This Grace Preaching is Nothing New



In the words of the great Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon:



"I have chosen you out of the world."
-- John 15:19

Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace, or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eshcol; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan's wood when but touched enlightened the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Eat, and fear not a surfeit; live upon this choice dainty, and fear not that it will be too delicate a diet. Meat from the King's table will hurt none of his courtiers. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God.
When you have mounted as high as election, tarry on its sister mount, the covenant of grace. Covenant engagements are the munitions of stupendous rock behind which we lie entrenched; covenant engagements with the surety, Christ Jesus, are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits.

"His oath, his covenant, his blood,
Support me in the raging flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
This still is all my strength and stay."

If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that he would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of his soul; then, my soul, till God himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe. When David danced before the ark, he told Michal that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace and leap for joy of heart.

Happy Anniversary, Timothy!

The love of my life, at his desk. I snapped this picture just now, so you can see what I see. Cute, cute, cute!



I was shopping the other day, thinking about my man and our upcoming anniversary, and heard an old 80's Styx song...


The headlines read
These are the worst of times
I do believe it's true
I feel so helpless
Like a boat against the tide
I wish the summer wind
Could bring back Paradise

But I know
If the world turned upside down
Baby, I know
You'd always be around
My my

The best of times
Are when I'm alone with you
Some rain, some shine
We'll make this a world for two

When I'm alone with you
Everything's alright
When I'm alone with you
You brighten up the night
When I'm alone with you

That song's been stuck in my head ever since. Never, in my lifetime, have there been such doom and gloom prophecies from the likes of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and preachers and Bible teachers. And I probably agree with them. Our world is in a very precarious place.

But I have the rare luxury of knowing that if it all came crashing down tomorrow, the man I am married to is resourceful, hard working, and most of all, he loves me with fierce passion. Not only that, but he's just easy to be with.

We prefer each other's company. When you have that going for you, nothing seems quite so dire or scary. I'm blessed - God has poured out rich grace upon us.

Happy Anniversary, Papaw! Happy Anniversary, love of my life! Together, I have the mental image of us turning our sails to catch the wind, and those sails billow, taut and strong, as our boat picks up speed and we head straight into the next 24 years, where things get better and better.

"Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made..."

Megan and Gabbi Grace's Baby Shower - and the significance of the number four

Here are our FOUR expectant mommies...from left to right, you see our youth pastor's wife Kelly (she is hatching Jeremiah), you see the Queen of the day's festivities Megan (she is hatching Gabriella Grace), my sweet almost-forty friend Wendy (who is hatching Ethan) and my daughter Hannah (who will give birth to Timothy Paul any day now!)


Our Megs, feeding Gabbi Grace. (By the way, that is my mom in the background, to the left...isn't she incredibly young looking?)


I couldn't resist snapping a shot of Megan's decorating style (the shower was held in her home)


Isn't this the prettiest cake set-up you ever saw?


Piles of presents.

Interestingly, Harvest Church is expecting four babies. My dear friend Wendy is turning four-ty (forty), and expecting her fourth. I just turned 44, and have been married 24 years today. (Another post forthcoming...I rarely post twice in one day...)

In Biblical numerology (as opposed to occult numerology, the demonic counterfiet to the God Who Created Meaningful Numbers), the number 4 means...are you ready for this?

....Creation! God set four into His creation (the directions N, S, E and W, the elements of earth, wind, fire, water, the four seasons, etc. etc. there is more, but you don't want me typing out the entire Biblical commentary...)

I didn't know that, when I declared my word for 2010 - "Create". Before I researched the significance of the number four, I heard the Lord, in my prayer time, saying to me, "I am going to hover over you, by my Spirit, and you will be doubly creative."

44 years old. 4 babies coming to our church. 4, 4, 4 popping up everywhere.

Very exciting.

In Which Sheila is Still Shouting "Grace, Grace!"

I saw this sign in front of a detox center for legalist women...not really, but it could be true.

Tim and I love the law of God, as given through Moses. It is the legalist who is anti-law; because she insists on her own understanding of the law, she ends up misunderstanding God's law, misapplying the law, which is, in fact, to be anti-law.

Friends, to truly love the law of God is more than a mere sentiment. It is more than reading the Old Testament and feeling good about it. To truly love God's law, is to invest significant time investigating it, understanding it, and being vigilant to communicate it accurately, and apply it Biblically.

Anything short of that, is sloppy scholarship, anemic passion, and misguided stubborness that masquerades as love for God's law, and that is to be a practicing antinomian, no matter what your creed is.

The law is good when used lawfully, the Bible says. Tim and I are completely passionate about the lawful use of something so precious and potentially powerful as the law. Therefore, we are to be counted amongst those who love God's law. Legalists do not actually love God's law at all - if you are even able to get past all the scholarly sounding rhetoric, you will find that legalists only love their own perceived performance of the law. The parts of the law they have been able to keep make them feel holy. They perceive God's blessings that have been in fact given to them unearned and undeserved - as being contingent upon their own "higher standard"...their own higher level of personal holiness. The law makes a legalist feel better about themselves, and definitely makes them feel better than you.

So tell me. Which person actually loves the law? The legalist? Or the grace-girl? (or grace-guy...whichever.)

See the difference? Hands down, no further discussion, the grace-girl is the one who actually and passionately loves the law of God, because she has carefully studied and zealously guarded the intent of the law, as communicated by God, both old covenant and new.

I use the female gender simply because "I are one" - and because to get the women using the law lawfully, is to get half the church using the law lawfully. Historically, there have been powerful women who have passionately supported the gospel of grace...and "devout" women who have stubbornly opposed the gospel of grace.

There ain't nothin' new under the sun. I've seen it before, with my own eyes. A woman with a firm superiority complex becomes a willing tool of religious spirits, and that woman will oppose all emphasis on grace. (At the very heart of it, this is exactly why Paul and Barnabas were opposed...)


Acts 13 says this, "But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region."

Yeah, I want to talk to the women. You better believe I do. Girlfriend, you can choose to be "devout and prominent" or you can be the righteousness of God in Christ - but you can't mix legalism and gospel. Every time you do, you will end up expelling others "from your region" - usually, in our age of propriety, you'll do it by being the one to leave.

Here is the sort of devout woman I want to be:

"Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures...And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious...attacked." (Acts 17)


Throughout history, for every devout legalista, God has raised up a leading grace-girl. I so want to be the grace-girl. I want to be persuade-able, tender towards the Gospel. I want to be God's woman, not my own version of God's woman.


(Which means, I will actively support the Pauls and Silases in my life, but that's another topic altogether...Jezebel cannot give honor where it is due, and she certainly can't stop controlling the men in her life, and she will ultimately never keep her mouth shut. She's convinced that she knows more.)


Oh my. I think I'll stop now. I've riled enough religion as it is. Few things are scarier than a woman who is devout for all the wrong reasons, who is unpersuade-able, and envious of the powerful women who embrace the grace message of the gospel.


I sort of understand. I'd envy me, too...not that I'm "powerful", but God certainly gives me every good thing I haven't earned and do not deserve.

Birthday Pictures...

Isaac and I were both a little sad on my birthday...






...because we miss Josiah, who is training to be one of "the few, the proud, the Marines", in Parris Island, S.C.


But I did get this gorgeous vintage leather suitcase from Hannah and Justin...


...here is an inside shot. This beauty is in pristine condition. Can you believe this? I'm using it as my sewing box, yarn store-er, craft kit...and I confess to being in love with it. I might date it.



...got these roses from my man...




...a sewing machine, with love, also from my man...the carrying case from Isaac.





...and a spa gift card from Sarah and Jonathan...

As usual, my family spoils me. So I shall turn my frown upside down (though I still miss my oldest boy!) and go get a massage and sew something fabulous.

Underlined Bits - Making a Mere House into a True Haven




This home is dedicated to good will. It grew out of love. The two heads of household were called together by a power higher than they. To it’s decree they are obedient. Every tone of voice, every thought of being is subdued to that service. They desire to be worthy of their high calling, as ministers of that grace.


They know their peace will go unbroken only for a little time. And often they suspect that the time will be more short than even their anxious hope. They cannot permit so much as one hour of that brief unity to be touched by scorn or malice. The world's judgements have lost their sting inside this door.


Those who come seeking to continue the harmony which these two have won are ever welcome. The rich are welcome, so they come simply.

The poor are welcome, for they have already learned friendliness through buffeting. Youth is welcome, for it brings the joy which these two would learn. Age is welcome for it will teach them tenderness.”


Anon, 1919.

The Honor Principle

Come on in and sit down with me, this morning.  The sun is shining, my puppy is in a snuggly disposition, and coffee is brewing.  What would you like for breakfast?  I can make you anything from biscuits and gravy, or I can slice you up a fresh pineapple and make you some whole grain toast.  I want to talk to you....about the honor principle.

Are you comfortable?  Is there anything else I can get you?  Oh, wait a minute...(rooting around the large basket by the couch)....here's the softest lap blanket ever.  All tucked in?  Good.  Because I'm going to keep you here for a little while.

::smile::


Honor is a principle, woven all throughout the Scripture, Old Covenant and New.  Just as sowing and reaping is a principle, just as First Fruits is a principle (the New Covenant manifestation of the Old Covenant tithe), just as generosity is a principle - honor is an unalterable, unavoidable principle that many legalists choose to overlook.

Legalists love to believe that their blessings are somehow attached to their performance.  Funny thing, though...the one area they never perform well in, is this area of relationships.  And  relationships are what walking with God is all about.

There is a difference between law and principle.  I can keep the law by obeying the speed limit.  I avoid the curse that comes with breaking the law, but I don't come under any particular supernatural blessing.  And I will never in my lifetime obey the speed limit in all places, at all times.  I live under a curse - knowing that there is a ticket somewhere in my future, if only by accident.

Godly principles contain only blessing.  The law (as contained in the commandments and ordinances) has been replaced by a Better Thing, period.  No "if's, and's, or but's".  Principle remains.  Some attitudes (principles) will always tend towards life, whether you are a Christian or not.  Generosity somehow always tends towards prosperity, for example.

Honor tends towards Great Blessing.  I'm talking about the blessing of true wellness - "it will be well with thee" - Full, Multi-Dimensional, Well-Rounded Blessing  -  as opposed to one or two dimensional blessing, such as mere financial prosperity, without rich relationship, or rich relationships without physical health, etc.

There are three levels of honor:  1.  honor towards those who we know are our superiors, 2.  honor towards those we think are our equals, and 3.  honor towards those we are responsible for...those below us, for lack of a better term.  Some of the greatest theologians in church history have said that a man or woman is defined by the honor they give, not to superiors, not to inferiors, but you and I are defined by the honor we give to those we perceive as being equals.  Even more than the honor we give, we are thoroughly known and tested by who it is we think is our equal.
Most fools will treat an obvious superior with a measure of deference.  Many fools will treat a perceived inferior with pity and generosity.  But all fools will eventually treat their perceived equals with patronizing airs, then with irritation, leading to indifference, and even scorn.

Jesus said that superiors, equals, and inferiors are to receive our honor.  Not all equally, of course, but all are to receive their level of honor.  Jesus said  "And whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward." (there's the superior)  "And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward." (there's your perceived equal)

 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple" (there's your inferior), assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

So there you have it.  Jesus said this to those under the law.  Before the cross, it was all about the law and the prophets.  After the resurrection, God made it all about the church and the five-fold ministries who equip her.  To carry this honor principle into the New Covenant, it is simple and solid reasoning to say that Jesus would  convey the honor principle like this:

"Whoever receives (meaning "honors") an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, or evangelist in the name of (out of respect towards) those ascension gifts, given by Jesus to the church, that person will by no means lose his reward.  This is some big reward we are talking about.

He who receives a righteous man, in the name of that righteous man, will not lose his reward.  In other words, when we give honor to someone equal in terms of responsibilities and abilities - when we recognize his talents and take note of his hard work and service, we are also rewarded. 

Lastly, I cannot even offer a cup of cold water to a young one, as an act of compassion and honor, without there being a sure reward coming to me.

We do okay honoring those beneath us or dependant on us with their cup of water.  We struggle with giving heartfelt honor to those we deem as our equals in intelligence or experience.  We outright balk and often refuse to give honor to those God has placed over us in the faith - whether that be domestic authority, church authority, or job authority.

Without a culture of honor in our churches, however, there is no wellness.  Without a culture of honor, soul-prosperity (as well as other forms of prosperity) is limited at best.    We are rewarded in direct proportion to the honor we give to legitimate authority.  This is a principle.  There is blessing attached to honor, just as reaping is attached to sowing, and the mercy we receive is attached to the mercy we have shown. 

Those women who scoff and doubt that such a principle of honor even exists, those are the very ones who tend to not manifest soul prosperity. (The men don't manifest soul prosperity either...but that is another topic for another day.  Suffice it to say, they are discontented men, grasping at career props and money props and position props to keep them soul-satisfied...because they neither give honor to their wife, nor are they honored by their wife.  They do not give honor to legitimate authority, and thus experience only a limited wellness.)

Return.  Go back.  Start all over, like an innocent child, and begin giving honor where it is due.  If you will honor the people God placed in your life, and honor them in the proper way, at the proper time, with proper sincere honesty, there will be released into your spirit a steady rain of His Spirit...rising waters of mercy and grace, washing you inside and out, and leaving you feeling fresh, washing the cynicism away.  You will experience  the lightness and wholesomeness of an unjaded soul.  You will begin to walk in multi-dimensional, powerful Blessing.  It will be well with you, and you will live long and large upon the earth.

That is how powerful the Honor Principle is.

To not give honor where it is due will not bring down a curse on your life.  That is old covenant thinking.  I can't say this enough:  you are no longer under the law!

But to withhold honor from legitimate authority, to treat authority as common, or worse, to treat anyone as beneath you, is to lose out on a deep reaching, profoundly generation-altering blessing.

I don't want to lose out on that.