Rejoice in the God of GRACE

In this season of brokenness, 

I am reminded that my Savior chose to be broken...

for ME!

That thought overwhelms me and 

causes me to rejoice...

Sheila Walsh says it better than I can,

"Do we marvel anymore that Christ came into our world, 

not as a pampered royal, but as a poor peasant's son?

Do our souls quake with deepest joy and gratitude

that even in His arrival, He chose to identify

with the broken, the beleaguered, and the beaten down?

Do we notice that, from the very beginning,

this beautiful Savior of ours came to the broken

that He might be utterly broken Himself?

What does it mean that I, Sheila Walsh, 

a broken person, have a Savior who allowed

wicked men to break His own body...

for me???

He chose brokenness.

He who existed from eternity past

in an UNbroken state chose to be 

BROKEN...

for me???

"I lay down my life-only to take it up again,

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down

of my own accord."  (John 10:17-18)

I love the Song:

When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, 

And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, 

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Oh the Wonderful Cross

Paul says that we are joint heirs with Jesus.

That means we are Children of God.

"Now is we are children, then we are heirs-

heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ,

if indeed we share in His sufferings

in order that we may also share in His glory.:

This is the part I like,

"I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing

with the Glory that will be revealed in us."

Romans 8:17-18

I asked a group of ladies this week, 

"What does suffering look like?"

Their answers:

"Everyday stuff"

"Depression"

"Loneliness"

"Broken dreams"

"A broken heart"

"A broken relationship"

I would have expected the BIG stuff:

Cancer, Loss of a child, divorce.

And while all of that is true.

We must realize that brokenness comes

packaged in many different colors..

but all require GRACE-

God's incredible love, favor, compassion.

One commentary said, 

"Grace that is from God,

retrains, converts, comforts."

This GRACE causes me to REJOICE!

Rejoicing in the God of All GRACE,

Bonnie:)