Been awhile...

I don't know exactly how long it has been since I have done this, but I feel like today - I should put into words all that God is stirring in my heart.

I have been studying the Gospel of Luke and the major prophet work of Daniel - and this morning God really challenged me in both accounts.

First of all, in Luke - we see that Jesus is hands on with people, and not the type of people I would spend time with.  He takes the time to hang out with tax collectors, prostitutes and "sinners".  As I was reading this, I thought about those whom I spend time investing into.  Why is it not the guy who stands on the corner asking for a dollar?  Is there a better candidate out there for understanding the love and acceptance of the grace of God - than someone who has already hit rock bottom and is looking for help?  No - I spend time with "churchy" types like me, who think like I do, and are in similar situations as I am in - because then I feel comfortable.  But is life about me being comfy? I sure hope not...

Secondly, in Daniel - I was reading about Nebuchadnezzar and God's pursuit of him - and was blown away at my own narrow-mindedness.  Here is a pagan king, ruling over God's people, building idols and graven images to himself, thinking of himself as equal to God, and concerned only about his glory - and what does God do?  Send Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to minister to him and relay the glory and power of God to this pagan king.  

This morning - God really hit me with 2 truths - one, no one is ever to "far gone" for the gospel of grace.  The truth of the gospel of grace is that I am NOT good enough, so God wrapped himself in flesh, walked as we do, suffered temptation, torture, scorn, and crucifixion - so that I could be a part of God's family.  This causes me to step back and rethink how I look at people.  How I judge people.  How I determine who I am going to spend time with and who matters to God.

Secondly - is the length to which God will go to for a person, and to make his name and glory known!  Read Daniel 3-4 and examine it from the perspective of what God does for him.  Not how he saves his people and revelation to Daniel of his dream - but the length to which God goes to for the heart of Nebuchadnezzar.  It is pretty awesome!  And at the end of chapter 4 - the King of Babylon writes "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven for all his work are right and his ways are just and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

God is able to capture hearts, and willing to save those who need him most - I just need to get my opinions and junk out of the way so that God can do what He wants to do!