At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
2nd Corinthians 5:16b-18 NLT
Let me start with telling you that I used to drive an honest-to-goodness, genuine, bonafide, redneck clunker... one that kind souls had poured money in to make sure it kept running and was road-worthy. And when I drove to work or to the store, I used to park in the back or on the side - away from the new cars and the lights - because my car always looked worse sitting between two nice cars. Don't get me wrong - I was grateful it ran. In fact, I'm sure owning that car improved my prayer life, but I was embarrassed to the point that I wanted to nominate my own car for the show where they take the clunkers and fix them up.
If you drive a nice car and can't remember when you didn't, I give you permission to go ahead and laugh. If you currently drive an honest-to-goodness, genuine, bonafide, redneck clunker, thank God that it's still driveable and praise Him for every day you're not left stranded or broken down on the side of the road.
(A side note here. Between the clunker and the car I now drive - dear, dear friends blessed me with a beautiful Taurus [which unfortunately, I totalled shortly thereafter] and before the swelling had gone down from that wreck, two more beautiful friends gifted me with a great van. Yes, blessed and gifted...)
One night, backing out of a front row parking space, I caught a view of my current car in the glass storefront and whispered, "Thank You, God..." Seven years, two hurricanes and a few dings later and I still see where God has brought me from. Now, hang on... just for the moment, I'm not talking about EXACTLY how far God has brought me, or even about ALL that He's brought me out of, there's not enough time or room here for that, but this particular evening, God reminded me of a moment that happened just a couple weeks after I purchased this car. A teaching moment.
We were interviewing candidates for a position where I worked, and one night, we took a man and his wife to dinner. We had a good visit, a great meal, and when it came time to leave, I walked out with the group and got in my car, in plain sight of everyone else. Doesn't sound like a big deal, does it? But see, to me, it was, because I remembered when... That night, I called my sister and said to her, "Do you know how good it felt to be able to come out with everyone else and get in my car and not be embarrassed?" I was thinking of Christ and my life merely from a human point of view... Oh.my.word! The good news is, God did not leave me in that pathetic state of mindlessness toward Christ and all that He had and has done for me.
Immediately, God reminded me of where He TRULY had brought me from...and it had nothing to do with a car or with me being honest-to-goodness or genuine. However, I guarantee I was a bonafide, sin-sick clunker of a woman who didn't have the good sense to be ashamed of my sin until He opened my eyes so I got a view of myself from His holy perspective. Oh, praise God for His mercy and His GREAT grace!! Driving a nice car will not get me to Heaven or have any effect on my eternity one way or the other (unless there's a pride issue.) I can stand with my head up only because HE is the lifter of my head. Because HE has washed my sins away. Because I am loved so much that He sent His Son to die in my place...
Whether I'm looking in a storefront window or glancing in the rear view mirror - It's a great view from where I'm standing... here at the foot of the Cross...
Prayer:
Father,
Like the old song says, if they could see where You brought me from, they would know why I love You so. It's our desire to live like You, for You. Keep our vision clear so we can find our way home in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?=1u1kKoGbKpU&feature=related
Let me start with telling you that I used to drive an honest-to-goodness, genuine, bonafide, redneck clunker... one that kind souls had poured money in to make sure it kept running and was road-worthy. And when I drove to work or to the store, I used to park in the back or on the side - away from the new cars and the lights - because my car always looked worse sitting between two nice cars. Don't get me wrong - I was grateful it ran. In fact, I'm sure owning that car improved my prayer life, but I was embarrassed to the point that I wanted to nominate my own car for the show where they take the clunkers and fix them up.
If you drive a nice car and can't remember when you didn't, I give you permission to go ahead and laugh. If you currently drive an honest-to-goodness, genuine, bonafide, redneck clunker, thank God that it's still driveable and praise Him for every day you're not left stranded or broken down on the side of the road.
(A side note here. Between the clunker and the car I now drive - dear, dear friends blessed me with a beautiful Taurus [which unfortunately, I totalled shortly thereafter] and before the swelling had gone down from that wreck, two more beautiful friends gifted me with a great van. Yes, blessed and gifted...)
One night, backing out of a front row parking space, I caught a view of my current car in the glass storefront and whispered, "Thank You, God..." Seven years, two hurricanes and a few dings later and I still see where God has brought me from. Now, hang on... just for the moment, I'm not talking about EXACTLY how far God has brought me, or even about ALL that He's brought me out of, there's not enough time or room here for that, but this particular evening, God reminded me of a moment that happened just a couple weeks after I purchased this car. A teaching moment.
We were interviewing candidates for a position where I worked, and one night, we took a man and his wife to dinner. We had a good visit, a great meal, and when it came time to leave, I walked out with the group and got in my car, in plain sight of everyone else. Doesn't sound like a big deal, does it? But see, to me, it was, because I remembered when... That night, I called my sister and said to her, "Do you know how good it felt to be able to come out with everyone else and get in my car and not be embarrassed?" I was thinking of Christ and my life merely from a human point of view... Oh.my.word! The good news is, God did not leave me in that pathetic state of mindlessness toward Christ and all that He had and has done for me.
Immediately, God reminded me of where He TRULY had brought me from...and it had nothing to do with a car or with me being honest-to-goodness or genuine. However, I guarantee I was a bonafide, sin-sick clunker of a woman who didn't have the good sense to be ashamed of my sin until He opened my eyes so I got a view of myself from His holy perspective. Oh, praise God for His mercy and His GREAT grace!! Driving a nice car will not get me to Heaven or have any effect on my eternity one way or the other (unless there's a pride issue.) I can stand with my head up only because HE is the lifter of my head. Because HE has washed my sins away. Because I am loved so much that He sent His Son to die in my place...
Whether I'm looking in a storefront window or glancing in the rear view mirror - It's a great view from where I'm standing... here at the foot of the Cross...
Prayer:
Father,
Like the old song says, if they could see where You brought me from, they would know why I love You so. It's our desire to live like You, for You. Keep our vision clear so we can find our way home in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?=1u1kKoGbKpU&feature=related
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