He LIKES ME, so I can just BE...

You know, a while back, I realized something really significant. It's not that I'm that smart - but
when God shows you something so very clearly, it's pretty hard to miss.

HE LIKES ME.

There. That's it. It's so simple, yet so life changing when we really "get it". I really get it - HE LIKES ME. I mean, I knew he always loved me, and that's great. Like a parent of a teenager - never stops loving the kid, but doesn't always LIKE him or her. But HE isn't even like that. HE LIKES ME. He made me just like I am, and HE LIKES ME. Wow! What a freedom.

Maybe you weren't raised like I was. Maybe you are going "yeah, I get it, so what's the big deal?"

The big deal is this - as a child who was raised to be a performer - one who could never measure up to the expectations - THIS IS HUGE. I always knew it wasn't about works, and that I was secure in God, but I was always left with the picture of Him being disappointed or upset with me over my poor choices, my "sin", and so forth.

What HE has shown me is that all of that was COMPLETELY dealt with at the cross, and that the righteousness of CHRIST has been IMPUTED (put on, placed upon, attributed to, accounted to) ME (and YOU). "He, who knew no sin, was made to BE sin, that we (who knew no righteousness) would be MADE TO BE the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Not only that, HE LIKES ME (and YOU). We can be free to just BE who He made us to be. It's not what we DO that determines who we are. We are who HE says we are. Who we ARE will determine what we DO, if we only realize who we are and whose we are, and that He isn't angry with us. HE LIKES US.

J

Being Really ALIVE

The article below really spoke to me today. Kim and I had been talking about how our circumstances had brought us to a place where we were not really living. 4 years has been a very long time. I mean we are surviving, but not really enjoying the simple things and the true blessings around us. Our friends have been so very good to us, and our families have been even more amazing. Another friend called us last night (we are in North Carolina, for another trip to the doctor), at the end of a very difficult day, to tell us they were praying, and that they felt God leading them to send us a title for the next few months to help cover medical expenses. God never ceases to amaze us. He told us at the beginning that if we would let go and not try to "work it out", He would bring us through in a "most unexpected way". Well, he continues to take care of us month by month, day by day. Some days, I have felt like I couldn't go another step, only to find a friend coming along side, to help hold us up.... We have been givers for many years, and have met needs of others, and it has been very humbling to be in a place of such great need, but I will forever be grateful to all of those who have helped us in such real, tangible ways. Prayer is incredible, but prayer coupled with action is even more amazing. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such incredible friends and family, and yet - some days, it's really hard to live - to just enjoy what we DO have, and enjoy what we CAN enjoy. There isn't much Kim can do right now - she can't walk, stand, drive, even sit up or feed herself sometimes, and the strain on all of us can be tough, but we must learn to live here. We can't put all of life on hold until this time ends. We have to live - each day. I thank God for what He is teaching us here, and long for the day when we truly live regardless of our circumstances... in complete peace and the strength that only comes from Him and the relationships He works through in our lives.

Some well meaning folks have felt the need along the way to impress upon us that our situation is a result of something wrong in our lives. After living through that and hearing God's perspective on it, I will never be able to lay that crap on anyone. I also don't ever want to hand out "pat answers" or "just believe" statements again, either. They're hollow when you are in such a place that you realize you have no control over the situations or bringing them to an end. Only God holds the answers, the ending, and the results. They are all His, and we would be better off just listening to what He tells us about ourselves, rather than trying to figure out how to "fix" others. THANK YOU GOD for the friends who have loved us and not tried to "fix" us. God told us He likes us the way we are, and we are so thankful for friends who do, too...

Jeff

Ras Robinson's Posts can be found at http://www.injesus.com/index.php?module=group&task=details&GroupID=RB005YO1

FULLNESS ON LINE

WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TODAY - June 20, 2006
Ras Robinson
Jun 20 2006 07:00AM


June 20, 2006. Live it boldly. Awaken to the new day before you. Rise and shine. Let the glory of the Lord radiate from your life today. The bird nests outside my window are empty. The baby birds are becoming adults. They are singing with all their heart and voice that this is the greatest day before them. Here is My word to you: Greet this day with a smile and with a determination to make someone happy today. Get lost in serving others. Show the world around you what Jesus looks like in the flesh. Dare to be bold and very courageous in all you do. Refuse to live your life sparingly. Rather, live it abundantly and overflowing with His fullness all day long. Reckon yourself dead to sin and to yourself and explode through being alive to Christ. Fervently express the indiscernible Jesus living with your body. Live it boldly.

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

IRONIC, isn't it?

I thought this picture was incredibly ironic - PEACE ON EARTH in an old picture in front of the World Trade Center... What an amazing prophetic paradox of irony...


taken from "Ironic" - Alanis Morissette

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
And isn't it ironic...dontcha think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
"Well isn't this nice..."
And isn't it ironic...dontcha think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

A traffic jam when you're already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic...dontcha think
A little too ironic...and yeah I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

Ever feel this way? I know for us, with all we have been going through, it seems like alot of "would be" opportunities are before us, and yet, we are so blessed, and so well cared for, and so tremendously and unconditionally loved... isn't it IRONIC how we can be going through so much and yet be so completely surrounded by the love of God? Wow. amazing. sometimes in the most difficult of situations, we find ourselves and find God in such a deeper and more intimate way...
How ironic that the times of greatest gain are often during the times of greatest loss...
and how the love of a friend who doesn't have to explain "why" you're going through what you're going through can carry you through...

Jeff