Father said it is not God's will that any should suffer." "Then why must we?" "We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn't take him down off the cross.

Every blessing comes down from the Father, not in payment for good done, but as a gift.

It doesn't matter what you've done or how bad you've failed, Jesus Christ is bigger than all your foul-ups, and His mercy and grace loom larger than any sin you've ever committed.

God's love isn't based on me. It's simply placed on me. And it's the place from which I should live . . . loved.

Holiness ... is nothing we can *do* ... It is gift, sheer gift, waiting there to be recognized and received. We do not have to be qualified to be holy. We do not have to be qualified to be whole, or healed.Made

It may be that we have lost our ability to hold a blazing coal, to move unfettered through time, to walk on water, because we have been taught that such things have to be earned; we should deserve them; we must be qualified. We are suspicious of grace. We are afraid of the very lavishness of the gift. But a child rejoices in presents!

It is necessary to understand that it is not sin that humbles most, but grace.

Never forget as you enter your inner sanctuary that your whole relationship with God depends on what you think of sin and of yourself as a redeemed sinner.

We don't have to learn to be holy as a hard lesson at school in order to make God think well of us; we are to learn it at home with the Father to help us. God loves you not because you are clever and not because you are good but because He is your Father. The cross of Christ does not make God love us; it is the outcome and measure of His love for us.

It is pride that made redemption needful; it is from our pride we need above everything to be redeemed.

This is the love of God; not that He gives us something, but that He gives us some one - a living person - not one or another blessing, but Him in whom is all life and blessing - Jesus Himself.

So you see, Tess, this is really the story about God, the brave, and his love for his bride, you. He gave everything he had for you, including that which he loves the most, Jesus. Not because you do anything great, but because he loves you exactly as you are. That's why he will forgive you, and you can trust him with your whole life and be his friend forever. Isn't this a neat story? I heard it last Sunday night." Tess