There's a great new PC/MAC commercial on television right now; you know, the ones with the business guy (who is a PC) standing next to the cool, hip, young guy (who is the MAC) having a conversation about themselves. The newest commercial is MAC's way of slamming the new Windows Vista operating system. It features a secret-service looking guy in the background who continuously interupts their conversation by saying something like "A greeting has been issued, allow or decline." When the PC guy acknowledges the meaninglessness of the safeguard system the secret-service guy says, "You are coming to a sad realization, allow or decline."
I feel as if I have recently heard that voice, "You are coming to a sad realization, allow or decline." I have responded by saying, "Allow!" The sad realization I have been gradually coming to is this: For most of my years as a Christian I have pursued the love of God through personal spiritual performance. During times in which I was "performing" well (according to my standards), I felt God's love for me. During times in which I was "performing" poorly (according to my standards), I sensed a huge chasm separating me from God.
During a recent church service I jotted down these notes that came to mind:
"Got did not create me to serve Him, He created me to know His love." "The highest calling I could ever attain to is to 'be rooted and established in love that I may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.'"
Growing up in the midwest, on the edge of "tornado alley," scorching summer days were often interrupted by thunderstorms. One of my frequent childhood memories is of going out to play right after a thunderstorm and enjoying the smell of the freshly fallen rain. Rain brings cleansing, refreshing, new life. In Isaiah 44:3 God says to a weary Israel, "I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Today I am living in anticipation of rain. I eagerly await the pouring out of God's Spirit in my life, my family, and my ministry in ways that I have not yet known. I anticipate "grasping" the immeasurable love of God toward me that is dependent upon nothing more than God's desire to awaken me to that love.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll join me in this season of "awaiting rain."
Awaiting Rain -- Bill, I am refreshed at just the thought.
Remembering when we used to gather in the garage, with the garage door open, during torrential downpours. Remembering the feeling of awe, of majesty.
Remembering the sheer bliss of being allowed to play in the downpour (if there was no thunder or lightening).
Remembering splashing, no shoes, no shirt, just shorts, in the puddles and coming home dirty but SO fulfilled.
Posted by: MIchael Ehret | March 03, 2007 at 06:24 PM