Sweetly Broken

We sung this song in church today and I was just reminded how much I love this song. It's a pretty simple song but the lyrics are so true.

One of my favorite lines is: For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed. Showed that God is love. And God is just. 
The implication behind that verse is that God loved us SO much that he poured out His full wrath onto his completely blameless, perfect Son so that we can have a relationship with Him.

Listen.
Meditate.
Worship.
Rejoice.
Give Thanks.

Youtube - Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of it's suffering I do drink
Of it's work I do sing


For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just


At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered


What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified


You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled


In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

The Greatest Love

< Attention: This is a spoiler alert for Act of Valor. If you are going to see it please don't read the rest of this post until you do. If you do not plan on seeing it or have already seen it then you may continue >

So I had an interesting afternoon. After class I went with some friends to go see Act of Valor(AOV). Now as far as a movie goes it was quite well done. But normally when I watch a movie that has quite a bit of violence in it, as AOV does, it doesn't bother me too much because I know its just a movie. But with AOV it was a little different. There were still a lot of bad guys that got shot. And for the most part the Navy Seals came out mostly unharmed.

Until close to the end of the movie.

There is a scene where there are 4 Seals "sweeping" out a building. (Aka getting rid of bad guys.) They come into a room where there is a bad guy hiding up in the rafters. The guy drops a grenade right into the middle of the room. If it explodes all four team members will probably be pretty seriously hurt. The Seal on "Point" (in the front) who is also the head of this Seal team jumps on the grenade. He takes the blast saving the other 3 members.

The 1st thought that sprang to my mind was John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

It really got me to thinking. Why did Jesus come to earth? What was his purpose and mission while here. He was on a rescue mission. He came to save us. And the way that had to be done?

He, Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God. The Maker if the heavens and the earth. The Alpha and the Omega. The Begenning and the End. I AM. He jumped on the grenade for us. He took the full blast and fury of God Almighty's Holy and Just Wrath. "He who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf."

But here is the amazing part.

Go back the the verse from John 15.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
So not only does Jesus, Son of God, Love us. He considered us friends. Yes. You and me. Dirty, rotten, filty-no-good sinners. Friends of God. 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
During worship at the MILL tonight I just kept being reminded of the depth, the heights, and just how great His Love is for us. (Yes we sung that song :D)

Just think about that for a while. The Creator and Supreme Ruler of the Universe loves me. And you.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen