“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” ~ John 1:16
Today we are beginning a study of Chuck Swindoll’s book The Grace Awakening. Please feel free to participate even if you only want to read through our discussions in the comment section. I want this to be a stress free time and I know how busy life can be. If you want to get a copy of the book, there are many available online, new or used, and it comes in Kindle form as well. I know you will be blessed by the book if you can read it.
My goal is to take us through a chapter each week beginning with an introduction today and then Chapter One on July 30. I will be posting the week’s study here every Monday morning and will add some thoughts through the week in the comment section as we discuss and make application. I am so looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Please feel free to invite friends along if you like, too!
The Grace Awakening ~ Introduction
When the new state prison was built in our town and before prisoners came to live there, the warden hosted an open house. Visitors could either tour the facility and leave or they had the choice of spending the night locked up in the state of the art facility, unable to leave until morning.
One of my friends, who was a criminal defense attorney, decided to spend the night. In telling us about his experience later, he said that he had never imagined the sense of dread and helplessness someone could feel in that situation, even though he knew he would be a free man in the morning; those 12 hours were some of the longest of his life.
Over the years I have heard many stories from homeschooling moms who feel trapped, not in their families or in their marriages, not in their homes or in their homeschooling choice. Rather, they are being held prisoner by the performance expectations of others and the lists and rules that tell them what “godly womanhood” looks like.
My heart has grieved with each of those conversations because I have been there! I have often placed those heavy burdens on myself and sometimes I still struggle with that. And worst of all, to my shame, I have placed those same burdens on others.
It wasn’t until our family experienced walking through some truly deep waters of spiritual abuse that I began to understand how deadly and costly legalism can be. And it wasn’t until I took a good, long look at Jesus and His expectations that I began to understand what living a grace-filled life might look like and it began with this promise:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
I began to ask myself what burdens I was carrying that prevented me from enjoying rest in Jesus. What was keeping me in spiritual prison?
One day as I read through the book of Jonah, this verse jumped out at me and I could not get past it. The Lord was impressing on me the answer to my questions:
“Those who follow worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8)
There were so many things in my own life that had become idols, things that were taking the place of truly enjoying Christ and my salvation in Him. It affected my expectations on myself, on my family, and on the family of God. It caused a storm cloud to hover over any meaningful worship. It prevented me from enjoying the Bible. It kept me from wallowing in the joy of one anothering and trusting the sovereignty of God in everything. When I realized I had chosen to forfeit that grace, it was a wake-up call to living!
This week, I encourage you to consider these things and, if you feel comfortable sharing, leave your comments and thoughts here.
What are those burdens that weigh you down, those things that are always with you, sitting in the back of your mind? How did they get there?
What are those things in your own life that are worthless idols?
What scares you about living a grace-filled life?
Tomorrow I will add some more thoughts.
For next week, we will discuss Chapter One of The Grace Awakening.
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Join me on an adventure as we study through Chuck Swindoll’s book The Grace Awakening. Each Monday I will post some thoughts from a portion of the book and we will discuss them in the comment section, making special application for moms. (Dads and singles are welcome to join us, too!) You can purchase a copy of the book (there are lots of used copies available via Amazon) or it is also available on audio. I don’t want you to feel like you have to read along to join in the discussion; I want this to be as stress free as possible. But I know you will enjoy the book if you read it……understanding and embracing grace is life changing and many have found this book to be a great encouragement after coming through paradigm based ministries, including some homeschooling groups. Please invite your friends, I know you will be blessed!!! We will be starting on July 23rd!
I have been pondering my own questions and thought I would share:
I often find myself in the struggle between the temporal and the eternal, always coming back to the fact that people are eternal matters and the rest of the stuff isn’t. Helps prioritize my life. But sometimes, those temporal things can become idolatrous…things in my house, clothes, activities. All these things aren’t necessarily wrong but they often prevent me from living more freely because they become such a big deal. Know what I mean?
Some of the things that weigh me down and sit in the back of my mind, and being honest here, comparing myself to others, concern about the future and will I be able to handle things I know will eventually come, ie care for my mom, etc.
What scare me the most about living a grace-filled life is the notion of loss of control, trusting God to work in other people, rules sometimes feel safe.
Grace Awakening Thought of the Day:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace!” ~ Ephesians 1:7
He Giveth More Grace
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOhFfSFK7TQ&feature=related
Grace Awakening Thought of the Day:
Grace scales the wall and refuses to be restricted.
Grace lives above the demands of human opinion and breaks free from legalistic regulations.
Grace dares us to take hold of the sledge of courage and break through longstanding stones.
While others are more about maintaining the wall and fearing those who guard it, grace is constantly looking for ways to freedom.
What walls are holding you back and keeping you from enjoying your freedom in Christ?
Are they walls of your own building or ones that have been built for you by others?
What walls directly affect how well you relate to your husband or wife? Your children? Other believers? Those who haven’t yet embraced the Gospel?
My mother was extremely controlling — we had to dress, act, and perform to her specifications with no failure. I remember coming home from public events and getting a verb critique in the car of what I had done wrong. Everything was about appearances. Behind the scenes, there wasn’t much of a relationship with her although I was close to my Dad when she wasn’t around (he didn’t defend us though).
This unfortunately set up for a very legalitic approach to my faith for many years. I didn’t “get” that it was a living relationship for a long time.
Thankfully I indeed began to let go, and look forward to reading this book for more healing and hope.
Funny about the mom and appearances thing. My mom, who is 90, has lived with us for the past 18 years and still gives me the once over before I leave the house! Can you imagine being 58 and still feeling those eyes? It is still all about how it looks to her. Since I am the grown-up now in our relationship, I deal with it much better but there are days and I still hear her say “Oh, Karen!”
Sadly, I did the same thing to my own kids and because the Lord blessed me with very artistic children, I had a hard lesson to learn about giving grace and freedom to the preferences of others.
I’m formulating some deeper thoughts that I’ll post when I have a bit more time, but I wanted to chime in on the Mom thing….
My Mom got saved a few yrs ago so it’s like I’m mentoring her. We have 5 sons and had a daughter 3yrs ago. Recently she said to me “Don’t you ever let her go to church in wrinkled clothes (I typically do not have time to iron).” I responded in jest, to help her think about what she was saying, “Yep, Mom, I’m sure the Pastor will pull me aside and chastise me for my SIN of showing up with wrinkled clothes!” She smiled – I think she got the point. This was big to her growing up because it showed a sign of respect, which I agree with. BUT not to the extent that we have to impress others, and certainly not GOD because He knows what underneath!!!
Grace Awakening Thought of the Day
Grace invites us to chart new courses and explore ever expanding regions, all the while delighting in the unexpected.
Grace wants faith to fly, regardless of what grim-faced officials may say or think or do.
Grace is the demonstration of Jesus’ words: “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” ~ John 8:36
“For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” ~ John 1:17
Do you know anyone who has soared over the legalistic walls and lives a life of freedom in Christ?
What are some of the characteristics of his/her life?
How has it affected the relationships he/she has with a spouse or children?
Why do grace and truth go together?
My burdens all really go back to one thing: perfection.If I don’t do x, y, and z in my life, especially marriage, parenting and home education, then the expected outcome is failure. This partly came from my own people-pleasing, guilty nature. My husband tells me all the time that guilt owns me and that I mostly feel guilt for things that I am not even guilty for. Also, when I practiced patriocentry, all those rules have one inevitable outcome: do this and you will be following God’s prescriptions. Don’t do that because then you will be outside of God’s plan. Fear is also a burden I have. I am fearful of all the “could happens”.
“What are those things in your own life that are worthless idols?” – Good question but I will have to think on that for a while. I really couldn’t answer off hand at the moment. I would readily say that my family is definitely an idol I have. But not worthless. So I am not sure what worthless idols I have.
“What scares you about living a grace-filled life?” – Living without a set boundary of man-made rules. I am a person that is much more comfortable with doing this or this or that in order to achieve that or this or that. Stepping out and living in grace is, to me, the ultimate act of faith I can live because it forces me to look not to man but ultimately to God.
guilt……..I am sooo easily manipulated by guilt, too! Sigh.
btw, I love to see what searches were used to find this blog and earlier this week there were several for “homescool mom guilt.”
We aren’t alone!
I’m still contemplating the first questions:
What walls are holding you back and keeping you from enjoying your freedom in Christ? Are they walls of your own building or ones that have been built for you by others?
For me so much of it was FEAR. Because I believed the wrong theology for so long, I feared not doing enough especially with my children and discipline. Fear what others would think of me as a “Christian” parent, fear I wasn’t doing enough to please God . . . at it’s core, fear of man. Although God protected us in that we made a pastor upset because we did what we felt the Lord wanted us to do and not him. So we weren’t totally man pleasers. But, I lacked a true, deep understanding of Grace that stole my joy and freedom. With my 6yo special needs son (he has a brain injury and seizure disorder), I was VERY afraid for 2 yrs that he would die. My DH fasted and prayed w/our church this last spring and 2 days later the Lord just took it away. Nothing special I did – I knew I needed to get rid of the fear, but I was unable to on my own. Jesus, in His timing took it. Like pulling out a splinter – it was just gone… praise God. Then my joy came back!! I’m truly “getting” how the Gospel not only causes our salvation but daily impacts our sanctification as well. I’m currently reading Jesus+Nothing=Everything and I’ve read a few of Elyse Fitzpatrick’s books and they were a huge paradigm shift for me. BUT I STRUGGLE TO IMPLEMENT IT CONSISTENTLY and communicate it to my children . . .
From Elyse Fitzpatrick: “O law! be it know to thee, that I am now married unto Christ and if you charge me with any debt you must take it up with my husband. (E. Fisher, “Marrow of Modern Divinity)”
Well, this sorta sums it up. I pray the Lord redeem the time I have left w/our oldest 2
http://www.gospelgrace.net/2012/07/11/the-fearful-parent/
Wasn’t the purpose of the law to show us our guilt? So, essentially, those of us who may have lived or are currently living a rules-based faith will probably struggle with guilt more than others. It is grace that sets us free!
Grace Awakening Thought of the Day
“The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.”
To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of being undeserved. In no way is the recipient eating what he or she deserves. Favor is being expended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver. ” from The Grace Awakening Devotional
Vanessa, that link is so good! Thanks for sharing it!
Here’s another on I thought was really good too.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/06/20/the-seed-of-revival-in-our-day/