Exodus 33:5 For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

We do not use the term stiffnecked in common speech these days. I think of it as being hardheaded. I have to admit I can be and have been a hardheaded person. I had a boss that said that I’d argue with a wall. Not flattering is it? I do not give in to easy persuasion. Just because something sounds good doesn’t mean it is right.

Now I am not defending my stubborn streak. It has resulted in some good. The Lord has been very obvious and in some ways miraculous with me. It isn’t because I am special, it is because I am hardheaded. When God came for me, He didn’t do it as gently as He does with most believers. He had to slap me upside the head.

Sadly when I give my testimony people misunderstand. They think I am saying I am special, well yes, but not in a good way. I admire those who came to the Lord out of a sense of love, gently, without the need for thunder and lightning. They are more connected to the grace side of God and for the most part are gentle souls.

I on the other hand had to be slapped around to come to this point where I recognize the richness of grace. I am still a little heavy handed with grace and I apologize for that, because that is how I got here, with a more firm hand. It has taken several renditions of me to be more gracious.

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

That is just how I received it.