The Place God Pours Out His Love

God cares about people. He cares very much.

In a way it is almost a secret because the world we live in has both extremes of caring. Many people care and many people don't seem to care... or care in a very focused exclusive way. Caring when you are not cared for is hard for us to do in our own power. When people feel alone they can rationalize many things. If they have been used carelessly then they try to adapt.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV

God wants a spiritually minded person to adapt by casting their cares upon Him. It takes a faith decision to do this. Naturally we can't. We must believe to do this and to keep doing it.

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV

People look at a world that will not love them and they are like embers left alone in the windy cold. Their hot initial flame flickers and is overwhelmed by the elements.

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:2-5 ESV

We stand in grace and rejoice in hope and God pours love into our hearts. The Greek word used for pour (or 'shed abroad') is ekcheo (Strong's G1632) and it means to spill out in a messy way. Like milk poured on a counter that finds multiple places to drip and make a mess. It is a spill that is not easily contained. The love is unfocused and overflowing.

It is great to watch a person who has been hurt many times and is now humble finally with someone who loves them with God's love. Love begins to be 'shed abroad' in their hearts. The transformation can be shocking.

Yes. God cares. When we stand in grace and rejoice in hope because Christ has been revealed to us that love becomes visible through us and in us.

Then as living stones placed together that heat and light can be felt even at a distance.

Listen.

God has not forgotten about you. The circumstances are what they are and you did what you did one way or the other. God isn't like us. He isn't saying, 'See you got what you deserve.' He cares and wants to use those circumstances in our life to give us what we don't deserve. Our grip on things must be loosened first sometimes for that to happen.

If we make decisions to hear and learn about grace and draw close to where the glory of God is manifested then so much can happen. That is the place where love is being shed abroad in imperfect people. That becomes an oasis and a place of healing.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:31-32 ESV

When our hearts begins to cool we look here. The cross is where we find the flame again. The cross is the place of grace and glory. The cross renews our hope. No matter what things look like that cross is a lighthouse that will always guide us safely home.

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Light Turns To Warmth

I got stranded the other day at the shuttle stop that takes me to work. Other people were waiting in cars but I knew that the first shuttle was going to be very full because of the delay so I waited at the stop to be first in line. It was just me and a mailbox covered in ice. I watched the ice melt and had a good time with God.

It was morning time and the mailbox was a dark blue so the sun began to heat the mailbox up. First there were little drips. Then water began to form under the ice and drip faster drawing air into the vacuum forming beautiful patterns. The water and air had a kind of dance. The mailbox was curved like a upside down 'U' so as more water formed under the ice it pulled the air down the sides but the air fought to rise again to the top of the arch. Then when the ice started to melt faster the air was gone and it was only water under the ice pouring in little streams down the sides finding the lowest path like water is prone to do. Soon big chunks started to fall off.

My shuttle came before the ice was completely gone but it made me think...

'I wonder what a man's soul looks like as it is thawing out?'

I remember what it was like when I got saved. The world started dripping off of me. Little by little I didn't do what I did before. God's warm light was getting to me and warming me under my thick atmospheric coating. When big chucks fell off of me is was messy and it affected those around me.

A man I dearly love called the Church 'An incubator of Love.' What a great thought that is. It is place to thaw out. It is a place where life can thrive and grow in safety and under the right conditions.

"I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." - Mark 1:8 ESV

Those who are baptized with the Holy Spirit are stained the color that absorbs God's light. Light turns to warmth.

When all the ice melts off that mailbox it will just be a mailbox. When we are warmed with God's light we grow. When we are washed by God's word the grime of other things is taken away. What is left when the ice is gone is us. Us as we are. Us as God has made us to be. Ripened by sunlight.

It may be cold outside. Heck, It might be cold inside. The welcome we get in some rooms is far from warm but we can bask in God's love and have warmth. We can go to God's hot box of love and grow some leaves and branches.

Warm fruit trees are bound to produce fruit when it is the right season.

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