood the earth again.  But there are other covenants…other promises…

He will no leave us or forsake us.  That we have dominion over the earth.  That we are one with Him.  That we can choose to never be apart from him…in eternal life. 

God has a covenant with us.  Sunday afternoon it was a rainbow after a storm with my girls and a wonderful opportunity to talk about God’s promises to us.  Today, for us…it is a cross.  If you are struggling today with decisions, like I am, like my friends are,…remember the covenant…My Grace Is Sufficient For You…for my power is made perfect in weakness.  That is what the scriptures say and it is just as much a promise as a Sunday afternoon rainbow. 

louie

 

I’ve Learned…

I have a neat bunch of people that work with me.  They are always encouraging, always, well almost always positive and they are always looking to help one another.  Jodie, Teresa, Patty, Beth, Sheila, Robin.  Just a great group.  I got the following from Jodie this morning.  Thought it was really good to reflect on. 

I’ve learned that , no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.  I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:  a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights.  I’ve learned that, regardless  of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life.  

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life.  I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.  I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.  I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.  But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.  I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.  I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.  

I’ve learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.  People love that human touch — holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.  I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. 

I can still learn a lot from my folks at work..  how about you?   louie

 

The Resurrection

 

It was a rock that blocked the entrance to the cave where the body of Jesus laid.  It was a large rock, put there by man.  Behind the rock was the body of Jesus,…also put there by man.  It seemed impossible to get into or out of….especially with a Roman soldier guarding it.

God had other ideas.  The rock was there, then rolled away.  It was rolled away not by man…..and Jesus was no longer there….again….not by man.   This by man and not by man struggle continues as we try to obtain what God has given us as a gift.   Eternal life.  The resurrection marks what is different about Christianity.  Life over death.  God and not man.  It is by God that we exist.  For that we should be eternally grateful.

Is there a stone,….something too big for you to roll away in your life?  Is there death somewhere in your life….too dead and decayed for you to revive?  God wants in there…to move the stone, to resurrect the death in your life.  He did mine…I am just so amazed.

God is awesome.  louie

 

It is Finished

“It is finished” John 19:30.  What is finished?

So, just what does this mean?   In context, Jesus was on the cross, between two thieves.  It was just a few seconds before the end of Jesus’ life.  John 19:28-30 says that “Jesus, after knowing all things were accomplished, …Jesus said  it is finished” 

Just what was “accomplished or finished?”   Different words in English (accomplished/finished) but not in Greek.   It is the word Teleo.   This word in Greek basically means that a debt is retired.  Let me tell you what was teleod, (accomplished or finished)…what debt was retired.

Our sin……….Past……Present……..Future.  

I don’t know about you, but I need that.  The only thing we need to do  to get our sin Teleoed is to accept Jesus Christ……..and if you have already done that then you are half way there…   You now only have to accept the fact that, well, it is finished….done,…debt paid.  This concept seems to be the harder part for us.  Satan wants us to think that we need to  go back again and again and again and again….(get the point)…(like the sacrifice of offering the sacrifice again and again and again,  over and over and over) to obtain forgiveness. 

We do not.  Jesus paid the debt once and for all.  Debt paid.  It is finished.  Dead end. However you want to shake it out.  Do not wallow in guilt about just how messed up you are…Jesus died for that and you are forgiven…You are forgiven…you are forgiven.

louie @ lmercer6@cfl.rr.com

 

Pizza Hut Called The Cops on Me!!

Sunday night after church we settled down at the Mercer house for a nice night of chillin’.  Last Sunday afternoon, October 12th we had a Building Committee meeting here at the house.  We ordered pizza from Pizza Hut here in Port Orange, Florida, just like we have for years.  The bill came to 75 bucks and we tipped the driver like, 15 bucks because we know times are hard.  Anyway, Sunday night the 19th, we called Pizza Hut in Port Orange, Florida just like we have for years, not to mention like we did last week!!  We got the pizza hot as ordered, I mean everything was 100 percent totally cool.  The driver was nice and we gave them the check for 31 dollars, (like we did the 90 dollars last Sunday…..JUST ONE WEEK AGO TODAY).  The driver gave us the pizza and accepted the check…..just like they have forever…..

We got a call 30 minutes after the pizza was eaten.  I mean it was great,….like always.  The call was from an employee who said that Pizza Hut no longer accepted checks…..seemed odd because they did accept a check, just 30 minutes ago and now they do not accept checks…..and get this…. they told us after the pizza was all gone, not when it was ordered.  I told the employee that we had no cash….(who has cash at home anymore).  He said they would accept a credit card  but the kid sounded like a kid….and sorry, but I aint giving a kid my credit card number…when they already accepted a check…and the pizza is gone, except for 3 slices out of 2 pizzas.  I told the kid to have the manager call me. 

A guy called, 30 more minutes later but it was like,…well, he was not all there.  Do you know what I mean……I am not trying to be sarcastic but you know when someone is not there.  You realize it!!!  I really empathized with him because it was  very obvious that he was not all there…..I mean it was so obvious that I talked for him for over 15 minutes but he did not have a clue that I had no money at home.  I offered to bring it to him tomorrow morning, to have him look at my phone record….( I always pay by check for over 20  years… much less LAST SUNDAY 90 BUCKS) but he said that they did not accept checks anymore.  I said to have a manager call me.  Well, the Port Orange Police, Officer Murphy, called me.  ouch.

Officer Murhphy was really nice.  He told me that Pizza Hut did not accept checks anymore……we bantered the finer points of the law, but this is a civil matter and not a police matter.  I had a choice…..dig in my heals because I was right (I have been a cop for 22 years and was able to quote the statute ((the law)) to the pizza shop owner and police).  Then Jesus in Matthew 5:21, 5:27, 5:31, and all through this chapter, Jesus said, you have heard it said, in the law, for example, in 5:21 you have heard it said that you should not murder but I say that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment……like wow.  I had the law on my side and Officer Murphy agreed….but I was held to a  higher law…….the law of grace…….The law said I did not have to pay this guy tonight because he screwed up.  But Jesus said,….scrape together 31 bucks and pay this person……So, we grabbed all the change we had along with a 20 dollar bill and paid the bill in cash…did not stiff the driver, did not pay in pennies, did not be a jerk about it…..just paid it.   I called the Port Orange officer back, and told him thanks for his professionalism and I told the driver sorry for his inconvenience…….and my kids got a good laugh out of it….but they saw what should be done instead of what I really wanted to do….which was dig my heels in.

Pastor Louie