Hi Friends!  Okay… I know you’re disappointed you’re not seeing Jessica and Angie’s smiling faces, but they both had crazy weekends so I agreed to kick off the discussion of chapter 5 of “Crazy Love” for the week.

I’ll start with some background information.  I live in Nashville as well and happen to be married to Pete (who discussed Chapter 1 with Angie).  Three handsome boys call me momma.  I like to organize and hate to clean.  Ice cream is my favorite food and Diet Dr. Pepper is my drink of choice.  I knit VERY slowly and sew a great straight line.  And I’m blessed to be able to call both Jessica and Angie friends, those two are quite a pair.

Onto chapter 5… Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.  I have to say when Francis started the chapter by saying. “Of all the chapters in this book, this one was the hardest for me to write,” I thought, Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into? He jumps right in by continuing his thoughts on lukewarm Christians and examines scriptural examples of poor responses to God’ love.  He simply states…

Jesus’ call to commitment is clear:  He wants all or nothing.  The thought of a person calling himself a “Christian” without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurb.

It’s a strong statement.  Some will consider it tough to swallow.  But what I love about Francis is he doesn’t claim to be your only source for information.  He consistently challenges each of us to pull out our Bible and read.  To search for understanding ourselves.

As tough as the previous statement was to swallow I was encouraged by a following statement “The distinction is perfection (which none will attain on this earth) and a posture of obedience and surrender, where a person perpetually moves toward Christ.”  Obedience and surrender, forward motion… I’m called to keep striving toward Christ.  To keep growing as one of His disciples. To worship and praise the Most High.  To faithfully love Jesus.

They’re all actions I want to take… but instead I often choose to give God my leftovers.

Leftovers… God isn’t pleased if I just sacrifice something. He deserves excellence. The very best I have.  No one enjoys token praise.  Token praise… I’ve been married for 12 (glorious, of course) years and there’s a conversation that’s happened repeatedly in our home.  It goes something like this…

I’ve purchased a new shirt or I’m having a great hair day and I’ll say to Pete, “How do you think I look?”

Being a man of high intelligence he always attentively adds, “You look fantastic, babe.”

My response is always the same… I always follow him by saying, “Well, it doesn’t mean as much when I have to ask you for it,” of course, I’m referring to his praise.

I know it sounds like a silly comparison… but that’s often how I praise God.  I compliment God out of obligation or guilt.  I offer random praise in order to “mark it off my list” so to speak.  I view praising God as a task rather than an honor. It becomes a responsibility rather than a privilege.

Chapter 5 was a great reminder to me that my relationship with God is an active relationship… one of authentic faith which I am propelled toward Christ.  After all “God measures our life by how we love.”

How are you loving today? Is your relationship with God starving because you’re only offering him your leftovers?

Feel free to hop over HERE and continue the discussion.