paravanes:meditations

Photo by Deborah Evans (c) 2019 "It is finished." No more barriers between God and people. Ask and listen and trust and obey. No, God is not angry with you. God invites you away from destructive behaviors and thoughts otherwise known as "sin." God loves you enough to provide a safe way to escape the pain that has cursed humanity from the earliest of days. You are not compelled to choose God's ways, but the option is open. When Jesus said "It is finished", he was affirming the completion of his earthly work as the debt payer for our sin and shortcomings, Believers are empowered to live out God's dreams for us . All of this goodness happens after a night of betrayal and a day of pain, tears, clouds, earthquakes, and death. Jesus, the Unstoppable Savior and Redeemer, works in the meanest places to bring us hope and light and life. He reaches out to you. Will you reach back to him?

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing buy the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow that makes me clean, I know. (sometimes sung as "white I know.") No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus! -- Robert Lowry (1876---now in public domain) Am I looking for some other way to "fix my problems" and move forward in  life? There is nothing but the blood of Jesus that re-starts my experience, removes guilt in life and fear of death, that focuses my gifts on something worthwhile and worthy, that frees me to forgive myself and others, that empowers me to life gracefully and honestly even when surrounded by those who are not graceful nor honest. How can this be true? How does the death of the God-Man Jesus Christ make me whole? His death and suffering reconnect me to God. Through the blood of Jesus, I am no longer under guilt for the bad things I have done and the failed/...