Gleaned Thoughts

During this season of the church year, this Holy season of our Lord's passion, thoughts form, spin and brew. Then they develop and always ending the same, at the point of awe. Awe .. wonder .. awe from the awfulness of all that was experienced; awe from the immensity of his love.

The Lamb on the Throne to come was the Lamb on the Cross from before the world began .. the Father's plan, the Son's obedience, the need and reason for all to come.

Walking through the meditations of Common Prayer this week, there have been phrases which seemed highlighted. That becomes thrilling especially as there is such familiarity with the "story".

"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end...."

"Oh merciful God...Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one Shepherd."

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way...let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised...."

"...and he bearing his cross went forth...."

"...what I have written I have written."

Finally, the thoughts expressed by Amy Charmichael:

"Home of our hearts, lest we forget

What our redemption meant for Thee,

Let our most reverent thought be set

Upon Thy Calvary.

We, when we suffer, turn and toss

And seek for ease, and seek again;

But Thou, upon Thy bitter Cross,

Wast firmly fixed in pain.

Amazing!

Love immeasurable.

And free.

Just because .. not of my sweetness and worth, there was and is none;

but because He chose,

He willed it in Love.

How can we possibly own such a love?