I am re-reading Abba's Child by Brennan Manning with some guys from the Open Door. This book changed my life 8 years ago and after the first chapter it is once agian rearranging mental and heart furniture in my life. Thanks be to God for a transparent, wise and borken man like Maning. Thanks be to God for the guys I am gathering with to read and their transparency this past week in coming out of hiding. Here is some quotes that kicked my ass this week.
“God is relentlessly tender and compassionate towards us just as we are – not in spite of our sins and faults (that would not be acceptance), but with them. Though God does not condone or sanction evil. He does not withhold his love because there is evil in us. God calls us to come out of hiding and come openly to him. God weeps over us when shame and self-hatred immobilize us. Thomas Merton said, 'the reason we never enter into the deepest reality of our relationship with God is that we so seldom acknowledge our utter nothingness before him.' God not only forgives and forgets our shameful deeds but even turns their darkness into light. All things work together for those who love God, 'even,' Augustine of Hippo added 'our sins.' Christians who remain in hiding continue to live a lie. We deny the reality of our sin... If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can nither be illuminated nor become light for others.” Abba’s Child pg 19, 20, 22, 29, 29
May God grant us courage and grace to receive his love and come out of hiding!
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1 comment:
very cool.
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