OMG, this blows me away...I have wasted so much time and life-energy waiting for the perfect, fictional future me to show up and rake in God's grace instead of ACCEPTING that He accepts me NOW and is pouring out His Grace NOW on me, with my bazillion imperfections and sins. Thank you SO much.
"You as you are and not some fictional made up future version of yourself who has managed to finally be a better person" Love this line. Easter was very emotional for me this year. I experienced the pain and sadness and also the peace on Sunday. Thank you for the song..it is perfect beyond words
Love this so much! Esp. "Because it takes more than locked doors and low self-esteem to keep Jesus out" which reminds me of theologian John Webster's statement: God has refused our refusal of him. This is the time for us to finally sing Just as I am and really mean it for a change.
That song was definitely so powerful. Thanks for sharing that and your incredible writing.
What a blessing that Christ takes us as we are. So often I dwell in the: "I'll be _____ when _____". I'll be beautiful when I lose however many pounds. I'll be successful when I have such and such amount of money and possessions. And there have been so many moments that I've hidden pain and trauma from the members of my church not wanting to be asked questions that would cause pain and not wanting to diminish their faith with exposure to my own doubt and pain. You know, I love that Jesus, after the resurrection, just came and surprised the disciples, just appeared because I feel that God does that for me. He just appears and brings healing. I never have to prepare myself or fix myself to be good enough for him. He's been with me in the mess and it's not "I'll be ______ when______"; it's "You are loved now."
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! This is gospel that I needed to hear right now. So often I hear a voice telling me I'm not worthy and I need to realize that is not GOD speaking...God's love transcends all and transforms us when we step out of our weakness in Faith that Jesus has loved us to death and will love us through death into life again. Alleluia!!!
Thank you Nadia for the reminder. Just finished our pastorās Bible study on this text. Even after breathing the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and giving them the instructions about forgiving sins, the remainder of the text points out that a week later the disciples were once again gathered behind a locked door. And Jesus shows up AGAIN. Reminds me of a sermon you gave about how Jesus continually hunts us down!
Wow. The song really got to me. My mother died this past week, and even knowing she was likely close to death, I left for a long planned vacation out of the country with my husband. I told myself I had given my mother much----too much----through the years, that I didn't owe her this too. But now, I am experiencing waves of guilt along with the grief, even though I would tell anyone else THEY DID THE RIGHT THING. If I didn't have my loving "liberal" congregation of people trying to figure out things, my AA friends who remind me how loved and forgiven I have always been, my three siblings who always stand in the gap and seem to handle things so much better emotionally.......what would my life be? If I didn't have Nadia Bolz Weber and songs like this, I think I would just drown in misery for the world. Thank you, Nadia. I may not always feel better about the direction of the world, but I always feel better knowing people like you live here, too.
OMG, this blows me away...I have wasted so much time and life-energy waiting for the perfect, fictional future me to show up and rake in God's grace instead of ACCEPTING that He accepts me NOW and is pouring out His Grace NOW on me, with my bazillion imperfections and sins. Thank you SO much.
Iām so grateful that gos takes me as I am! š
"You as you are and not some fictional made up future version of yourself who has managed to finally be a better person" Love this line. Easter was very emotional for me this year. I experienced the pain and sadness and also the peace on Sunday. Thank you for the song..it is perfect beyond words
Love this so much! Esp. "Because it takes more than locked doors and low self-esteem to keep Jesus out" which reminds me of theologian John Webster's statement: God has refused our refusal of him. This is the time for us to finally sing Just as I am and really mean it for a change.
That song was definitely so powerful. Thanks for sharing that and your incredible writing.
What a blessing that Christ takes us as we are. So often I dwell in the: "I'll be _____ when _____". I'll be beautiful when I lose however many pounds. I'll be successful when I have such and such amount of money and possessions. And there have been so many moments that I've hidden pain and trauma from the members of my church not wanting to be asked questions that would cause pain and not wanting to diminish their faith with exposure to my own doubt and pain. You know, I love that Jesus, after the resurrection, just came and surprised the disciples, just appeared because I feel that God does that for me. He just appears and brings healing. I never have to prepare myself or fix myself to be good enough for him. He's been with me in the mess and it's not "I'll be ______ when______"; it's "You are loved now."
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! This is gospel that I needed to hear right now. So often I hear a voice telling me I'm not worthy and I need to realize that is not GOD speaking...God's love transcends all and transforms us when we step out of our weakness in Faith that Jesus has loved us to death and will love us through death into life again. Alleluia!!!
Thank you Nadia for the reminder. Just finished our pastorās Bible study on this text. Even after breathing the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and giving them the instructions about forgiving sins, the remainder of the text points out that a week later the disciples were once again gathered behind a locked door. And Jesus shows up AGAIN. Reminds me of a sermon you gave about how Jesus continually hunts us down!
Wow. The song really got to me. My mother died this past week, and even knowing she was likely close to death, I left for a long planned vacation out of the country with my husband. I told myself I had given my mother much----too much----through the years, that I didn't owe her this too. But now, I am experiencing waves of guilt along with the grief, even though I would tell anyone else THEY DID THE RIGHT THING. If I didn't have my loving "liberal" congregation of people trying to figure out things, my AA friends who remind me how loved and forgiven I have always been, my three siblings who always stand in the gap and seem to handle things so much better emotionally.......what would my life be? If I didn't have Nadia Bolz Weber and songs like this, I think I would just drown in misery for the world. Thank you, Nadia. I may not always feel better about the direction of the world, but I always feel better knowing people like you live here, too.
Oh wow...I knew this, but I don't think I actually *knew* it until know. Way to get me to grok it. Thanks Pastor Nadia!
no words................<3
I love it when, while the mystery is so hard as a mystery just is, the answer is so simple. And thank you, of course!
the Shalom in this truth. amen and amen.
Thank you. Wonderful song too.
These observations are so very, very lovely, Nadia.
Amen!
Thank you, again, for your amazing writings! You always inspire and challenge me. Much love and many hugs to you!