At least I'm consistent...

It's been a HOT minute since I've updated this thing. Funny thing is, the thought that made me want to update it has nothing to do with what I will actually post:

This morning, I was ... well, I was on a treadmill (see my last post). I was on a treadmill listening to Andy Stanley's podcast, part 5 of "Christian". These words are really speaking to my heart right now. I don't know how or why these things happen, but the most often heard words "love your neighbor as yourself" have taken on new prayers and new meanings for me. Not just what I'm about to say, but in the questions I ask for the day.... "How can I serve ____?" "How can I LOVE this person better?" Jesus wants me to love and I'm going to love. It ain't always easy.

But...

Today on the treadmill, in all that was said, this is what struck me:

God is great. He can convict our souls of our sin and sin we never considered, or thought we needed forgiveness for and AT THE SAME TIME, also convict us of his great love for us. Like a double whammy. That's probably why people cry at the altar. (??). Because AT THE SAME TIME, he asks that because HE PAID THE PRICE for our sin, that we stop sinning, and leaves us with this feeling of hopelessness knowing the the task he just asked us to do is something insurmountable AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME BE THE VERY HOPE we need because of... BECAUSE OF his great love for us.

What a great God! To do all this.

And he doesn't stop there. But he comes into every part of our lives and where there is death, he offers life. Where there are tears of sorrow, he offers comfort and peace, and joy. Encouragement and stability. Our lives are now anchored by Christ on the rock that is Christ.

Worthy of worship. I am so glad that God has given us the chance to return our praise and all of those feelings to him.

Without Christ, we must face the brokenness in us without forgiveness. The charges against us are too many to live out in the jail of our own darkness and self loathing. Justice.

With Christ we must watch that brokenness and darkness fade away into wholeness and healing.

Justice like mountains, but love higher and deeper. Truth and mercy in one.