Faith Means Wanting God And

God Loves Us As We Are...not As We Ought To Be. Because We Are Never Going To Be As We Ought To Be." --brennan Manning

While The Impostor Draws His Identity From Past Achievements And The Adulation Of Others, The True Self Claims Identity In Its Belovedness. We Encounter God In The Ordinariness Of Life: Not In The Search For Spiritual Highs And Extraordinary, Mystical Experiences But In Our Simple Presence In Life.

We Have Been Given God In Our Souls And Christ In Our Flesh. We Have The Power To Believe Where Others Deny, To Hope Where Others Despair, To Love Where Others Hurt.

Jesus Says. "acknowledge And Accept Who I Want To Be For You: A Savior Of Boundless Compassion, Infinite Patience, Unbearable Forgiveness, And Love That Keeps No Score Of Wrongs. Quit Projecting Onto Me Your Own Feelings About Yourself. At This Moment Your Life Is A Bruised Reed And I Will Not Crush It, A Smoldering Wick And I Will Not Quench It. You Are In A Safe Place." Brennan Manning. Abba's Child: The Cry Of The Heart For Intimate Belonging

The Forgiveness Of God Is Gratuitous Liberation From Guilt. Paradoxically, The Conviction Of Personal Sinfulness Becomes The Occasion Of Encounter With The Merciful Love Of The Redeeming God. "there Will Be More Rejoicing In Heaven Over One Sinner Repenting..." (luke 15:7). In His Brokenness, The Repentant Prodigal Knew An Intimacy With His Father That His Sinless, Self-righteous Brother Would Never Know.