"those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there" Galatians 5:24 how amazing to ponder the love of the cross the deep the wide the high the long the all-encompassing love which led Him there which held Him there a love stretching as far as eastern horizon shimmering as day dawns to western horizon blazing as dusk falls
a love so passionate as to allow my sin to collide with His grace at His cross a love which restores renews redeems with no help from me yet... "those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there" words powerful words compelling for although nothing I do can earn or deserve that love so passionate I can give my gratitude by living His love in sweet selfless surrender as I nail to that cross so rugged my selfishness my stubbornness my pride and all that is of me and not of Him all this I do so imperfectly yet when my Abba sees me through the cross of His Son He sees perfection... purely white and spotless
and my response can only be where the whole realm of nature mine that were an offering far too small love so amazing so divine demands my soul my life my all!
when you think you know how to trust you are really relying on yourself when you think you are not proud you are farther than ever from humility when you think you have reached a level of maturity you are living an illusion the common denominator in all? when I think.... when I think I know something when I think I've reached something anything in which "I" is central is destined to failure oh how clearly He speaks
"My beloved, you are anxious and peaceless as you attempt to control that which is so far from within your control instead of seeking My peace My presence you seek answers you seek questions that you might answer and the more you think the more confusion results your spirit anxious and joy has slipped between your fingers the harder you attempt to grasp that which is not graspable the farther away it slips do you realize, My child, that the enemy of your spirit is at work? he cannot steal you from Me.... your life is forever Mine as was sealed on My cross but oh he can steal your joy your peace your sense of well being and contentment turn toward Me, My beloved look in My eyes see the love overflowing come back to the warmth of My arms trust that I truly have only beauty planned for you knowing that beauty has many faces many facets many colors many designs and that I will bring that beauty to fruition in My time"
He promises peace yet I let my mind worry He promises plans for good yet I ponder the bad He promises that He knows the results He promises that He knows the outcome yet I analyze I jump ahead I try to right problems before they exist I try to fix what is not mine to fix I allow my mind to race my heart to pound when all is in His hands
I allow that over which I have no control to distract from pink boots umbrellas frozen lego houses dandelions fluffy crayons and princesses
perfect peace He offers if only I will receive
as I look at the pictures I took of granddaughter precious I am reminded that life is so precious each moment to be cherished and I will.
the Lord is my shepherd I lack nothing He makes me lie down in green pastures He leads me beside quiet waters He refreshes my soul He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for You are with me Your rod and Your staff they comfort me You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies You anoint my head with oil my cup overflows surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
My child, you run and run and run you seek something anything to fill the emptiness at times unaware you even run or seek you search for meaning you search for purpose you search for identity you search for that which will give you peace so elusive that for which you long simply cannot be found in this world as you quiet your heart and spirit, listen... I am your shepherd and because I am your shepherd you lack nothing nothing means nothing nothing cannot be added to nothing or taken away from nothing or it will no longer be nothing when you take time to simply be when you look for the quiet places when you spend time by the still waters you will sense My nearness when you listen without talking you will hear Me speak in clarity you never dreamed possible
as you come to know My voice the dark seems not so dark the valley seems not so deep you will find that you will hear My voice in places least expected I am always speaking always whispering always calling always inviting you to be with Me to worship Me the more you are with Me the more clearly you will see... although you will dwell with Me forever in heaven you can dwell with Me now as well the longer you linger the more contented the more peaceful the more joy-filled will be your heart and that heart will lack nothing even when life swirls around for I am with you and I am enough.
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