Love, Death, and Delusion

Moments of clarity come, sometimes, in the midst of seemingly mundane circumstance. Seeing clearly...or, rather, more clearly...for just a moment.. ..is such a blessing.

All anxiety falls completely away, as though it were never there. Fear of being rejected by others, fear of being misinterpreted, fear of being misrepresented, fear of being attacked..
..all fall away.

Concern falls away.

No sense of worry remains.

And it's as though the sky has cleared, and the sun shines so brightly through...illuminating the beauty all around, warming the heart to love all which surrounds, without regard for what might, could, or will come of any given moment. But just to be there, in the moment, experiencing a depth of the Lord's love in such a way as makes all life precious and brothers and sisters in Christ absolutely beloved.

Precious, so precious.

Those moments serve as reminders, serve as echoes, serve as a glimmer...of the depths of God's love for us.

Fruit vs. Works & Compromising Efforts

Drawing nearer to the Lord is such a fundamental necessity, for all good.

He's there, regardless whether we're paying any attention to Him. Regardless whether people refute His existence or neglect His sovereignty. Only, the peace and joy which He offers--wisdom and knowledge, love and patience...increasing self-control...

...all those and other blessed sanctions wholly wrought through increasing in love for Him, increasingly drive desire for further sanctification. Just to be closer to Him. To experience His love.

Just to know Him, as He truly is. Ever more clearly.

Increasingly realizing His presence and immanence. His love, His goodness, His faithfulness. All which humble and convict and lead in paths of righteousness, for His name's sake.

Growing in grace, then. Ever sufficient, as His mercies are new every day. For He never changes, nor forsakes us. He is faithful to His nature, to His word, and thus to those who are His. We can know these things, for the evidence as recorded in Scripture, but also by reflecting upon the lives of those who have markedly evidenced true saving knowledge of Him.

Even as our own lives bear those hallmarks of His faithfulness, for those who know Him in spirit and truth.

Legalism?

As always, many things right now are in transition.

The Lord is so good.

I've struggled so much. Continually comes a point where prior-persistent delusions regarding religion and reality and society are further disbanded, considering faith a reality and pervasive is easy. Trusting Him in the middle of circumstances which make no sense, in the midst of disillusionment regarding many, many things...goes against everything of the flesh.

Much prayer has been necessary, and I've continually been so terrible as to doubt. He bears with me, though. With a patience that absolutely exceeds comprehension and which completely humbles my own feeble attempts at patience. He has been so good, through this. And He has been so good, to allow an opportunity to trust Him in such a way.

Though I lose my very life, I will praise Him, for He is worthy: Being able to more clearly perceive the reality of that is a blessing.