Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"Who am I?"

Tonight as I was driving home Travis Cottrell's version of "Just as I Am" came on the radio.  The newly added chorus resonated within my soul and in light of Easter and Christ's resurrection, I wanted to share it.

"I come broken to be mended,
I come wounded to be healed,
I come desperate to be rescued,
I come empty to be filled.
I come guilty to be pardoned
by the blood of Christ the Lamb
and I'm welcomed with open arms,
Praise God, just as I am. "

Immediately, I thought, Who am I
  • to be filled?
  • to be the receiver of God's consuming grace and redemption?
  • to be provided for physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually?
  • and on...
God completely amazes me with the places he brings us to, the situations he brings us through, and the growth he provides during each season.  I am in awe of how God fills.  His word says: "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11  His purpose stands.
Before I came to CA nearly two years ago, I was told that the job market was really tough and there were no teaching positions.  After two months of subbing, God provided a full time position at a school full of young teachers.  Through this, God provided me with local Christian friends around my age.  God's economy is beyond what our human eyes can see.
Tonight I had dinner with two of those friends.  I marveled at God's plan to build friendships while providing a job. 
For years I've had a sewing machine, but very little knowledge of it.  A woman from my church decided to offer free sewing lessons to those of us who wanted to learn.  She brought me home a few days ago and it was such a blessing to learn more about God's faithfulness to her.  
Of course I also see God's hand in my marriage.  Paul and I continue to merge our separate lives into a partnership for God's glory.  
The beauty of all this is that I come to Christ just as I am and he does much more than I could ever ask.  He goes ahead of me.

"Just as I am, I would be lost
but mercy and grace
my freedom bought
and now to glory in your cross
Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come." 

I am full.
God overflows.