Loyalty

When God created Adam, a body was prepared for him that would suit the Son of God Himself.

Psalm 139 :14 God made us fearfully with the capacity to suffer horrific pain; and He made us wonderfully  with the capacity to enjoy exhilarating pleasure. We have the capacity to love and enjoy God at levels no other creation, including the angels has been given.

The Cross gives significance to the pain of the world. Without the Cross, all the anguish of the human race would be considered senseless suffering.
In the silhouette of Calvary's twilight,, I see  a God hanging there who is not removed or insulated from my suffering. This is not a God who is impervious to my pain. Rather I see a God who has intentionally inserted Himself into my world of pain, drinking more deeply from the cup of suffering than any other human being ever has.

Consequently, no one can look at God and say 'You don't understand' To the contrary, He empathizes with our suffering from first hand experience. He who suffered in the body cares for all who suffer in their bodies, since He Himself is in the body also. 

 The statement from this book brings to mind my friend Mike Sands who is suffering with ALS To think of Jesus with ALS...makes me think of Mike Sands, and all his family who suffer with their dad, husband, son.)  http://alswithcourage.blogspot.ca/  (nancy)

 When I can't make sense of my journey , I go back to the Cross.  When I can't process my pain levels, I go back to the Cross. When my wound seems incurable, I go back to the Cross. When I can't see my way forward, I go back to the Cross. When it feels like He's withholding from me, I go back to the Cross , because sometimes the accuser hit's me with this ancient accusation.

When I look at the Cross, I see a God with nails in His Hands, a nail in His feet, a crown of thorns on His Brow , and stripes on His Back. As He hangs there with arms spread wide, He says to me, ' I give you My mind, I give you My soul, I give you My heart, I give you My Body, I give you My Strength, I give you My all. I give you my last breath, I give you my last drop of blood.

I declare to you that  God withholds nothing from me. He has given me His all. His extravagance has empowered me, in turn to withhold nothing from Him. He had given me His everything and I now give Him my everything. I am His and He is mine.

It is because of the cross that I know He loves me......

Amen...me too Bob...thanks for the reminder, these words strongly imprint this truth deeper into my heart.