first

the latest song to hit my heart is FIRST, by brian doerksen. here's the chorus:

so we love to give because You gave so much

we live to love because You first loved us

i love those truths. i'm so thankful that God has shown me His kind of love - unconditional acceptance, embracing desire, unlimited encouragement, and yes, even pointed correction. and His kind of love loves first, unbelievable since i'm so unworthy of His attention. and His standard gives me an example to live, love and give away in my own life. no, not always easy, but it's what i'm called to... to me and then through me.  maybe the idea of cupid carrying an arrow isn't just romance.  love is meant to hit the heart.  and God is the grand initiator. i think it's really the Holy Spirit who carries a quiver full of arrows.  

the thought of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross really proves it all.  the Bible says, while we were yet sinners, He showed His kind of love...  now that's a FIRST.  and probably ONLY... yes, i'm thankful. and speechless...

a new communion

a few weeks ago, we went to a brian doerksen concert as part of his level ground tour. he decided to do this tour a little different, keeping the musicians off the stage, and using the center under the spotlights for stories of grace. we heard two local stories that night, but on his level ground DVD, there's another nine. what is it that stirs within, when people testify how Jesus has brought change in their lives?

questions:  why would anyone hold dear a powerless religion? what comfort is there living within rules someone else enforces? what's the purpose of a private faith? who are we helping when we keep grace in a box?  but then... what is it about Jesus'  love that has the power to do radical things?

perhaps these words, found on the wall in a concentration camp in germany may give evidence to a comfort found deep within the human heart, put there only by a God whose love and power are real. beyond belief:

 i believe in the sun even if isn't shining.

i believe in love even when i am alone.

i believe in God even when He is silent.

caught in the overflow. carried in the overflow. stories of grace are written in the overflow. stories of grace bring comfort, power, love, change, hope, life to the tellers and the hearers. and that's a communion like no other. faith-builder stories. it's like sharing glory.