A Rainy Sunday...

"I'll never forsake you...My love never ends."


Cannot get these words out of my head.


Last night at church Justin spoke on The Purpose of the Gospel. God's wisdom was flowing out of that guy as he humbly spoke on Ephesians 2:4-10. I was literally at the edge of my seat soaking it all in.


"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."


The person who brought us from death to life has done this for His glory - to show the immeasurable riches of His grace.


Justin spoke a lot about how equipped we are. My mind kept going to Numbers where God used a donkey to speak, and make His point. Sometimes I have to tell myself, if a donkey can do it, I can do it.


When Jesus and His disciples fed the 5,000, Jesus handed each disciple food and they took it to a group of people. Jesus handed the disciples exactly what they needed to serve Him in that situation - to do a good work. We aren't saved by good works, but we are saved for good works - to glorify God and make His name known.


Jesus gave the disciples just what they needed to feed 5000 + and He will do the same for me, for you. We will be given exactly what we need for the good works we are called to do because of the Good Work he did for us on the cross.


I am 100% confident that the God who used a cross for salvation will never forsake us, and can use our broken lives for His glory providing all we need to make it possible - because His love and provision never fails.


Humbled.

I'm on a blogging kick...

I really do love the idea of blogging, but I hate the idea of sitting down and blogging. I think I may focus less on extravagant blogs full of what I am learning. Instead, I think I will post shorter, more frequent posts with snippets of things that have been good for my soul.

And even when I fall I'll get back up

For the joy that overflows my cup.

Grace.

A New View of the Cross...

I haven't been here in a while. I have come to the conclusion that I am more of a blog-reader than a blog-writer. That is probably evident by the lack of posts, but my heart is FULL and I have been learning a lot, I can't help but share.

During this Easter season my heart has been GRIPPED with a view of the cross that looks much different to me than it ever has before. It's funny, because even as I write this, reflecting more, I am on the verge of tears because it has been such a revealing season for my heart. I am learning. I am being stretched. I am having to trust. All things I thought I had experience in surplus before, and perhaps I have, but right now it seems to be happening when I turn each corner.

I have been reading through the Scriptures this year. Right now I am knee-deep in the Old Testament. I have spent a lot of time reading through rule after rule after rule on the pages of the Old Testament, and my heart has been stirred.

As I approached the Easter season, I, of course, was filled with a thankful heart as I thought of the unthinkable, selfless act my Savior made for me. Upon further examination of the cross, and after reading through the Old Testament - my view has forever been changed. I've always known the rules the Old Testament presented, but something about reading them during the Easter season really did a number on my view of the cross.

The veil was torn and a New Covenant has become reality for me. Such a sacrifice.

Then tonight, as I continue to read, there have been a few days of the psalms that I am reading. As I read through Psalm 77, I couldn't stop reading over and over verse 4 "You hold my eyelids open"...and while the context isn't one of a super joyful Psalmist, I am finding SO MUCH joy, because I can't help but think about what Jesus does for me - he holds my eyelids open so I can see what He is doing for me yesterday, today, and forever - and that is my view of the cross today. A Savior who suffered so that a veil could be torn, so that freedom would be my reality and that He could open my eyes so that I could try to understand His sacrifice.

Grace.