I’m Emily Werness and I am drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.
That line from the song “How He Loves” always sticks out to me when I hear it. It all comes down to grace and the ultimate goodness of our great God. I can stand as a daughter of the King before the throne of the almighty God of the universe because of His love and His grace.
It is hard for me to find the words to express how GOOD God is. First, God has blown right past my first two financial deadlines – PRAISE you Father!! You are so good, so faithful! Thank you for the hearts of those who have given – thank you for their generosity and support Father, it truly humbles me.
Second, God provided the opportunity for me to spend the past week on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota – a place that holds a permanent place in my heart. I have been going there for the past 10 years or so, going once a week each summer doing Kids Clubs, then living out there for two summers as an intern for Lakota Journey (an awesome non-profit that seeks to discover the hope of God’s promise in the heart of Native America), and this time around, I had the privilege and joy to lead our group in a small community called He Dog.
The past week was saturated with His goodness. Everything from the weather to the behavior and personalities of the kids in He Dog were just so great! Our friend Bethany is a second grade teacher out there, so we ultimately wanted to help her build relationships in the community and encourage and support her and God just killed it this week!! The quality time we were able to spend just talking to the people there and getting to know them has laid the foundation for a growing relationship with the He Dog community! Praise God! After one of the amazing flannel-graph lessons one day, Bethany asked the kids to draw a picture of something they wanted to tell God. One boy decided to write a letter instead:
When it comes down to it, we are all the same. At the core of every human being is an innate desire and longing to be loved and accepted. This longing can only be fulfilled in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In his eyes, we are beautiful.
In his eyes, we are precious.
In his eyes, we are fully accepted.
In his eyes, we are loved.
One example of how Christ sees us is in Mark 1:40-42,“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,‘ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured.”
We are all sinners. We are all ‘unclean’ in the eyes of God. There is nothing we can do on our own to cleanse ourselves – only God can do that. Let’s just pause here for a second. Jesus is the SON OF GOD. GOD the Creator, the Beginning and the End! He doesn’t need us. He doesn’t have to do anything. And yet, his response is to look on us with eyes of love, with compassion. He was willing. Willing to come down and be with us, willing to suffer and endure death on a cross – all because of this compassion, this great love.
My next question becomes, am I willing? I have been given this gift of abundant grace!! Am I willing to reach out and intentionally touch others with the Gospel of Christ through my words, my actions, and my life even though it will be inconvenient to me, will require sacrifice, and will lead to suffering of some kind?
I’m Emily Werness and Father, I am willing. Make it possible by your strength – all for your glory.
