My Father's Voice

Standing at the kitchen sink washing last night's dishes...(I know, I should have done them before I went to bed), I began to recall something my husband said this morning.  He was telling me how amazing it was to just sit in the presence of the Lord and take communion. He said he spent time telling the Lord how grateful he was for all that God had done for us through Jesus.  My husband said it was as if a warm blanket of love wrapped around him.  Instantly, I could no longer heard his voice... my own thoughts took over, 'What's this?  You took communion without me?'  My feelings were hurt!  How could he have had this experience and exclude me?  BUMPER CAR flash back! Yup, I was having a bumper car moment! Was I trying to hop into his bumper car? Or was this something I was  supposed  be joined with him in?  And, as Father began to soothe my ruffled, religious feathers, He shared something I had not though...

I had been trying to wrap my head around the finished work of Jesus and the grace of God. The fact that nothing I do can increase or decrease what was already done was hard to comprehend.  Like so many Christians, I believed that if I did good things, good things would come,  and if I did bad things... well, you reap what you sow.  So, I made myself busy with doing good things and slipped into the "Believer's Rut", which is based on works and not on grace. Don't get me wrong, we are supposed to do good things because we are God's children and imitators of our Father.  Our good deeds should be the result of the Spirit of God residing in and flowing out of us, rather than from our efforts of trying to be good.  We are  good; Jesus said so in John 15: 3.  He said we are all clean because of the Word.  He said,"I am the true Vine, and My father is the Vine dresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit ...