HE loves You, Flaws and All

 

As I was exercising on my treadmill (yay me!!), I had my earphones in and was listening to some awesome praise and worship music. It is a wonder that I didn’t fall off. Picture it : Treadmill…Music…Caught up in worshipping my Redeemer..hands raised…eyes closed…it was beautiful. Thank goodness. 🙂 Believe me, it could have been ugly….I really do trip going UP steps. It’s happened..more than once, my husband and girls can tell you.

One of the songs that just got to me was Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman.

Some of the song: Blessed be Your name, when the sun’s shining down on me..Blessed be your name….. Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering….Blessed be Your Name..When the darkness closes in on me, still I will say..Blessed be Your Name! You give and take away..You give and take away..My heart will choose to say..Lord, Blessed be Your Name!!!

It just hit home with me. That no matter what. No matter the hurt..no matter the anger..no matter what..I can and will choose to say: Lord, Blessed be Your Name!!!

With Joy and complete Adoration. I am completely in love with my Savior…

See, Scripture tells me that EVERY  good and perfect gift is from above!

James 1:17 ~ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

AND then….Born Again by Third Day came on. I’m not gonna lie…I was having a mini-revival..in my exercise room..just me and God.

Here are some of the words to that one:

I was lost when You found me here..I was broken beyond repair..Then You came along and You sang a song over me! It feels like I’m born again, It feels like I’m living, for the very first time, for the very first time..in my life…   The life I have now, it is only the beginning! Feels like breathing, feels like I’m moving, For the very first time…

Listen to me friends, hear me when I say…these words spoke to me!

It is how I felt when I finally surrendered and waved the white flag of control over my life. You can be in church your whole life and still miss it! You can answer the call of salvation…and still miss it!  Rules…Rules..Rules…NO…it is about RELATIONSHIP! This is so important to me…I want everyone to Get It! My relationship with God..it is so amazing now! I GET IT…and I have finally given up on doing things “my way” and then giving it to Him. He wants it all. He wants us to talk to Him. He desires a relationship with us…in our sinfulness..our ugly selves..He Still Loves Us. Now, I am not at ALL saying that I live life perfectly now…I am saying that my heart’s desire is to live a life holy and pleasing to God. Because I realize that I have a need for Him..every minute of every day..and He IS Good!

I absolutely LOVE in Matthew 9 ..when Jesus straightens out the Pharisees. Read it with me..and picture the scene.

 

Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV) ~ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat  with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

  BAM !!!

Could it be any clearer? Could you totally see this happening today? I know I could, because there are still those that think just obeying RULES is the “ticket” to Heaven. There is no ticket. It is a free GIFT. Paid for in full by Jesus Christ once and for all on Calvary’s Mountain! Can I get an AMEN!!! There is a cost though.. and that cost is surrender. Let’s also never forget the cost that HE paid…the sacrifice HE made. Out of LOVE…for YOU and for ME. We are to continually choose surrender and relationship to/with HIM.

Look at those verses…see how relational Jesus is. He ate dinner at Matthew’s house. Think about it. He spent time with those who desired Him and with those whom the Pharisees looked down their noses at. He didn’t act as if they weren’t good enough. The Pharisees lived their lives following rules…they even questioned Jesus. We aren’t really different…at some time or another, I was a Pharisee. Then…came surrender..which then brought freedom. Like the song said…Feels like I’m Born Again, Feels like I’m Living…

I just had to share with you all…just how pumped up I am today…because of Jesus. Because His Mercy is NEW Every Single Day. I want you all to know that He Loves You…flaws and all. AND then…when you wave the white flag, He’s gonna bless you beyond your wildest dreams! You won’t be able to hold it in. You will GET IT…You will get what I am saying!

Just know this JESUS loves YOU. Yes, YOU!! Lay it down at His feet….Don’t just try to appear HOLY…Be HOLY as you are called in Christ Jesus.  God desires for us to realize that we need HIM …that we can’t do it on our own.

 

2 Timothy 1:8,9 ~ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

 

Jesus Loves You…Yes, YOU!!

Until Next Time,