Jesus, Friend of Sinners
This past weekend I was blessed to head out of the city on a 'retreat' for my choir. I had hight expectations that led into the two days away from home, and while sometimes that's a recipe for letdown, the events met those expectations.
The place we went was a spiritual retreat center, a place that invites group connection with the Lord as well as gives adequate space for you to distance yourself from humanity for a little while and spend some time just you and Jesus. Both aspects were remarkable and rewarding but it was the latter that I not only needed to but truly grew from.
I was able to spend time just listening for a change, something that is hard to do in such a busy world in which we live. We don't really take the opportunity to just stop, take a moment to breathe, and focus on God, which now that I'm aware of just how high speed my life is, makes me sad. The one who has every right to demand our attention is competing with careers, with homework, with relationships, with travelling, with work, but even by entertainment like films, or music. Reflecting back on it, I've become really aware of the 1 of 10 commandments: thou shalt have no other gods before Me. While I don't purposely create idols out of gold and silver like the Israelites did historically, my job, my schooling, my family, my choir... can all become idols before spending time with God, and I have a problem with this. This last weekend I figured out what needs to change, how to change it, and some of the incredible benefits which come from this stillness and simple acknowledgement of this Most High God.
The former option, creative and frequently incredible group connection was such a blessing, as I continue to appreciate that remarkably talented community of my choir family. In many ways, discussion and watching films together really sparked my passion further for the Lord. Isn't that how it's supposed to be though? Community encouragement of the One behind all our actions, the purpose for this group of musicians, and our so-far successes? It was remarkable to spend time listening with this group, interacting with them, and talking about humility and the state of the church within our world.
One activity that we were asked to do took a whole lot more of my time than it did anyone else's - I definitely approached the situation with very high intentions and it cost me some time, but the conclusion was very interesting. One of our directors gave us each a package of 100 yellow mini sticky notes, and a smaller stack of pink ones. Our task was to take some time, separate ourselves and think. On the yellow pieces we would capture all the memories we could think of, a huge task for someone who loves to recount memories. We would then transfer all the painful or upsetting, or hard memories from the yellow stickies to the pink ones, then we would organize them on a timeline and separate them into key places in our lives. I took this to heart and began to go wild.
I went through upwards of 200 yellow stickies recounting everything from being in hospital when I was 2 years old, to my participation in the Alberta Children's Honour Choir, to winning the Science Fair at my Jr. High School, to trips, to university ... the list was incredible and extensive. What others took maybe an hour and a half to do, this entire process was much more labour intensive than I thought. The intention was to look back over these events and note the presence of the pink stickies, to find how God had used major moments in my life to shape who I have become, and to note places of key leadership-defining circumstances. My results were interesting, and though I will not share them here, I will indicate that they surprised me in many ways.
From points like these this weekend, I was led back to this song. I feel that it speaks so much to the brokenness of society from seeing films about prostitution, the presence of porn to lead others to sin, the crumbling self-esteem of so many women due to the inability to compete, the complete need for God, the need for drive in the local church, the 'fads' of working for the greater good ... the list is extensive! But I saw snippets of each of these this weekend and if you're not careful, it can get you down and hold you down very quickly.
Knowing Jesus has made me aware of just how privileged we are. I can't take it for granted, not anymore, as I have come to see the reality of the way things are. This piece is really an eye-opener to the true state that we're in.
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away:
We cut down people in Your name, but the sword was never ours to swing.
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see,
The world is on their way to You, but they're tripping over me.
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded,
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands.
Help us to remember, we are all the least of these,
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees.
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded.
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinner, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
You love every lost cause; You reach for the outcast,
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came.
Lord, I was that lost cause and I was the outcast,
But You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast,
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
The place we went was a spiritual retreat center, a place that invites group connection with the Lord as well as gives adequate space for you to distance yourself from humanity for a little while and spend some time just you and Jesus. Both aspects were remarkable and rewarding but it was the latter that I not only needed to but truly grew from.
I was able to spend time just listening for a change, something that is hard to do in such a busy world in which we live. We don't really take the opportunity to just stop, take a moment to breathe, and focus on God, which now that I'm aware of just how high speed my life is, makes me sad. The one who has every right to demand our attention is competing with careers, with homework, with relationships, with travelling, with work, but even by entertainment like films, or music. Reflecting back on it, I've become really aware of the 1 of 10 commandments: thou shalt have no other gods before Me. While I don't purposely create idols out of gold and silver like the Israelites did historically, my job, my schooling, my family, my choir... can all become idols before spending time with God, and I have a problem with this. This last weekend I figured out what needs to change, how to change it, and some of the incredible benefits which come from this stillness and simple acknowledgement of this Most High God.
The former option, creative and frequently incredible group connection was such a blessing, as I continue to appreciate that remarkably talented community of my choir family. In many ways, discussion and watching films together really sparked my passion further for the Lord. Isn't that how it's supposed to be though? Community encouragement of the One behind all our actions, the purpose for this group of musicians, and our so-far successes? It was remarkable to spend time listening with this group, interacting with them, and talking about humility and the state of the church within our world.
One activity that we were asked to do took a whole lot more of my time than it did anyone else's - I definitely approached the situation with very high intentions and it cost me some time, but the conclusion was very interesting. One of our directors gave us each a package of 100 yellow mini sticky notes, and a smaller stack of pink ones. Our task was to take some time, separate ourselves and think. On the yellow pieces we would capture all the memories we could think of, a huge task for someone who loves to recount memories. We would then transfer all the painful or upsetting, or hard memories from the yellow stickies to the pink ones, then we would organize them on a timeline and separate them into key places in our lives. I took this to heart and began to go wild.
I went through upwards of 200 yellow stickies recounting everything from being in hospital when I was 2 years old, to my participation in the Alberta Children's Honour Choir, to winning the Science Fair at my Jr. High School, to trips, to university ... the list was incredible and extensive. What others took maybe an hour and a half to do, this entire process was much more labour intensive than I thought. The intention was to look back over these events and note the presence of the pink stickies, to find how God had used major moments in my life to shape who I have become, and to note places of key leadership-defining circumstances. My results were interesting, and though I will not share them here, I will indicate that they surprised me in many ways.
From points like these this weekend, I was led back to this song. I feel that it speaks so much to the brokenness of society from seeing films about prostitution, the presence of porn to lead others to sin, the crumbling self-esteem of so many women due to the inability to compete, the complete need for God, the need for drive in the local church, the 'fads' of working for the greater good ... the list is extensive! But I saw snippets of each of these this weekend and if you're not careful, it can get you down and hold you down very quickly.
Knowing Jesus has made me aware of just how privileged we are. I can't take it for granted, not anymore, as I have come to see the reality of the way things are. This piece is really an eye-opener to the true state that we're in.
~~
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away:
We cut down people in Your name, but the sword was never ours to swing.
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see,
The world is on their way to You, but they're tripping over me.
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded,
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands.
Help us to remember, we are all the least of these,
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees.
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded.
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinner, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
You love every lost cause; You reach for the outcast,
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came.
Lord, I was that lost cause and I was the outcast,
But You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.
Let our hearts be led by mercy,
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors,
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast,
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.
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