Stone to Flesh

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Grit + Passion

Grit and passion overflow from fields of grace.

Grace is living water to all who thirst. Come to this garden of living water! Come to drink of the Presence and Power of Heaven!

Right now we are in a crisis of pandemic. But even now, more than ever, the Word of God invites us to return with our whole hearts to His fields of grace. The prophet Isaiah proclaims: “In returning & restfulness you shall be saved, in quietness & trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

In these graceful gardens we find the revival and peace for which our souls are longing. These fields of creative restfulness awaken fiery passions that cannot be quenched; anchoring our hearts and minds in the Presence of Jesus alone and creating new life. Only this anchor of hope can give birth to true Grit and a Passion that has the power to overcome every fear, every struggle, and every evil.

During Great Lent, I like to contemplate the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross.

On this journey Christ, the Beloved, ushers in His eternal victory through Grit and Passion! He shows us the art of conquering with Redeeming Love!

He was exhausted. Lost so much blood. The weight of the Cross brought him to the ground many times. The Redeemer faced all the limits imposed upon human nature. But the greatness within His soul gave him the strength to get up again and again and again; until he finished the masterpiece of love on the Cross of Calvary. 

What do we see here? “In the Cross lies Love’s victory!” We as humanity (through those present at this spectacular event) betrayed, abandoned, mocked, stripped and crucified the Son of God. But the redeeming love burning in the heart of Jesus gave him Grit and an invincible Passion capable of “enduring all things, believing all things and hoping all things.” (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Redeeming love can burn with invincible passion in our hearts too!

Love’s hope is a flower blossoming peace and the fruit of new generativity.

As we persevere in this difficult time, may we return with the attention of full heart and mind to the King of love. Let us hasten to collaborate with His Passion and power to create new fountains of living water in a parched land. Many times a day, let us behold our Savior face to face in prayer. And as we see His glory, that same glory is being lavished upon us, and we are becoming the light of the world!

Love is long suffering and “gritty,” because it knows the victory that it already possesses. 

What do you do when faced with human limits? How can you step into victory through the passion and grit of Christ today?