Redeeming Love, Come just as you are!

  Selfish. Prideful. Sin. It's so ugly. Now what? 

 

  We all know that we have these things in our lives. Maybe not a lot. Maybe not even more than a little. Does that really make a difference? Can just a little sin be ok? 

   Now this is not a blog to make you feel guilty. Just the opposite. This post is to remind myself, and whoever else takes time to read it, that there is a wonderful redemption. All we have to do is rise up and grab onto it. 

   What keeps us from doing that? Why don't we reach out our hands? Surrender our pride? Let the walls we built around our hearts, long ago? You know the walls I'm talking about. The one you started constructing when you didn't even realize that is what you were doing. Every time someone made you feel like you will never add up. Then that voice in your head. You know the one I mean. The broken record saying, you aren't chosen. You aren't lovely. You are never going to be worthy. 

   In steps redemption. In comes our one true knight in shining armor. He paid so dearly. To show me and you just how chosen, how lovely, he thought we are. It wasn't easy. He gave all. 

   At church a theme we have going is pride and selfishness and God wanting to do a NEW thing. I sat in the service yesterday with this very heavy heart. Feeling almost hopeless. I was asking God what he wanted from me that I wasn't giving. Asking if I would ever be good enough to have him love to. Ever be the daughter he longed for. Do you know what I heard him say. He spoke to my heart and he said, "You always have been." Can I really believe that? Can I trust that he loves me? 

   Last night, I was having a hard time going to sleep (which hardly ever happens to me). I started to pray. I was asking God why its so hard for me to let go and trust Him. I had the coolest dream. I was in the clouds. The sky was black but there were all these stark white clouds. All at once there was this bright white light shining between the clouds. All around me. Then I saw Jesus walking toward me. Not his face, because the light behind him was so bright that he was just a dark silhouette. Just as I was getting close to him he vanished. Along with the light and it was completely dark.

 

   It was so real I almost started to cry. I felt so lost and alone. Then God said, " You wont give all, cause you think that's the kind of father I am. I will never leave you nor forsake you" 

   Then the light was back. The light was so bright, there wasn't darkness anywhere. This time I could feel warm arms around me. There was a peace and a calm the washed over me. It was a perfect night of sleep! 

   Redemption is here! I don't have to do anything for it. Its free! I'm free! He set me free! 

  Can we truly take that in? Ask God to show you where you are still holding onto things you need to let go of. He is gentle and loving. He will shower you with love and grace. Come as you are.