Fruitcake & Ice Cream

I have my house to myself tonight - no kids, no husband - so I pulled out a DVD that I bought months ago called "Fruitcake and Ice Cream - An Unlikely Collision of Friendship and Grace".  In it Louie Giglio  shares the story of a young college student named Ashley and her "fruitcake" roomate.  With permission he shares this story by reading excerpts from Ashley's journal. 

Ashley was a typical college student in her final semester of college, trying to balance a life of partying and studying.  Events in her life have caused her to look for a new roommate and the girl who moves in with her is different from anyone she has ever known.  She is a fruitcake, a Christian.  Ashley's journal details her life over the semester and tells a powerful story of God's Grace.

At the beginning of the DVD Loui shares from 2 Corinthians 5 and how it talks about God's Grace.  He defines grace as being "God working".  God working, not us.  God working to do what we can not do.

He also explains in the talk about how those who claim to not believe in God, many times do this as a defense mechanism.  They think that God does not believe in them, so in order to protect themselves they choose to not believe in Him.  Wow - that really got me to thinking about how important it is for us to understand grace and be able to share that with others.  To really share God's Heart and His Love for us and for others with those who think He does not believe in them.

If you have a chance to watch this DVD I highly recommend it.  This is the most powerful story of grace I believe I have ever heard.  Even more so because the story is not being told from her perspective after the fact.  It is Louie actually reading her journal entries which she wrote during this period of time when she wanted nothing to do with a God who she believed had no time for her.  A period when she thought her new roommate was nothing but a Fruitcake.

268 Store Fruitcake & Ice Cream DVD
Amazon.com Fruitcake & Ice Cream

Answers in Colossians

I'm part of a Christian email distribution group at work which I've found to be very interesting. This group has Christians from all walks of life and the discussions get very 'animated' at times. Recently a post by one member led to discussions regarding how we are to stand for God's Truth, among other Believers and to the rest of the world. I've share before how I constantly wrestle with what it looks like in my life to stand for God's Truth in Grace.

I want to stand for God and His Truth and I know at times that means I will offend others. But I don't want to offend someone needlessly, offend them just to offend them. In fact, I don't want to offend anyone at all. If something I do or say offends someone I want it to be God and His Word that offends them, his Truth piercing their conscience, not my way of presenting that Truth.

Last night as I was reading through Colossians I wrote the following verses in my journal under two headings. I've decide these verses are definitely worth studying closer and asking the Lord to help me properly apply them in my life.

Under the heading "picture of how we are to live and interact as a Body of Christ"

~ Colossians 3:12 - 17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Under the heading "How to deal with those who are not Believers"

~ Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.