Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

Today I want to relish the Grace and squelch the Pride. To do that, I want to share this little poem that was sent to me.  It points out our pride, and magnifies God's grace:

I was shocked, confused, & bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter, stutter, and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money - twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought 

Must be rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on a cloud,

Looking incredibly well..

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here? 

Did God made a mistake?

'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

Every saint has a PAST,

Forgiven in Christ's blood

Every sinner has a FUTURE

Since Jesus rose from the tomb!

Since it is only by God's grace we will be saved, maybe we can drop the pride and the, "I'm better than that guy," mentality.  Maybe we can live in response to God's grace with a little of our own ... to each other!

(This Sunday I am beginning a two-part series on how to live in God's grace with thanksgiving, and with His grace to our neighbor.  I will give you a unique tool to use to help you take that kind of living into your daily life!  Hope to seey ou there!)

 Don't forget there's Homework:

+Examine your life and see where you consider yourself better than an another, and remember that we are all the same - condemned by our sin, and need of God's grace.  Then, thank God you have been shown that grace, and give some of it away to those around you.

Prayer Requests:

+Pray for Pete Bede who is having a scan today to determine if His latest cancer treatments have been effective.

+Remember those we have a hard time loving before the Lord, and ask for a special measure of grace that we may give to them. 

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John+