Sacrificial Gift

Sacrifice.  It began at birth.  When Jesus came, He sacrificed the luxuries of heaven, the highest place, to come to this earth in the form of man, a baby, the lowliest place.  Jesus' sacrifice for us began at His birth and was completed at His death on the cross. "It is finished," He declared as He stretched out His arms of love on earth to the heavens, offering Himself up for us.  May Jesus' sacrifice of love inspire us all to offer up ourselves as gifts of love.

Broken Offerings

¹⁵ 

"Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ 

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

¹⁷ 

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise."  

Psalm 51:15-17

A place to begin.  Offering God my best isn't enough.  Offering Him my brokenness is.  When I am honest with my brokenness, then I know I can begin to receive healing and grace.  Honesty, though, is different than awareness.  Awareness is knowing I'm broken (my sinfulness reminds me of that every day).  Honesty with my brokenness is recognizing up-close how broken I am.  Today, Lord, I begin handing you each broken piece because I know, like a mosaic, You will make something beautiful out of them. 

New Hope

New life
because of a Living Hope
the reward
of genuine faith.
Hurt no longer weighs on me
like a metal-plated vest,
I can swim freely
towards the bright horizon
filled with brilliant colors of the rainbow
and touched by glittery gold.
God has thrown me
a new life vest
one that lifts me above the waters
as if I'm being carried by His wings.
The wind caresses my face with its warmth
and the Spirit fills me with a fresh breath
"Keep going. Keep going."
I hear His encouraging whisper
and look to see felled trees around me,
courage and humility strengthens my flight.
Off in the distant I see the LORD with an axe
sharpened and ready to cut down more trees-
"Take heart! I have great power,"
He calls to me
and I move forward with more determination
than ever before.

.AMY.. 2010