Lose the Do-It-Yourself Mentality....

....gain the gift of grace.

Grace is divine, a gift from God to you. He offers new life based on nothing you have to offer. There is no way to earn his affections or coax His love for you. He already delights in you and befriends you.

Grace seems too good to be true, but it's authentic. There is no pretending. The God of all grace is compassionate. He cares deeply, and He has the capacity to be intimately involved in our lives.

Grace requires faith. We must trust in the mercy of God and realize His favor on us even though it is undeserved.

It is time you started treating yourself the way God treats you...with grace!

Now remember that we are still thinking within the framework of the first key to loosening burdens-- surrender. Yesterday we were reminded that we do not have to maintain the burdensome illusion of control and today we hear great news that we don't have to do anything to gain favor from God. Yesterday, we were challenged to gain the freedom of a life surrendered to God, today we hear that we are given unmerited favor....this thing called the "grace" of God.

Have you ever had a friend who simply loves you just because you are you; no strings attached. This is the type of friend you would never have to prove your love. Well, multiply that by infinity and you'll get a glimpse of God's unmerited favor toward you....this is grace. It comes from God and is directed to our very beings.

Lord, if this is really true, then how did my mind get so cluttered with the myth that I have to earn your favor? Change my mind so that I can fully receive your grace. Forgive me for knowing the spiritually sounding word (grace), without really experiencing the fulness of such. Thank you.

Lose the Burden of Control....

....gain the freedom of surrender.

Why not give up the illusion of control and yield to God's mercy and grace?

....since the Garden of Eden, men and women have continually played God and tried unsuccessfully to rule over their own destinies.

When we surrender, we don't just give up or play dead or wait for God to fix us. Instead, we become active participants with God in making a new path of hope....

Surrender is not passivity, nor is it resignation. Its motion requires an active and conscious turning toward God wherein we reflect our willingness to submit to His power by living out our new found truth....

Once the decision to surrender all to Christ is made, transformation begins.

(All excerpts above are from Arterburn, S. (2007, pp.10-17). What have you got to lose? Thomas Nelson: Nashville.

Let's just admit it-- maintaining the illusion of control is burdensome; there has to be a better way. I was glad to hear Arterburn's distinction regarding surrender, specifically that it is not passive. He makes it clear that surrender requires activity on our part. It requires us to simply admit that God alone is the master of the universe and that He actually doesn't need our help in this department. Allow that reality to sink in.

Lord, help me to see the folly in vainly attempting to maintain the burdensome illusion of control. Show me the freedom of a life surrendered to you.

Letting go....

Okay, enough with the mysterious "journey" post....

A good friend, Brian Mathias, gave me several copies of a book a while back and recommended that I read it and pass it along to others who may benefit. I skimmed through it and gave a few away, but, I did not take its content to heart. However, as some books do, this one has been staring me in the face, begging to be re-read, more seriously. The book?:

What Have You Got to Lose?
Experience a richer life by letting go of the things that confuse, clutter and contaminate
Author: Stepehn Arterburn
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Arterburn uses a framework that highlights seven "keys to losing burdens": surrender (I Peter 5:6), acceptance (Psalm 139:1), confession (James 5:16), responsibility (Galatians 6:5), forgiveness (Matthew 6:14), transformation (II Corintians 1:3-4), and preservation (II Peter 1:5).

In the coming days I will be sharing excerpts from this book. Now that you know a little more about "the journey" I hope that you are encouraged all the more to join me.

Today's assignment? Reflect on the following words of Jesus and ask yourself if you are interested in experiencing the fulfillment of these words in your life.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Let's go!

Anyone up for a journey?

Hello my friends,

I am contemplating a journey.....of a spiritual nature. I anticipate that it will be filled with poignant moments of freedom.

Hint: What have you got to lose? (Arterburn)

To begin the journey, simply think about the various interpretations of that question and do your best to answer it.

I would rather not go alone. Anyone in?

Signing off.....for a little while....

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel... Philippians 1:27

Well, I am signing off for a little while. I have thoroughly enjoyed this writing exercise and hope that these posts have caused you to think about your faith and have in some small way aided your relationship with Christ.

My rationale: I am about a 1/3 of the way through my dissertation and as summer is approaching, I need to shift my writing time to emphasize this priority. My intention is to resume this blog in the Fall.

If you are interested in knowing when I am starting back up.....you may want to become a "follower" by clicking on the "Follower" link in the right hand column. In doing so, you will receive an email informing you of a new post.

Thank you so much for those who have read and commented....I have found the dialogue very enriching.

God bless!

Sincerely,
Jim Fox

A personal note....

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

As you know, my last name is Fox...and I know that I am blessed with a "good" name. I do not say this with one ounce of pride....this has everything to do with those who have come before me and the tremendous integrity that is my heritage. What you may not know is that while I am "half Fox", I am also "half Phillips." My mother's maiden name is Phillips....and let me tell you, there is no family like the Phillips family. If you happen to know my mother, you know exactly what I mean. Her father, Pop-Pop Johnny was the real deal and you could not find a more dear soul than grandma Elizabeth. In any case, I want to share a personal note about one particular "Phillips"-- Uncle Bob.

Uncle Bob is one of those persons who, while being 82, doesn't look a day older than 60. He is as spry and as sharp as any person you will meet. He worked in a bank in Worcester County, Maryland....after retiring, he took up fine woodworking and furniture making....and he has the missing digits to prove it (that's another story or two for another day). The reason that I am sharing this personal note is because for me, he epitomizes "authenticity." He does not mix words, you know exactly where you stand with Uncle Bob. I will never forget his speech to me shortly after I became the Principal of the Lower School at Salisbury Christian School. He was quizzing me on what my most important job was as a leader. After a few failed attempts in responding to his liking.....he informed me that my most important job as a leader was "hiring." He was right. My co-workers know my "Uncle Bob" as I will from time to time share a story or a lesson that I have gleaned from being his nephew. I think they really love my "Uncle Bob" stories.

God bless all the "Uncle Bob's" out in the world....I am just grateful that I got the best one. And to Uncle Bob, I love you.

Mercy....tread upon....

Proverbs 12:1
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 13:13
13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command is rewarded.

Proverbs 13:18
18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.

Proverbs 14:9
9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.

Proverbs 15:32
32 He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

I love to extend mercy. But, tread on my mercy and I become a bear. There is something within me that believes that if I extend mercy, then the perpetrator will change his ways. Certainly, if I extend mercy, the recipient of this wonderful gift will see the foolishness of his his ways, and be transformed. When mercy is honored, what a great feeling! When it is tread upon, when I am played for the fool, oh, how disappointing and piercing to the soul. If you haven't guessed it, I extended mercy this past week and got tread upon. Not a very good feeling. However, as I read through the verses above, one can almost pity the one who has scorned instruction.

This makes me wonder about my motives in extending mercy. How can I be put off by a such a small "tread"....I sure do have a ways to go. I wonder how the LORD does it?....

The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:6b-7a