When I surveyed the things that have transpired in my life: tragedies, my own poor judgement and many trying times... I came to a conclusion that, I've really been through Hell. So naively and ignorantly put! Painful and hard, yes. But, Jesus literally went through Hell in His death on a cross that belonged to all men for the price of sin. He paid the debt no one but God could pay. He conquered death and the grave in His resurrection to bring life to all sinners who would make Him their Lord. Only He could both lay his life down and then raise it up again. What love a creator has for His creation to be willing to humbly be born in a lowly manger and suffer unjustly for a once perfect creation marred by sin. No goodness could satisfy the debt and remove sin. Only Christ's perfect sacrifice is set apart from all others, not just an atonement but a complete cleansing and sin removal. Only through Jesus is there hope in this life. Hope for eternal life and hope during trying times. Trying times come to all the living. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:1-10 KJV)
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I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord : for great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138 Who is man that God is so mindful of? That He would choose to wear our skin and be like us, willing to die for us. Despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. He carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and his stripes heal us. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, brought as a lamb to the slaughter. Still, it pleased The Lord to bruise him. Doing the will of the Father, being a perfect example, our high priest who is making intercession for us at the Father's right side. He encourages us with these words,"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love.Where there is injury, pardon.Where there is doubt, faith.Where there is despair, hope.Where there is darkness, light.Where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love.For it is in giving that we receive.It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.Amen. -St Francis of Assisi And He said, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." Exodus 32:14
Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I AM meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. I AM the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will not leave you, nor forsake you, I will go with you all the way, even to the end of the world. I AM your strong tower, your shield and buckler. I AM a present help in time of trouble. I AM the good shepherd in whom you shall not want any thing. I make you lie down in green pastures and I lead you beside the still waters. I restore your soul and I lead you in the paths of righteousness for My Name's sake. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil: for I AM with you; My rod and My staff comfort you. I prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies: I anoint your head with oil and your cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in My house for ever. I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. I AM the author and finisher of your faith. I AM the way, the truth and the life and no man comes unto the Father but by Me. I AM the high priest who is touched by the feelings of your infirmities. I AM at the right side of the Father making intercession for you. I, even I, AM the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour. I was wounded for your transgressions, I was bruised for your iniquities: the chastisement of your peace was upon Me and with My stripes you are healed. I made My grave with the wicked, and with the rich in My death. I had done no violence, neither was any deceit in My mouth. I was tempted at all points like you, yet without sin. I arose on the third day, triumphant over death, Hell and the grave. I came not to condemn you, but to give you life in Me. Where My Spirit is, there is liberty. Whoever I set free, is free indeed. I Am the Vine and you are the branches. I AM Love. I AM Joy. I AM Peace. I AM Longsuffering. I AM Gentleness. I AM Goodness. I AM Faith. I AM Meekness. I AM Temperance. I AM ALL that you need. Will you come unto Me? Will you come into My presence? Will you seek My face, while I may be found? Worship ME only. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. I am taking care of you! I am not only committed to caring for you, but I am also absolutely capable of doing so. Rest in ME, my weary one, for this is a form of worship. Though self-flagellation has gone out o style, many of My children drive themselves like racehorses. They whip themselves into action, ignoring how exhausted they are. They forget that I am sovereign and that My ways are higher than theirs. Underneath their driven service, they may secretly resent ME as a harsh taskmaster. Their worship of ME is lukewarm, because I am no longer their First Love. My invitation never changes: Come to ME, all who are weary, and I will give you rest. Worship ME by resting peacefully in My Presence. Which God will bring about in his own time- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor an might forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 " Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." Revelation 2:4 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 -Jesus Calling, Sarah Young My life is but a weaving, Between my God and me, I do not choose the colors, He worketh, steadily, Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, And I in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper, And I the underside. Not till the loom is silent, And shuttles cease to fly, Will God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful In the skillful Weaver's hand, As the thread of gold an silver In the pattern He has planned. -Anonymous Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life, and bade thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead? Gave thee clothing of delight- Softest clothing, woolly, bright? Gave thee such a piping voice, Making all the fields rejoice? Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Little lamb, I'll tell thee- Little lamb, I'll tell thee. He is called by thy name, For He calls Himself a Lamb; He is meek, and He is mild. He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by His name. Little lamb, God bless thee! Little lamb, God bless thee! -William Blake If I had known in the morning How wearily all the day The words unkind would trouble my mind That I said when you went away, I had been more careful, darling, Nor given you needless pain; But we vex our own with look and tone We may never take back again. For though in the quiet evening You may give me the kiss of peace, Yet it well might be that never for me The pain of the heart should cease! How many go forth at morning Who never come home at night! And hearts have broken for harsh words spoken That sorrow can ne'er set right. We have careful thought for the stranger, And smiles for the sometime guest; But oft for "our own" the bitter tone, Though we love our own the best. Ah! Lips with the curve impatient, Ah! Brow with the shade of scorn, 'Twere a cruel fate, were the night too late To undo the work of the morn! -Margaret E. Sangster
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 Then God said, " Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created he them. Genesis 1:26-27 -Sarah Young, Jesus Calling |
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