No Longer Condemned

A friend recently encountered a terrible accident while horseback riding.  As a result, she spent four days in the hospital.  She suffered six broken ribs, broken clavicle and scapula. Her left lung collapsed, but is nearly at 100% functionality.  After being released from the hospital, she said, "I'm in a lot of pain, but thankful I will heal with time."

After reading a familiar verse in Scripture, I thought of my friend's accident.  And sin.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

In Christ, there is...
No condemnation.
No shame.

There is, however, consequence.  A terrible injury inflicted as a result of sin may be forgiven, washed clean, covered in grace.  But consequences remain.  There is recovery and healing that must take place. And that takes time. We can't rush healing.  6-8 weeks, the doctors say.  Or 8-10 weeks.  Six months to a year. A lifetime. Recovery...and healing is a process. 

"If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and purify (wash, cleanse) us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)

What a feeling!  In a moment, we can be forgiven.

I can imagine, though, having experienced a horrendous accident, being taken to the emergency room, being prepped for surgery, undergoing procedure after procedure, and being wheeled into a recovery room.  Now what? Well... You wait.  And you do your best to get back to a normal life.

Eventually, you realize that you're living.  Wounds have healed, though scars remain.

God's grace brings new life.

Messenger {fmf}

Someone who brings information, insight, something important.

Good news.

Bad news.

Something to say.

Something you (or I) need to know.

Jesus.

John.  (Who came as a messenger.)

He brought the Good News.

Some didn't want to hear it.

Many responded.

Me.

If it is possible,
let me bring good news

to people who are hurting.

The Good News of Christ - 

a Savior who loves 

and cares

and seeks

and saves.

Who delivers

and redeems,

transforms

and makes new.

Messenger.

Testimony of Grace - My Grampapa

It's Father's Day weekend. And, though he was my grandfather, he showed me a Daddy's love more consistently than anyone else in my life. Some of the memories my Aunt Jill-ann shares below are memories I have, too. (Which is so cool! - She is two years younger than I am.) Playing at Marymoor Park and watching Grandpa go 'round and 'round on the velodrome. (I never knew that's what it was called.) Flying over Grandma's house in Bothel and waving at her from the sky with the airplane's wings. Ice cream (licorice ice cream is the best!) Grandpa's bike accident and the trip that was cut short because of the Mt. St. Helen's eruption (although, those are memories-from-a-distance having heard about them by phone, living in Las Vegas - the concern was just as real.)