One Little Word 2015

There is something that I suspect many bloggers do, called my One Little Word.

I was extremely pleased once when I stumbled upon one soul's collection of things and quotes that reminded and taught her of gentleness, the word she had chosen for that year, or rather one that had presented itself to her, I conjecture again.

I was inspired again seeing another blogger's choice of the word "cultivate", which as a Christian had much depth of meaning for her. Good soil... fruits of the spirit...

Come to think of it I had a friend who, not even quite so consciously, was stuck on (in a good way) the word "holy" for quite awhile, too.

In other words, I am in love. I believe there is a lot of opportunity for character growth when we zero in on what has meaning, in a natural and simple -- but potentially rich, even complex -- way.



One word that has been coming back to me for the past month like it was something magic was the word "vindicate".

We often think of Christ as many things, and most frequently in regards to His relation to us specifically, as our King, Savior and Redeemer. But I have fallen in love with the word "Vindicator" (and vindicated, vindication, etc.) because I feel it sums up all three of those, with an extra ounce of Grace to kick it up a notch.

But let's look at the definition of vindication. Or all of them. Save myself some typing.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS507US515&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=vindicated


My personal favorites: from the latin vindicat- "claimed" or "avenged".

God claims us for His own, out of His love, which brings glory to Him and all those that love Him. He also has avenged our eternal feud with Satan, who is our mortal enemy. He vanquished that Tempter for us, btw. We should really be doing a victory dance, "Ding-dong, the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead! Ding-dong, the wicked witch is dead!" The serpent's head is crushed.

Vindicated.

So.

Vindicator.

In one sense, it is much like a deliverer, or judge, or savior, or being exonerated, but it specifically refers to what one is being delivered or saved from as well. Blame. Suspicions. Things that we may even be correctly and justly accused of (the definition does not exclude these either -- thank God!). Everything that can tear us down, or be used against us and used against who God created us to be In The Beginning (that is, His free, beloved, gifted, and loyal subjects) -- all those things, the true, the false, the good, the bad and the ugly -- are completely and justly understood, judged one way or the other; condemned, forgiven, praised; by that one person, the Vindicator. He who knows the inner workings of every heart, and desires to heal every sorrow therein and without. He puts all things right. Vindicated. New.

The Bible says that Christ is able to understand our weaknesses. But what is better is that He did not have to succumb to them to understand them, and fight for us against them, and forgive us for them -- something none of us can do, not 100%, and sometimes not even 1%.

He remained true because we could not, and because it gave him pleasure and glory. He is our Vindicator. I am going to spend this year vindicating what I can, as well as thanking God for the vindication he gives to me, and to others, most generously.

Vindicating forgives, and vindicating revives. It gives you a hope and a future. To be vindicated is like a fire inside, a dancing flicker. You are just blessed by its being there, and so are others. (This little light of mine... Imma gonna let it shine...)

Believe in your Vindicator. Believe you are vindicated. Generously vindicate others by believing them, and believing in them, despite your former attitudes towards them. And then experience the world God has created as it vindicates you. There is grace and vindication in every breath of air, every taste, every smell, every worthy action, every worthy thought, for those saved by the blood of Jesus. It is the fruit of belief in the one Who is our Vindicator, who chooses to have faith in us because when He looks at us, He sees His Son, the Faithful One.

---

Now, as far as how far I have got with this idea; one thought I've had in regards to vindication so far, is the struggle that has existed between the poor and the wealthy. But the Bible says God does not show partiality to either the poor nor the wealthy, and commands us I believe in Proverbs to do the same. Isn't that wonderful? He vindicates both of them in their time of trial, equally and with full measure. He ends the strife.

The Beatitudes are also chock full of vindication.

I also have understood the meaning of the Psalms on a much richer, more clear level through the lens of vindication and what that means for God's people. It helped me understand with my head, but better yet, begin to understand them with my heart. They became less foreign. Perhaps like all good poetry, there is a key and language to them that is all their own.



Vindication is a too-good-for-dollars word. It means many things.

I would encourage you if you feel led to, and especially if you have one on your mind, find a word that is meaningful to you, and... vindicate it.

Poem!

Our lives are dust, our bread is dust,

still yet we live and have blood

Oh, agony! My heart goes out,

a flame before the flood

Washed away, cast about, 

on what rock can I stand?

The waves of woe, alas! unto;

I've built upon the sand!

Does no one hear? Is nothing fast?

the silence groans, builds, roars!

Why this torment now inflict,

beyond torment of existing sores?

O God, oh why did I not trust?

why did I mock the way?

Now gnash my teeth, and lie beneath

the dull and heaving wave.

O Mighty, that I should have knelt,

my cares an anchor upon the Cross,

For in time, either way, though differently,

I would count it all as loss.

Lo, lo, and can it be?

Right then, my Christ, He sung out to me:

  "O, my child, why are you grieving?

    Why disquieted in Me?

    Hope in God, your faith retrieving;

    He will still your Refuge be."

Still? Still? 

But I drowned beneath the wave!

"Nay, child, child...

It was I within your grave.

And you in Me, and I in you,

so we together died.

And when I rose, you rose, too:

I oped the tomb up wide."

My Lord, Lord, how can this be,

for I did naught to change?

"That's right, " said He, "I AM the One

Who did with you exchange."

Abba, Father, how can I ever repay?

For, it's "eye for an eye": life for a life.

"Well, then die in Me, be dead to thee;

I've made you my Holy Wife.

Still, son and daughter: you cannot repay the price of the Lamb:

that's why the Lamb paid the price.

But two worthless birds, the price for the poor,

I yet will take and bless over twice."

Deepest (republished)

My deepest love, a stingy gift,
My deepest praise, a flattery,
How greater far the look or thought
Of Christ, my God, my King, toward me.

My deepest pain, a surface wound,
My deepest regret, the merest fancy,
Compared to the pain which He endured,
E'en in just grieving the pain I cause me.

Dependent I, upon His all,
No deepest guilt enough to turn me,
Repentant why? Not for what I ever can thank,
But by the deep love I never need earn me.

Hymns! (republished)

... the first I'm posting, having skipped November. What can I say but they are late! But a good thing is never too late. :)

Today I am posting "As the Hart, About to Falter", a rendition of Psalm 42, and also the advent hymn "Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People", reminiscent of Isaiah 40. I am putting them together since they share the same tune and because they are both beloved to me. I love music that, when read, makes the best poetry. Actual musical roots creates the best meter to read and remember. You can be anywhere and say it or sing it.

Enjoy!


Psalm 42

As the hart, about to falter,
In its trembling agony,
Longs for flowing streams of water,
So, O God, I long for Thee.
Yes, athirst for Thee I cry;
God of life, O when shall I
Come again to stand before thee
In Thy temple and adore Thee?

Bitter tears of lamentation
Are my food by night and day.
In my deep humiliation
"Where is now your God?" they say.
Oh, my soul's poured out in me,
When I bring to memory
How the throngs I would assemble,
Shouting praises in Thy temple.

O my soul, why are you grieving,
Why disquieted in me?
Hope in God, your faith retrieving:
He will still your refuge be.
I again shall laud His grace
For the comfort of His face:
He will show His help and favor,
For He is my God and Savior.

From the land beyond the Jordan,
With my soul cast down in me,
From Mount Mizar and Mount Hermon
I will yet remember Thee.
As the waters plunge and leap, 
Deep reechoes unto deep:
All Thy waves and billows roaring,
O'er my troubled soul is pouring.

But the Lord will send salvation,
And by day His love provide.
He shall be my exultation,
And my song at eventide.
On His praises e'en in the night
I will ponder with delight,
And in prayer, transcending distance,
Seek the God of my existence.

I will say to God my fortress,
"Why hast Thou forgotten me?
Why must I proceed in sadness,
Hounded by the enemy?"
Their rebukes and scoffing words
Pierce my soul like pointed swords
As they say with proud defiance,
"Where is God, your firm reliance?"

O my soul, why are you grieving?
Why disquieted in me?
Hope in God, your faith retrieving,
He will still your refuge be.
I again shall laud His grace
For the comfort of His face:
He will show His help and favor
For He is my God and Savior.



Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Bowed beneath their sorrow's load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them
Tell her that her sins I cover, 
And her warfare now is over.

Yea, her sins, our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs are passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

For the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey! 
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to greet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.



Have an excellent advent season, y'all! Joy and goodwill abounding, first between God and man because of Jesus Christ, and so, between men on earth as well.

1 John 4:8
He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.


Peanuts Christmas song quote: "Oh that we... could always see... such spirit through the year..."

ESSENCE... and a contented artist (republished)

What follows below was originally written in a post-share, but it kept growing until I just wanted to post it here!

Habits.

Heavy things, aren't they?

Worry. Paranoia. Perfectionism. Superciliousness. Complaining. Insecurity. Selfishness. Self-image.

I would tell myself to just act natural but then I'd have to worry about it.

I think it's definitely time for a new approach. I need to shake off this old man of "act natural", "go with the flow", "see where it's going", "what does it mean". The impetuous, purposeless, passive curiosity. The desperation for newer, better, truer, more authentic, essential, the real thang. And yet implementing good habits makes new problems to watch for, like pride... it makes me fearful. Of screwing up.

I guess as we make plans, even if our hearts are still inescapably twisted while we set out to do so, and we may plan astray (after all, God is laughing), we need to understand that in being faithful and setting out to obey, if we do make honest mistakes (which we are sure to)... It's not the end of the world. Ouch. There, I said it. God forgives a broken and contrite heart, but there's extra grace fro its inevitable ignorance. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. This is because his MERCIES are not merely tantamount, they are not just an effective dose, but they are abundant: eternal. Infinite. Never-ending. He overflows for you. So stop worrying. Work, but don't worry (how often we confuse the two). Stop trying to measure up. You -- alone. Never. Will.

Ouch.

Retraining doesn't take worldly strength, strength in all the ways we are likely to picture it, or as we might imagine or fear, but rather a strength which is humility. It knows it will not be perfect but tried anyway. It has an obedient spirit, not a desperate one. As someone else posted today from Spurgeon, "Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are." Ouch. You don't have an essence somewhere out there, waiting to be collected, that fits only your individual soul that you must then seek like a starving dog. The jigsaw pieces of your heart are not scattered over the ocean to be sought. 

Habits.

Heavy things, aren't they?

Worry. Paranoia. Perfectionism. Superciliousness. Complaining. Insecurity. Selfishness. Self-image.

I would tell myself to just act natural but then I'd have to worry about it.

I think it's definitely time for a new approach. I need to shake off this old man of "act natural", "go with the flow", "see where it's going", "what does it mean". The impetuous, passive curiosity. The desperation for newer, better, truer, more authentic, essential, the real thang. And yet implementing good habits makes new problems to watch for, like pride... it makes me fearful. Of screwing up.

I guess as we make plans, even if our hearts are still inescapably twisted while we set out to do so, and we may plan astray (after all, God is laughing), we need to understand that, in being faithful and setting out to obey, if we do make honest mistakes (which we are sure to)... It's not the end of the world. Ouch. There, I said it. God forgives a broken and contrite heart, but there's extra grace for its inevitable ignorance. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. This is because his MERCIES are not merely tantamount, they are not just an effective dose, but they are abundant: eternal. Infinite. Never-ending. He overflows for you. So stop worrying. Work, but don't worry (how often we confuse the two). Stop trying to measure up. You -- alone. Never. Will.

Ouch.

Retraining doesn't take worldly strength, strength in all the ways we are likely to picture it, or as we might imagine or fear, but rather a strength which is humility. It knows it will not be perfect but tries anyway. It has an obedient spirit, not a desperate one. As someone else posted today from Spurgeon "Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are." Ouch. You don't have an essence somewhere out there, waiting to be collected, that fits only your individual soul that you must then seek like a starving dog. The jigsaw pieces of your heart are not scattered over the ocean to be sought. He has made and is making your heart whole. I was reading in Colossians 2, about "the elemental spiritual forces of this world". I don't know if it's the artistic temperament in me, but I tend to always be seeking the authentic, the pure, the essence, the forms... The element of the spirit. It drives me nuts. And it makes me careless, and therefore actually losing the very thing my empty soul seeks to gain. Is it because it is an essence apart from the living God that I seek? Why yes it is. I said it above. I am looking for an essence to fill "my individual soul." Myself. My flesh. My sin nature. And that's the problem right there.

So in seeking this ideal, this perfection, this art, this pretty picture, we can't trust our actual actions and our knowledge, but rather that God has us in a place where we are making actions at all, that we are alive, and receiving His common grace at the least, which is not common at all but wonderful, and that He has entrusted His actual actions and His substance knowledge unto us, in the appropriate amount according to His wisdom for the passage of each of our lives. Therefore there must be a reason. For everything. You did, at most, your best that you were honestly aware of and that's what God requires. Yes there are should-haves and wish-I'd-have-knowns and how-couldn't-I-have-realized. But the truth is, you didn't. You didn't know: you didn't know because you aren't all-knowing: you may have known once and even forgotten, mentally or spiritually or emotionally whatever it was, and feel even worse for that: having it taken away so... Quietly. But to angrily say, "I should have had this knowledge" "how could I have been so blind" -- these are deeply prideful statements (not to mention despairing and holding onto guilt that has been paid). And pride is uncontented and untrusting, deeply rooted in self and an exploration to fulfill self. Fulfill self in looking for images all around us in all we do or say or think or are... That look like ourself. Little idols of ourself. But rather than these self-destructive reactions, and these desperate searches, know that God provided you with what He is using to accomplish HIS will, HIS essence. HE will make HIMSELF known. So, yes we ARE broken and incomplete from day to day, especially in hindsight: we lack this essence we imagine, crave and picture, our inflated image of ourself. Yes, we do everything all wrong and screw up constantly, even when we think we finally understood and we're going to... Accomplish!!! We wanted to be accomplished. We wanted to be the essence. Our own essence. We wanted to be perfect. We wanted it to be all in ourself. We wanted to be complete. We wanted working parts. We wanted to have it all. We wanted control. We wanted to be... God.

But you know, what's there?  That pathetic mistake-making fool who is -- more frequently than you like to accept -- yourself? That's enough.

We don't make ourselves gods.

Can we do better if we try? Certainly, if we are asking God's help to guide our fumbling heads. Do we see improvements in all manner of things, despite ourselves and our actions, every day and every hour? Yes. Did the plan for the Lord's whole kingdom fail because you were wrong? No.

No. That's right. We don't get to make ourselves gods. As Jesus said, God makes us gods. ("I said, "You are 'gods'." John 10:34, Psalm 82:6) After HIS image. To follow in HIS footsteps. In HIS essence. "Heat was in the very sod, which the saint had printed" to borrow an illustrious illustration from the song "Good King Wenceslas."

You are not the balancing center of the universe, but a subject of the One who is.

Yes. Wow.

With that, I have peace. God is enough. If I crave an essence? A spirit? A true _____? That intangible but real sense of beauty? The "je ne sais quoi", if you will? He is the best there is. I am content. I have to be. Not because I have found the limit but because I have found the limitless. A form, an essence, my brain cannot comprehend. A holy mystery. I absolutely have to be content. There is no other happy alternative.

Are you treading water, struggling, gasping for air, roping the sails, seeing the waves? Yes. We sure do. But are you drowning? Are you dead? No. You're not. You are alive in Christ, and any dying you do today is the part that is already death to you itself. The very essence of death, the thing you craved for so much. Evil. All that you are ultimately seeking if you are seeking apart from God.

Death is swallowed up in death. Where now, death, is thy sting? Dear twisting thorn, you can bring me only joy since I know you are a gift from my Father.

"... the author and finisher of our faith... who for the joy set before him, endured the pain of the cross... scorning its shame... and sat down at the right hand (most important place!) of the throne of God"

The struggle is part of the story.

If you crave majesty, just look at His. It is enough. "The right hand of the throne of God."

So, no longer do we cry sadly, mournfully, pridefully, helplessly, despairingly, "How can I have been so blind?!?!" 

Rather, we look at the Lord's grace calmly and peacefully, saying, "I was blind... but now I see. Thank you God. Thank you for showing me; I pray you will show me even more, as I am still in the storm, though you are with me. Help me to obey better next time: or, right now! Your will be done. How high are your ways above our ways."






(Ouch!)

Poem that happened on Mother's day (republished)

New ways
To praise
The God of all
Abound with
Each new day

So lift
A gift,
A glorious call,
And let Him
Hear you say...

God is glorious
And victorious,
And keeps His good from none
Who call on Him;
He'll not let dim
The ones who love the One

Jesus, He died,
The Spirit outcried,
To punish One so loved
But love, that love,
It was the same
Why Christ needs be crucified

And descend
Where I should be,
He gave His high throne up
For me
Oh glory this!
How silently
The King goes forth so brave...
His ones to save.

And can it be,
That I through He,
Be chosen -- what makes me great?
Naught, but the glory of
His gracious love,
Despite my cruel hate.

They would not see,
He saw them blind,
And ope'd their eyes to see.
They would not hear,
Would not give ear:
But deaf, He heard them to be

And that Word,
His people heard,
That truth was plain to see;
Now they saw,
And attentive in awe,
And there lies the mystery.

What mercy there!
Pow'r beyond compare!
To use my sin
For such grace;
The very things,
Those condemnings,
Become the way
I at last hold His face

He turns all poor
to be the best,
A noble change He does make:
Sweet mystery,
For only He
Can nature's nature so overtake

God is glorious
And victorious,
And keeps His good from none
Who call on Him;
He'll ne'er let dim
The ones who love the One


Jessica Moore (c) 2013

"Jesus Wept" (republished)

Don't get caught in the death cycle: overwhelming grief and unrighteous anger vs. repentance and righteous living

Hi there! Actually using my blog for my thoughts -- amazing, I know. But good habits are made, not brought on by osmosis.  :) It's probably better that way. More memorable.


Grief~

   It is interesting and pertinent to note that our sins (and all that comes from sin) grieve God. They are not something He gleefully pounces on in order for to teach us a real good lesson, to knock us over, throw us off balance (though He may allow them to do just that to get us to realize who IS like that -- Satan). Instead, although they DO anger him because He is just, they also cause grief -- mourning, sadness -- because He is merciful. Your sin is SAD to God. Pitiable. He is a tender Father, a compassionate God, slooooow to anger, and abounding in mercy. If rejection -- insult -- is a valid emotion in humans, it certainly is in God, who has SO much more reason to be accepted, as reigning King and Lord!*
*(parable of the wedding banquet, Matthew 22:1-14)

- Genesis 6:6
- Judges 10:16
- Isaiah 7:13
- Isaiah 43:24
- Isaiah 63:10
- Psalm 78:40
- Mark 3:5
- John 11:35
- Acts 13:18
- Romans 8:11
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
- Ephesians 4:30
- Hebrews 10:29



Think about this.


   I think the direct consequence for sin is righteous indignation and discipline and vengeance, but the truly lasting knife in the back is grief over our sin: although, unrighteous anger and lasting grief go hand in hand as well. Jesus bore both our grief and God's wrath; God bore grief for Jesus, and all the chastisement really for us for being the cause of Jesus' death was also borne by Jesus. Incredible mystery. Our sins grieve God because each one was ultimately another piece of wrath inflicted on His guiltless Son; and remember too, that now we are part of that same Son's body. Therefore to grieve the Spirit is to anger God is to inflict the Christ in whose body we share is to hurt our own flesh, our own Head, and commit spiritual suicide in spite to One who loves us and sustains us. Thus any sin is not only against God, but against those who belong to God: ourselves and those around us.

   But we just keep on sinning. So what's to be done? Well, we need to look at why to anger God is to inflict suffering on Christ. So... Why?

 Love. Mercy. Compassion. Forbearance.

  It seems contradictory, to punish one in order to save others the punishment, but if we know the full depth and seriousness of our sin, we can be sure it most certainly isn't. And if we realize that Jesus was completely in tune with God's purpose: righteousness, blamelessness, uprightness. And if we realize that Jesus is bigger than our sin. Proverbs 3:27. If the Father and Christ decide we miserable beings are due mercy according to the law of His love, and it is in Their power to give it, than He will not withhold His goodness from us. He hasn't held it from us! Amen!

   For only a righteous man can bear a punishment for crimes and still be considered righteous when he comes out of the time of punishment. But if an unrighteous man commits a crime, and is punished for it, he will always have been guilty of that crime, and bearing guilt for it, if not legally than in his heart: even if he doesn't realize it. But if the righteous man takes on the guilt and punishment, then he has hidden the ungodly man's crimes in the sight of the Father and the Spirit. And they will not condemn Him either though, once the punishment is borne, because they know of His valiant, compassionate deeds; and They are all in Unity; and what's really wonderful? After all this, Jesus takes us. He TAKES us. We are now His. We belong to the most awesome person ever, the One who saves us. A holy life-debt of blessing. So are we going to spit in His face and refuse His salvation by continuing in sin and the wallowing in sin that is technically done away with by His grace; and commit that spiteful spiritual suicide in further wrathful grief? Will we hang ourselves after we betrayed him, like Judas? Or will we humble ourselves before Him, listen to His rebuke, three-fold restoration and redemption, and follow Him after we betrayed Him, having faith in our salvation despite ongoing sin, like Peter???

   You need only be still. The Lord will fight your battles for you. In fact, you will feel His Spirit doing that increasingly so in a lot of areas of your life. Does this mean you are condemned, because you are being molded? Certainly not! Inward spiritual battles, and their -- albeit, it seems to us, only occasional -- outward after-effects, the fruits of the Spirit, are proof of God's salvation and grace and inheritance bestowed to us! A part of Him! Amazing love, how can it be.


More Concerning Human Grief and the Condemnation Arises Forth-whence;
A Case for our Guilt thereof; :P

 1. Because we are children of unrighteous wrath, we anger a God of righteous wrath: because this is blatant hypocrisy, even mockery, on our part. Playing God, and making Him out to be something He isn't, all the while complaining about Him, and doing the same thing we insist He does that we supposedly hate so much.

 2. Because of our wrath, we cause grief to many we meet, and so, not only is God grieved for them: but also for us. For those who hurt others for pleasure are the most to be pitied, for as I said above, God does not pounce on wrongdoings with joy, and so nor should we, and those who do are guilty.

 3. When we cause other's undue grief (whether they are truly grieved or using it "grief" as an excuse for their own wrath), not only are we guilty of being wrathful, but we are guilty of giving opportunity and temptation for other's to begin a path of unrighteous anger. We are building a brick road for them to do this as well, though they are not obliged to take it: but many will. (Matthew 18:7)

 4. And we know everything we do to even the least of these, is literally as if we had done it to God Almighty Himself. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Some answers?

 1. Don't get angry about wrong, selfish, badly rooted, evil-motived things of any kind, even and quite possibly especially regarding spiritual matters and religious conflicts. (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15; Leviticus 19:17)

 2. Don't take pleasure in rejection of God or others. ("My delight is in the Lord and in His Holy law" -- including His law regarding others.)

 3. Forgive, resist and love those who present you with opportunities to become wrathful at them by their wrath towards you. ("Love your enemies")

 4. Respect, love and do not harm your own body, Christ's body, and all who were created in the image of God. For we are members of one another. For you are God's temple, and your sins there are also against you.

 Yet we know we will break these rules. Continually. A good deal of the time without realizing till too late.

So again... what is to be done?

Same as before. To quote an auspicious one-eyed pirate most scandalously: "It's the Bible. You get credit for trying."

*ANH!*

Nope. Not quite so, Raghetti. More like: "It's the Spirit, and if you're aligned with the Spirit by the power and will of the Spirit, and if there is a war going on, then God gets the credit and you get blessings in spite of yourself. How does that sound? You just will learn love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control on the side. That's not so bad, is it?"



While such a way to put it is actually rather repellent (I'm only fallen, people!)... you still get the idea. He sustains us and carries us: He will give you wings of eagles to fly. Of course, it's not always 'ups', but then again neither was Christ's life here. Remember, the world hated Him, and it will hate you because of Him. Everyone hates that salvation which reminds them of their need for it. We'd rather commit more of that profitable spiritual suicide, wouldn't we? :P But God doesn't allow that for His sheep. He prods them away from cliffs on high bluffs, but leads us to lush valleys instead. And He will spread a table for us in the sight of our enemies and those who hate us, while their bellies growl until with any hope they can't stand it any longer and are drawn to the food for their own good. And that food before us is the salvation of Christ, and the tantalizing aroma is the power of the Spirit.



ANYWAYS>>>

Back to point 4. We do and for awhile will continue to inflict because of our sins. We'll inflict ourselves, inflict others and ultimately, inflict Christ.

The difference, between us all and Him however, is key here. The difference is, when we inflict God, directly or indirectly with grief by our rebellious actions, He, unlike us, responds with righteous anger. Oh, terrible awesome wrath of perfect justice: who can stand, O Lord?

The difference is also that, when we are wrathful, instead of responding with unrighteous grief, which really just leads to more unrighteous anger, He grieves for us. Grieves for us because of His righteous anger headed in our direction, and because of our own pathetic spiritual suicide. Mercifully, tenderly, He cares.




So back to the Cross.

Because God was righteously grieved and righteously angered at all our antics and the grief it caused (leading to more wrath leading to more grief leading to more wrath, etc., etc....), He sent His son to die... hold on back-up, back-up. Because curses were in full cycle, and thorns and weeds reproducing like rabbits, God changed the pattern and sent a Blessing. And the Blessing seed died in the earth. But after a little while, it popped up out of the ground and grew and grew into a big, healthy vine. It was not choked out by thorns of curse, but will eventually overwhelm them all. And some of the Blessing seed landed on the path, and some landed in the weeds, and some on the fertile ground, and some one the stony ground, and... You know the rest of the story.*
*(Matthew chapter 13:1-23)

But where were we? Oh yes. He sent His Son to die -- surely enough to cause any good Father grief! -- and to bear His Father's anger. But because the Father was grieved and angry, and the Son was so in tune with the Father's wishes and the Father's deeply troubled heart, that the Son in love to the Father, was faced with betrayals and tortures that would cause anyone grief. But not just this. Someone also had to face the punishment for the big betrayals, for all sins committed: my Lord, He was paying and praying for sins as they were happening to Him. So you know what else? In the face of grief to Himself, Jesus still had infinitely more grief for others: for those who caused His own grief. And in this incredible way conquered the griefs of the ages: and so it is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He canceled them out by the joy, love and purity of His own willing heart. And there's more! Jesus conquered DEATH, we know! So in addition to comforting the mourners, He turned the whole funeral around. His propitiation of all God's huge perfect wrath. For only infinity can consume what may as well be infinity, it's so big. In this way, Christ my God is bigger than Sin. Literally. There wasn't just an equal exchange of vile for blameless, so that there was left a void in the wake of great battle -- no! Victory, my friends! There was more innocence in Christ than guilt in us, and so there is such thing as fulfillment: left overs; spoil; there is a cup running over instead of a cup of woe. The cup of woe was all drunk up by Christ -- a deep, sour, bitter cup, who can drink it? It is Marah to us as it was to the Israelites in wilderness days gone by -- that is until God does something miraculous. In the same way, this cup was drunk by Christ, but the cup that He gives never runs dry, we will never thirst again: it continually runneth over. Endlessly, like the Zarephath widow's oil and flour.

Anyway. We know what this means for us who are now no longer under the condemnation of the Law. It means we are alive to freely live the Law. We runneth over in Jesus and the Counselor He sends to our hearts. More is gained in the days of plenty than is lost in the days of famine. We are alive because Christ bore God's wrath.

But the point of my post was not so much focused on the conquering of death, as with another facet of it: of conquering what death produces. And this fills my heart immensely.

Guilt. That dreadful feeling.

Hear me out, I'm almost done wind-bagging! ...not only does God our Father throned above no longer condemn to death, but nor does the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. ***See bottom note please*** You DO have peace through Christ. So, not only are we legally pardoned for sin, but we are freed from the feeling it gives us: the feeling it incurs, that it lays on us like a shroud of death: of grief. Of guilt. Of shame. Of despair. Of fear. Of worry. Of exposure and nudity. Of a bad taste. Of everything that feels like a twisting knife in the back. But beloved ones, He not only swallowed up death but also the pain it brings.


"O Death, where is thy sting?"

It is GONE. It is DONE. Instead of grief we rejoice. Instead of guilt, we boast in our God. Instead of shame, we give -- and receive -- new honors. Instead of endless despair, we have infinite hope. Instead of the tyranny of fear, we are given a Master of love to lead us and care for us. Instead of worry, we are given perfect peace. Instead of exposure, we are given rich royal robes. Instead of a sour existence, we are given the fatted calf and wine and bread. And instead of a knife in the back, we are given a sword in the hand. Etc. Etc. You think up the rest. :)

Here's some inspiration.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2061&version=ESV