unmerited favor

I am not in a works based relationship. I am in a loved based relationship. I am loved. Therefore I receive. Blah! That totally blows my mind! And I absolutely love it. Every second of it.

Being in South Africa has been one of the most fun times of my life. I mean, it's one of the most consistantly beautful place's I've been to, and everything about it is easy and just goes with the flow. Walking into townships, sharing my faith, having so much fun. I've almost felt shame or guilt for how easy it is and how beautiful it is here. But as I went for a drive with my friend this morning, I get hit with this revelation: I'm not in a works based relationship. What this means: I don't have to work for the good things of God to happen. I am loved, and out of his overflow of love, I am free, and saved, and can enjoy.

My MacBook dictionary defines grace like this: "the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings" Holy snikies!!!! (also defined unmerited-not deserved or merited). Oh. My. Gosh. I am free to receive the undeserved favor of God. It's mine. I don't have to work for it. And his blessings? They're mine. Mine.

The cross took care of all the works to get somewhere/earn the favor of God. Jesus took care of it, so I'm free to enjoy his blessings. So later as we're driving around, we pass by this closed gated community overlooking the ocean, and we can tell that there is such a beautiful place back there. What do we do? We go up and ask to get in. This was of course, after having a day of checking out a shipwreck, driving along the coast, finding a secluded beach, and checking out a lighthouse. I had a thought of "I've had enough good things, I shouldn't push it".

What happened? We got in.

my ramblings

God. "Yes, Nikki?" Why am I writing this? "Because I asked you to" Simple enough. "Truth"

"Trust. Tell 'em about trust" Trust is something new for me. Ok, not really, but my relationship with you and trust it just goes deeper. "I'm taking you to new levels of intimacy" Yea. And I'm flippin out about 'em. "Notice how unconcerned I am" That's pretty nice. "People need to know that they can hear my voice and trust it" And my writing is going to help change that? "Most definitely. It's really simple. I talk, you listen. You talk, I listen. It changes things" Like what kind of things? "Like happy things"

This is me, not trekking with you. "I delight in you, so I change things for you so you'll be happy" Seems pretty one-sided. "It isn't. It goes back to the basics of trust. You trust me, I change things for you. It's really simple, really easy. Really simple, really easy. Really simple, really easy. Always"

"What have I told you before?" That if it's complicated, it's not from you. "How 'bout that!" It's like you set me up for success. "Indeed. I do"

another random adventure

Nepal. I kept getting confused about where it was. Not to mention the fact that we were so close to China, and by close, I mean we saw the red line that if crossed would lead us into Tibet. How long did it take me to realize Tibet was China? Too long. What if I just write and don't really edit? Could be fun. And random.

I learned that God stays exceptionally close to me. He's also so much fun. I got to trek the freaking Himalayas with some of my closest friends, share really awkward cultural moments together, see Jesus come face to face with His creation. Namely, me.

I love going overseas, I love traveling, I love being in new cultures, but so many times in sharing Jesus with people I get stuff in return. Or every time. I go to Haiti to help with a housing project, and I walk away with deep friendship with God, where He stays up watching movies with me, reading with me, talking with me.

He's hilarious.

One day in Nepal, we're in town sharing Jesus with people. We get in this funny situation where we are in conversation with these people 2 stories up (we're on ground level). They come down, a rain storm starts, so they invite us up til the storm passes. We share Jesus with them, and our translator (a believer) gets in a huge discussion with them, which was great but complicated, because he would pause to explain what he was saying, and then they'd all jump back into asking questions, leaving us somewhat listening as he led them to Christ.

While this is going on, Twilight is playing in the background, full English version. My first thought was "Oh man, look away, don't watch that!" And I heard God say, "Why? Can't I put it on for your enjoyment?" I mean, crap. I was offended.

My thoughts went something like "Uh.....Um. Uhh. Yea. I guess you can. I can enjoy this? Is this wrong? What's happening?" I felt like my mind was like Morse Code, just bouncing everywhere piecing together yet again the fact that God's not religious.

I'd been so boxed up in what I felt like God expected of me, that I missed just enjoying things. Nothing like being slapped in the face with something fun to re-awaken that. That's what's so fun about Him. Everything!!!

In sharing God with people, He always brings deep revelations for me. I go to share with someone, and I always get another insight into how much He cares for me. Personally. Or into how much He knows me, loves being around me, and sharing experiences with me. Like He wants to hang out with me, do things I love to do, and then share with people about this fun God. Haha! God is fun. Really fun. Did you know that?