I can’t write too much yet about what I’ve been experiencing and learning the past few weeks. It has been earth-shaking to the max. I have been drinking in God’s grace so deeply that years of weariness, caused by trying to walk Christianity out in my own strength, has been released in my soul as my restraints loosen, washing over me as it oozes out. So presently I really can’t do much, but it’s a good feeling because I know it’s the precursor to freedom and empowerment.

It began about three weeks ago, when a friend on Facebook tipped me off to the videos of Joseph Prince. He really has a handle on the Gospel of grace that Paul preached. Paul was persecuted for his Gospel for reasons we still often do not fully understand  – that it’s a radical departure from the keeping of the Law; and it’s a radical departure from anything religious man (and man is religious, no matter what particular costume he may be wearing, including secularism) could ever concoct.

For three days I went on a “Prince Extravaganza”, soaking it in, finding new Life. The power of grace began to be released in my soul. Whenever old doubts and anxieties would appear, a simple faith would arise to deflect them: everything was in God’s hands, and He is so very able to take care of me. It literally was like a light would go on in my soul, and the tension would be immediately released. It was miraculous.

Then, through Andrew Strom’s Revival list, I came across the site SermonIndex.net. Poking around, I found a Watchman Nee article (there are about 160 there; it’s a great resource), The Gift, or the Giver?

Nee very insightfully makes the point that the ultimate test of faith and intimacy is to see beyond our Isaac, to God Himself. It’s not about how much Isaac pleases us, it’s about being pleased and consumed with the larger principle of God’s will. That little synopsis does the piece a disservice, but that’s all I can write right now. I strongly recommend reading it.

Reading a few other things at that site, I went looking for Tozer’s The Pursuit of God. I eventually found that for download at ProjectGuttenberg, but before I did I struck out at CCEL.org. But while at CCEL I spontaneously downloaded Hannah Smith’s The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.

WOW! I read the book decades ago, but this time I feel like I’ve been hit by a freight train, full-on. And yes, I have died of the injuries! That is, my flesh died. My paltry attempts to live the Christian life died.

Now I see that it’s all grace, it’s all Him. It’s Him working in me through faith. The whole salvation, justification, glorification plan is His from the outset, our job is to receive and believe. As Nee says, its Luke 15 context proves that the Prodigal Son story really is about the Father regaining what was lost, not the son finding himself.

As I said, I’m too much in process to say much more yet. But I wanted to flag my readers that my absence here has not been wasted time. God is doing something marvelous. And I wanted to leave a breadcrumb trail in case any of you are looking for some great viewing/reading material.

Hope to check in soon. Until then, be, and stay, blessed.