“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” ~Tim Keller
The darkness inside my heart is vile.
Yet, when I get to see Jesus, the darkness will disappear the same way it does when you flip a light switch.
The darkness doesn't get to push back. It just loses.
The desire to be changed will be fulfilled. No more sin! Come, Lord Jesus!
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
https://t.co/clqGfl1Ezz
Imagine a friendship without any anxiety. You know regardless of your darkest secrets they have not left you.
Their love covers it all and they are your greatest encourager. They will never leave you. Death can not take them from you.
Wouldn't you want to be with them always?
@Isabelletkrause True. Are we praying for "His will be done" or "our will be done."
I absolutely can be guilty of this. But God is not my butler to fetch me a coffee and donut, He is my good and perfect father. He knows what's good for me and what is not. Sometimes "no answer" is my answer.
"Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!"
I deserve separation from God but, in grace, Jesus came to earth to redeem me and any who will believe in him.
Jesus in my place.
When a boy receives a bike as a gift and rides and finds joy, if he thanks the bike for the joy does he not reject the giver of the bike? Would there be a bike at all without first the giver joyfully giving it to him?
Oh that we might run to the giver of life in thanksgiving!
Our hearts desire is to be known and loved.
Death, loneliness and depression are rampant enemies.
This is why Jesus' return will be so good. Not some weird afterlife where you do whatever you want.. But a future betterlife where you are personally known and loved forever.
"Have you found yourself?"
Nope, but Jesus found me!
Bring your questions to him. Bring your struggles to him. Bring your pain to him. He's big enough to carry it all. He will not cast you out.
Don't run to self reliance, or religious systems of duty, run to the person of Jesus.
We often boast of things we have no control over. I am not a self-made man. God knit me together. God placed me in Canada. God blessed me with my family and opportunities and skills.
What do I have that I have not received?
Let the heart return praise to it's maker!
@KnowingFaithPod@jenniferwilkin@jt_english@kyleworley I was just thinking on this yesterday. For someone just starting to learn to write, it is a temptation to let AI help me out (not wrong) but I would lose the time battling for the right phrase and the relational building with the Holy Spirit through that experience.
@Isabelletkrause CS Lewis compares sex before marriage as eating food but then vomiting it back out so that you don't get the benefits of it. You get the pleasure of eating but no benefit to your body. In fact it's a detriment to the body.
Spiritual bulimia
Oh how we twist God's good gifts :(
"And He wasn't surprised
At where I had been
He was waiting for me
At the end of my sin
And the heaven I found
In the hell I was in
That's where his mercy
That's where His mercy begins"
https://t.co/eYg5bZ2TAo
The great misunderstanding of what sin is comes from a misunderstanding of who God is.
Until the heart sees the infinite value of God it will not view the debt of sin as infinite value.
Yet, his value is great and his goodness is without measure. For all good comes from him.
Sinner, meet the great Savior: Jesus Christ. He, the only one who ever deserved eternal life by his perfect obedience, laid down his life that you may share in his reward. God offers you mercy, not by letting you out of hell centuries early on good behavior, but by sending his own Son to bear your consequence so you never taste a drop of his wrath.
His obedience for your rebellion, his reward for your guilt, his death for your life. Will you not relent?
Read “No Sin Is Worth Hell” by Greg Morse.
Just as our toddlers think they know better than us.. so do we often think we know better than God.
As we grow Lord, discipline us for our good that we would be trained up in the right way. Your way is right. For all wisdom and understanding comes from you alone. (see Dan. 2:21)
"...I will offer to you the sacrifice of praise. How you broke my fetters I'm about to tell so that everyone will adore you and say, 'Blessed is the Lord in heaven and on earth; great and marvelous is his name.'" ~ St. Augustine
Those who are forgiven much, now love much! /2
"My God, I want to think back over all your mercies toward me and tell the world about them with a thankful heart. Let my bones be soaked in your love until all my being cries out, "Lord, who is like you? You burst open the chains that bound me..." /1