Developing a Prodigal Heart

What? Are you sure about that? How can our heart become ‘prodigal?’ It would help to define the word ‘prodigal.’ In the common street language of the first century, ‘prodigal’ is defined as “lavishly abundant” or “wastefully extravagant.” In the parable of Jesus (Luke 15:11-31) commonly referred to as “the prodigal son,” there are two prodigals-the son and the father. The only one in this parable that wasn’t ‘prodigal,’ is the elder brother.

Can you get your heart and mind wrapped around this story? The implications are huge. The story begins with a display of lavish love, extravagant giving, and even what appears to be wasteful abundance poured out on a selfish young son. Father was “lavishly abundant” and “wastefully extravagant” in granting his son’s request for his portion of the inheritance.

His son went to a far country and wasted everything he had. Can you identify with this young man? Broke, but not quite broken- he ended up in a pig pin, slopping the hogs. I certainly went through a pig pin stage. Starving and trying to get some of the pig slop; “he came to his senses.” God has many “ways” to get us back “to our senses” and on track with His heart.  They come in many forms; trials, shaking, and discipline. It is at this place of humility, that ‘godly sorrow’ empowers change. God’s grace provides the impetus to get back on track.

The longer Grace ages, the sweeter it gets. But, conversely-the longer a graceless person lives, the sourer they get. The pig pin develops a prodigal heart within. The following quote will shed some light on the prodigal heart.

“A crisis of life is like a building that has fallen upon a man. When you hear his voice from under the rubble; remember, He is not the fallen building…just clear away the rubble, and then you can see and bring healing to the man,” Alan Smith.

Developing a lavish and extravagant prodigal heart is an ongoing work of grace. Clearing away the rubble takes being in safe and loving relationships. After the rubble is cleared, the true heart (the lavish prodigal heart) can be seen. The building can crumble around us, but the healing process will continue. In the midst of ‘the rubble clearing process’ we see ‘Father’ running toward us, with His arms open wide, ready to put His robe and ring on us. And He reaches into the depths of our heart, making our heart whole and calling our hearts into lavish, extravagant abundance. I am convinced that a ‘prodigal heart’ can receive the Father’s heart and passion for every nation, tribe and tongue.

In the grip of Papa’s lavish and extravagant Grace, Ron Ross

The Lord says there is nothing you can do that would make Him love you more...and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because...He loves you because; that is the way He is...it is His nature to love you and you will always be the beloved...

His love is unchanging...He loves you one hundred percent...He won't love you any better when you become better, He will still love you one hundred percent...because He loves you, because that is the way He is...and even if you don't want to change, He will still love you one hundred percent...even if you have no plans to walk with Him, He will still love you one hundred percent, because that is His nature. He loves you all the way, all the time.

HIS LOVE IS UNCHANGING!

What will change, says the Lord, is your ability to receive My love...and right now, I want to cram some more of that ability inside of you, so I challenge you, says the Lord, open your heart to Me, open your heart to Me, and you will receive more of My of My love than you have experienced before, I dare you, says the Lord, come on, open your heart to Me, give Me your heart, give Me whatever your obstacle is, I'll take it, I'll remove it out of the way, because I love you as you are right now, I love you one hundred percent as you are right this moment, I love you as you are...so be loved...you are the beloved, it is your job, says the Lord, to be loved outrageously.

It is why I chose you, that is why I set My love upon you, that you would live as one who is outrageously loved...that you would receive a radical love...so radical, it will blow all your paradigms of what you think love is...and know, says the Lord, I will love you all the days of your life, because I don't know how to be any different-this is who I am. This is who I will always be-this is the I AM that I promised you!

I am He that loves you outrageously and you may love Me back with the love that I give you-you may love Me back with the outrageous love that I bestow upon you-and know this, says the Lord, you can only love Me as much as you love yourself...so My love comes right now to set you free from yourself, to set you free from the smallness of your own thinking about yourself, My love comes to set you free from rejection, and from shame, and from low self-esteem, and from despair, and from abuse...because when I look at you, I see someone that I love, I see someone that I can love outrageously...

And I have so much to bestow upon you, so much to give you, so many places to take you in My heart, but, you can't go there unless you allow Me to love you, and My love for you will break every barrier, bring every wall crashing down, and know this, says the Lord, My love damages fear, My love hates fear, My love will fight fear, I will fight fear within you, I will fight fear around you, and if you have fear right now, says the Lord, than know you have a treat in store...because My perfect love casts out all fear. There is no fear where I Am present, because My love casts out fear.

Beloved, you are My beloved, you are My beloved, and in My love, I want you to feel good about yourself...

Prophetic word given through Graham Cooke on 'The Awakening' CD by Jonathan Helser.

"Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important? Jesus said, Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
Matthew 22:36-40, The Message.

In the Grip of Papa's Gracious, Extravagant Love-Ron Ross

Holy Smoke-Finishing School

Holy scrutiny is both, unavoidable and awesome. The closer we get to the piercing light of His love, the more exposed we feel. An instant after exposure comes the covering of Grace and the sublime sense and knowing of acceptance via unconditional love! Holy Scrutiny is what I call "finishing school." And Love is the under-girding lesson of all the courses of life in Jesus.

For years I had the mistaken notion that I was finished with school…not by a long shot. Not finished. Nope; still in finishing school instead! My experience with God is that He, Holy Spirit, is a teacher, 'par excellant' and will not be dissuaded by any of my growth issues. 

Let' see how Scripture ways in on this? ⁶ And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.He doesn't stop pursuing us. I thought only young women and aspiring debutantes went to finishing school. You know, where you are trained in cultural-social graces and activities. Granted, my cultural and social graces are somewhat limited-well, okay, very limited. But, come on Papa-‘finishing school’? Yes Son, finishing school.

So, I asked the obvious question…What exactly do you mean by ‘finishing school’? Of course, true to form…I got much more of an answer than I bargained for. I can imagine that your experience with Papa is just as surprising-no, serendipitous as mine. Don’t ever ask God a question that you aren’t ready for a big answer for. Son, I desire for you to finish the race complete, whole, and strong-with a unified heart. I had no idea how fractured my heart was. David asked for the same thing in his prayer recorded in Psalm 86:11.”Teach me your way, O Lord; and I will walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name.”

There are four distinct problems with that prayer. Learning His ways, walking in His truth, having your heart united and fearing His name are all challenging to our comfort zone-to say the least. Most of us have the mistaken notion that we know His ways. Nothing could be further from reality. I have walked with Jesus for forty+ years and am just now beginning to have understanding about His ways. I am learning that His way involves shaking and baking. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken and what remains will be purified in the furnace of His loving correction. I must add that His ways are best and bring Him the most Glory.

This ‘finishing school’ process also includes getting acquainted with ‘truth and wisdom in the inner parts’ The ‘inner parts’ are often clouded with unresolved and unhealed issues. The longer we walk with Him the more light is shed on our inner parts. Holy scrutiny is both, unavoidable and awesome. The closer we get to the piercing light of His love, the more exposed we feel. An instant after exposure comes the covering of Grace.

Learning the truth about our self is always balanced by what my friend Alan Smith calls…LOVE, the truth that trumps all other truth. Eugene Peterson puts it this way in The Message. ‘We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know that troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert to whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary-we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5). Got It? We will! Ron Ross   

Holy Scrutiny

Holy scrutiny is both, unavoidable and awesome. The closer we get to the piercing light of His love, the more exposed we feel. An instant after exposure comes the covering of Grace and the sublime sense and knowing of acceptance via unconditional love!. Ron Ross

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"In the world you now live in, to commune with Me is not defined by an experience of Me. Nor does it depend on Blessings from Me. To really live is to release My Son's life through yours, in any circumstance, no matter what you feel; to relate as He related, giving when no one gives back, loving when no one returns love, forgiving when no one deserves forgiveness, suffering in the place of those who should suffer."
"Don't look at your inability. Look at my Son's ability." Notice that no miracle Jesus ever performed served His well-being, that no teaching He ever presented was designed to win popularity, and that in no conversation in which He ever engaged did He ever maneuver things to His advantage but always to Mine." Papa relating intriguing nuances of His Son Jesus through Larry Crabb.
Ron Ross

Thanks Martin!

Thanks Martin Luther King for the countless lives who continue to have vast horizons of opportunity because you passed this way such a short period of time. Freedom is so precious and it's like a flower that blossoms around all that your life continues to do!

Get a Grip

Sometimes my life feels like I’m constantly trying to gain traction-on ice. The harder ‘you’ try the more you are spinning your wheels and getting off course. Traction enables you to get a grip, establish a toehold, and set your footing.

Maybe Joseph can shed some light for us? “Deeply moved on seeing his brother and about to burst into tears, Joseph hurried out into another room and had a good cry. Then he washed his face, got a grip on himself, and said, “Let’s eat.” (Genesis 43: 30-31, Msg) Joseph didn’t cave to what had to be very strong emotions. He obviously had let go of the past. Got it? Let go of the past-plain and simple! “Let’s eat.” Sounds like one who has traction in the moment and able to move on to what’s next in Jesus!

Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after. He held fast to God—never loosened his grip—and obeyed to the letter everything God had commanded Moses. And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures. (2 Kings 18:5-6, Msg)

King Hezekiah was probably one of the most unsung heroes of the Old Testament. He also got it. Hold fast to God and you find out God’s been holding fast to you, even when you thought your life was; well-spinning out of control.

One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. God singled out Satan, saying, “And what have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Oh, going here and there, checking things out.” Then God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him, is there—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn’t work.” (Job 2:1-3, Msg)

He still has a firm grip on his integrity! Do you and I? Veracity, honor, honesty: would others use these words to describe your impression upon them? They will when we have a firm grip, kind of a ‘toehold’ on our integrity.

Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake! Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. (Proverbs 4: 10-15, Msg)

When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won’t find them— Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory. That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’ (Isaiah 41:12-13, Msg)

And here’s the footing and toehold of traction. [It’s a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God ] I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope. (Lamentations 3:19-21, (Msg)

[He Gets the Last Word] Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (1 Peter  5:8-11, Msg)

Getting’ a grip while being gripped! Ron Ross