remembering the basics.

i've recently been pretty disgusted by different "camps" in evangelical christianity lashing out at the other "camps"... not just disagreeing, but name-calling and such. it goes both ways, it's ugly, and it can't possibly fall under loving your enemies -- which if we're honest, it should appall us that any christ-follower would ever treat another christ-follower as an enemy -- and before we play the "i'm not sure 'those people' are christ-followers" card, let's remember it's really never ever ever our place to judge that. all of it puts a terrible taste in my mouth and makes me want to take a step back from whatever this thing is that we're doing -- so i can't even imagine what the world looking on thinks of it.

i came across a familiar verse this morning that was refreshingly simple to my soul:

"For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations."

-- psalm 100.5

i'm not putting blinders on, i'm not plugging my ears, i'm not sticking my head in the sand, but i am saying that for my sanity, i have to step back from all the conversations sometimes and remember the basics.

God is good.

God loves with a steadfast, enduring love.

God is faithful... always.

a little happy in my morning spot this week... also refreshingly simple.

i have to remember these things on the daily and i have to remember that this is what it's all about. this is the god the world needs to know... and isn't interesting that the bible says the world will see god if we love one another (1 john 4.12)? that they will identify us as christ-followers if we love one another (john 13.35)? not if we are able to expound on perfect theology or have a stellar understanding of scripture or a private, intimate relationship with him, but if we love each other well?? quite a sobering thought.

i don't really have a pretty bow to tie on this post... i just needed to process some of these thoughts for myself, for my own heart and my own sanity. i want to be known as someone who is for something rather than against something... and what i'm for is knowing a god that is good, loving, and faithful, and helping others know him, too.

{barbed wire and cattle guard pics from christmas at the farm.}