the context of my life is not in the context of my life.

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”       --C.S. Lewis                      

"You will always be tempted to examine your pain and your suffering and your loss within the context of your life alone...the answer is not there."             --Andy Stanley               

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if 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.         --romans 8:15-17         

Lord, speak Your Truth into our lives, for Your Truth frees us and dawns light into all that is in the dark.  May Your Word drown out the noise of deception and lies and set our feet on what is rock-solid and unshakable.

Currently Listening A Collision By David Crowder Band see related

the deadliest of loss.

I don't want to move and I don't think I could.
I don't want to move and I don't think I should.
I don't want to move.
No, I don't want to move.
I don't want to move and I don't think I could.
Breathe in deeper now.
Breathe in deeper now.
Breathe in deeper, breathe in now.
The costliest of costs.
The deadliest of loss.
The wonder of the cross.
The breath of life that stops.
The hope of heaven bought.
The wonder of the cross.
The wonder of the cross.
Breathe in deeper now (the wonder of the cross).
Breathe in deeper now (the wonder of the cross).
Breathe in deeper (the wonder of the cross).
Breathe in now.
I don't want to move.

as i was listening to this song today, the bolded line above struck me.  the deadliest of loss.  what the disciples must have felt on the place of the skull, Golgotha.  having followed Christ throughout His ministry, from their individual callings to the cross.  believing Him to be the Son of the Living God, the hope of glory, Life, Salvation, i cannot imagine how they must have felt as this hope was seemingly crushed on calvary.  truly it must have seemed the deadliest of loss, as the only hope of heaven, the Breath of Life, died right before their very eyes. 

And then, to see Him alive after that: to feel overwhelming joy.  to be able to breathe in deeper the Breath of Life that overcame transgression and death once and for all.  Hope never ending.  what else can we do but worship.

surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.  but He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.   --isaiah 53:4-5

Your Word says.

Truth 
(Amy Fatzinger)

I can't believe I'm here at Your throne again 
Confessing once again my mouthful of sin. 
I can't believe this tongue that brings You praise 
Is the same tiny spark that sets the forest ablaze. 
 
But Your Word says sin shall not be my master 
And Your Word says I've already been freed 
And Your Word says that I am not lacking 
For the power that raised Christ from the dead is living in me, 
Yes, the power that raised Christ from the dead is living in me. 
 
Here I am again bowing down at Your throne. 
I'm tired and I'm weary, I have no strength of my own. 
In my weakness you are strong and in dying I live 
And I know apart from You, I've got nothing to give.

But Your Word says trust in You with my whole heart 
And Your Word says You will make my path straight 
And Your Word says You are doing a new thing 
You bring water to this wasteland and in this desert make a spring, 
You bring water to this wasteland and in the desert make a spring. 
 
And in Your Word I found a place that says You take delight in me, 
You will quiet me with Your love, and You rejoice over me. 
Oh, how I long to hear that song flowing over Your lips, 
And in my heart I hear the words going something like this: 
 
Child, My Word says your're the apple of My eye, 
And My Word says you're the reason that I died. 
I will leave the ninety-nine to go and get the one, 
And I will take you in My arms by the Blood of My Son... 
And you can rest in My arms, the battle's already won! Hallelujah!

********************************************************************************

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

hebrews 4:12-14

isn't it like the Lord to speak HIS truth over you when you need to hear it most?  hallelujah :)

purpose...

but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. -1 peter 2:9

photographs never do justice in capturing beautiful people*...

...but they help you remember

*of course not limited to those in the photos above :)