A “Zucchini-Blasted” Faith

Too much zucchini!
Too much zucchini!

I have been rightly branded as a pessimist.  My struggles are such that I must continue to press into joy, to continue over and over, shaking off the grave clothes, and step into the sunshine.  I need to spontaneously sing once in a while, and pick flowers. I know this.

For there’s an abundance in the kingdom of our Father.  The currency of that place is joy (and love).  The spiritual economy of heaven is solely based a free and lavish grace that is poured on criminals like me.  It’s outrageous!  And most of us do know it– far, far too well.

So fantastical are our perceptions of this awesome grace, that we can’t believe it is true.  It’s easy to doubt—to add things, make adjustments to this completely radical faith.  But as sick people we defy it all, and will often neuter the strong promises of God, making those verses eunuchs–without any power or vitality. I have done this repeatedly.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

20″ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:19-20, NLT

Knowing God’s love for you will totally change your life.  The promises in the Bible are additionally enhanced by the Spirit’s active presence.  When he enters your life, its like finding a 220 volt electrical line just when you have stepped out the shower.  You will be energized!  Watch the progression of thought in the very next verse.  It builds and broadens on this “grace thought.”

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT

zucchini3As I kid, I remember one year we hit the zucchini  jackpot.  They seemed to ripen all at once.  We canned and froze, but just couldn’t handle this harvest.  We gave away so much, until I resorted to putting full boxes in people’s cars– while they were in the store shopping! (Captain Zucchini strikes again!)

God is like that, we just would like our bucket filled and he fills up a dozen wheelbarrows for us.  We are super-abundantly, mammothly overwhelmed and “zucchinied-blasted” by forgiveness and grace.  This is just how things work in our Father’s Kingdom.

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Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe

A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ. An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled. Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.)

5 thoughts on “A “Zucchini-Blasted” Faith”

  1. You really made my day …thinking about you loading people’s cars with zucchinis when they weren’t looking. And God doing that to us too. Just because He has an over abundance and He said we could have it. :) Going to keep accepting all the joy He wants me to have, whatever form it comes in.

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  2. Bryan, Why is it that we settle for less than what He offers? Why is it so hard to fully grasp the reality of these verses? Sometimes I think I have hold of them firmly, that I have in my hands the immeasurably abundant life that He promises. But then when I look again it seems to be gone. I know in my heart it is not gone because He promised He is always with me, and with Him comes an abundance of joy. But it seems I must have put it down and misplaced it somewhere, kind of like misplacing the car keys. Thankfully He will always help me find that joy again. Peace, Linda

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    1. All I can say is that living with Jesus (with him in charge) is not management but relaxing. When I get overly “intense” I seem to overplay the situation. But when I kick back, and ask him to take charge, he does. I trust him to step-in and guide. I know I can’t guide myself, if I try I end-up breaking. Prayer really is the mainspring of this, I must realize that I must talk to him, wherever I am.

      I hope this doesn’t confuse or muddle.

      ybic,
      Bryan

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      1. No confusion; I understand that prayer – spending time with Him – is so important for me, too. I just pray for more consistency in doing that, and for keeping hold of the joy always. Peace, Linda

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