Dear SCC & Friends,
Deep calls to deep… ~Psalm 42:7
Reflection #242
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried. ~G.K. Chesterton~ Depth is not only for “super saints” but for all. …to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth… ~Eph. 3:18 God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. A vital and necessary component of our faith is availability and willingness to obey His call… If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. ~Matt. 16:24-25 Above all the grace and gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self. ~Francis of Assisi~ The Word of God is counterintuitive and cuts against our natural understanding and perspective… For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. ~Isa. 55:8-9 ~Selah~
When I was a little boy, I didn’t enjoy being confined to the shallow end of the swimming pool. I liked to grab onto the side of the pool and inch my way towards deeper water. I’m fairly sure the lifeguards kept watch while “dog paddling” kept me afloat. I vividly remember the first time I was able to swim across the deep end of the pool. Shortly thereafter, I dove off the diving board and swam under water to the ladder… I did it!! I felt so free and happy! A new-found confidence that I didn’t previously have was now mine. We will encounter many “deep ends” in this life… challenging places that are “over our heads” and seemingly put us at risk. The Lord is always faithful to bring us through… The way up is the way down… Deep calls unto deep… Our Savior is growing a faith in us only to be found in the deep end… “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets…” ~Lk. 5:4… Keep up the good work!
We were made for these days,
Kevin