Open Arms...Forever-Open Arms
Yesterday, I ran into a very dear and close friend, Jason C. (who we call J.C.--we really do! In fact, my whole family does.) We have been friends since I was 15 years old. He knows the ugliest of my uglies and the most beautiful of my beauties. We have watched each other grow into who we both are today thru our struggles and experiences.
When I saw J.C., he stretched out his arms wide, like the letter "T". He didn't do this to invite me into them, it was more of a "Here I am and Here U are, what's up? kinda thing." We chatted for a few minutes then went into the store we were both intending on visiting. As we walked thru the store, my burdens laid heavily on my mind but was delighted to have J.C. just make me laugh and take me away from my thoughts--even if only for a few minutes.
As I got home later that night, I thought about J.C. stretching out his arms wide and how I had so deeply wanted to crawl right into them and just weep. I wanted to be comforted from the pain and hurt that I was carrying and just a "hug" from ANYONE would have helped me for a moment.
As I prayed that night and began meditating on my Savior, the outstretched arms of my friend kept popping in my head. (If you know me well, you know I obsess over everything in my life and what God has for me in it. If you don't know me well, now you know a little bit more about me... I truly believe the Lord orchestrates it ALL and has a purpose for our lives and every moment of it!) Anyhow, back to God and what spiritual application came out of all of this.... So, the thought of outstretched arms popped up and I began to think about how Christ's arms were painstakingly nailed to the cross...like the letter "T."
I pondered on how He (the real J.C.--Jesus Christ) truly knows even more of the uglies and beauties about me since He is my Maker and Creator. Glimpses of my life passed thru my mind as Christ brought to my remembrance that He has been there thru ALL of my struggles and EVERY experience. It was then I began to dwell on how badly Christ yearned for me to run into His open arms and give Him my burdens and pain. He wanted me to run to Him so much, He made me recall that His arms were nailed to the cross so that they would always be open arms for me to crawl into.
I was, once again, amazed at my Saviors power to call me to Him. I ran to Him and crawled into His arms--that were nailed to the cross--so that they would always remain open for me to go to. God is good--all the time--even in my darkest hours. I love Him and cannot fathom His love for me.
When I saw J.C., he stretched out his arms wide, like the letter "T". He didn't do this to invite me into them, it was more of a "Here I am and Here U are, what's up? kinda thing." We chatted for a few minutes then went into the store we were both intending on visiting. As we walked thru the store, my burdens laid heavily on my mind but was delighted to have J.C. just make me laugh and take me away from my thoughts--even if only for a few minutes.
As I got home later that night, I thought about J.C. stretching out his arms wide and how I had so deeply wanted to crawl right into them and just weep. I wanted to be comforted from the pain and hurt that I was carrying and just a "hug" from ANYONE would have helped me for a moment.
As I prayed that night and began meditating on my Savior, the outstretched arms of my friend kept popping in my head. (If you know me well, you know I obsess over everything in my life and what God has for me in it. If you don't know me well, now you know a little bit more about me... I truly believe the Lord orchestrates it ALL and has a purpose for our lives and every moment of it!) Anyhow, back to God and what spiritual application came out of all of this.... So, the thought of outstretched arms popped up and I began to think about how Christ's arms were painstakingly nailed to the cross...like the letter "T."
I pondered on how He (the real J.C.--Jesus Christ) truly knows even more of the uglies and beauties about me since He is my Maker and Creator. Glimpses of my life passed thru my mind as Christ brought to my remembrance that He has been there thru ALL of my struggles and EVERY experience. It was then I began to dwell on how badly Christ yearned for me to run into His open arms and give Him my burdens and pain. He wanted me to run to Him so much, He made me recall that His arms were nailed to the cross so that they would always be open arms for me to crawl into.I was, once again, amazed at my Saviors power to call me to Him. I ran to Him and crawled into His arms--that were nailed to the cross--so that they would always remain open for me to go to. God is good--all the time--even in my darkest hours. I love Him and cannot fathom His love for me.
