Day 5: Reckless Love

The page is turned~

2018 was either a good or not so good year

BUT

2019 is going to be a great year

because

I am going to do ___________ & I am not going to do ___________.

That sounds so good and so easy, when we are in control of our choices

BUT what happens when

you don't do or do do what you were planning to do or not do~

Where is control now?

I believed from a very young age that if

I acted perfect & looked perfect & followed the rules

then I would feel perfect enough

AND then my life would be perfect.

Seeking perfection because I wasn't.

Hmm...oh how I wish that worked.

I would make signed pacts with GOD~

"I, Joni, promise that I will follow You if You will do ____________for me."

A resolution between GOD and I, or was it just between me, myself & I?

Actually, it was giving GOD an ultimatum.

I bet GOD chuckled as HE shook HIS head,

knowing that HE would still pursue me

because

I am & you are

one of HIS creations~

and who creates something that they don't want?

GOD made more than a Resolution with me and with you,

because I am & you are so much more than a lump of clay,

asWHO will do whatever it takes to get

a me & to get a you

to

Come to HIM

while we are running in the other direction~

when we feel we are not worthy or deserving or perfect enough.

I chuckle now as I think about those pacts I used to make with

A GOD that I really didn't know then,

But now I am in awe~

as HE never left me.

GOD continued to pursue me,

even when I was pursing perfection in all the wrong places~

BUT the moment I looked up from the trenches of defeat,

GOD was still there

because

I was one of the lost sheep

that

HE sent HIS SON to save,

even though

I made those silly pacts with HIM

because

GOD knew how silly those where because

HE created me & HE created you

and

HE knows us way better than we even know ourselves...

and that is why

HE never gave up on us~

GOD gave up HIS SON instead.

I, _____________, (your name)

Promise that I will follow

YOU

and I, ___________, thank GOD for not giving up on me,

even when I break my promises with

YOU

because

JESUS IS NOT A RESOLUTION~

HE IS THE PROMISE!

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:4-7