Is God's Love Reckless?

I didn't even know there was a debate over this song (Reckless Love) until I sat down to research the word "reckless" and to explore the idea of the supposed recklessness of God's Love. It has been troubling me for a while now so it was time to hash it out.  I found an article that says all the things I've been thinking about this (plus a whole lot more.) See link below.  My thoughts?  I think words matter.  Unless someone has redefined the word, I cannot see how God's Love is reckless. It's relentless, but not reckless.

reckless

[rek-lis]
adjective

1.

utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless (usually followed by of):

to be reckless of danger.

2.

characterized by or proceeding from such carelessness:

reckless extravagance. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/reckless?s=t

I can see how it might appear reckless, but it's just not.  How can it be? God is Love, and God does what He does on purpose, with purpose, with care, with design, with intention.  All of these things are the direct opposite of recklessness. Do we see Him or His Love (which are one and the same) ever described in Scripture as "reckless."  I don't know.  I don't think so...

Overall, I like the song, but the use (misuse?) of that one word kind of ruins it for me. I have yet to read a convincing argument in defense of this adjective as an accurate, truthful descriptor for the love of God.

Anyway, here's a link to the article I mentioned earlier. This author says what I'm thinking better than I can say it.
https://gospelreminders.org/2017/06/19/is-gods-love-reckless/

Here's a link to the song if you're interested:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE

Your thoughts?

I'm still alive. I just got sucked into the black hole of Facebook. Oh. My. Goodness. It's been so fun reconnecting with SO MANY people from my past. I swear it's a little taste of heaven. Except for the guilt associated with spending so much time on it. I just keep thinking that in heaven I'll get to do this but to perfection and with no time constraints and no guilt. And then I think that however exciting and enticing that sounds it will be nothing, NOTHING, compared to the sweet fellowship with the Creator of the universe and the Saviour of my soul and the Keeper of my heart.

I feel it more and more.

This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' though.

It's ALL a blessing

On the lastest Quiverfull Digest that I received in my e-mail, I read a great entry by a lady named Micklyn. I wanted to share it because I think it's so good:

Hi all.
I just wanted to share something the Lord showed me a while back when I was grieving over miscarriages. (I have had 9 pg's, 4 miscarried, 5 births... last week I had a positive hpt but when I repeated the test on Monday it was negative, so I think this 10th pg may also miscarry. I also have 2 darling adopted sons and 1 darling stepson, so 8 children here with me.) Anyway, Hosea 9:11 reads:

"As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird-
No birth, no pregnancy, and no conception!"

This was God's judgement on them. What struck me was not the thought that God is judging me, rather the opposite. In God's eyes, yes, birth is a blessing, but so is pregnancy and so is conception. This means that even though I don't carry a baby to term, God sees my conceiving as His blessing me!! This was a revelation.

I see now that God has been sooo good to me. For every child he has allowed me to birth on earth, he has given me another one in heaven. In the time I've had, i could not have conceived AND given birth to 10 children. But in between my full term pg's, he has seen fit to BLESS me with shorter pregnancies. For each of those I give glory and thanks to him.

Micklyn

Source: Quiverfull Digest #3455

I think that's so great.

Holiness

It seems I don't have anything to blog about or the inclination for it either. Anything I have on my mind seems too big to discuss and I can't find the words. Also, lately, I'm very consumed with my home life. I suppose that has to do with being gone for 2 1/2 weeks over Thanksgiving and Micah's recent surgery. There's probably more to it but I don't want to get into that right now. More than anything I feel God pruning the dead wood from my life. Really there is so much I've been busy with that has nothing to do with God's purposes being worked out in me. That stuff needs to go!

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

God is not as interested in my happiness as He is in my holiness. This business of becoming holy is tough stuff. How much has to go before I have achieved it? Aha! First of all, I'm not the one doing it. This is God's work in me. Second of all, it ALL has to go.

Christ says "Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked-the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you
Myself: my own will shall become yours."

C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

I think about this a lot in terms of entertainment. I'm starting to wonder if there is any room in our lives for any of the entertainment the world has to offer. There is so much on TV and so many movies available to rent/buy. Most of it is just rotten. The rest can be pretty questionable. In trying to be more choosey in that area and trying to glorify God in my choices, I'm finding that there is almost nothing that is worth watching. What should be my standard? Even in Christian circles I see the standard sounding a bit like this: "Well, it's a lot better than anything else out there" or "It could be worse" or "I've seen worse". That isn't a good standard. When we use that standard for our own behavior we get into trouble. If I use the excuse that "I haven't murdered anybody", or "I don't cheat on my taxes" then I'm comparing myself to what I consider the worst examples (and I come out looking pretty good) rather than comparing myself to God's standard which is Jesus. In that case, I come out looking like I'm in need of a Savior. Which happens to be the truth. I'm going to go out on a limb here (with a saw) and say that I think Hannah Montana is garbage. In researching the show online I find that so many people think it's a great show. Even Christians. That surprised me. Even PluggedInOnline (a media review site by Focus on the Family) gives it a good review. That surprised me also. I guess it's getting good reviews because it's "better than the other stuff out there." I still think it's junk but I have a hard time explaining just why. Here's a stab at it:

-immodest, worldly dress
-inappropriate boy/girl relationships
-focus on self
-inappropriate situations portrayed as funny
-lack of respect for parents (this usually turns around by the end of the episode but it still keeps happening so the lesson never seems to be learned)
-answers lie within oneself

Oh, most of what I just said about Hannah Montana goes for High School Musical and HSM2 also. As you can probably imagine, I'm quite popular with my 11-year-old daughter right now.

We were asked by family members whether or not she could have those movies for Christmas. After researching them online (we had watched Hannah Montana on TV several times) we said No to Hannah but yes to High School Musical. Well, she got Hannah, HSM, HSM2, and HSM2 Behind the Scenes! Yikes! We took away Hannah and let her keep the rest. Yesterday I saw part of HSM2 and I was horrified! I couldn't even stay in the same room. Then it occurred to me that we had only agreed to HSM and not the sequel. When I looked at the review of HSM2 on Plugged In I realized that I would not have agreed to that movie if I had been asked in the first place. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm more interested in the holiness of my family and less interested in their happiness but, boy, this is hard.

What do you think? Do the titles I've talked about have any redeeming qualities? Am I missing something here?

---

I guess I thought of something to say! :-)

Overpopulation?

I've never believed it. Apparently the governor of a central Russian province doesn't believe it either!

Skip work, make babies, says Russian governor
By James Kilner Wed Sep 12, 6:02 AM ET

The governor of a central Russian province urged couples to skip work on Wednesday and m@ke love instead to help boost Russia's low birth-rate.
And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months time -- on Russia's national day on June 12 -- she will qualify for a prize, perhaps even winning a new home.
"It's normally something for the home -- a fridge or a television set," Yelena Yakovleva at the Ulyanovsk regional administration press office, said.
"It doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy."
Newly-weds Karina and Anton Bukhanovsky walked hand in hand down the main street of the regional capital of Ulyanovsk. They live in St Petersburg but travelled to Ulyanovsk to soak up the atmosphere on Wednesday.
"I used to live here," said Karina, aged 19.
"We plan to come back on the same day next year and try for a baby and the prize nine months later," she said.
Anton, aged 21, kissed her gently on the cheek and they strolled off arm in arm.
Regional governor Sergei Morozov told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birth rate by giving couples Wednesday off to have s&x.
Russia wants to reverse a trend in which the population is shrinking by about 700,000 people a year as births fail to outpace a high death rate boosted by AIDS, alcoholism and suicide.
This is the third year Ulyanovsk region, famous as the birthplace of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin, has dedicated a day to encouraging couples to produce more babies.
Prizes will extend equally to unwed women who produce children on the right day, though the biggest prizes will go to married couples.
On Russia Day this year, a family won a jeep after their fourth baby was born on the holiday.
Next year, the top prizes will include an apartment, Morozov told Reuters. "We need more people," he said.
This year a record 78 babies were born on June 12 at the main hospital in the regional capital of Ulyanovsk, beating the 2006 total of 26, said chief doctor Andrei Malykh.
"The scheme is working. People want the prizes," he said.
A mass wedding and special lessons for children at school on how to deal with having a brother or sister are also planned in Ulyanovsk city, which is about 900 km (560 miles) from Moscow.
At the town's central post office, a sign urges locals to write love letters for free to anywhere in Russia, with postage pre-paid.
This week First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin, said he wanted to stabilise the population at about 142 million by 2015 and boost it back to 145 million by 2025.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070912/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_
russia_sex;_ylt=AlixwWWvxDK4iO7gaXxomnwuQE4F

I don't really know what to say about this but I wanted to share it. I'd like a new house or a new fridge, but we didn't get this Wednesday off. We should start a program like this here in the states. July 4th is a good national holiday for us to aim for, eh? So how about Thursday, October 4th? National Trying To Conceive Day. Whaddya think?

I think it's late and I should get to bed. I'm starting to get punchy.

A reminder to myself

Message to Laodicea (or to Cindee)

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (emphasis mine)

18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (emphasis mine)

22 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Revelation 3:14-22 NASB

Have you slipped?

When life pulls the rug out from under you, remember that the rug is not your foundation. Jesus is beneath the rug. He is your true and sure foundation!

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed."
Isaiah 28:16

More than I can handle

Have you ever heard anyone say that 'God will not give you more than you can handle'? Do you agree with that statement? I'm not so sure that I do. Where does that theology come from? I believe that it's based on 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states,

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

First of all, it seems to me that this scripture is talking about temptation. It's saying that there IS an escape for each and every temptation that we face. It's not talking about heavy burdens, sick children for days on end, losses, financial crises, cancer, death, or any of the myriad of troubles that we encounter in this very fallen world.

Secondly, whether it's God giving us burdens to bear or it's God allowing Satan to pile these things on us, I'm not quite sure. Maybe it's both. What I am sure of is that we do indeed have more than we can handle. Isn't it rather arrogant of us to think that we can adequately handle anything without God's help? We do have more than we can handle because it's only then, when we get to the end of ourselves and of our own resources, that we can really see our need for a Savior. It's then that our faith and trust in God's provision can be exercised.

So what should I think when I'm having troubles and I wonder how much more I can take?

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you.
Deut. 31:6

or

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6

or

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Job 19:25

and of course, Psalm 18. It's my favorite Psalm, the whole thing, so it's hard to pick an excerpt. Here's a few:

...The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge...

...In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears...

...He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me...

...For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness. For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall...

...For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God, The God who girds me with strength...

...The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation...

Yes, I have way more than I can handle but it's not too much for my most awesome, holy Lord. the Author and Finisher of my faith.

A lifetime ago

It's been nineteen years ago today that I got the news that there had been a terrible accident that morning and my friend was dead. Killed by a drunk driver. I was nineteen and it's been nineteen years - it feels like yesterday and it feels like forever ago. But I'll never forget. I'll never forget your smile, I'll never forget your very infectious laugh, and I'll never forget that you left us much too soon.


John Cole Harris
November 13, 1965 - April 12, 1988

Until we meet again...

---

UPDATED to add article.

(Click on photo to actually be able to read it.)

Who Is The REAL Me?

Who is the real me? Is it the person who woke up while it was still dark to eat breakfast, pack a lunch and get ready for school? The person who sometimes hated 'babysitting' her siblings and took it out on them? The person who had no particular dreams for her life and wasn't really worried about it? The one who outwardly obeyed or the one who inwardly rebelled? The one who loved school or the one who hated it? The one who loves the ocean or the one who loves to play the piano? The one who enjoyed drama at school or the one who caused no end of frustrations to her teachers.

Who is the real me? Is it the person who cries or the person who laughs? The person who loved Bible college or the person who loves research? Is it the person who loved to goof off with other Bible college freshmen or the one who delighted in aceing a test? Is it the one who fell in love the first time, or the one who fell in love the second time? Is it the one who loves to stay home and read or the one who loves to travel? The one who doubts her own judgement or the one who is confident?

Who is the real me? Is it the one who just wants someone else to take care of it all or the one who rolls up her sleeves to help someone else? Is it the one who likes to have woken up early or the one who likes to sleep in? Is it the one who wants to be married and share a life together or the one who would rather just have it her own way and not have to compromise? Is it the person who didn't have the responsibility of children or the one who does? The one who worked earning an income or the one working to raise godly children?

Who is the real me? Am I the 'me' I was before something happened or am I the 'me' since it happened? Is the real me ever suppressed or is it just in a continual state of growth and change?

Here's what I think. I think it's ALL me. At whatever point I find myself in life, THAT is me. I also think that it probably doesn't actually matter much who the real me is, in a sense, because whoever I am needs to die and become whoever it is that God desires for me to be. Why would I ever want to return to a former 'me'? Ideally, that old 'me' is dying a little more each day and the newer 'me' is an improvement. In the end, it's not about me at all. It's about Jesus and who He intends for me to be. Like John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col.3:1-3

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:7-14

More on Birthdays

Previously I wrote a little about birthday without pressure. I wished that I had the time and energy to write more about it but I didn't. Today, I found on The Common Room, a post with great links regarding this very subject. Go check it out and follow the links!

Grumbling and Humbling

Today I had a less than stellar day. I felt worn-out, crabby, and generally not very nice. The kids, mainly the 3-year-old, seemed extra whiny and needy as they usually do when I'm not feeling up to par. I pretty much spent the day waiting for it to be over so I could go to sleep. Not a very uplifting kind of day. Not a day, looking back on it now, where I gave it to the Lord and CHOSE to serve Him and offer it as my spiritual act of worship. Boy, I hate it when I realize something like that AFTER the fact, when it's too late to do it. The day is over and it feels wasted! Anyway, what I wanted to say, what I sat down to write is... After a day like today it's truly humbling to watch something like the video below. I have it so easy. And yet I still grumble and complain. *sigh*

I put the video right here in my blog but if it doesn't work or if I find it takes too long to load I may remove it. Here's an external link for the video.

Birthdays Without Pressure

BirthdaysWithoutPressure.org is a website dedicated to raising awareness of out-of-control birthday parties for kids. I'm amazed at how big of a problem this is and that we need a website to alert the nation. Where's our common sense? How is it that we don't know when enough is enough? Here's an excerpt from an article I read today:

Having decided on a ballerina theme for her daughter's sixth birthday party, Michelle West drove all over to find little dancers for the cake. Then she put 50 little beefeater guards around the edges. And she gave it beautiful white icing with peppermint trim.

And what happened? The kids wouldn't eat it.

It wasn't long afterward that she joined a group of St. Paul parents determined to end the birthday party arms race.

Birthdays Without Pressure is taking aim at the oneupsmanship that drives moms and dads to throw parties that will really, really impress the kids and the other parents, too."We feel there's a kind of cultural runaway going on right now around the birthday parties of kids," said William Doherty, a University of Minnesota professor of family social science who had a hand in organizing the group, launched publicly earlier this month.

Read the entire article here.

We started down this road ourselves a few years ago. We had a couple of parties for our kids that were (in our estimation) too extravagant. We took a look at what we were doing, realized that we didn't really want to set the precedent that we were starting to set, didn't like the stress we experienced, and didn't like the message we were sending to our children and to those that were invited. I have so much that I'm thinking about all of this but my time is so limited that I cannot go into all of it right now. Anyway, read the article. Be amazed. Evaluate your own practices. Change them if necessary.