The first to help you up

"The first to help you up are the ones who know how it feels to fall down." - Anonymous

Sometimes I wonder about the Father character in the story of the Prodigal Son.

He responds to his angry, judgmental older son with patience, grace and dignity.

He welcomes his wayward younger son home with tremendous hospitality, forgiveness and love.

I wonder what sort of hard times he himself might have gone through to make him such a kind and grace-filled person.

Have your hard times made you kinder, sweeter, empathetic, and gracious?

Did you ever hear a sermon

In his terrific book Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom writes, "Did you ever hear a sermon  that felt as if it were being screamed into your ear alone?"

I think we've all had that experience a time or two.

His next statement is equally fantastic: "When that happens, it usually has more to do with you than the preacher."

Sometimes the Spirit moves in funny ways.  I never know if a sermon I'm preaching is going to hit home with any particular person.  But when it does, it's a powerful thing!

When's the last time a sermon felt like it was written and preached just for you?

Phil Isn't Good Enough (and neither are you!)

During our Wednesday morning Bible study, Phil Devore shared a wonderful insight. 

He said, "It took me a while to figure out that I didn't have to be good enough for salvation.  I don't have to be good enough because HE is."

That's how this grace thing works.   

You don't have to be good enough.  God is good enough. 

You can't be good enough.  God is good enough. 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul says that the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for you."

Phil isn't good enough.  Paul wasn't good enough.  You aren't good enough, and neither am I.

But God's grace is.

And that's enough.