Measure of Mercy
Today, we celebrate All Saints Day. This day is set aside to remember all those who, at least by their death, became holy- or "like God." All of these saints, both canonized or unknown, were given great amounts of God's mercy in their life so that they would resemble God by the time of their death. Many of these saints, if not all of these, found much of the mercy of God in the form of trials and sufferings. It was by these merciful gifts of suffering that all these saints became who they were meant to be- holy!
Well, this has got me thinking- How does God decide how much mercy to give to each person? I mean, sometimes it seems as though God lavishes His mercy on some people and on others, not so much. How does God "measure" out His mercy to His people? How is it that all of these saints were lavished with these gifts of mercy and other people living right around them didn't receive the same amount of this gift?
Kind David, whom God called "A man after my own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14) knew. This is what David sang:
"Let your mercy, Oh Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in you." (Psalm 33:22)
What does this mean? David is praying for God to measure out His mercy upon His people in the measure that they have hoped in Him. David is saying that if we have great hope in God and what He can do in our lives, then God will lavish His mercy upon us in that same amount!
Now, this is really great news!! Well, that is, if you have a lot of hope in God =0) Maybe that is why we celebrate this Feast of All Saints Day- to give us greater hope! What could give you more hope than seeing people from every generation, from every walk of life, color, social status and of every personality (even the hot tempered ones!!) and everything in between- all these people made it! They all made it to their Heavenly home- and this gives us hope that we can too!!
In the wake of recognizing all of these amazing saints, let us have renewed hope in God and all the great mercies that He can lavish us with. God is waiting to give you many great gifts, and true, some may be hard to open, but they will transform us into the image of Christ- so that when we reach our Heavenly home- God will recognize us as His beloved and welcome us in!
Do not be afraid to hope. Hope for all things. God loves to lavish us with His mercies and so all we must do is persevere in our hope!
"Never put a lid on God. You can't give God a thimble and ask for a quart. It won't work. Your plans, your projects, your dreams have to always be bigger than you, so God has room to operate. I want you to get good ideas, crazy ideas, extravagant ideas. Nothing is too much for The Lord to do - accent on 'The Lord'." ~Mother Angelica
Well, this has got me thinking- How does God decide how much mercy to give to each person? I mean, sometimes it seems as though God lavishes His mercy on some people and on others, not so much. How does God "measure" out His mercy to His people? How is it that all of these saints were lavished with these gifts of mercy and other people living right around them didn't receive the same amount of this gift?
Kind David, whom God called "A man after my own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14) knew. This is what David sang:
"Let your mercy, Oh Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in you." (Psalm 33:22)
What does this mean? David is praying for God to measure out His mercy upon His people in the measure that they have hoped in Him. David is saying that if we have great hope in God and what He can do in our lives, then God will lavish His mercy upon us in that same amount!
Now, this is really great news!! Well, that is, if you have a lot of hope in God =0) Maybe that is why we celebrate this Feast of All Saints Day- to give us greater hope! What could give you more hope than seeing people from every generation, from every walk of life, color, social status and of every personality (even the hot tempered ones!!) and everything in between- all these people made it! They all made it to their Heavenly home- and this gives us hope that we can too!!
In the wake of recognizing all of these amazing saints, let us have renewed hope in God and all the great mercies that He can lavish us with. God is waiting to give you many great gifts, and true, some may be hard to open, but they will transform us into the image of Christ- so that when we reach our Heavenly home- God will recognize us as His beloved and welcome us in!
Do not be afraid to hope. Hope for all things. God loves to lavish us with His mercies and so all we must do is persevere in our hope!
"Never put a lid on God. You can't give God a thimble and ask for a quart. It won't work. Your plans, your projects, your dreams have to always be bigger than you, so God has room to operate. I want you to get good ideas, crazy ideas, extravagant ideas. Nothing is too much for The Lord to do - accent on 'The Lord'." ~Mother Angelica
Hi mom I just wanted to say I love you. ~AM
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