Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Where Grace Can Be Found
Before Barbara Mandrell sold her 27,000-square-foot log home, surrounded by 136 acres of wooded land, known as Fontanel, I was invited there. You have to be, otherwise you won’t get through the massive log entrance.
And we pulled up to the gate and pressed the intercom. We were in the New Hope Community Church van. A bunch of us men had been invited to a men’s prayer breakfast by her husband, Ken.
After they admitted us at the front gate, we passed the helicopter pad in front of the house that was occupied by her husband’s helicopter.
Inside we discovered a video arcade room, an indoor pool attached to a locker room that would make the YMCA envious, and a shooting range downstairs in the basement.
And beside the indoor pool is a statue of a man on his knees, hands up, in praise to God.
Barbara chose the location unaware that it was the exact center of the house. The architect pointed it out to her. And Barbara believes the choice was divine.
The house has amenities, too many to list, as a real estate ad would say. Then there’s the great room, my favorite. I could easily fit three of my houses inside the one room. On the wall was the hide of a tiger that the circus trainer Gunter Williams gave to the Mandrells.
They say it is the only one he has ever given away. Gunter wakes up every morning and goes through his house patting each tiger on the head, calling them by name.
And on the wall in the great room was that massive tiger, which looked like a small picture hanging in comparison to the size of the wall.
In 2002, the Mandrells sold Fontanel. Music execs own it now, and if we loaded up into a van, in theory, let’s say, and drove up to the electronic gate, and I said, “This is Robbie Stofel, and I have some folks with me who want to see the big house. We want a tour, you know, a look around the place.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know you. I’m going to ask you to please leave,” the guard might say.
Every time we go to throne room of heaven where God is and ask to see Him, He will never turn you away.
The Bible says, “Come on in.” “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
For we have access into His grace, but most of us feel that God only dispenses wrath and threats, such as, “You need to be better.”
But we are not accessing His wrath. We are accessing his grace. Why can’t we just learn to breathe before God with no guilt?
God never says to His children, “I don’t have time for you.” or “Your problem is too small for Me to handle. I’m going to refer you to a lawyer.”
The throne of grace is open when you need it. Mercy can be found. Grace can be dispensed.
Henri Nouwen writes, “But whenever I choose other gods by making people or events the source of my joy, I find my sorrow only increases. When I demand from others what only God can give, I experience pain.”
And maybe you know this pain. Maybe you are searching. Try the throne room of grace. You won’t be turned away. I promise.
------------------------------------------
Something New. Read one of Robert's novels in progress. It's a sweet and tender love story that appeals to the romantic in all of us. Click the link: http://ablogofregrets.blogspot.com/
And we pulled up to the gate and pressed the intercom. We were in the New Hope Community Church van. A bunch of us men had been invited to a men’s prayer breakfast by her husband, Ken.
After they admitted us at the front gate, we passed the helicopter pad in front of the house that was occupied by her husband’s helicopter.
Inside we discovered a video arcade room, an indoor pool attached to a locker room that would make the YMCA envious, and a shooting range downstairs in the basement.
And beside the indoor pool is a statue of a man on his knees, hands up, in praise to God.
Barbara chose the location unaware that it was the exact center of the house. The architect pointed it out to her. And Barbara believes the choice was divine.
The house has amenities, too many to list, as a real estate ad would say. Then there’s the great room, my favorite. I could easily fit three of my houses inside the one room. On the wall was the hide of a tiger that the circus trainer Gunter Williams gave to the Mandrells.
They say it is the only one he has ever given away. Gunter wakes up every morning and goes through his house patting each tiger on the head, calling them by name.
And on the wall in the great room was that massive tiger, which looked like a small picture hanging in comparison to the size of the wall.
In 2002, the Mandrells sold Fontanel. Music execs own it now, and if we loaded up into a van, in theory, let’s say, and drove up to the electronic gate, and I said, “This is Robbie Stofel, and I have some folks with me who want to see the big house. We want a tour, you know, a look around the place.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know you. I’m going to ask you to please leave,” the guard might say.
Every time we go to throne room of heaven where God is and ask to see Him, He will never turn you away.
The Bible says, “Come on in.” “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
For we have access into His grace, but most of us feel that God only dispenses wrath and threats, such as, “You need to be better.”
But we are not accessing His wrath. We are accessing his grace. Why can’t we just learn to breathe before God with no guilt?
God never says to His children, “I don’t have time for you.” or “Your problem is too small for Me to handle. I’m going to refer you to a lawyer.”
The throne of grace is open when you need it. Mercy can be found. Grace can be dispensed.
Henri Nouwen writes, “But whenever I choose other gods by making people or events the source of my joy, I find my sorrow only increases. When I demand from others what only God can give, I experience pain.”
And maybe you know this pain. Maybe you are searching. Try the throne room of grace. You won’t be turned away. I promise.
------------------------------------------
Something New. Read one of Robert's novels in progress. It's a sweet and tender love story that appeals to the romantic in all of us. Click the link: http://ablogofregrets.blogspot.com/
© 2007 by Robert Stofel