Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts ~ The Leniency of the Lord

As I think about things I'm thankful for this past week, I stumbled onto this post. It speaks softly but persistently to my heart, compelling me to share its message...

I need to be reminded of this, every. single. day.

So today, I'd like to share these few paragraphs with you...

The Leniency of the Lord

by RW Glenn, from Solid Food Media

Have you ever really thought about just how lenient God is with you?

What should have happened to you upon your conception is your condemnation. But he let you live. What should have happened the first time you said no to your mommy was the Lord's no over your soul for all eternity. But he spared you. What should have happened the first time you lied to your parents about being with your teammates rather than your boyfriend or girlfriend was that God immediately sent you to hell. But he didn't. What should have happened when you padded your resume for your first job interview was that the Lord consigned you to eternal darkness. But he left you in the light. What should have happened the first time you broke out in anger against your spouse or your kids was that the Lord's wrath broke out against you. But he held it back.

Do you see a pattern here? The Lord never treats you as your sins deserve. Ever. He looks at you, and full of compassion and patience, lets it go. And this is even true if you're not yet a Christian. The Lord is so gracious that he's lenient with you even before you put down the gun pointed at his head and surrender.

As he was about to face the music - serious music - for blatantly disobeying God, King David was so convinced of the Lord's leniency that he said, "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man" (2 Sam 24:14). Human beings exact punishment to the end, but the Lord is different. His mercy is great. And he's known for relenting. So David rolls the dice. And guess what happened? "The Lord relented from the calamity and said, 'It is enough'" (2 Sam 24:16).

Of course, knowing that the Lord is holy and just drives us to wonder how this could be possible. How can God be so lenient and still considered a God of justice? The answer is Rom 3:24-26:

We are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

In other words, what makes the Lord's leniency possible is that he showed no leniency to his only begotten son! Jesus Christ took the strict demands of God's justice that your sin deserved so that you would know only his leniency - now and forever.

this week's gratitude list:

(#'s 3123 - 3157)

pumpkin pie spiced candle

meditating on the truth of these words: "Human beings exact punishment to the end, but the Lord is different. His mercy is great. And he's known for relenting. So David rolls the dice. And guess what happened? "The Lord relented from the calamity and said, 'It is enough...'"

...and then meditating on the truth of these words: "...what makes the Lord's leniency possible is that he showed no leniency to his only begotten son."

suitcase of books traveling back to the States... because our big boy values his library

communication mistake meaning we got to have dinner with new friends two nights in a row!

cool morning... and hunting for my snuggly-only-flannel in the country

quiet house, just our family again, after the delightful fun of visitors for a few weeks

not being able to really pray until I'm sure I've done my part to set things right

successful surgery for a friend

imagining... dreaming... of a trip to Scotland and maybe, just maybe, the Orkney Islands

this picture of Shapinsay Castle - it just makes my heart smile...

Photo by my dear friend, Jenny Hall (used with permission).

2nd back to school "first week of classes" done

starting to get the speech and language therapy classes I'm muddling my way through up and running (talk about a HUGE learning curve!)

stories about plane accidents and near crashes from an experienced pilot and a new friend

introducing folks to our favorite restaurant here in Niamey, Les Roniers

safety even when things don't always feel secure

shopping for school clothing in a local boutique and hearing several songs Tim has recorded  at the studio playing on a local station

Sunday mornings without a schedule

seeing Nadia have fun with math as she figures out all those rules for working with exponents

stormy, striking skies - just before the electric show starts

watching horse movies with my girls

back scratches from Mary Michelle

Friday night dishes done by Elsie Mae and the Jon-man!

working on college applications with my oldest

finding a home for one of the kittens - now to find one for her mama and her brother

little girls getting silly because they are so sleepy

listening to Elsie Mae sing "How Great Thou Art" with all of her little heart during the song service at church Sunday night

catching up with friends safely back from the bush

finally being able to complete his registration for the SAT (It ain't always so easy or straightforward to take care of those types of things from here!)

keeping in touch

grace and mercies new every morning

not a spirit of fear, but His Spirit... One of power, love and sound mind

talking through things, even when it is hard

forgiveness and reconciliation

simply being together