The Drunkard – always wanting one more

Even among Christians, sin is not always seen as our deepest or primary problem.  Sin tends to be viewed as one of those problems that come up occasionally, not a core feature of one’s being.

Sin by its very nature is more often quiet and secretive than loud and public.   According to Scripture, the greatest sin of all:

I do not love the Lord my God with my whole mind and heart.

If our failure to consistently worship the true God is the key feature of sin, we are all sinners. [Repeating] Sin tends to be viewed as one of those problems that come up occasionally, not a core feature of one’s being.

KEY POINT

If sin is not our core problem, the gospel itself – the thing of first importance – is marginalized.  If sin is not our primary problem, then the gospel of Jesus is no longer the most important event in all human history.

If we think of sin only as overt, calculated disobedience, we will not find what we are looking for in scripture.  But sin is more than self-conscious rebellion against God.  Sin is also a blinding power that wants to control and enslave us.

Sin is more than conscious choices.  Like a cruel taskmaster, sin victimizes and controls us (John 8:34).  It captures and overtakes (Galatians 6:1).  In fact, there are times when we intend to do one thing, but sin causes us to do things we don’t want to do. Even though we may really want to change, it can seem like an overwhelming or impossible task to actually do so.

This enlarged perspective indicates that in sin, we are both hopelessly out of control and shrewdly calculating; victimized yet responsible.

Practiced, repeated sin results in slavery, a multitude of painful consequences, and God abandoning His child to her desires so she is left always wanting one more.

Slavery of sin is one for which we are responsible, and we can be empowered by God’s grace to turn from it.   Grab hold of His love and His saving, amazing grace.

Most of this is straight from chapter 2 of “Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel by Edward T. Welch”.  Some of it is also paraphrased.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

remembering mom

october 8, 1940Dear Seeking Sister,

Today is/was my mom’s birthday. She was born on October 8, 1940. It was a Tuesday. She was born to an uneducated, alcoholic, and economically disadvantaged family in central New York. She was the youngest of 6 children. I tell you this only because growing up, I often forgot about how she grew up. I was an angry, mean teen who both hated and feared my mother.

I know this will be an odd transition, but if I had been around during the Old Testament times, God would have likely frightened and angered me beyond consoling. Sadly, I would not have been able to know in my heart that it was the grandness of His nature, not the ease of His anger, that produced my fear. Continue reading remembering mom

Healthy Snack Bar Recipe

I am addicted to the goop blog (www.goop.com).   I came across a healthy recipe on the goop website that I must share with you.   In theory granola-type snack bars are supposed to be good for you, but the kind you buy in the store have too many artificial chemicals and unnecessary preservatives.

The nice thing about this recipe is you can swap out any of the top 4 ingredients listed for something similar in texture and value.   Continue reading Healthy Snack Bar Recipe

Father Father Poem

Father Father PoemFather Father Poem

Father Father I come as I am.

Father Father how do I follow your plan; how do I follow your plan as I am?

Father Father I don’t feel I belong; Father Father where did I go wrong?

Father Father whisper in my ear; Father Father tell me what I need to hear.

Father Father it’s your will; it is your will that I want to fulfill.

Father Father sometimes my faith feels so weak; Father Father I need to hear you speak.

Father Father is there anything to fear; as long as I stay near?

Father Father whisper in my ear; Father Father tell me what I need to hear.

by Tammy McDaniel 

 

Dear Seeking Sister,

I wrote that poem on September 28, 2014 during my morning drive to work.  I was talking  Continue reading Father Father Poem

I am moving forward

Day 7 of 30 – Our True Identity Challenge

Dear Seeking Sister,

I am Moving Forward.

Today we learn that part of our true identity is that as Christians we “move forward”.  There are dozens of teachings that could be created while studying Philippians 3:13, but the Holy Spirit is laying on my heart that moving forward means that we continue to grow and mature as Christians.  We don’t look back at past behaviors or accomplishments or even sin; but rather we ‘reach forward’.  We grab hold of Christ and remain in His grip for the remainder of our ride.   Our life is a gift of pure Grace, but to test this reality we must take hold of the promise of the future (“and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,” Phil 3:13).

Personal Growth

What happens when we are not living out our true identity and not moving forward?  I have learned from my own personal journey that Continue reading I am moving forward