Be Still for the God-Hugs

This morning thoughts ping-ponged as I tried to pray. The noise in my head did not match up with the desire in my heart: to worship God. Finally, I moved from my kneeling position and laid face down on the floor. I realized that I needed a posture of stillness.

Face down, I meditated on two scriptures, starting with Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."

Then, I focused on who God is as a loving God. John tells us that God is love (1 John 4:16). Then I felt it, the God-hug.

God, Powerfully Loving Us

I realize that if we read on in Psalm 46:10, we see God exalted over the nations, and I am thankful for God's power and sovereignty. But I believe for me, in this moment, God wanted me to know Him in His love; His abiding love (1 John 4:16). In fact, God loves us so much that He gave us a precious gift: Jesus, the One who perfectly shows us God's eternal love (John 3:16).

World on Hold

During this time of #COVIDcraziness, many of us have had to slow way down because the world is on hold (or so it seems). But I sense for some of us, pointing a finger at myself, our minds are racing.

• Will the job offer still be there for me in six months?

• I didn't wear my mask into the store. Will I catch COVID?

• I have a sore throat and a headache. Do I have COVID?

• And on and on it goes.

God does not want us to live in fear and anxiety, and current world events do not change the truths about God and His kingdom. He is a God worth knowing. He is love.

My friends, I pray that today you will get still before your loving Father. It doesn't have to be stretched out on the floor. It can be anywhere. Anytime. Meditate on His word and on His character. Find joy in God loving you. God-hugs included.

Originally posted as a micro-blog on June 8, 2020

The Sanctity of Human Life and Grace: The Christian Worldview

Abortion. Roe v. Wade. Pro-life or pro-choice. What do these terms have in common? They raise questions surrounding the sensitive issue of abortion.

• Should the baby be allowed to live when the parents are so young and unmarried?

• Should a Down Syndrome diagnosis determine the fate of the unborn child?

• Should the rape victim choose to terminate the product of an evil crime?

Where do we find the answers to our questions when facing these life issues? The law of the land tells us that abortion for any reason, all nine months, is legal. But as Christians, we recognize God's law as supreme.

God's Word defines the Christian worldview on everything in our culture, including the sanctity of human life.

Disclaimer: It is not my intention to offend or judge anyone who has experienced abortion. God's grace is greater than our sin, including sexual sin and abortion. So please hear me out! Grace is a part of my message.

The Bible reveals that God is prolife.

• We are made in God's image.

God created man in His own image . . . (Genesis 1:27)

• God has a plan for our lives before we are born.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

• God's commandment:

Do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty. (Exodus 23:7)

Does the Christian worldview include grace? Yes! We're all condemned to hell without God's grace. We'll examine two other reasons that Christians should remember the grace aspect of the sanctity of human life.

1. To be Christlike is to compassionately restore others to God. Matthew 9 reveals a compassionate Jesus.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless. (Matthew 9:36, NIV)

2. The church's mission is to restore sinners to God through Jesus Christ, which is impossible apart from God's amazing grace.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24, NIV, emphasis added)

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:29, 32, NASB, emphasis added)

How do we show grace to those involved in sexual sin and abortion? It starts with prayer. Pray for families: wisdom for parents to equip their children in making God-honoring choices, and strength for young people to commit to abstinence, which reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies. Pray for people involved in unplanned pregnancies to find open doors and open arms in the church. Likewise, those who have experienced abortion need our grace-filled prayers. Many live under the burden of guilt and shame.

Here are practical ways to show grace:

• Show love and acceptance to single parents.

• Provide practical help to single parents.

• The next one . . . I'm passionate about this so it's a little long:

Turn down the volume of your righteous anger when discussing abortion. You may not know the secret that is locked away in your friend's past. Please do not refer to abortion as murder. Please do not use an angry tone when talking about the issue. Instead, we can show compassion while staying true to our pro-life convictions.

Along the way, we earn the right to share the gospel. Christians must include grace in their worldview of the sanctity of human life. If not, we leave out the key component of the

gospel—the gospel of grace.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying

to the good news of God's grace. (Acts 20:24, NIV, emphasis added)

Debbie Ewald served in the pregnancy center ministry for 14 years in Texas and Washington.

This post originally appeared as a guest blog on the website for Sleater Kinney Road Baptist Church, January 2019.

#sanctityofhumanlife #abortion #grace #christianworldview