Role of Repentance

Thoughts from Luke chapter 3. 

• John fully embraced God's mission/path for his life
• John was a man of courage
• John faithfully delivered God's message (crowds, religious leaders, Herod) - he sought to please God and not people
• John paid a price for faithfully declaring God's message (Luke 3:20; Mark 6:25)
• John preached repentance AND forgiveness (Luke 3:3)
• True repentance produces changed conduct (fruit) in our lives (Luke 3:8, 10-14) - Transformation! 

I expected to go one way in my meditating, study and prayers...but God led me another. 

Via Google Images

Repentance is an old fashioned word. I have heard enough sermons to know it means "to turn 180 degrees" to "go in the opposite direction," but this a.m. I took the time once again  to look it up in some Bible dictionaries. 

Metanoia (3341 - repentance)  in its simplest form means - "change of mind/moral reflection". The verb tense used is imperative - making this a command. WE are expected to change as a result of God's call to repent. WE are expected to respond to His call.   Some verses seems to say God GAVE repentance (Acts 5:32, 11:18)  but scripture seems clear God will not force repentance on a person.  I believe repentance is an act of man in response to God's call - only possible through a move of God's grace. 

Faith is the final step of repentance.  "As eternal life is unattainable without faith, faith is unattainable without repentance."

Repentance brings salvation to us, but it does not necessarily bring deliverance from the consequences of our wrong choices and sin (Esau Heb 12:17; Lot Gen 13:8-13, 2 Peter 2:7; Life of David). This is sobering. Repentance is not a magic eraser taking away all consequences and guaranteeing us only sunshine from this moment forward.  Our choices matter. Choose well. I am compelled to point out, God's mercy walks with us through the consequences of our sins. 

Repentance causes me to change from living a self-centered life; to living a God centered life.

Repentance is expected to create change in my actions. (Acts 26:20).

Why is this important? 

Conviction leads to repentance. It is hard, unpleasant and painful to face our true selves...but if we gloss over this stage we run the risk of short circuiting the acceptance of true faith. In our concern for other's pain (or our own) we can rush past conviction and repentance to get to the good stuff - forgiveness, a clean slate, eternal life.  Without repentance there is no faith. Faith requires a change in our thinking, our conduct, the center of our lives. Faith requires repentance. 

We must not rush the work God is doing in ourselves or in another. We must let conviction lead to repentance, which leads to forgiveness and faith....it is HARD to stand by and watch God lead a loved one through these stages....but we dare not interfere unless God is clearly telling us to do so. We "travail" in prayer on their behalf. We let them wrestle with the One who will become their greatest Love. 

 I see many who actually believe they can "meet God," claim the name of Christ, and live unchanged six days of the week.  Repentance makes this is impossible.

Are there counterfeits of repentance? Sure. Can the call for repentance become legalistic? Sure. Should we ignore repentance because of this? We dare not. 

Definitions and  quotes from Vines NT Dictionary, Strongs and Dr. Zodhiates' Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. 

Choosing Joy!

©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fellowship and Breakdowns

I woke up at 0500 to have time to make a main dish, salad and spend time in the Word before leaving for Sunday School at 0830.  Today was the start of our monthly Fellowship Sundays - and it was great! We enjoyed the opportunity to share a lunch and more leisurely conversations with those with whom we share Sunday worship.  I took a couple of shots.  (We also deemed it name tag Sunday, which is very helpful for new chaplain families.)

This room got full as folks made it through the line - we'll soon be able to have tables outside too

We had a great service, great lunch, helped clean up, got gas and decided to stop at the trailer to see if Michael's watch was there. It wasn't. The van wouldn't start when it was time to leave. We had to get this hunk of medal to the gate's censor before we could leave the lot.....

 Yes, these are staged photos. I "drove." They pushed. I laughed when Michael shouted, "Faster, faster." I wasn't quite sure HOW to make it go faster...the concern was I would put the brakes on as we neared the gate.

We are VERY thankful to Scotty. He picked Michael up and drove him to the auto hobby shop. They were closed. He then drove us all HOME. We'll stay here today. The security forces are aware that big red is parked outside the trailer storage lot and that we are trying to get it towed. 

What a blessing it is that this happened ON BASE, when Michael was WITH us and FRIENDS were nearby -  and not on the side of the road or downtown when I was alone with kids.  It hasn't been giving us trouble....but it certainly stopped cold.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

More Sneak Peaks of The Wedding

Love these shots from Izaak and BreAnne's wedding

3 Generations

This is a great family photo - isn't it? 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fun at Fairy Falls (Beale Falls)

Directions at end of post. 

We went exploring today and had fun in "Northern" California.  We had heard about "Beale Falls." A quick search showed  it is also commonly known as "Fairy Falls," or "Shingle Falls."   The trail head is at the site of an old mine in the Spenceville Wildlife and Recreation area. It promised to be an easy 5 mile hike (in and out).  We were warned NOT to go on opening weekend of Turkey Hunting or some other hunting season - but this weekend didn't hit any of those. We set out after the kids' Japanese lessons were over. 

It WAS easy...through meadows, along streams....nice roads...and then we reached this spot. We picked a trail that we later learned wasn't a trail at all.  It WAS fun....and we DID eventually meet up with the Upper Trail and made it to the top of the falls. We went straight at this sign - on to a trail - we "should" have gone right and straight and we would have stayed on one of the main, cultivated roads. 

It wasn't bad - its just that the cows weren't happy to see us and one was aggressive...so we put Michael in front....and texted Krista that we were climbing through cow pastures up the side of a hill - which came a bit later. 

Even off road wasn't terribly challenging....

Picnic at the top 

I wanted my toes in water - and Yuuki wanted to rest. LOL 

Ahhhhh......

We came back down the main trail and it was a walk in the park. LOL 

 Mistletoe au naturale

 Don't look for State park signs - look for sharpies. ::snort:: 

Poison Oak

We found our first cache.....and it was hilarious. Michael and Zander got up close and personal with the cows....and looked like insane tourists...but we loved them for it....note the hilo dragon in the same spot as the black cache. 

Foundation of a house

The well

Looking for cache number two.....in the sky....

I was more interested in the giant pine cones

We found a rope swing over a swimming hole. No one was dressed for swimming...but Arielle goaded Zander into trying the rope.....

Then did it herself...

 Zander was NOT happy to get wet....

Nolan decided to take the gamble

We knew SOMEONE would eventually fall in....and she was the one in shorts! It's all good. 

Yuuki had been having a lovely time rolling in the sand...so she went swimming too. Some day she'll learn cause and effect....she seems to enjoy this tradition now. 

Today was a beautiful day for a hike. We keep pinching ourselves to be sure it is the end of February. It was 70 degrees today!

We discovered it's much shorter to go through the base and out the Grass Valley gate if you have base access..... Back at home we ate left overs, Michael worked on his sermon some more, the kids and I soaked in the hot tub, showered, AND now we're going to watch Belles on Their Toes.  I had planned to cook for tomorrow's Fellowship Sunday - but I'm going to have to get up early. I'm wiped out. LOL

Directions: 
From the base: Go out Grass Valley Gate on to Chuck Yeager Rd. Turn RIGHT on to Waldo Road - it's a marked dirt road.  You will shortly see a shooting range to the LEFT. Continue past the range all the way to the end where you will a wooden decked one lane bridge. Cross the bridge, turn LEFT onto Spenceville. You will come to a road on the right - but follow the LEFT and continue until you come to a big turn out on the LEFT for parking. There's a yellow gate and a sign that says "Falls" and points the way.

From Marysville: Drive east on Hammonton/Smartville Road. Go past the first Beale AFB sign - turn right on Chuck Yeager Road (used to be Smartville Rd) - you are heading towards Beale AFB. Go about 5 miles and turn LEFT on to Waldo Road - it's a marked dirt road.  You will shortly see a shooting range to the left. Continue past the range all the way to the end where you will a wooden decked one lane bridge. Cross the bridge, turn LEFT onto Spenceville. You will come to a road on the right - but follow the LEFT and continue until you come to a big turn out on the LEFT for parking. There's a yellow gate and a sign that says "Falls" and points the way.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...