Forever Your girl.....
Reading Plan: The Book of Matthew
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" Matthew 8:17
As I sat down to write this post, I suddenly realized God was changing the direction of my heart.
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" Proverbs 16:9
Can I get an amen on that verse? He does this all the time!
Studying the book of Matthew is changing me from the inside out.
As we dig deep into the life of Jesus, I grow ever more amazed at Who He is. I mean, I love Jesus, and I have for a long time. However, I am beginning to see Him differently. He is becoming intimately intertwined in my every day thoughts.
Every day that I read the book of Matthew, I close the book wanting to bawl my mascara-dripping eyes out. Reading about Jesus literally breaks me into a million pieces.
Jesus, the Son of God, came here to Earth....to save me. To save us.
This was His only agenda.
Jesus could have come in on a big white stallion dressed in kingdom attire, wearing a crown of jewels. He could have stood on a grand stage overlooking a stately podium and wagged His heavenly finger at us.
Instead, He was born in a stable. His parents were not noble. They were ordinary, plain Jane folks.
He grew up to be a carpenter. A carpenter, ya'll.
"Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form" Philippians 2:7
Jesus was not looking to be noticed.
"He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets" Matthew 12:19
Jesus had no personal agenda. His only agenda was us. You and me.
He came to wash away a sinful past.
He came to love a girl that did not love herself.
He came to bring courage to a heart paralyzed with fear.
He came to restore and accept a heart scarred from rejection.
He came to stroke my hair and tell me that I am beautiful, no matter what my eyes saw.
He came to tell me that I am cherished even though I felt unworthy of being desired.
He came to say that I didn't have to cover up my many flaws because He loves me just the way I am.
He came to show me that no matter how I feel about myself, His Truth overrides these lies.
He came to shower me with mercy and grace although many nights I felt unworthy of forgiveness.
He came to show me that I am not worthless, but priceless to Him.
He came to show me that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
He came to show me that I cannot "earn" His love because I'm already His beloved.
I will never be able to fully grasp the heights and depths of His love. It's too much to take in.
What about you?
How has He changed your life?
My life is living proof that He loves absolute nobody's and mess-ups. In fact, I believe we are His favorites. ;)
I think it's because we need Him the most.
We know the depths of our very own depravity and He comes and fills that deep gaping hole with His intense and scorching love. We cannot escape the passion and the fire of the Love He brings. He burns right through the scars.
My eyes are spilling over with tears. I have never known a love like His, and I will never desire another. I am forever His girl.
a life changed by Jesus Christ,
jill
June Memory Chunk: Psalm 23
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"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" Matthew 8:17
As I sat down to write this post, I suddenly realized God was changing the direction of my heart.
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" Proverbs 16:9
Can I get an amen on that verse? He does this all the time!
Studying the book of Matthew is changing me from the inside out.
As we dig deep into the life of Jesus, I grow ever more amazed at Who He is. I mean, I love Jesus, and I have for a long time. However, I am beginning to see Him differently. He is becoming intimately intertwined in my every day thoughts.
Every day that I read the book of Matthew, I close the book wanting to bawl my mascara-dripping eyes out. Reading about Jesus literally breaks me into a million pieces.
Jesus, the Son of God, came here to Earth....to save me. To save us.
This was His only agenda.
Jesus could have come in on a big white stallion dressed in kingdom attire, wearing a crown of jewels. He could have stood on a grand stage overlooking a stately podium and wagged His heavenly finger at us.
Instead, He was born in a stable. His parents were not noble. They were ordinary, plain Jane folks.
He grew up to be a carpenter. A carpenter, ya'll.
"Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form" Philippians 2:7
Jesus was not looking to be noticed.
"He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets" Matthew 12:19
Jesus had no personal agenda. His only agenda was us. You and me.
- He wanted to heal us. Matthew 8:17
- He wanted to open the eyes of the blind. Matthew 9:27
- He wanted to take the heinous spots away from the rejected leper. Matthew 8:2
- He wanted to heal a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Matthew 9:20
- He wanted to bring a man's young daughter back to life. Matthew 9:18
- He wanted to restore those possessed with evil. Matthew 8:32
- He wanted to give life back to the limbs of a paralyzed man. Matthew 9:2
- He wanted to calm the storms of our life. Matthew 8:27
He came to wash away a sinful past.
He came to love a girl that did not love herself.
He came to bring courage to a heart paralyzed with fear.
He came to restore and accept a heart scarred from rejection.
He came to stroke my hair and tell me that I am beautiful, no matter what my eyes saw.
He came to tell me that I am cherished even though I felt unworthy of being desired.
He came to say that I didn't have to cover up my many flaws because He loves me just the way I am.
He came to show me that no matter how I feel about myself, His Truth overrides these lies.
He came to shower me with mercy and grace although many nights I felt unworthy of forgiveness.
He came to show me that I am not worthless, but priceless to Him.
He came to show me that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
He came to show me that I cannot "earn" His love because I'm already His beloved.
I will never be able to fully grasp the heights and depths of His love. It's too much to take in.
What about you?
How has He changed your life?
My life is living proof that He loves absolute nobody's and mess-ups. In fact, I believe we are His favorites. ;)
I think it's because we need Him the most.
We know the depths of our very own depravity and He comes and fills that deep gaping hole with His intense and scorching love. We cannot escape the passion and the fire of the Love He brings. He burns right through the scars.
My eyes are spilling over with tears. I have never known a love like His, and I will never desire another. I am forever His girl.
a life changed by Jesus Christ,
jill
