Many, many things touched me, even to tears, this past Sunday - prayers, lyrics, Scripture, anecdotes and small testimonies, even a simple glance between sisters, and the encouragement from D&H to the body, from the body to D&H.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Be hidden in Christ.
He is merciful.
And D's closing word - Love One Another.
I just came back from a retreat essentially about Loving One Another.
I have often been appalled at how little and impure my love for Christ is. I am also often appalled at how little I truly love others - Christian, non-Christian, even those I am closest to. I know this, but I'm still blown away when I realize this once again - that there is absolutely no good in just myself. Let my words, action and reputation among people who like me not deceive me. I forget the things most important to them, I go back inside to get them a blanket and bread and never come back, I don't fully rejoice in their joys, nor fully suffer in their suffering. I have grieved the Spirit time and time again not because I have had huge hurdles to jump in obeying His urgings, but because of my sheer laziness, cowardice, instinctive stubbornness, and blinding inward focus (part of the reason why I stopped blogging so much).
Yet I am (and we who have put our hope in Christ are) crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. He lives in me. And He waits for the moment that I fully invite Him to now work in me.
Held onto by the mercy of God and the mercy of brothers and sisters, we pray and pray for this kind of heart:
"The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John the Baptist)He is merciful.
And D's closing word - Love One Another.
I just came back from a retreat essentially about Loving One Another.
I have often been appalled at how little and impure my love for Christ is. I am also often appalled at how little I truly love others - Christian, non-Christian, even those I am closest to. I know this, but I'm still blown away when I realize this once again - that there is absolutely no good in just myself. Let my words, action and reputation among people who like me not deceive me. I forget the things most important to them, I go back inside to get them a blanket and bread and never come back, I don't fully rejoice in their joys, nor fully suffer in their suffering. I have grieved the Spirit time and time again not because I have had huge hurdles to jump in obeying His urgings, but because of my sheer laziness, cowardice, instinctive stubbornness, and blinding inward focus (part of the reason why I stopped blogging so much).
Yet I am (and we who have put our hope in Christ are) crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. He lives in me. And He waits for the moment that I fully invite Him to now work in me.
Held onto by the mercy of God and the mercy of brothers and sisters, we pray and pray for this kind of heart:
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Paul)
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James)
"Oh! it is so sweet to die with Christ, To the world, and self, and sin
Oh! it is so sweet to live with Christ, As He lives and reigns within"
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
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