What IS forgiveness?
What IS grace?
Not the "testimony" definition.... "An undeserved gift".... but the reality definition.
The knowing, deep down inside realization, that you can't have one without the other and vice versa.
The knowing and applying the fact that "My salvation isn't based on my reputation as a man and/or whether or not people like me"
Not caring whether or not I'm gossiped about, looked at, snickered at, or avoided.
But I mean FORGIVENESS!
It is PEACE.
Peace of mind
Peace of soul
Peace of heart
Peace... the feeling that makes you cry at a sunset, at a song or an elderly couple holding hands... the feeling that makes you appreciate * no* love and take comfort in the wrinkles that show through on my face...
the gray coming out in my hair...
the knowing I'm ONE DAY CLOSER to seeing my Savior face to face!
I mean that... IN YOUR GUT FEELING of PEACE! And longing for home.
And that this fight of "life" is the GREATEST gift and adventure I could ever ask for. *but being given the cross as the ultimate bonus*
Standing on the faith that one day I will hear... "Well done thou good and faithful servant"
But why?
Not because of what I've done.... It is ALL Christ!
Part one: It starts with a soul.
Part two: Acknowledging our weakness and repenting. Knowing that God understands our weakness as humans and created a plan.
Part three: Allowing Christ to cleanse us.
Part four: Standing on and taking courage in Jesus' promises
Part five: And fighting... fighting on in life... fighting for souls... the lost... the blind
Part six: Testimony... glorying in our struggles, our temptations because Christ is using them for sanctification.
It is ALL Christ. His work. His miracle.
And thankful and humbly.... His cross.
*So, I will get down off "my" cross, use it to build a bridge and get over it*
*My selfpity that is.*
I'm sorry
I love you all
And I love you too man.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for "six of six" :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a way with words--a way of making things personal...and too clear to push to the back of the mind.
And I like the picture of using "my" cross to build a bridge...
Thanks everyone who comments and/or reads my blog.
ReplyDeleteI also wanna say that I am truely blessed and thankful and I hope that those that read the six parts know this. Even in times to come.
This wasn't: "a cry for help"
Just a testimony.
Jesus is always with us, He is never out of our midst...
ReplyDeleteHe was with me when I wasn't with Him...and the door was always open...finally I entered and my life has never been the same. It hasn't been easy but through it all I knew christ was with me.
Your messages are part of that faith we have in Jesus, that He shows His love for us through 'others'...blessings, brother
I see in your testimony the work of the Father. When we fall Christ really shows us how despirately we need Him. And I am so thankful that in the times that I fall, He is willing to catch me. Keep looking up brother. I love you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being open and honest. Quite refreshing indeed. I've noticed that since the first post I read, brutal honesty. Good for the soul. As I said before, we don't all choose a blog to be an extreme emotional outlet, but if it works for you, more power to you, we'd be lying to deny our own struggles.
ReplyDeleteI must attest though to the all powerful grace of God, there are many times I can now look back upon where He, and only He, carried me out of temptation and onto a higher ground with him. I can also count the times I've fallen when I try to do things even slightly on my own. Truly, my weakness is incredible, but as the Bible often comments, the weak will be made strong in Him. Relinquishing whatever we think we have to Him, makes us God fortified, and a devil conqurer. Thank God for His grace!