The Cross

A month ago today I began a job with Wellspring Living, as the Redeemed Assessment Center Director. The Redeemed Assessment Center serves two functions: 1) As a crisis-stablization environment of emergency shelter, a safe haven for healing and recovery; 2) An assessment phase for women interested in participating in the year-long recovery program. We are a community of faith, Christian organization with room for discipleship, counseling, and healing. It has been an awe-filled month.


Today I felt so inadequate, and today was a fairly easy going day in comparison to some of the days that God has brought forth. The topics of conversation overwhelmed me, the logistics seem daunting, the details are intense, emotions vacillate hourly, and there aren't enough hours to work it all. I am only one person, and I felt deeply inadequate to serve during much of this afternoon. I even almost had a moment where I just wanted to run away, because I felt "scared." Scared about what I cannot do, scared about what is being asked of me by the Lord, scared about how huge or intense or fast-paced or how Supernatural days might have to be. 

It's interesting because the day began with me considering the posture of the Cross. I am drawn to the Cross lately. The truth is: it was enough (thank you to #whiteflag for that summation). The Cross of the King of the Jews brings death to self, the Messianic Resurrection gives abundant life, & the Ascension of the Savior brings eternity into the present and an accessible reality. What was the motivator of this all? Love (John 3:16). Christ's death on the cross gives forgiveness of sins, eradication of shame (Romans 8:1), and the elimination of sin's ultimate power (Galatians 2:20). Christ's resurrection reveals Christ as Source of life, for eternity past, present, and future.


The pillars of the cross are organized, created, and arranged perfectly for ultimate redemption, eternal power, and full glory for the Father Himself. Because of pure and complete and passionate L-O-V-E and our value TO Him and Within Him as heirs. Glory!


Inadequacy isn't anything other than something to boast in (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)... The Cross is enough, and it brings into reconciliation all things for His Glory (Isaiah 26:8).

1 Peter 1:3-9 (AMP)

³Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

    ⁴[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

    ⁵Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

    ⁶[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,

    ⁷So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

    ⁸Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.

    ⁹[At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Ephesians 2:4-9

(AMP)

⁴But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

    ⁵Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

    ⁶And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

    ⁷He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

    ⁸For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

    ⁹Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]