The northern lights were just above the Chugach mountains this morning, waving one last farewell to the night and welcoming the sun- in several hours.  A cup of fresh coffee and soft music waited as I settled in my living room corner.

Thinking of yesterdays thoughts, I listened to Chris Tomlin's song, "You're a Good, Good Father."  And that was the difference between these two pieces of music- "You're a good, good Father, it's who You are, it's who You are. And I'm loved by You, it's who I am, it's who I am."  My identity is not that I am worthy of His love or saving, but that I'm loved by Him because of WHO He is.  Beautiful way to start my morning.

1 John 4:7-21  All about love.

Good morning from Alaska.

"Back to God?" Groundhog Day- 2017

 Back to God- have you seen it?  Reba McEntire's new album has been featured on Facebook, with a video of her feature song, "Back to God."  Most of this song is pretty amazing and engaging.  It is a poignant reminder that we cannot remove the pain, turmoil, confusion, sin, and desperation without turning to God.  He stands before us with the answers, with the hope, and with the Deliverance.     Keep on praying- amen.    Give this world back to God- amen. (Although we didn't actually have the power to remove it from Him!)                    

 But, while I appreciated MOST of this beautiful song, and her praiseworthy efforts to shift our focus where it belong, there is continues to play in my mind- because it stands in contrast to the rest.

"We're still worth saving."

Are we?  I value life. We are told that we are created in the image of God.  That means life is valuable and precious. But does it mean that we are worthy of saving?

We have been going over and over the book of 1 John. I believe God has a different view of mankind.  He loves us. But His love for us comes NOT because we are so wonderful. His love for us comes only out of His character and His choice. He loves us because He IS love.  We are not wonderful. Without His redeeming us we are nothing but dirty rags. 

So, in my reflective moment...I believe we DO need to symbolically hand this world back to God.  We Do need to get on our knees and pray.  We DO need to cry out to Him.

But we do it because He has provided a way to Himself through Jesus, not because we have a right or even an access to the Creator God. We come with the recognition that He is not obligated to do anything for us. We are full of sin and flaws and failures. I am so thankful that God's saving work in my life and in our world does not depend upon my own worthiness. It is because He is just, righteous, pure, and full of love and mercy- and He has provided Himself as a way out of the pain.