Just Say Baaaa...

 

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, NIV)   

I spent some time this morning just confessing before God that I am a sheep. And I don't mean that in an "I'm not fat, I'm fluffy" kind of way. I mean in a dirty, smelly, dumb animal kind of way. Let me explain.
 
As I was praying, I noticed myself once again asking God for some affirmation and encouragement on a specific issue. Now, I have asked for this before - many times, in fact. And God is faithful to answer each and every time. And so, there I was again, asking Him to supply something I know He knows we have already covered. Why can't I accept this covering once and for all? Why can't I rest on His promises and accept Him at His word, once and for all? As I listened to myself asking my Heavenly Father for the same thing all over again, I wondered, "Why doesn't He get tired of me already and tell me to go bother someone else?" And I realized, because I am a sheep. And He expects me to act like a sheep.
 
As I thought about this, I realized how many other dumb sheep things I do daily. I lose my way. I ask questions for which I already know the answers. My attitude stinks. I ram my head against the same brick wall, hoping for different results. I wander off from Him and then pout because I feel like He's not there for me. I am a sheep. Yet, He is the Shepherd. Ezekiel 34:11-12a says, "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep" (NIV). How I need the comfort, nurture and protection of the Shepherd.
 
After I spent time just confessing how sheep-like I am, I spent time praising Him for His infinite patience with us, His flock. I praised Him for knowing how dirty, smelly and dumb we are and loving us anyway. I praised Him that He knows how very little we have to offer and accepts it as our gift to Him. A shepherd doesn't expect his sheep to be wolves or eagles or anything other than sheep. Knowing that comforted me in the strangest sort of way. I love knowing that He leaves the 99 to get the one lost, hopeless sheep. (Matthew 18:12-13 NIV). He doesn't pick the sheep up and yell at it for acting like a sheep. Instead He patiently, lovingly carries it back to the flock and resumes His watch.
 
I love knowing that when I bring my little insecurities to Him, revealing my weaknesses and confusion, He doesn't say, "How can you be so stupid?" He says, "I expected nothing less from a sheep" and loves me anyway.
 
I hope that, like me, this will comfort you today. I hope that when you feel lost, hopeless, and smelly or just plain dumb for making the same mistakes or going to God with the same requests, you will just reflect on being a sheep. Spend time thanking Him for loving you anyway and being your Shepherd every day.
 
Dear Lord, thank You for being my Shepherd, and for loving me even when I act like a sheep. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

Power verses:

 

Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." (NIV) 

Psalm 28:9, "Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." (NIV) 

John 10:14-15, "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me???just as the Father knows me and I know the Father???and I lay down my life for the sheep." (NIV)

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES by MaryBeth Whalen © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Christ In You

 

"God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27 HCS)

While moving through the line at a college cafeteria, one of my friends spotted a note stuck in a bowl of apples. It read, "Please take only one apple per student. Remember, God is watching!"

When my friend, one apple in hand, got to the end of the line, he spotted another note – this one hand-written – next to a bowl of cookies. It read, "Take all the cookies you want! God is watching the apples."

Has it ever struck you how comically absurd it is for us to behave as if God is compartmentalized, convincing ourselves that somehow we can live separated from – or hidden from – God's omnipresent spirit?

But this belief – and the resulting behavior – is contrary to the Gospel. The brutal and bloody death of Jesus was not just about paying the penalty of our sins; it also released the Holy Spirit to scrub us white as snow so this Jesus-Spirit could live within us.

When you become a believer, God breathes the Holy Spirit into you (John 3), creating a constant connection between you and the Heavenly Father, a flowing fountain of living water springing up into life eternal. (John 4:14)

To echo Ian Thomas, who is an obedient teacher of Christ, the work of Jesus allows God to come out of heaven and dwell inside you. You now have the energy and power of Jesus working actively within you, transforming you from the inside out. (Ephesians 2:10)

You are united with Christ, but not in some New Age mystical sense – He is God, and you are not– I repeat not – any sort of God. As a Christian, you partake in the Divine nature, but you are not divine. (2 Peter 1:3-4) You're merely – yet quite uniquely – a trophy of God's grace, wholly and totally dependent upon him for your salvation, your sanctification, and the next breath you take.

The Good News is simply this – Christ in you – and that is your only hope for glory (that is, an eternity with God). "The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message." (Colossians 1:27b MSG)

So what?
· God is our strength – Here's a radical "so what?" With the Spirit of God inside, you can stop praying prayers like, "God, please give me strength." The fact is, he is your strength. Your prayers can move toward allowing his strength to transform you. (Strength is just an example here – this also applies to wisdom, peace, joy, etc.)
· Up close and personal – God is not a distant God. His spirit is working within you. Paul suggests this is a down payment on the eternity to come, but it also shows that God values intimate relationship over rules or religion.
· Expect God to work in you – You are "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works …." (Ephesians 2:10a NIV) Don't hope that he's at work in you; expect him to work in you, transforming you into a reflection of Christ. Ask God where he's working in you, and then expect him to show you.

 

PURPOSE DRIVEN MINISTRIES by Jon Walker © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

No doorknob on the door

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." (Revelation 3:20 KJV)

 
Perhaps you've seen Holman Hunt's painting of Jesus. Stone archway...ivy-covered bricks...Jesus standing before a heavy wooden door.

It was in a Bible I often held as a young boy. Beneath the painting were the words, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him."

Years later I read about a surprise in the painting. Holman Hunt had intentionally left out something that only the most careful eye would note as missing. I had not noticed it. When I was told about it I went back and looked. Sure enough, it wasn't there. There was no doorknob on the door. It could only be opened from the inside....

God comes to your house, steps up to the door, and knocks.

But it's up to you to let him in. 

OAKHILLS CHURCH by Max Lucado © 2000 - 2007. All rights reserved. Excerpted from And The Angels Were Silent (Please include this line to forward the message).

Cast All Your Care Upon The Lord!

 

Finally one night, I got up, walked down the hallway to my study, opened my Bible, and read these words: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). I had read this verse thousands of times in my life, but that night it was as if it reached out from the pages of the Bible and grabbed hold of my attention. I read it and read it and read it again. At last, I picked up my Greek New Testament and began to dig deeper into the verse. What I discovered in that verse changed my life and set me free from worry, anxiety, fretting, and fear!

That night, I saw that the word "casting" used in First Peter 5:7 was the Greek word epiripto, a compound of the words epi and ripto. The word epi means upon, as on top of something. The word ripto means to hurl, to throw, or to cast, and it often means to violently throw or to fling something with great force.

The only other place this word epiripto is used in the New Testament is in Luke 19:35, where the Bible says, "And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus there on." It is important to note this passage, for it correctly conveys the idea of the word epiripto, which in secular literature often pictured the flinging of a garment, bag, or excess weight off the shoulders of a traveler and onto the back of some other beast, such as a donkey, camel, or horse.

We are not designed to carry the burden of worry, fretting, and anxiety. This load is simply too much for the human body and the central nervous system to tolerate. We may be able to manage it for a while, but eventually the physical body and mind will begin to break under this type of perpetual pressure. In fact, the medical world has confirmed that the major source of sickness in the Western Hemisphere is stress and pressure. Man was simply not fashioned to carry pressures, stresses, anxieties, and worries; this is the reason his body breaks down when it undergoes these negative influences for too long.

If you are struggling with sickness or depression, your condition very possibly could be related to stress and pressure. In First Peter 5:7, it is almost as if Jesus is calling out to you and saying, "Your shoulders are not big enough to carry the burdens you're trying to bear by yourself. This load will eventually break you — so please let ME be your beast of burden! Take that load and heave it with all your might. Fling it over onto MY back, and let ME carry it for you!"

 

Just as Luke 19:35 says they cast their garments upon the back of the donkey, now you need to cast your burdens over on the Lord and let Him carry those burdens for you!

But exactly what problems and cares are we to throw over onto the shoulders of the Lord? The apostle Peter says we are to cast all of "our cares" upon Jesus.

 

The word "cares" is the Greek word merimna, which means anxiety. However, in principle it described any affliction, difficulty, hardship, misfortune, trouble, or complicated circumstance that arises as a result of problems that develop in our lives. It could refer to problems that are financial, marital, job-related, family-related, business-oriented, or anything else that concerns us.

This means anything that causes you worry or anxiety — regardless of why it happened — is what you need to throw over onto the shoulders of Jesus Christ! Nothing is too big or small to talk to the Lord about, Peter says, because He "careth for you." The word "careth" is taken from the Greek word melei, which means to be concerned; to be thoughtful; to be interested; to be aware; to notice; or to give painful and meticulous attention. Peter uses this word to assure us that Jesus really does care about us and the things that are heavy on our hearts. In fact, He gives meticulous attention to what is happening to us. He is interested in every facet of our lives.

So don't ever let the devil tell you that your problems are too stupid, small, or insignificant to bring to Jesus. The Lord is interested in everything that concerns you!

Because of the Greek words used in First Peter 5:7, this verse carries the following idea:

"Take that heavy burden, difficulty, or challenge you are carrying — the one that has arisen due to circumstances that have created hardship and struggles in your life — and fling those worries and anxieties over onto the back of the Lord! Let Him carry them for you! The Lord is extremely interested in every facet of your life and is genuinely concerned about your welfare."

When I saw these Greek words and perceived how deeply Jesus cared about the burdens that were on my heart, I realized I was carrying a load I didn't have to bear by myself. Jesus was standing right at my side, longing to help me and inviting me to shift the weight from my shoulders to His shoulders. By faith, I heaved those financial cares onto the back of Jesus — and when I did, I was set free from the stress, anxiety, and pressure that had been weighing me down at that time in my life.

You don't have to carry the whole weight of the world by yourself. Jesus loves you so much and is so deeply concerned about you and the difficulties you are facing that He calls out to you today, "Roll those burdens over on Me. Let Me carry them for you so you can be free!"

If you are lugging around worries, cares, and concerns about your family, your business, your church, or any other area of your life, why not stop right now and say, "Jesus, I'm yielding every one of these concerns to You today. I cast my burden on You, and I thank You for setting me free!"

Prayer,
Lord, I thank You for what I've read today. I regret having carried these burdens and worries so long by myself when, in fact, You were always ready to take them from me and to carry them on my behalf. But it's never too late to do what is right, so right now I make the decision to yield to You every one of these matters that are bothering me. Thank You for coming alongside me to take these weights from my shoulders. Because You are so loving and attentive to me, I can now go free!
I pray this in Jesus' name!

Excerpted from Cast All Your Care Upon The Lord, by Rick Renner. RICK RENNER MINISTRIES © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Yoked Together with Jesus

 

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 (NKJV)

Farmers in ancient Israel used to train an inexperienced ox by yoking it to an experienced one with a wooden harness. The straps around the older animal were tightly drawn. He carried the load. But the yoke around the younger animal was loose. He walked alongside the more mature ox, but his burden was light. In this verse Jesus is saying, "I walk alongside you. We are yoked together. But I pull the weight and carry the burden."

I wonder, how many burdens is Jesus carrying for us that we know nothing about? We're aware of some. He carries our sin. He carries our shame. He carries our external debt. But are there others? Has he lifted fears before we felt them? Has he carried our confusion so we wouldn't have to? Those times when we have been surprised by our own sense of peace? Could it be that Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto his shoulders and placed a yoke of kindness on ours?
 

OAKHILLS CHURCH by Max Lucado © 2000 - 2007. All rights reserved. Excerpted from A Love Worth Giving (Please include this line to forward the message).

Winning The Biggest Battle Of All

 

Christ... is your example. Follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21 TLB)

Richard Halverson writes "Do you want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else.

 

Outrunning your rival doesn't mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfill your potential. To be your best you must compete with yourself. It's life's biggest contest. A loser is a winner - however many his losses - if he conquers himself. And a winner is a loser - however many his victories - if he loses in the battle with himself.

 

Alexander the Great conquered the world, yet cursed his own lack of self-control. Victory over others may in fact be the very thing that contributes to the winner's failure to conquer self. Winning makes him arrogant, independent, thoughtless - and sometimes cruel. To put it another way, it isn't what happens to you that makes the difference, but how you handle it. The one who stops maturing Spiritually because he thinks he knows more Scripture than others, or has more success in ministry, is still far from being what Christ has planned for him."

If you must compare yourself with another, compare yourself with Christ. "Christ… is your example. Follow in His steps: He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when He suffered He did not threaten to get even; He left His case in the hands of God who always judges fairly" (1 Peter 2:21-23 TLB). Go ahead, measure yourself by that standard! And when you see how far short you fall, get down on your knees and ask God to mould and fashion your life into the full potential, the divine original He intended. Do that, and you win the biggest battle of all!

THE VINE by Bob Gass © 2000 - 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

A Matter of Light and Darkness

And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. (John 3:19)

 

I have always been amazed at how upset and completely irrational some people can become when the subject of Jesus Christ comes up. You can be talking about anything, even politics, and they will be relatively nice—even considerate. But just mention Jesus Christ, and you will see veins pop out of the foreheads of otherwise rational and considerate people.

 

We wonder, What's with this? It is a matter of light and darkness. It's a different dynamic altogether when you talk about the things of God. There is something about the name of Jesus that arrests a person's attention. Why else would people use it for effect when they take the Lord's name in vain? There is power in that name. Even the unbeliever, in a warped sense, recognizes that.

 

Jesus said, "All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed" (John 3:20). They hate the light for fear that it will expose their darkness.

 

The same is true of the Bible. When I travel, I will occasionally wind up in the middle seat, which I try very hard not to get. I am usually seated between two big guys who spill over their seats a little. As we are talking, I sometimes will reach into my briefcase and take out my Bible. They look at it. They see the gold pages and the ribbons. And at that point, I might as well have pulled out a live skunk. It represents truth to them, and deep down inside, they know it is the truth.

 

There is power in the name of Jesus and in the Word of God.

 

HARVEST MINISTRIES by Pastor Greg Laurie © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Charlie's Ants

Heaven is Open for YOU

Seeking the Savior

Simeon said, "Can I stay alive until I see him?"

The Magi said, "Saddle up the camels.

We aren't stopping until we find him."

The shepherds said, "Let's go…. Let's see." 

They wanted the Savior.

They wanted to see Jesus.

They were earnest in their search.

 

One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: "God … rewards those who earnestly seek him" (NIV, italics mine). Another reads: "God rewards those who search for him" (PHILLIPS, italics mine). And another: "God … rewards those who sincerely look for him" (TLB, italics mine). I like the King James translation: "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (italics mine).

Diligently—what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king.

Don't be satisfied with angels. Don't be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.

God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. "And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him" (2 Cor. 3:18 TLB).

Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same.

He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way.

He wants you to be just like Jesus.

 

THE TEACHING MINISTRY of MAX LUCADO © 1998 - 2006

Excerpt From Just Like Jesus  (Please include this line to forward this message).

He died for me, I live for him

Without God ...
you don't know what you are living for.
Of course you try hard to give meaning to your life,
but deep down you realize that your existence
doesn't really seem to matter.

With God ...

you know that your life has a destiny.
Because He gives you one.
God has a plan for you
and if you want to know what it is,
just surrender your all to Him.

Lay it all down, all your own ideas and concepts
about how life should be.
He knows better and if you let Him,
He'll guide you into His perfect plan of love
and fruithfulness for your life.

The more you love Him,
obey Him and surrender to Him,
the more He will be able to flow through you
to bring His healing and His hope
to people around you.

CHRISTIAN ART for you © 2004 Inspirational christian art posters copyright David and Renate Sorensen.No unauthorized usage of any of these images allowed.(Please include this line to forward).

The Heart of Jesus

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." (Psalm 34:18-22)

Is your heart heavy today? Are you facing circumstances that to you seem impossible to bear? Jesus is the Answer to all of your problems. However, if you notice in the verse, it says that we need to come to Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits.

There have been many times in my life when I have gone to Jesus and asked Him for help. He did not help me because my heart was not right before Him. I was praying against people and not for them.

Search your heart today and see if Jesus is pleased with you. Is your heart broken because of the way you have treated others and Him? Jesus longs to kiss away the hurts of your life, but your heart must be right before Him before He can do it.

THE HEART OF JESUS by Joanne at joannelowe8@cox.net www.clarion-call.org

Feeling cornered or puzzled by your life?

"Have you not read this scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'" ( Mark 12:10)

How essential is Jesus in your daily walk? Do you feel cornered by life?

I vividly recall my grandparents' house. They've gone home to Heaven now, but growing up I visited their home every week. I remember everything: the weird smell of the house, the uncomfortable but "classic" furniture, the heavy aroma of perfume (why do grandmas always wear so much?), the two-ton, old-school television without a remote, something called a "record player"…I remember it all.

I also remember how happy it made my grandmother when we would come to visit each week before she died. I remember her smiling from the time my mom and I entered until we left. I remember sitting at the little, off-balance table in the kitchen, eating brownies that she had taken a day to make (a sacrifice I didn't understand at the time). I remember pretending to like her iced tea. I remember how the toilet ran for an hour after I flushed it. I remember it all.

Mostly, I remember the jigsaw puzzles. How many of my elementary school days were spent doing puzzles at that kitchen table with my grandmother? Innumerable. We would put all the pieces out, turn them all face up, prop up the picture of the puzzle from the box top and then (as any puzzle enthusiast knows) immediately find and assemble the CORNERS of the puzzle. Once those corners and the "frame" of the puzzle were in place, it was a race against the clock. We usually finished pretty quickly. I was a puzzle madman – not a trait that scores you many dates, but, then again, I was still in elementary school.

Once, though, we attempted to do the puzzle without putting the corners in place. Successful we were not. Her energy gave way to fatigue; my childlike joy to childish bratty-ness. We never finished the puzzle because we had abandoned our foundation: always get the corner(s) in place, first.

If your life is anything like mine, it is a puzzle. You ask God 'why' certain things happen. You wonder what is coming your way. You ponder the past and regrets; sins and struggles rear their heads. Basically, you try to get your bearings and to discover how all of these various "pieces" of life fit together. You attempt to solve the mystery of your life and see the "bigger picture", God's picture. Sometimes you may have luck but usually you are left flying almost blind, not sure what to expect next.

But if you're honest, isn't that awesome, that life is so unpredictable? Sure, it makes it more difficult, and forces you to trust more, but, truthfully, isn't that more fun? Life should be unpredictable, it forces us to rely on God more than upon ourselves. Who wants to ride a merry-go-round when you can strap yourself into a roller coaster?

IF Jesus is central enough in our lives, there are no worries. Let Jesus be the "corners" to the jigsaw puzzle of your life. That is, essentially, what today's scripture passage is speaking about – having Jesus as your cornerstone, making HIM the foundation you build, and piece together, your life around and upon. That is what we pray at every Mass when hear the words, "Through Him, with Him, in Him", it should remind us that in all ways we need to keep Jesus Christ primary in our lives, that we only function by the grace of Jesus.

At the time, I thought my grandma just loved puzzles. Little did I know that it was not the puzzle that she relished, but the time spent with her grandson. The same is true of our Lord. It's less about "how fast" you can solve the puzzle that is your life, it is about being willing to REALLY enter into life, to recognize the world around you, to sit with Jesus, in the flesh. Spend time with God today. Allow Him to show you the frame of your life, your vocation, within which He has a beautiful picture drawn and planned (Jer. 29:11), if only we are willing to spend the time piecing it together, with Him at our side.

Don't be puzzled by life, hold onto Jesus as your foundation, your cornerstone, and the picture will become clear…in time.

Feeling cornered or puzzled by your life? by Mark Hart at lifeteen.com

The Cross is Your Hope

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Joh 14:6 ESV)

Sometimes the brokeness of this world can overwhelm you like a black cloud that sucks all joy out of you.

When that happens, you must fix your heart on the cross of Jesus. It's impact on humanity is immeasurable.

Jesus is the only exit out of a world that is dying of evil and empty religions. Others gave us lots of words, forms and rituals, but only Jesus gave us His life! Jesus gave it all...

He is the way, the truth and the life. For you. All you have to do, is kneel at His cross, confess your sins, and accept His grace and unconditional love.

He truly loves you. You don't have to understand that. But you can experience it. By inviting Him every day into your life. By laying down your questions and your struggles, your pride and your anger, and simply receiving His sacrifice of love.

He loves you, He heals you, He restores you. Seek Him and trust Him...

CHRISTIAN ART for you © 2004 Inspirational christian art posters copyright David and Renate Sorensen.No unauthorized usage of any of these images allowed.(Please include this line to forward).

Jesus Feels What We Feel

"In all of our affliction, He Himself is afflicted." (Isaiah 63:9)

If you're ever curious about your maturity level, all you need to do is unearth a problem--and then you'll know. Character is conceived during times of peace, but whether it lives or dies depends on how we respond in the midst of stress.

We can be so caught up in self-hatred, frustration, guilt, shame, rejection, and a host of other things, that we feel abandoned by Him. Or worse, we think we've retarded our relationship with Him, and have to get better before He will come close again. We forget that God dwells within us, and so 'He feels what we feel'.

The Lord has the ability to carry our emotion. He is not a non-emotional God. He is fully emotional and fully looking to move on our behalf. He sees what we are doing and grieves whenever something doesn't go the way we want it to, or when it hurts us. He grieves when, like children, we put our hand on the stove and are burned, or when the other children laugh at us. He sees it, and He feels it with us, every drop of blood, every twist of our heart.

In order to progress in our spiritual walk, we need to take Isaiah 63:9 literally, "In all of our affliction, He Himself is afflicted." He doesn't just know about our sorrow; He doesn't see our sorrow, dismiss it, and expect us to immediately bounce back again. He actually experiences our sorrow, even when it's something we think He would avoid like the plague--such as guilt over willful sin.

When we are doing "well" spiritually, it isn't all that difficult to believe that God loves us. The hard part comes after we've failed. When we feel dirty, it is nearly impossible to believe that He still finds us beautiful. The enemy is able to come in and play with our heads. We feel like the scum of the earth, completely and irreversibly disgusting. And once again, we face a moment of choice that will kill us, one way or the other.

Our moment of choice is this: We can choose to take Him at His word, or we can choose to take matters into our own hands and ignore the possibility that, just maybe, He is really as good as the Bible says He is. Maybe He loves us like He says He loves us, not according to how we love ourselves. In the midst of our pain, whatever that pain may be, He gets down on His hands and knees, washes our feet, bandages our wounds, kisses us quiet, and says all is well.

And this is where character is conceived, not in our moments of perfection, but in our moments of realization: He loves me.

The excerpt of IN GOD WE TRUST--TAKING HIM AT HIS WORD written by John Paul JacksonStreams Ministries International www.streamsministries.com