Grace

"Put Bluntly, the American church today accepts grace in theory, but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works--but our lives refute our faith. By and large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived. Too many christians are living in the house of fear, and not in the house of love." - Brennan Manning, The Ragmuffin Gospel

How true is that! We are told to accept grace, but do we practice it? He talks about how the word "grace" has lost its flaire. It is misused and overused. We live in a world that teaches us to earn everything, to work for everything, that we get what we deserve, that we have to earn love. To God, grace is his gift to us. I cannot do anything that makes grace "more deserved". He also talked about how we tell others about grace and love and blah blah blah, but we dont accept the homosexuals, the "sluts", the drunks, or the poor. We give them cold stares when they walk through the church doors or we become obviously uncomfortable. We have become "wounders of the healed, rather than healers of the wounded". We are trying too hard to impress God, we try so hard to find another way to get to heaven, another way to have a relationship with Christ instead of simply accepting his gift. We rely on ourselves, because its just too hard to trust in the God who made us. It's too hard to trust our Father, the one who GAVE us our hands, eyes, and minds that help us to "earn" everything else that we have. A gift. Everything is a gift from God. Not deserved, not paid for by anything we can give, not a debt held over our heads that God expects us to pay back. Its just simply a gift. ... he gave us grace because he loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us. Plain and simple.

By denying grace... by trying to get to Heaven by our good works we are telling God "The blood wasn't enough.. I need to do more."  Ouch. 

Just some food for thought. 

A day in the life of the Townsends

Sunday Stephen tells me that he was invited to a "work" baby shower but that the invitation (email) said he didn't have to bring a gift.  I quickly told him that it would be rude to attend the baby shower and bring nothing... so I told him to get a box of wipes or diapers and a card... "and not the off brand!". 

Yesterday afternoon Stephen comes home and says: 
Well, I attended the baby shower.  "oh yeah, how was it?" .  I walked into a room full of women and once they saw that I was there WITH A GIFT they ran over to me saying "awwwww, he brought something!"  They quickly pulled a chair over to the circle and told me to have a seat.  I was stuck in the middle of them watching this girl open all her gifts and saying "awwww" everytime a new one was opened.  (I'm rolling by this point).  Then there was a pause and Stephen says:  Theyre naming their little girl Emily Claire.

Story #2
So we're house hunting right now.  Yesterday we were scheduled to look at a house at 6:00 pm.  I made chili for supper so that I could just leave it in the pot cooking while we were gone.  So the tea and rice is made by 5:30 and the chili is on the stove cooking.  I'm feeling pretty good about myself.  The phone rings... it's Stephen.  "Hey, i'm running a little late... i have to stop and get gas so could you just meet me there?"  I guess.  We have driven to this house twice... two different ways. Now before I go on I need you to know something about me.  Nothing stresses me out or frustrates me more than being lost by myself.  Nothing.  So with that in mind... here it goes.  I leave deciding I would take the route that we took 6 months ago thinking it would be quicker.  "Oh shoot, i'm almost out of gas... I can make it there and back."  So off I go... down Shreveport Hwy.  I see a familiar sign and decide with much confidence that this road will lead to Ates Rd.  I then enter a neighborhood that I have never seen before.  Frustrated, I try to wiggle my way out.  It's now 6:03.  Late.  As i'm wiggling my way out of this neighborhood, I begin seeing the same houses over and over again.  Crap.  At this point, I felt my neck and back start getting hot.  (this means im getting ticked off).  Finally I find my way out... Ok... I'll just stay on Shreveport Hwy and it will eventually take me to the service road.  Wrong.  I end up at Pineville High School.  When I realize where I am (pretty much back to where I started) Stephen calls.  The whole time I was lost, I was saying things out loud like "This is all Stephen's fault"... "Yeah, this is what you get Stephen for not coming to pick me up".... "cuss word".... "cuss word". 
So when he calls, this is how our conversation went:
"HELLO?"
"Molly?  Where are you?"
"IM LOST STEPHEN"
"Where are you now?"
"IM AT PINEVILLE HIGHSCHOOL STEPHEN!"
"Molly, calm down."
"I HAVE TO GO... I'M TRYING TO GET THERE"
"Did you come the way we came last weekend?"
"NO I DID'NT WANT TO COME THAT WAY"
"Well, I can explain it to you if you just come the way we came"
"I'M NOT DRIVING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EXPRESSWAY."
"That's the only way I know how to tell you"
"I'LL FIGURE IT OUT STEPHEN... I'LL GET THERE WHEN I GET THERE.  BYE!"
(I knew I had to go the other way, but was too prideful to sit on the phone and have him explain it to me)
Dingg.... gas light
cuss word, cuss word


At this point it was pouring down rain and I arrived at 6:38.  Yep... drove around for 40 minutes.  I was still mad as heck at Stephen.  Poor guy.  We ended up liking the house alot so that significantly helped my mood.  When we got home, I explained to Stephen that if he wouldve just picked me up... i never wouldve gotten lost.  Again... I know... poor guy.  He said he didn't think it would be hard for me to find the house being that we just drove over there 2 days ago.  In all reality... I was just mad that I was lost and I needed someone to blame, so poor little Stephen got thrown into the line of fire.  We laughed about it later... but he still couldve picked me up.  ;)

Why?

I watched a video today about a group that travels through Africa in the "brush" to find remote villages that no one knows about.  The group came up on 2 starving children laying in the dirt.  Both suffered from polio.  A few minutes later, their sister comes out from the bushes.  She had just walked miles and carried a bucket of water with her.  She had no access to food, but knew she could access water.  She bathed both her brother and her sister.  This video basically ripped my heart out.  I will post the video at the end of the post, but fair warning... if you are bothered easily, don't watch it. 

I started thinking about it.  Asking God how do we reach them all?  Why these tiny children?  Why do I get to be loved and full and sleep in a bed, but they don't?  The video has a good ending.  The children are taken to a hospital and nursed back to health.  But you can't help but think about the millions who arent helped... who arent discovered and nursed back to health.  When I started getting upset about this God reminded me that I cannot change the sadness in this world.  I cannot feed millions of people... so take what I give you... talents, gifts, money, and use it to glorify me.  I will take care of what needs to be taken care of... trust Me. He also brought this verse to my mind... and it showed me my part, as well as these little children's situation. 

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

Just some food for thought... here's the video:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=576631493#/video/video.php?v=1058106391442&ref=share

One Year!

Well, Because my sister keeps bugging me about writing on this thing, I am.  Here's to you Emily...

Warning:  We have no children or animals, so this blog could get boring. 

We will be married for a whole year on Sunday!  How exciting!  We're going to Hot Springs for our anniversary... not spectacular, but a great get-away.  I'll post pics after the trip.  Here are the high-lights of our first year of marital bliss (in no particualr order)!
1.  Learning to live with the opposite sex... I am truly a lucky woman.  Stephen is a very clean man.  He washes the dishes every night after dinner if I cooked.  We have also learned each other's funny quirks.  Such as... Stephen likes for me to put the whole toilet seat lid down after every sitting for fear of something falling into the toilet.  I don't like for Stephen to put his feet on me.  Stephen had to learn to wash out the sink of any shaving cream puffs left over from his shave... it gets in my hair when i'm brushing my teeth and I smell like a man the rest of the day.  I had to learn to pick up my makeup,hair dryer, and anything else off of the counter... Stevie likes it to be clean and clear! 
2.  Stephen got a new job in July!  WHOO!  He works for Central Management Company (a company who owns and manages nursing homes around the state of LA).  He got a company car and gets to travel all over the state every week... not to mention a pay raise.  He loves it and I love to see him happy with his work. 
3.  Learning how to enjoy each other's hobbies.  I love to run... Stephen doesn't.  But he goes with me anyway.  Stephen loves to bike... I only kind of like to bike, but we do that together too.  Stephen loves to hunt... I do not.  And we rarely share that hobby but i try to go with him once a year even though climbing in a stand scares the mess out of me.
4.  I love quality time.  Stephen loves to be affirmed by my words.  We are still working on that one daily, but getting better! 
5.  Adelle was born!! (Our neice)
6.  It's the best feeling in the world to know that you get to wake up to your very best friend for the rest of your life.

That is all.  I'll try and be better at this.  Happy Thursday!!