(Source: callmejesusfreak)

‘Nuff said.

(Source: itslaurenslife)

jossaine:

Let me be true to my being an Elisabeth Elliot fan, and finally (after 40-something blog posts), let me write about something that I learned from her: We can’t love ourselves. When we think we do, we actually don’t. It’s not love. It’s called self-centeredness.

Everything that the Bible says…

I would never be good enough for you.

In the rapids called loving you, I could only hug a rock or grab a branch for dear life. The current’s too strong and my arms are weak—and although I’m an adrenaline junkie, I’m still afraid of dying. Now I somehow know how Christ must have felt at the Garden of Gethsemane when He uttered this impossible request hours before His crucifixion:

Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me…

Luke 22:42a, ISV

This love He had for mankind—it was about to kill Him. This love I have for you—I think it is about to kill me too. The difference is this: Jesus is GOD and I am NOT. For this reason, I think I will have to sign off. Sign off, so I can go back to Him and learn His ways (oh, and unlearn mine). Sign off, so I can refill what I have profusely emptied the past few months.

The Discrepancy

You see, Christ was able to defeat death, and it only means His love IS truly everlasting. EVERLASTING LOVE…that’s what I would want to give you. Thing is, my love is NOT everlasting and, although I try my best for it to be selfless, it sometimes seeks for a return, a response, a reciprocation, something which I know is impossible, especially from you.

The Dilemma

The more I get to know you, the more I fall for you. The more I fall for you, the more I give off my life for you. The more I give off my life for you, the more I die. And here’s the dilemma: The more I die, the more I FEAR for dear life…oh, so there it is. THAT is the problem pala all the while: that yellow thing called FEAR. Dang, for a man who preaches on conquering fear, I’m such a scaredy cat, a selfish one too. Truth hurts and the truth is this,

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18, NIV

My love is not perfect. And you wouldn’t want that kind of love. It’s His love you need, not mine. So again, I will have to sign off and go back to Him. Sign off, so I can conquer my fear. Sign off, so I can stand back up, sit on that big rock amidst the wild waters & catch my breath. Sign off, so I can give you the love that you deserve: not my selfish response-anticipating love, but His selfless unconditional love.

The Disclaimer

Please know though that by signing off, I do not mean to say I’m giving up. In fact, I WILL sign back in, SOON. In fact, upon signing off at the Garden, Jesus Himself concluded his plea by saying,

…yet not my will, but Yours be done.

Luke 22:42b, ISV

And indeed, Jesus STILL chose to tread the path God has destined for Him—not of the Garden, but of the Cross. Not towards the preservation of life, but towards the clutches of death. Death which eventually resulted to an even better life: eternal life (which also meant eternal love).

Hence I pray the same: Father, not my will, but Yours be done.

I know. This is actually a bit too old for news. Nevertheless, it is worthy of mention still.

From BBC:

Old People Line Up to Clean Radiation in Japan

Mr. Yamada: “I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live. Even if I were exposed to radiation, cancer could take 20 or 30 years or longer to develop. Therefore us older ones have less chance of getting cancer.”

Basically, a group of 200+ retirees are volunteering to expose themselves to high levels of radiation so the younger men and women don’t have to.

Making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the lives of their children, and their children’s children.

Wow. Just wow.