What is extravagant? Why does that word bring up such feelings of disapproval, disappointment, disillusion, disaster? My God is One who is Extravagant! But it seems imprudent, extravagant love gets raised eyebrows (what do they want?) hope of that love is cautioned against (it could never be like that), exploring those feelings are derided (one day you will grow up) Why must this hope, this desire, this need be made out to be belonging only to the foolish, the dreamers, the unrealistic, the immature. Why is this hope, feelings and, yes i say it, God knitted needs pushed down, especially by those within Christian circles? Are we so disappointed and disillusioned that we cation those who haven't yet learned from the way the world actually works. WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT GREAT THINGS> WE ARE TO PRAY GOD'S WILL, HIS KINGDOM HERE ON EARTH. We caution against life, we suppress wonderment, we use our human knowledge to explain away heavenly principles. Why can't we expect extravagant love, to get and give away, who else will raise the bar of this earth? Must we sink down with it every time we see, or hear, or feel another crushing blow, another divorce, another argument, another sin. Hold each other up, encourage one another, seek everything good and pure and lovely. God created flowers to be broken and crushed, in places where no one will ever see them, to be eaten by things that are furry and pokey, hard and soft and beautiful. Which in turn are created to be eat and be eaten, hunt and to be hunted. Why do we have taste buds? What possible reason should there be to taste food. You must admit many people would weigh less if food didn't have a taste. Why should we see colour (those who do) why should we smell? Shall we caution those who see that there is nothing that good to see, that we shouldn't expect any joy from it but to only be prepared to use our sight for service and sacrifice. What is the point of reading but to gather knowledge and expand general wisdom, song but for worship, ministry and uplifting others, what good is a mind but to put it to work for usefulness sake. Imagination is a squandered mind except for a doorway where God can speak, and a place to think up ideas, to improve humanity. Are we only a people of usefulness? Of value based actions? Of lowly expectations under a God who created us to be useful? We were created to be His Glory, to receive and learn to give back extravagant love, to seek and find those things that are hidden, the glory of kings, to enjoy intimacy with an intimate saviour, he paid extravagantly for us. Not so that we must seek value from actions or duties. But to realize our value comes from His sacrifice. How dare we live in boredom, in disillusioned despair, how dare we caution against life and hope and expectation when so great a price has been paid, when in His Word we are told our mighty value. Do you know how someone's life will turn out? Do you know the promises the God has whispered to another person. Where you there when God knit together your friend, or family member, or enemy, or disciple? Do you seek to see God's Glory and wonderment come to fullness in that person or are you so wounded that out of seeming compassion you “wake them up” from their dream to face reality head on. Who's reality? the one you have accepted for your self, for your sex, for your position, for your family. Let me ask you. Has God ever told you to dream less, to expect little, to live to be useful. Are you sure that God, the almighty, extravagant, taste-bud making, status quo breaking, master creator told you that? In one way you are right. This life is not easy, you will find opposition, you will be attacked and brought down to your knees in crushing withering pain and sorrow from this life. Because this is war and everything good is being fought against and if not directly most definitely corrosively. Crumbling edges off, making shadowed those things that were once clear. Love, family, sex, nature, communication, expectation, creativity, imagination, music, comedy, wit, wisdom. I know you are hurting, that you are in self protection mode. That you don't wish your agony onto any other person out there, especially those that you love most deeply that are going dangerously close to that place where your personal war dealt you so crushing a blow. Cry out to Jesus. We were not given a high priest that can not identify with our suffering. You must expect blows. But by God you must expect victory. Overwhelming, astounding victory in Christ Jesus. You were not created to live in boredom, despair, sin, aloneness, caution. Look at God's #1 man, King David, He didn't creep around grey area issues... he ran head long into them. Making great mistakes claiming great victories, God loves you. Rise up and act loved, act brave, act expectant, act hopeful, and when pain comes, ask God to redeem it and believe in God's Love, stand your ground, share expectations, share hopes, and when disaster comes, fearfully ask God to redeem it and love confidently, fight the enemy, claim expectations, encourage hope, and When you are beaten, bludgeoned, pierced and bleeding, when you have to fight for every breath and all that was promised seems hollow. When it appears that God's voice is silent, that His love is empty, and He has abandoned you to the cross you were told to carry. When that happens and there is nothing but disillusion and lies left. Turn to the one who saves and don't go by feeling. Remember His faithfulness in all things and ask Him to redeem everything once again, believe the cross was enough. And do greater things than Jesus did.
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| carved out of a pencil by one amazing guy.. |
