April #jammed: Grace Studies.

Day 102: It sure seems crazy to some.

“You’ve gone crazy, Paul! You’ve read one book too many and have gone insane!” Acts 26:24
(VOICE)

A bookworm’s delight is to disappear into wonderland. Imagination blooms in the pages of books. When my daughter was a baby, I could barely wait to pass on my love for worn out pages and musty library smells. We read piles of books and imagined great adventures. Always appreciative of the imaginative, both of my daughters are on an “Alice” kick. Their favorite quote:

Alice: Do you think I’ve gone ’round the bend? 

Alice’s Father: I’m afraid so… you’re mad. Bonkers. Off your head… but I’ll tell you a secret… all of the best people are.

Christianity does not flow with the world’s stream. We often forget that the apostles underwent extreme scrutiny for believing in Christ! But Paul didn’t waiver under the pressure. How could he, after all he had seen? Perhaps the power of experiencing Christ personally was enough for him to embrace the notion of madness.

It’s easy to get caught up in what’s happening to the left and to the right. We want to get comfortable in our spot and sit back in the pocket we know the best. But we can’t. Not when we are chasing after the flow of Christ’s blood, and our eyes are opened. In our families, communities, churches, and world …there is work to do!

Aside from loving the English accent and all it’s wonderful quips and puns in Alice in Wonderland, my daughters love that being “mad” is a good thing. I think they can relate. The hurt that they witness, and experience, as the school grades get higher is confusing to them. Unnecessary. They feel a little Mad Hatterish ….

The Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad? 

Alice: I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.

Be mad. Be Hatterish. Get lost in the Living Word and live out the dreams too big for us to see. When we live out the purpose that was meant for our life, it looks different …because it is. Look around and fall in love with God’s diversity. We all know how awkward it feels to “clique,” so resist the urge. Dare to be brave and find the people God made you to flow with.

Father, Praise You for making us all a little mad! Thank You for diversity and difference, for it is a breeding ground for compassion and love. Forgive us for missing our chance to love on others in Your name by allowing this world’s fit to consume our agenda. Bless our hearts to love You with abandon, in the way You uniquely gifted us to. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Hattering,

Megs

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