REJOICE!

Rejoice!  In Him!  In Him!  In Him!  I was just reading "The Practice of the Presence of God."  In this book, it says, "as we enter into the Spiritual life we ought to consider who we are as humans.,  We shall find we are deserving of contempt, unworthy of the name of Christ."  Let me say, in the presence of a Holy living God, that would only be another reason to rejoice.,  All I see in the presence of this beautiful loving God is acceptance and love.  God doesn't hate us.  He loves us!  John 3:16.  He wants us.  He wants to save us from whatever mess we may have made of this gift of life He's given us.  He has fulfilled us, made us new.  Set us at His right hand.  Gave us the most precious gift He could ever give!  His desire has always been to be one with us.  For us to know Him for who He is.  John 17.
     Why, pray tell, should I concentrate on who I used to be when I now have all that is good and lovely and worthy of praise?  What is old in me is simply a memory.  Don't live in old memories!  Live for now, this day, with Him in love and joy and freedom and a future that has just begun.
     We have become one with Him who has loved us from before time.  He has a plan for us.  A plan to bless us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future.
     Take a deep breath--blow it all out!  The old is gone!  Behold the new!  Let your light shine.  Rejoice in Him!  Love what God has created.  When He created you, He said, "It is good!"  You are created in His image.  Rejoice!  Look in the mirror and rejoice.  John 17.  Rejoice!
     A work in progress.  In Christ.  A tree starts out as a seed, but tn that seed there is all the potential of becoming a mighty oak!  His love is new every morning!