Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, spurring each other on toward love and good deeds.
~ Hebrews 10:24-25, The Message (paraphrased)
Isn’t that a great verse? I love using The Message translation of the Bible because it’s easy to understand and more approachable than other translations I’ve used in the past.
And that’s who God is.
Approachable.
“They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. ”
~ Hebrews 8:6-13, The Message (paraphrased)
Church/religion/denominations often create rules and reasons to exclude people.
These verses are a great reminder that God is about inclusion, acceptance, and love.
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living, truly living in God’s reality. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
~ 1 John 3:18-20 The Message (paraphrased)
Yet another denomination has decided to enforce rules to exclude people, when God is about inclusion, acceptance, and love.
It’s confusing, disheartening, and hurtful to so many people on so many levels.
It left me wondering what to do and how to serve the God I love separate from the church that taught me how to love.
During painful times in my life, I always turn to music as my source of solace.
I believe God speaks and the Holy Spirit moves through lyrics and melodies.
When we feel powerless, we serve a God who is powerful.
I pray that by using my talents as a musician to help encourage myself and others will make a difference.
Heal my broken spirit Do not pass me by
In You I find my merit Hear my humble cry
Finding sweet relief I seek Your face
Help my unbelief You save me by grace
In depths of comfort flow This is not in vain
Love will not let me go Grasp the promise from the pain
With me even when I’m low Finding the gain
Rest for my weary soul Is the bow in the rain