11.13.04

being inside

hi, welcome to red

once you've been here, you don't wonder any more
why we call it "red"

the floors are red

the extension cord and the duct tape on the floor is red

the walls are red

the chairs are red

the toaster is red

the scissors are red

the candy jar is red

get it? red . . . red?

but it is more the than the color red . . .

let me tell you I overheard last sunday evening,
November 7, 2004--

I was in the closet, cleaning and organizing . . .no one knew I was there . . .

There were two boys, part of another group that was rehearsing in the "blue" room across the hall.

The boys were running up and down the halls chasing each other,
screaming and having fun like 6 and 8 year olds can have.

Then the younger boy came into the red room.

I think just by himself.

I don't know, I was in the closet, remember? But I heard only one voice.

This is what I heard:

(spoken with a southern drawl)

Wow, this room is red.

--then in a very quiet voice fill with awe

It's like being inside of Jesus.

--long pause

Oh,

--long pause

He's bleeding.

That's why the room is red.

Oh,

I see his privates.

--long pause, and then again--still in awe

I could worship in here.

That "sound file" of a young boy in the presence of God will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Here I come to worship,

Here I come to bow down,

Here I come to say that you're my God

It's like being inside of Jesus . . .

that's where I want to be

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!

He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.

Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.

And not just barely free, either.

Abundantly free!

He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making.

He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free--signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3-13

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Resource List for 11.13.04

The Holy Bible (Message, NAS, NCV, NIV, NLT)
online