All of Christ

Colossians 2:9-10, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ."

Amazing experience. Through faith in Jesus we have been given the fullness of life. We lack nothing through our relationship with Jesus. "All the fullness of the Deity whatever that may include is ours to make us complete. Commenting on this Charles Spurgeon says, "All of Christ, in his adorable character as the Son of God, is granted to us for our enjoyment. His wisdom directs us, his knowledge instructs us, his power protects us, his justice upholds us, and his love comforts us. He holds nothing back but opens the recesses of the mountain of God and invites us to dig in its mines for buried treasure. "All, all, all are yours," he says. "Be satisfied with my grace and be full of my goodness.""
Whatever it is you feel your lacking you can find its provision in a relationship with God through Jesus.

Now along that same line or maybe a different line Jesus speaks through Sarah Young in Jesus Always. "Look for me (Jesus/God) in the hard places of your life. I am tenderly present in difficulties. In fact, your problems are fertile soil for growing in grace and encountering My loving Presence in greater depth and breadth. So search for Me in dark times. Invite Me into those broken places, and cooperate with Me in putting the fragments back together in new ways."
If you are walking through tough times in the present remember to cling to My hand. Against the backdrop of adversity, the Light of My Presence shines in transcendent radiance. This Light blesses you abundantly -- providing both comfort and guidance. I will show you the way forward step by step. As you walk close to Me, I will draw you into deeper, richer intimacy with Me."

Life can be dark and difficult in various ways but the living God promises to be there for us. God through the prophet Isaiah states it this way; "Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed (discouraged, downcast, etc.) for I am your God. I will help you. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you with my strong/victorious right hand."
Believe it my fellow pilgrims for it is true and sure.

I've been reading the book Sensible Shoes "A Story About the Spiritual Journey" written by Sharon Brown. Two quotes from the book that applied to my life.

"She seated herself in the chair across from him, meeting his gaze. "I've been reading Herbert and the other poets the wrong way," she said. "I've been reading literature the same way I've been reading the Bible all these years--clinically and critically, as an intellectual exercise and something to accomplish rather than as a devotional pursuit. But today the poetry actually became a prayer for me. Dr. Allen's face lit up, "Beautiful Charissa. That's a beautiful gift from God...Sounds like the Holy Spirit's stirring," he said smiling. She nodded. I guess. There's just so much about God I don't understand."
"And that's the beginning of wisdom, Charissa." He paused, "May I offer you something, as one recovering perfectionist to another? She laughed and wiped her eyes, "Yes, please."
He leaned in closer. "God is always the first one to move in His relationship with us. Our movement is always a response to the Love which loved us first. It's not about being more perfect in your faith or in your love for Jesus, Charissa (Dave, you)--it's about being more open to responding to His deep love for you. So no guilt or condemnation about not seeing things before now, okay? It's the Spirit who opens the eyes of the blind. Always at the right time.

You might want to read that quote again and ask yourself about being a wise person and being open to the stirring of God's Spirit in your life. I too am a recovering perfectionist and still struggle with the need to always do it right. Our Christian faith is not about us doing it right to earn and merit God's favor and love but about us recognizing our need for God to work mightily in us for God's glory and our salvation.

Later Dr. Allen is talking to another character (a minister) who said, "Busyness is my socially acceptable addiction. If we're busy, we're important right?"
Dr. Allen smiled, "The culture says it's all about productivity and achievement--even the culture of the church. It's so easy to wrap our whole identity around ministry--around being useful and thinking we're indispensable. Toxic, deadly, seductive stuff. I had to confront it in my own spirit. And it can have really deep roots...but I've experienced much healing in the past few years...Hard pruning is part of Holy Spirit's work. Our task is yielding and resting, saying yes even when God cuts off the parts we're convinced we can't live without."

Busyness may be my addiction as I complain about not having enough time (in retirement) to do what I want to do yet continually looking for ways to volunteer and serve. What am I trying to prove? Who am I trying to impress? Yet I love what I am doing and being busy about. Such a dilemma. I must ever remember that my identity is bound up in being a child of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. Life is not about me. It is about the glory of God.