Through the Cracks 2

Back in the spring I wrote this post about how Jesus shines through the cracks of the broken vessel I am.

After this summer, I'll that I have been pretty self-focused and I have been trying to hide the cracks instead of letting Jesus be glorified. I could say that what has been on my mind is justified. Circumstances have been confusing and some just down right hard.

"psst...your weaknesses are showing..."

Thanks Satan. I realize that. You don't have remind me. I do that well enough myself.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

The weight of accusation has been heavy, but I don't want to give Satan more credit than he deserves. I want to praise my God, with hands lifted high. To be transparent about my weaknesses, not to focus on my problems, but to share the grace of Jesus with more and more people.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

It can be difficult to not give up hope. I am looking at a degenerative muscle disease, that is taking away the skills and abilities to do things I have always enjoyed and been good at, the things I trained for. There is no cure, only management of symptoms.

Yep...I could lose hope. Or I can praise God, because I look forward to the day, when I see Him and all things, including this body, are made new. I don't know what He has planned for me in this life. But I want be more concerned with the kingdom and glory of Jesus than my comfort or circumstances. I trust Him because I know that He loves me.

But God demonstrates His love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He has always had my good in mind. So I will not cease to say,

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord

I am His and He is Mine

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as I now know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as I now know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine

The lyrics to this hymn written by George Wade Robinson were used in a book I was reading and I was so moved. I am now looking for a recording to download.

This song is just too perfect for where God has me and what He is teaching me. The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians and says that it is his prayer that they may know the full dimensions of God's love and that it is in that they would be made more holy and God would be most glorified.

If experiencing and knowing God's love is what glorifying to Him, why am I running away from Him? Why am I running away from the intimacy that would mature and complete me?

Reality is that I am far mor self-centered than Christ centered. So as Paul prayed, now I pray.