what is it about suffering that scares us so much?
why do we feel a need to cover our weakness with pride?
what is it about death that causes us to avoid it at all costs?
and why is it that when someone speaks about suffering, weakness and death they are thought to be negative...discouraged...emo...??
count it a blessing when you endure trials and hardships...
in our weakness He is strong...
there is no greater love than this, that a man would lay down his life for a friend...
i've been reading some books that have me asking myself these questions.
am i afraid to suffer?
am i ashamed of my weakness?
do i avoid death?
why?
christians who refuse to look squarely into the suffering of Christ are not Christians at all. they are a breed of pretenders, who would turn their back on the cross, and shame His death. you cannot hold up the cross, nor drink of the cup without embracing the death. and you cannot understand love, unless you first die. ~ ted dekker
just some thoughts....i wonder what you think :)
"God so loved the world He gave His only Son..."
but how much do i love the world?
what would i give so the world could know the love of Father?
what would i give so the world would have a chance to know His love, but with no guarantee that they would ever accept Him?
i don't think it's enough to only love Christ. it doesn't seem to have been enough for Father.
His love had to overflow somewhere...
in the beginning
of this overflow God created...
sky
wind
waves
seeds
dna
souls
us.
Agape love is to great to keep within one relationship.
it grows, expands, pours out and splashes over anyone standing near it.
this love is found in the difference between two families.
the first family had such great love for each other they decided to dedicate one night each week to "family time." on this night the phone was shut off, the televisions and computers were unplugged and the door was locked so the family could enjoy uninterrupted quality time together.
the second family also had great love for each other and decided to dedicate one night each week to "family time." on this night extra chairs were placed around the table, a large meal was cooked and the front doors and windows were flung open, inviting people in.
which family had more love?
yesterday i stepped from the plane and the first word to leave my mouth was "warmth!" i knew that i was really excited to see people here in texas, but didn't realize how happy i would be to actually be in texas.
and it's made me realize and thank God for an incredible gift He has given me. there's this line in a poem called "The Vision" (one of my favorites) that goes like this:
"people write their address in pencil and wonder at their strange existence..."
in the last 5 years i've called 3 different places home. but none of them are home because that's where i unpack my suitcase.
it's the friends-the family-i find. it's the joys and the heartaches, the jokes and the tears that catch my heart and attach me to these places.
and that's an incredible gift.
no matter how sad i am to leave home and loved ones, within 10-15 hours i'm stepping off a plane and being welcomed home again by family. :)
so who knows how many times my address might change in the next 5 years? because of His goodness and His faithfulness, it really doesn't matter.
