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| © windswept ribbons |
When you’re tempted to doubt God’s love for you, stand before the cross and look at the wounded, dying, disfigured Savior, and realize why He is there. I believe His Father would whisper to us, ‘Isn’t this sufficient? I haven’t spared My own Son; I deformed and disfigured and crushed Him — for you. What more could I do to persuade you that I love you?'I got this quote from one of my top favorite blogs Paper Angels.
—CJ Mahaney
Denise seemed to accurately compliment my thoughts on love during valentines [read her Vday post here].
The following verses have yet to leave my mind:
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8What my eyes have been opened to is that God didn't wait for me to be good. He didn't wait for me to get my act together. He didn't wait for me to do something for Him and then decide if He wanted to die for me. No! He just died for me while I was still ungodly; while I was worthless to Him.
I just need to let that sink. in.
I'm so weak and so in need of God that I just feel so filthy if I don't spend a certain amount of time with Him, or if I do quiet times in the afternoon instead of the morning, or if I'm behind in my daily read... I just get so irritated when I feel like I'm not being the perfect Christian sometimes— enough already!
The Bible says that our attempts for holiness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). He already has done it all and He loves me! That's all I really need from Him and He has given it. Why can't that just be enough to quiet my anxious soul?
His love is sufficient in my weakness, imperfections & mistakes. It was like this when I was ungodly and it's still covering my sinfulness today. I still fall short.
I'm so grateful for this:
To truly be loved.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteHe who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. :)
amen :)!!!
DeleteI like that quote!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post :) So amazing to think that God loves us at all times..no matter how far away from Him we may be sometimes. Unconditional love. Perfect.
ReplyDeletejeremiah 29 came to mind. It is amazing that despite the disobedience of His chosen people which lead them to a season of discipline (exile to foreign land) He still would send His prophet to give them encouragement and exhortation and BLESS THEM. My pastor taught on this this week and it really rocked me because of just how we will never understand the formula of just being LOVED enough to be shown LOVED by our maker... Despite ourselves... He just LOVES us... Ugh.. The perfectionist in me wants to just have it easy and DO enough to make it seem logical...
ReplyDeleteBut there is no logic in this agape love of His.
Sorry for the paragraph I just love this post.
And I love DENISE and her blog too. Homegirl spits fire...
:)
What a beautiful post.. Thank you thank you for sharing! Spoke so much to my heart. I love the redesign of your blog too :) x
ReplyDeleteIt's so crazy how we think we have to be perfect Christians. Then we get into this mentality that we need to do more of this and more of that when all we have to remember that Christ's agape love is so much more powerful than anything we do. It has the power to cover up AND heal our wounds and weaknesses. This reminder ALWAYS helps because then I stop trying and I just be who I was supposed to be; to be his daughter who rests in his power !
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this! That first quote was really powerful. It's so easy for us to think we have to get everything together before we can come to God. I used to always think to myself "I'm not ready to go all the way. What if I miss out on things?" It was in those moments of doubts and in the middle of sin that I found God tugging on my heart. It became crazy. In the middle of my sinning God would speak to me. Like he was hovering right there. I could feel his presence clearly. He didn't wait for me to get it together, He reached out to me until I said okay God.
ReplyDeleteVonae Deyshawn
www.myvirtueplace.com
i loved this, and needed this reminder. sometimes i get caught up in the thought of how i am messed up, filthy, and want to be made holy on my own, but it's good to remember that Jesus died for us while were still ungodly and he still loves us while we are being perfected. His love is so great... it overwhelms me and keeps me going. I cant wait to meet him face to face. :)
ReplyDeletelovely reminder. And thank you so very much for your kind words.
ReplyDelete<3
Kelli
loveinthenameofafrica.blogspot.com
This is so neat! We just talked about this before leading worship this Sunday and played "How He Loves". I've come to a new realization of how great is love truly is lately. Beautiful. I love that quote.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Mine was on prayer today :) I really like that verse in Romans! Great blog :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so beautiful... inside and out! LOVED this post!
ReplyDeleteI adore Denise too!
ReplyDeleteYes being a "christian" has nothing to do with being a good enough christian. that is key! it's simply about BEING with Him and as we are WITH Him we become LIKE HIM, more and more...He wants our hearts!!! Do you ever listen to Misty Edwards? Oh you would love her sermons on her website!