4. Discretion

Let's jump right in, shall we?

There's a Pastor on a popular TV show who was seen smoking a cigar at a hookah bar.  Another Pastor recently started a Go Fund Me account to help finance a new jet that he wants to purchase.  A lot has been said on both sides of the fence regarding both issues.  Here's my two cents...since it is my blog, right? :-)

There are areas that we may disagree on as it relates to our everyday walk, practices and teachings.  (Yes I'm going to say it): Christianity, as we (the church at large) know it and present it, leaves room for a lot of grey areas.  I know...I know...someone just closed my blog and decided that I'm a heretic, but think about it.  What may be acceptable in my church, in my reformation, or even in my culture, may not be acceptable in yours.  And this can vary in its reasoning, from how the Bible is interpreted from one person to another, to how our parents or grandparents taught us, to what we are comfortable with or not comfortable with according to our own dispositions and, yes at times, even our own prejudices.

So does this mean that we are free to do whatever we decide to do as long as we're happy with it?  Not by any means.  Does this even mean that we are free to do whatever we want as long as we know within ourselves that it will not send us to hell?  The answer to that would be no as well.

A word of scripture...

Romans 14: 14-17 (New Century Version)
14  I am in the Lord Jesus, and I know that there is no food that is wrong to eat. But if a person believes something is wrong, that thing is wrong for him.

15  If you hurt your brother’s or sister’s faith because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Do not destroy someone’s faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him. 

16  Do not allow what you think is good to become what others say is evil.  (The King James Version says: "Let not then your good be evil spoken of.")

17  In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. The important things are living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Some things we don't do because they are wrong to God.  Some things we don't do because they aren't good for us.  And some things we don't do because they don't look good to others.  All three of these hold their own weight.  We must remember, as representatives of the Kingdom, our decisions are never just about us.

2. Growth

So, choir rehearsal is on Tuesdays.  It snowed Tuesday.  We turn music in to the band etc 2 weeks in advance.  It snowed Tuesday.  Saturday rehearsal is basically just a run through of what was learned on Tuesday.  It snowed Tuesday....Then what???

It snowed Saturday. We waited until the last possible moment, but we had to cancel. No way we could have choir members out in the inclement weather as it worsened. So for clarity sake, it snowed on both of our rehearsal days this week which means no rehearsal since last month.

I remember like it was yesterday.  There was a time when I would be in a panic inwardly.  I would overthink what songs we would substitute on Sunday, how the congregation would receive them, even how the choir would adjust to the changes and repeats.  Now, after doing this for so many years, I can honestly say, I'm over that.

I've grown.  In the 10 years that I've directed this choir, I've become more secure in my own decision-making skills.  I've become more secure in what I've instilled in those that I lead.  Most importantly, I've become more secure in the God that's in me.  Sometimes decisions have to be made. I pray about it, put it in motion, and move on.  Even when I wasn't sure, I've seen God's hand move and bless our efforts. I've seen God anoint us even when we weren't totally prepared.  I've seen God use us when our attitudes weren't the greatest.  I've seen God use us when the people we were ministering to didn't want to hear us.  I've seen God use us with no  musicians.  I've seen God use us in so many different ways, times, and situations, that a little snow no longer panics me.

I've grown, I tell ya.  However, if you've read my previous blog post, then you know that I still have this thing with nerves at times.  Here's the thing about growth: it never stops unless you stop it.  There's always more territory to be explored, more challenges to be conquered, more rivers to cross.  However, every now and then, you must stop, look back, recall, reminisce and ultimately, thank GOD for progress.  Celebrate that the things that once stopped you, now don't hinder you at all.  Celebrate that the things that once stopped you, now only slow you down.  Celebrate that the things that once stopped you, now only stop you every now and then.  It's all progress, it's all God, and it's all worth celebrating.

Remember where you were. Celebrate where you are. Push forward to where you're going. Your past, your present, and your future are all important parts of your story.

3. Grace

The topic of "grace" seems to cause quite a stir these days.  The prevailing question seems to be, "Does grace run out?"  Here's a few things that I think we should remember about grace.

1. Grace comes from God.

We are not the inventors of grace, therefore we cannot control where grace is applied.  It's a gift that we receive from God.  God is the ultimate and sole executor of grace.  A person can't take it from you.  Conversely, there's nothing you can do to keep it if it's gone.  That control is God's and God's alone.

2. Grace is a gift.

Grace is given to us by God.  We cannot afford grace.  God knows this.  That's why He gives it to us freely.  We can't earn and do not deserve it.  It's not merit-based.  It's simply a gift from God.

3. Grace is different than mercy.

While grace deals with favor given to us because we need it for everyday life and assignments, mercy is the absence of final judgment when we do wrong.  Grace is an addition on top of the everyday mercies that we receive.  Mercy says "don't punish him according to his wrong", but grace says "treat him like he never did the wrong".

4. Grace is sufficient.

We're imperfect.  We fall short.  God's grace never does.  His grace can reach where you can't and can do what you can't.  Do your best, but know that God's grace follows you along with His mercy everyday of your life.

Why are we so caught up in trying to earn God's grace?  Why do we sometimes try to revoke grace from those who we deem unworthy?  Taking grace from another won't give you any extra.  These activities are pointless.  The best thing we can do with our gift of grace is to simply receive it.

Grace is not a pass.  Grace is not a medal.  Grace is just grace...and without it we would all fall flat on our faces.