Beautiful Redemption

We've been looking at 1John at Family BC for the last few weeks and it's been really... appropriate for my life. Ya see, I've kind of had a problem with wallowing in my guilt and shame..... oh pretty much my whole life. I've been asking the Lord to help me a lot lately to get through this and over it and praise God that he is ever faithful. He works in the funniest, most obvious ways sometimes. He's pretty much just been smacking me in the face with forgiveness and showing me that I don't have to feel this way anymore.

Jesus didn't die for me to carry a burden that would weigh me down, even though he knew I would sin. He died so that he could extract that sin from my life along with the lingering guilt and shame that goes along with it.

I've been applying that phrase to my life a lot lately, "Jesus didn't die for me so that I could...." It's been really motivating to go and be productive for him and to try hard to walk as he walked. Brian, from Campus Crusade, used that phrase a lot this week as well. His phrase of choice was, "Jesus didn't die so that you could sit around and play World of Warcraft all day." True, funny, but true. So, even if I'm lost and confused about where to go or what I need to be doing with my life, I can always count on the fact that if my heart is in the right place with God and if I am trying my hardest to walk as Jesus walked then I can rest assured in Him that I am living for something other than myself, for God alone and all that entails.

"We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags."(Isaiah 64:6) but God still appreciates and honors our efforts to please him and live for him. Jesus still accepts us as filthy rags, not only accepts but loves. Loves so much he would die. Die for someone like me, composed of filthy rags.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well."(Matthew 6:33)(<---memory verse for the week!!!)

God this is my prayer, that I would seek your kingdom and every good and perfect thing you are comprised of. Every good and perfect thing comes from you alone. I long for your righteousness and even though I may never achieve in this lifetime, I ask that I would continue to seek it first and bless you above all. Amen.

I'm a doubting Thomas needing to believe

I'm a perfumed sinner just like Magdalene

I am Judas kissing on your cheek eager to deceive

I am all of these

I cry, Father, Father, forgive me

You say, Child, I already have

You are beautiful

Beautiful Redemption

You are Beautiful

Beautiful Redemption

I'm the guilty thief that's hanging by your side

and my shame is dying with your sacrifice

And all my fears come crashing down as I look in your eyes

I see paradise

-Beautiful Redemption

"But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."-1John 2:5-6